Rejected by the Pack, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 4

Damien

Fear

That was the first thing that made the chatter in the class go quiet in my head.

I’d watched her basically run out of here with an unsettling look and just a few minutes after, I caught the spike. She was scared. Whatever it was, I didn’t think. I just followed her scent, letting my wolf come forward.

I didn’t care for Sebastian’s confused face or the series of words he spilled wanting to know why the hell I’d just randomly stormed out of the class.

A feeling gnawed at my throat, letting me know I had no time to waste. My wolf was already losing its sanity with the mere thought of why I could feel her fear like it pulsed through my own veins. I followed that feeling. Then pain struck. Then… resignation.

A low snarl escaped from me as I ripped the door to the janitor’s closet open. The scene before me seemed unreal, hazy with red.

A wolf stood behind her, her small frame shoved against the metal so hard it dug into her skin. Her trousers had been bunched up to her knees, her pale skinned exposed to the bastard.

I froze, my mind going blank.

He hadn’t noticed yet… too busy placing himself between her.

Rage blurred my vision as my wolf let out a dangerous snarl, making the bastard froze before he could go farther.

His head snapped to me. Then widened. I moved in a flash, grabbing his collar and wrenching him off her.

Sebastian hurried to my side, pausing as he saw Veronica. Her back was still turned, her shoulder shivering with fear. Shock hadn’t worn off.

“Go,” Sebastian said low already moving to cover Veronica.

Students gathered near the doorway, already whispering under their breath, their curious gazes wandering between us. I didn’t care. Not right now.

The image flashed in my head again, making my wolf fight against its restraints. Then he snarled roughly.

Mine.

Mate.

I froze for only half a second. Then I moved. Because if I caught a single tear on her face, I would lose it. I marched to the wolf who was still barely recovering from the first attack.

My fingers wrapped around his collar as I shoved him harshly until our eyes met.

Fear flickered in his eyes before he quickly replaced it with annoyance.

“I don’t care who you are,” he snarled breathlessly. “You have no right to-“

I snapped, letting my fist land on his face. The crack of his nose blended in perfectly with the surprised gasps from the growing crowd.

I let the punches rain on him, even when I could no longer tell if the blood on my knuckles were from him or me. My hands burned but I didn’t stop.

Tear him apart! My wolf snarled in rage, slamming against the confinements of my chest. I punched him harder, feeling my index finger crack.

His blood made the contact slick, my sweat dripped on his disfigured face as he dragged in a labored breath.

“Stop,”

Her voice was shaky, scared, barely a whisper compared to the rage that swallowed my mind. I landed another punch, raising him by the collar until he dangled in the air.

“Damien, stop it!”

It was sharper now, terrified. But my wolf wanted penance as he thought about what would have happened if we didn’t show up on time.

I landed another punch, the force snapping his head to the side.

“Oh god,” someone whispered,

“Somebody stop him!” Another yelled nervously.

Nobody dared.

I pulled him closer until I could smell his fear. It soothed my wolf, barely.

“Touch what’s mine again,” I growled, tightening my hold on his collar. “And I’ll kill you.”

I let his body fall with a heavy thud. The bastard rasped, dragging breaths probably from his fractured ribs. I barely spared him a glance, turning sharply.

Students avoided my gaze, some shrinking into the walls. I caught her scent before my eyes landed on her.

Fear.

Not toward the bastard I had just beaten to a pulp.

She was scared of me.

My wolf flinched, a sharp pain tugging at my chest. Her eyes watered, her lips wobbled. Red and purple bruises were starting to form around her throat.

My fingers twitched.

The look in her eyes was enough to temper my rage, enough that the world rushed back in. I blinked. Then straightened.

Sebastian’s lips flattened as his eyes flickered between me and Veronica. He had seen me at my worst, expected it. So he let out a sigh, muttering something to Veronica.

She tore her gaze from me to him, the warmth of her eyes leaving me empty.

I stepped forward, Sebastian’s eyes snapped to me, urging me not to proceed. My wolf didn’t care. We needed to make sure she was fine.

I crossed the hallway, leaving the bastard in a pool of his own blood. Someone was already yelling out for the pack doctor, others clearing my path.

When I stopped in front of her and reached for her, she flinched. I froze, swallowing that bitter taste as I let my hands fall to my side.

Her gaze was fixed to the ground but I could hear her heart hammering like it was trying to escape.

“I’ll explain the situation to the principal and take her home.” Sebastian suggested when the silence stretched too long.

Veronica stiffened.

I ignored Sebastian, hesitating. “Who was that?”

She said nothing but her pulse skipped.

I lowered my voice, “Is he the reason you’re wearing a hoodie that thick in summer?”

Her head snapped up sharply, her mouth opened. Then closed.

Frustration curled up my spine. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me anything.”

I caught the way her eyes flickered to my battered hand. I wanted to hide them, shove them into my pockets so she wouldn’t see how much of a monster I could be.

But I didn’t.

I wasn’t going to feel guilty for protecting anyone. Especially her.

She swallowed thickly before taking a step back.

My stomach sank but my instincts were stronger than her attempt to hide away into the shadows.

My jaw ticked. “Who was he, Veronica?” I asked again, softer this time.

Her fingers tightened around her sleeve. “I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.” She finally whispered.

Relief crashed into me first. She was scared of me but still cared enough about what happened to me. It was a start.

I let a small smile tug. “I doubt there’s anything he can do after today.”

She shook her head so fast my smile dropped. Fear. “You don’t understand,” she said quickly. “You just- you just made things worse for both of us.”

I frowned. Sebastian exchanged a silent glance with me.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

She hesitated, gnawing at her bottom lip as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. The image made something painful settle in my chest.

I reached for her, slower this time. She didn’t flinch back. My wolf was pleased.

I lifted her chin so she could look at me. The truth in my eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” I whispered like it was just the two of us in the hallway. “I give you my word.”