The Alpha's Hidden Mate

Bullies and Losers

*Ember*

Coffee.

I desperately need coffee.

The cafeteria is noisy as the other Alpha candidates go about getting their trays and finding their seats. I do my best to navigate, but my vision is blurry. I didn’t sleep more than an hour last night, and that wasn’t sequential. How in the world was I supposed to sleep with Kyan on top of me?

Okay, he wasn’t on top of me, but he was on the bunk above me, and that was close enough to keep my tossing and turning–as quietly as possible so as not to disturb him–all night.

Even though I’m drowsy, I have to keep my eyes open because that asshole Malcolm could be lurking anywhere, ready to embarrass me again, and I do not need to start off my first full day at the academy with gravy dripping down my face.

I make my way to the pitcher of coffee and wait my turn to pour a cup. They don’t have anything resembling my favorite creamer, so I pour in straight milk and then turn toward the serving windows. Normally, I’d choose a pastry or some fruit, but today, I decide to go with bacon and eggs because I’m going to need my energy.

A few gulps of coffee help me wake up enough to see Luka. He waves at me, and I nod, but my head is on a swivel, seeking Malcolm and his large boots out before he trips me again. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to have made his entrance yet.

I settle into the seat next to Luka, and he nudges me with his elbow. “You look like hell, Em.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, barely able to manage picking up my fork. I spear a bite of scrambled eggs and drop it into my mouth, being careful to answer with food in my mouth so as to blend in. “Didn’t sleep much.”

“Me neither,” Brock agrees from across the table. “I hate breaking in a new mattress.”

“Ha ha.” Mikey laughs so hard, it looks like milk might shoot out of his nose. “As if you’ve ever broken in a mattress before.”

“Oh, Goddess, Mike! Get your head out of the gutter!” Brock must kick Mikey under the table because he grimaces, his face turning even redder than normal, which makes Luka laugh.

“Something tells me none of you guys have much experience with that.” He picks up a piece of bacon and winds it into his mouth.

I can’t argue with him.

Neither can the other guys.

Something tells me Luka does know a thing or two about breaking in mattresses–and not in the way Brock meant.

I clear my throat. “So the paperwork said we’ll be divided into random groups today.” I don’t add that the idea of being in a group with no one I know–or worse, with Malcolm–makes me extremely nervous. I don’t have to. I see my emotions reflected on every face around me, except for Luka’s. But then, he’s obviously very good at making friends.

“Don’t sweat it.” He waves his hand nonchalantly. “It’ll be a piece of cake. Today, they’ll just be sizing us up. Tomorrow, they’ll have us grouped with the guys that are most like us physically. That’s when the real work begins.”

“Oh, yeah?” Mikey asks, finishing off his milk. “How do you know that?” He doesn’t sound like he’s questioning Luka, only like he’s curious.

“My father told me,” Luka says with a shrug. “All of our dads have been through this, right?”

The others agree, but I shake my head–because Emory’s father has not. “My uncle,” I remind them.

“That’s right. Well, my old man told me all about it. Today’ll be just fine.” He claps me hard enough on the back that I almost lurch into my eggs. I manage a smile.

A moment later, there’s a slight commotion near the entryway. We all turn to look in that direction and see Malcolm hovering over a guy who can’t be much taller than me and is somehow even thinner. The kid looks like he’s about to piss his pants. He’s backed against the wall, and Malcolm is chuckling in his face, three of his cronies behind him, egging him on.

“Oh, s**t,” Brock murmurs. “Eric’s toast.”

Luka pushes his chair back, and I know he intends to go over there and help that kid the same way he helped me, but he doesn’t get the chance.

Kyan comes flying through the door, practically slamming it into Malcolm, and it’s clear he caught a glimpse of what was happening from the hallway because he immediately steps between the trembling kid and the bully, his jaw flexed and his nostrils flaring.

Malcolm has to lift his head to attempt to look Kyan in the eyes. I can’t hear them, but the villain doesn’t seem to appreciate having his fun interrupted. He takes a step toward Kyan, his eyes narrowed. His buddies step up, too, and it’s four on one.

Kyan doesn’t back down though. He’s ready to shove Malcolm back when Jaxson walks in. He stands next to both of them, his hands up in a way that says everyone needs to calm down. Kyan says something to Malcolm. The asshole laughs, that f*****g grin on his face I know too well from seeing it up close and personal. A second later, Malcolm motions toward his crowd, acting like they were just joking around, and they disperse, headed across the cafeteria to get their food.

I immediately drop my eyes so that he won’t see me and single me out again.

That, and I don’t want Kyan to see me.

Luka scoots his chair up, but I can see from the corner of my eye as he tracks Malcolm across the room.

“That was a close one,” Brock mumbles as everyone in the cafeteria seems to let go a collective breath.

“Sure was,” Mikey agrees. “Poor Eric.”

“Eric’s fine,” Luka insists. Then, he says something to someone who’s passing right behind me, and I freeze. “Nice work. I’ve got your back if you need me.” He extends his fist, and I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Kyan who pounds him back. I can feel him the same way I could feel him through that mattress last night.

Kyan mutters a thanks, and then he and Jaxson head off to the line closest line to us. I let go a breath and pick up my coffee cup, hoping my hand isn’t shaking too much to get it to my lips. I manage a sip and take another deep breath.

“Em?” Luka asks. “You okay?”

“Yep.” I turn my head in his direction and fake a smile. “Just a bit traumatized from yesterday.” I try to laugh, but nothing comes out.

“Don’t worry,” Luka assures me. “Chances are, you won’t be in Malcolm’s group anyway.”

“Yeah, by tomorrow us little guys will all be in a group by ourselves,” Mikey says. “The loser group.”

“Just because you’re small, that doesn’t make you a loser,” Luka interjects, but I’m perfectly fine being a loser if it means I don’t have to be in Malcolm’s group.

Or Kyan’s.