Chapter Seven
1651 Words
A While Ago,
CLARISSA
“Hello there, Stray!” The mocking voice cut through the air, pulling me out of my thoughts. I froze, my grip tightening on my backpack.
A few feet away stood a group of students dressed in expensive-looking designer clothes. From where I stood, I could tell that they were nothing but trouble. They reeked of arrogance and entitlement. It was too early to get into trouble, especially since it was still the first day of school. I was already upset because of my mate's rejection. Could my day get any worse?
Clenching my fists, I kept my head down and veered in the opposite direction. Maybe if l ignored them, they'd leave me alone.
In the blink of an eye, they were standing in front of me. They sneered at me, eyeing me from top to bottom like I was nothing but venom.
“Running already? That's not nice. We just wanted to get to know you,” one of the guy said, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.
“Look, I don't know you, and I certainly don't want to. I have class.” The words barely left my lips before I felt a sudden force yanking my backpack from behind. My body lurched forward as the strap snapped off my shoulder.
I whirled around, only to find myself face-to- face with another student.
He was much taller than the others, and his blue eyes were cold and unfriendly. He held my bag far above my hand. Speaking of my bag. Fury swelled inside of me when I saw that it had ripped apart, its contents barely hanging on.
“Give it back.” My fists curled as I glared at the tall blond, my patience wearing thin.
A slow smirk curved his lips as he c****d his head to the side, his eyes glimmering with mischief.
“Or what?” He taunted. Laughter erupted from the others.
I forced a breath through my nose, trying to stay calm. My pulse was already racing-not just from anger. My body had felt different lately, more fragile. My pregnancy was still early, but I could feel the changes. The fatigue, the nausea, the overwhelming sense of needing to protect something I hadn’t even had time to process yet, I couldn't afford to get into fights. Not anymore.
But when he raised a single finger and jabbed it against my forehead, something inside me snapped.
“I won't ask twice,” I deadpanned
“You don't know your place yet, bottom feeder,” he murmured, his voice almost mockingly gentle.
“We are the second-tier elites, You?” He scoffed, “You're nothing.”
My hands curled into fists. I could take insults; I'd taken worse. But his arrogance, the way he acted like he owned the air I breathed, made my blood simmer.
“Those eyes should stay rooted on the ground, Stray,” he continued, his nostrils flaring. When I didn't lower my gaze, his hand shot out, fingers aiming straight for my eye but I was faster. I caught his wrist mid-air and twisted, hard. A sharp, sickening c***k echoed through the yard, and a grunt of pain tore from his lips as he staggered back, his face contorted in agony.
“Grab her, “ he hissed, and several hands clamped onto my arms from behind.
“Are you okay, Aaron? That sounded like it hurt,” a female voice cooed, but there was no real concern in it, just amusement. Aaron. So that was his name.
He let out a low, guttural growl, his eyes flashing a bright, dangerous red. Alpha blood. Chills ran down my spine.
I had messed up. Not just for myself. But for my child. For the first time, regret clawed at my throat. I should have walked away. I should have… It was too late. I hadn’t just made an eneny
I had thrown myself into the jaws of the predators. And whatever came next, I knew it wouldn’t be mercy.
Everything hurt. My wrists burned where the ropes dug into them. My cheek throbbed from the last hit, my body aching in places I didn’t want to think about. But worse than that was the terror.
They’d tied my ankles and wrists after I’d stopped fighting, pretending to pass out. But I couldn’t fool them for long.
The sound of their laughter filled the air, mingling with the sharp scent of cigarette smoke.
I didn’t know how much more beating I could take, especially since I was pregnant.
“You can stop pretending now,” I heard the female voice from earlier say.
Cursing inwardly, I kept my eyes shut. It didn’t matter. She was already beside me, fingers tangling in my beanie. Pain lanced through my skull as she yanked my head back, revealing my hair.
“Well, look at that,” she mused, her voice dripping with amusement. “The Stray dyed her hair.”
I wanted to scoff at her. Clearly, she hadn't seen natural silver hair like nine before.
When I opened my eyes, the orders chortled in amusement, and she released me, moving to crouch in front of me.
She had mischievous green eyes and honey-blonde hair, “I'm Ashley,” she introduced herself, and I stayed silent.
“Nice to meet you, Stray.”
Perhaps, if I didn't provoke her, she would let me go. “You've broken three rules already,” she continued,
Tilting her head. “And while you've been punished for the first two, you still need to be punished for the third.” I swallowed hard, feeling sick to my stomach.
“What rule?” I croaked, and Ashley extended her hand to another girl, who placed a pair of scissors in her palm. My blood ran cold.
“First rule, do not walk away while an elite is speaking to you. Second rule, do not talk back at an elite. Third rule, bottom feeders are not allowed to dye their hair or wear any accessories,” she said, and I shuffled backwards, attempting to free myself from my restraints.
“I did not dye my hair!” I cried out, and she grinned, gesturing at the others.
“Hold her still,” she ordered, and they started to walk towards me, laughing
“Don't worry, it'll be over soon,” they said, and continued to shuffle backwards, my heart racing in my chest. I was so sick of being bullied. Why wouldn’t they leave me alone?
There was a ringing in my ears, and my body started to heat up as I was overwhelmed by desperation. The moment one of them grabbed me, electricity traveled down my spine. She shuddered and collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Instantly, the laughing ceased.
“Tara?” one of them gasped. “What’s wrong?” But ‘Tara’ lay unmoving on the ground, her face ashen.
They were afraid now, their eyes wide with fear. Rolling over, I struggled to my knees, my chest heaving.
“What did you do to her?” They demanded, and I met their stares with a smoldering defiance, daring them to come closer.
“Are you really afraid of this lowlife?! Grab her already!” Ashley yelled, but nobody moved.
“f**k you all,” she hissed and stormed towards me, brandishing the scissors. When she was close enough, I knocked my fist into her face, yanking the scissors from her before she stumbled backwards in disbelief. Quickly, I cut through the ropes around my wrists and ankles, rising to my feet.
“That’s enough.”
I turned to see Aaron rising from his seat. He fished something out of his coat, and I stiffened when I saw what it was. A pocket knife.
I shuffled backwards, but he was standing in front of me in a blink of an eye. Before I could do anything, he'd yanked the scissors from me.
Unsheathing the knife, he pressed it to the corner of my neck, his eyes locked with mine.
“You're really asking for death. I’ll easily grant you your request,” he said, and I swallowed hard, fear sinking into my bones.
Tears burned in my eyes. Not for myself, but for the life inside me. Was this the end?
My chest tightened as he lifted his hand to strike me. “That's enough!" A loud voice boomed through the space, and everyone froze. Slowly, Aaron stepped away from me only then did I see the newcomer. It was the young man who'd given me the invitation letter. His eyes were cold with menace as he approached us.
“Bullying the weak again? Really, Aaron?” He demanded, and Aaron parted his lips to speak but a slap to his face kept him silent.
“I want to see you all in my office in thirty minutes, Now leave,” the newcomer said, and they all left. I stared at him in surprise.
He was a teacher after all. I should’ve known.
“Are you alright, purple eyes?” He asked, and only then did my knees give out.
Before I could hit the ground, he scooped me into his arms. Black dots swam across my vision as I stared at him.
“You're hurt. I'm so sorry,” I heard him say. He sounded so pained, it made me squint at him in confusion.
My gaze trailed over the sharp curves of his face, his curly hair, his eyebrows, and then it hit me..
“You look familiar,” I whispered, and he stiffened.
“What do you mean?” He asked, and I blinked, trying to tear the blur in my vision.
Only at this point did I realize why he looked so familiar. He bore a st
riking resemblance to the monster from my past.
Kieran. But why?
- Writer
