THE ALPHA'S LITTLE NERD

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Girl, that was cool,” Emma gushed immediately we walked into class.

She sat on the first row, eyes glued to her phone.

I forced a smile.

“Was it?”

“Oh, hell yes, it was.” Emma grinned, showing me her screen. “It’s all over the school page. I mean, girl—you looked like a total queen. And those last words you told her? Brutal. Absolutely brutal. The look on Melissa’s face was so refreshing.”

Stella immediately rushed toward her.

“Show me! Show me!”

The two watched the video for a few seconds before bursting into loud laughter.

I shot the students staring at us an apologetic look.

These two.

“Refreshing,” they chorused dramatically before laughing again.

Stella turned toward me proudly.

“Now that I’m watching it again, it’s even better. I always knew there was a wild side hidden inside you.”

She patted her chest proudly.

“Your mentor is proud.”

I nearly rolled my eyes.

Stella and her unnecessary pride.

Honestly, I didn’t feel proud at all.

Because I knew this was only the beginning.

Melissa and her crew never let things go.

And worse—

I still couldn’t feel my wolf.

At this point, I was convinced heaven was playing cards with my life.

The students kept whispering and pointing at me, but this time the insults were quieter.

They weren’t attacking me.

Not yet.

No.

They were waiting.

Watching silently like predators waiting for their prey to finally fail.

Luckily, our homeroom teacher walked in.

Unfortunately for him, Evan walked in right after.

His hood was pulled low over his face, both hands buried inside his pockets. He didn’t even bother greeting poor Mr. Williams.

He simply walked past him and headed straight to his seat at the back.

Poor Mr. Williams could only swallow his anger awkwardly.

“He’s too arrogant,” Stella muttered beside me.

I glanced backward unconsciously.

Evan rested his head on the desk, eyes closed.

Quiet.

Too quiet.

I frowned slightly.

Something about him felt different today.

He didn’t bother me.

Didn’t insult me.

Didn’t even look my way.

Not that I wanted him to.

But somehow my entire school life had constantly revolved around Evan Marcus and his chaos.

It felt strange with him suddenly doing nothing.

“You’re staring, babe,” Stella whispered. “People are starting to notice.”

My eyes widened immediately.

I snapped my head forward so fast my neck nearly broke.

Damn.

I was staring at Evan Marcus.

I seriously needed help.

Soon classes ended, and the three of us headed toward the cafeteria.

“Girl, you’re spacing out again!” Stella complained dramatically.

I blinked at her.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong with you today?” she asked suspiciously. “You’ve been acting weird since morning.”

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t give me that nonsense. Throughout every lesson you kept zoning out, and now even in front of pizza you still look distracted.”

I laughed softly.

Yeah.

I loved pizza.

In fact, I couldn’t survive without it.

Main reason my mom learned how to make it perfectly.

But somehow today…

I didn’t even want it.

And honestly?

I hated knowing exactly why.

Without meaning to, I glanced toward Evan again.

He sat near the cafeteria window silently, untouched coffee beside him while Ben talked endlessly.

But even from here, I could tell Ben had grown tired of talking alone.

Stella followed my gaze.

“That bastard suddenly became quiet,” Emma muttered while eating fries. “Didn’t even bully anyone today. Heaven must be healing.”

Stella snorted.

“Wish he’d stay like that forever.”

But I barely heard them.

Because my attention stayed fixed on Evan.

His silence.

His strange gentleness yesterday.

And the fact that he hadn’t bullied me for days now.

Don’t get me wrong—I definitely didn’t enjoy being bullied.

But his sudden kindness felt strange.

And somehow…

It bothered me.

I quickly looked away.

“Has anyone seen Charles?” I asked.

Emma blinked.

“He didn’t text you?”

I frowned.

“No.”

“He texted us this morning,” Emma said carefully. “He said he’s changing schools.”

My eyes widened.

“What?”

Stella raised a brow.

“Have you checked your phone at all today? I literally mentioned it during third period.”

I lowered my head guiltily.

Damn Evan for occupying my thoughts.

I checked my phone quickly.

Six missed calls.

Thirteen messages.

Four voicemails.

But it was the final message that made guilt twist painfully inside me.

Okay.

That was all Charles sent.

Like he had finally given up trying.

“Did he say why he left?” I asked quietly.

Stella shook her head.

“Nope.”

Emma sighed.

“My dad mentioned something about changes in warrior posts. Charles’ dad was a warrior… and apparently Evan is now the one in charge.”

Stella scoffed.

“That bastard.”

My fists clenched under the table.

Of course.

Of course Evan would still find a way to ruin things.

Charles was the first guy I had genuinely become comfortable around.

He felt like a real friend.

And knowing I might be the reason he left hurt badly.

“I really hate that bastard,” I muttered.

Seriously.

What was wrong with me for thinking kindly about him earlier?

“A bastard calling others one.”

That voice.

Sharp.

Mocking.

Annoying.

Melissa.

I slowly turned around.

And immediately the cafeteria’s attention shifted toward us.

Great.

“Hey, trash,” Melissa sneered.

I gave her a tight smile.

Speak of the devil.

“What do you want?” Stella snapped immediately, standing up.

Melissa smirked.

“What? Protecting your little trash?”

“Gross dump,” Cynthia giggled.

“A smelly sink,” Ella added dramatically. “Anna, do you even bathe?”

The students laughed loudly.

“A trash that still beat your ass,” Emma fired back instantly.

Melissa’s smile vanished.

“She didn’t.”

Stella smirked lazily.

“Oh, I remember someone walking around with a bandage for a whole week.”

“Shut up,” Melissa snapped.

Stella smiled sweetly.

“Come shut me up.”

That smile only made Melissa angrier.

She glared at Stella before suddenly smiling coldly.

“You know, I would’ve listened to you both… but why would anyone listen to a mate-less she-wolf rejected by her own mate?”

The cafeteria exploded.

“OHHHHH!”

Stella’s face turned bright red instantly.

Yep.

Murder was approaching quickly.

“You bastard!” Stella yelled, nearly launching herself at Melissa.

I grabbed her quickly before she could.

Ella giggled loudly.

“I heard it’s because she’s terrible in bed.”

“Oh no,” Cynthia added dramatically. “She got rejected because she’s a slut.”

“That’s enough!”

Ben’s voice cut through the cafeteria sharply.

I hadn’t even noticed him approaching.

He grabbed Stella’s wrist gently.

But Stella shook him off instantly before storming out of the cafeteria.

Ben immediately chased after her, though not before throwing Melissa a deadly glare.

I moved to go after Stella too, but Emma stopped me softly.

“Let them handle it.”

I hesitated before nodding reluctantly.

Emma turned toward Melissa angrily.

Honestly, I was furious too.

Stella was my weak spot.

And I hated seeing people hurt her.

“Had enough?” Emma asked coldly.

Melissa looked her up and down mockingly.

“And who exactly are you to question me? You’re nothing but a lowly she-wolf from a family of dark witches.”

Emma’s fists clenched tightly.

“They weren’t dark witches.”

Melissa smiled cruelly.

“Oh really?”

She stepped forward slowly.

“Then explain how someone like you managed to become Stanley’s mate. A girl like you doesn’t get someone like him naturally.”

The crowd immediately stirred.

“Wait… is it true?”

“Her grandparents were witches.”

“Doesn’t that make her one too?”

“Aren’t witches supposed to be burned alive?”

“She probably used dark magic on Stanley.”

Emma’s hands trembled with anger.

“Stop spreading rumors!” she shouted. “You know none of that is true!”

Melissa smirked.

“Is that what your great-grandfather said before he got burned alive?”

“STOP!”

My voice rang across the cafeteria.

Silence fell instantly.

I stepped in front of Emma.

“I’m the one you came for, right? Then focus on me.”

Melissa glared at me immediately.

“And who the hell do you think you are? You suddenly grew confidence because you managed to wound me?”

“Managed?” I scoffed.

I stepped closer too.

“Last time I checked, you were the one bleeding on the floor.”Melissa’s expression darkened instantly.

The crowd around us erupted into loud whispers.

“Ohhh.”

“She really said that to her face?”

“Anna’s gotten bold.”

Melissa laughed.

But there was nothing funny about that laugh.

It sounded sharp.

Dangerous.

“You really think that little stunt makes you strong?” she asked coldly.

I crossed my arms.

“No. But it definitely proved you’re not as unbeatable as you pretend to be.”

A few students gasped loudly.

Cynthia muttered, “She’s dead.”

Ella nodded immediately.

“Very dead.”

Melissa took another step closer until we were almost face to face.

“You got lucky.”

I smiled slightly.

“You keep saying that like it’ll heal your wound.”

The crowd exploded again.

Even Emma looked shocked beside me.

Honestly?

I was shocked too.

Since when did I become this mouthy?

Melissa’s fists clenched tightly at her sides.

For a second, I genuinely thought she was about to attack me right there in the cafeteria.

Then suddenly—

She smiled.

And somehow that smile felt worse.

“You know what?” she said calmly.

“You’re right.”

The cafeteria quieted instantly.

Melissa tilted her head slightly.

“Maybe I should stop talking.”

A bad feeling crept into my stomach immediately.

“Maybe,” she continued, “I should remind everyone exactly who you are.”

The smile on my face slowly disappeared.

“A weak wolf-less nobody who got lucky once and suddenly thinks she’s powerful.”

I clenched my fists.

Around us, students started murmuring again.

“She’s not wrong…”

“Anna’s always been weak.”

“Melissa would destroy her in a real fight.”

Emma stepped forward angrily.

“Say another word—”

“No.” Melissa raised a hand lazily, eyes never leaving mine. “Let’s make this fun.”

Fun?

Knowing Melissa, nothing good ever followed that word.

She folded her arms with a smirk.

“One week from now.”

The crowd instantly leaned in.

“We fight at the Moon Wolf Arena.”

Silence.

Then chaos exploded across the cafeteria.

“No way!”

“She challenged her!”

“At the Moon Wolf Arena?!”

“Melissa’s insane!”

Even I froze for a second.

The Moon Wolf Arena wasn’t some practice ground.

It was where official duels happened.

Real fights.

Real humiliation.

Melissa’s smile widened slowly as she watched my expression.

“What happened?” she mocked sweetly. “Scared now?”

Emma immediately grabbed my wrist.

“Anna, don’t.”

But Melissa wasn’t done.

“Oh wait, maybe Emma can cast a little witch spell and save you again.”

The crowd laughed.

Emma’s face hardened.

I felt anger flare violently inside me again.

Then Melissa looked me dead in the eye and delivered the final blow.

“Or maybe you’ll cry and run away like the weak little wolf-less stray you’ve always been.”

That did it.

Every insult toward me—

Fine.

But Stella?

Emma?

No.

I was tired.

Tired of them getting hurt because of me.

Tired of always being looked down on.

Tired of feeling weak.

Before my brain could stop me, the words left my mouth.

“I accept.”

Dead silence.

Emma whipped toward me in horror.

“ANNA.”

Melissa blinked once, probably surprised I actually agreed.

Then slowly—

She grinned.

Not a normal grin.

The grin of someone who had just gotten exactly what they wanted.

The cafeteria exploded into noise.

“She accepted?!”

“She’s seriously going to fight Melissa?”

“This is going to be a massacre.”

Ella burst into laughter.

“Oh my God, she really wants to die.”

Cynthia smirked.

“She won’t survive ten minutes.”

Melissa stepped closer again, satisfaction written all over her face.

“One week,” she said softly. “And this time nobody will save you.”

I forced myself not to react.

Even though deep down…

A tiny voice inside me was already panicking.

Because unlike everyone else—

I knew the truth.

I still couldn’t feel my wolf.

Not even a little.

So what exactly was I planning to fight Melissa with?

Hope?

The cafeteria buzzed wildly around us.

Students already pulled out their phones.

Some looked excited.

Some looked pitying.

Others looked like they were waiting for public entertainment.

Melissa smirked one final time before turning around dramatically, her crew following behind her immediately.

But before leaving, she glanced over her shoulder.

“Try not to run away before then, trash.”

Then she walked away laughing.

The moment she disappeared, Emma grabbed my shoulders violently.

“Have you completely lost your mind?!”

I blinked at her.

“…Possibly.”

“This isn’t funny!” Emma whisper-yelled. “Melissa is one of the strongest female wolves in school!”

“I know.”

“You can’t even feel your wolf yet!”

“I KNOW.”

Emma looked seconds away from fainting.

Meanwhile my own heart was beating so hard I could hear it.

Because now that Melissa was gone…

Reality was finally sinking in.

I had just agreed to fight Melissa.

At the Moon Wolf Arena.

In front of the entire school.

Stupid.

Very stupid.

Extremely stupid.

But strangely…

A small part of me didn’t regret it.

Maybe I was tired of running.

Maybe I was tired of being everyone’s joke.

Or maybe—

I just wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t weak anymore.

Emma groaned dramatically and dropped into the cafeteria chair.

“We’re doomed.”

I sat beside her quietly.

“…You think I can fake my death before next week?”

Emma stared at me for two seconds.

Then despite everything—

She burst into laughter.

And somehow…

I laughed too.