My Alpha Bully My Lover

I heard the laughter before I turned the corner. That sharp, cruel kind of laughter that made my stomach twist and my skin crawl. I didn’t need to look to know who it belonged to. Asher Knight. He was a walking cliché. The future alpha of Silver Hollow, impossibly good-looking, and cocky as hell. With his broad shoulders, piercing gray eyes, and a jawline straight out of a fantasy novel, he was the guy every girl wanted and every guy wanted to be. And he knew it. Unfortunately for me, he also seemed to have decided that making my life miserable was his favorite hobby. I squared my shoulders and gripped my books tighter, refusing to let the familiar anxiety creep in. The hallway was crowded, and the noise of slamming lockers and overlapping conversations created a dull roar around me. Still, I felt like all eyes were on me as I walked forward, my boots clicking against the tile. “Hey, cupcake,” Asher’s voice rang out, cutting through the chaos like a knife. Before I could process the words, his shoulder slammed into mine. Hard. My books flew from my hands, scattering across the floor, and I stumbled, barely catching myself. Laughter erupted around us, sharp and merciless. My cheeks burned, but I refused to look at him. Not yet. Instead, I dropped to my knees, ignoring the heat crawling up my neck as I began gathering my things. “Oops,” Asher drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. “Didn’t see you there.” I clenched my jaw, the anger bubbling inside me barely contained. Of course, he’d seen me. I wasn’t exactly hard to miss, with my curves and caramel curls that refused to be tamed. But to Asher, I wasn’t a person—I was a target. A way to entertain himself between flirting with his fan club and throwing his weight around. “Maybe if you didn’t take up half the hallway, Montgomery, people wouldn’t keep knocking into you.” He added, his tone low enough that only I could hear. A fresh wave of laughter rippled through the crowd. I froze, my fists tightening around the notebook in my hands. Breathe, Ava. Just breathe. I straightened slowly, my books clutched to my chest and turned to face him. He stood a few feet away, towering over me with that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. His gray eyes sparkled with amusement, and his dark hair was just messy enough to look effortless. He leaned casually against a locker as if he didn’t have a care in the world. The crowd around us had gone quieter, watching. Waiting. “Maybe if you used your brain instead of your mouth, you’d realize how pathetic this little act of yours is.” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. For a moment—a fraction of a heartbeat—his smirk faltered. I caught it. I saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes, the slight tightening of his jaw. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the same arrogant expression he always wore. “Feisty today, huh?” He said, stepping closer. His voice was lower now, meant for me alone. “Cute.” I held my ground, refusing to back down. “Go to hell, Asher,” I snapped, my voice louder this time. His smirk widened, but I didn’t give him the chance to say anything else. I turned on my heel and stormed down the hallway, my boots thudding against the tile. As I walked away, I could feel his gaze on me, heavy and unrelenting. It was like a brand, searing into my skin, and I hated it. But the worst part? A small, shameful part of me didn’t hate it as much as I should have. I didn’t stop until I reached the library, the one place where I could usually escape from the chaos of the school. I pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside, the familiar smell of old books and polished wood washing over me. It was quiet here, the kind of quiet that felt like a hug wrapping around me and easing the tension in my chest. I dropped into my usual seat at the back of the room, far from prying eyes. My books were still clutched to my chest, and my fingers ached from holding them so tightly. I set them down on the table and stared at them for a moment, my mind replaying the encounter in the hallway. Why did he do it? What was it about me that made him target me again and again? I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t some damsel waiting for someone to swoop in and save me. I’d dealt with people like Asher before—people who thought they were better than everyone else because they were pretty or popular or born into the right family. But Asher… he was different. He got under my skin in a way that no one else ever had. The library door creaked open, and I glanced up instinctively. For a split second, my heart stopped. Asher stood in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the light from the hallway. I quickly looked down, hoping he hadn’t seen me. But I wasn’t that lucky. “Didn’t realize this was your hiding spot.” He said, his voice casual as he strolled toward me. My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to stay calm. “What do you want, Asher?” I asked without looking up. He slid into the seat across from me, his smirk firmly in place. “Just curious,” he said, leaning back in the chair. “You always run off to the library after I talk to you?” I clenched my fists under the table. “You mean after you act like a complete jerk? Yeah, it’s kind of my thing.” His smirk faltered for the second time that day, and I almost smiled. Almost. “You know,” he said, his voice quieter now, “you’re kind of fun when you fight back.” I rolled my eyes. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?” “Maybe.” I stared at him, waiting for the punchline, but it didn’t come. For a moment, his gray eyes held mine, and I thought I saw something there—something raw and unguarded. But then he blinked, and it was gone. “See you around, cupcake.” He said, standing and walking away without another word. I watched him go, my chest tight with a confusing mix of emotions. Whatever game Asher Knight was playing, I wasn’t going to let him win.