I woke up as my alpha bully's girlfriend

CHAPTER 11

Emily

I survived another day.

Barely.

At this point, avoiding Ethan Sparrow and Mary’s trio of designer demons called friends deserved academic recognition.

Especially Joye.

That girl smirked like she was permanently preparing to insult somebody.

School was finally over, and like my normal life permitted, I wasn’t rushing toward the school bus or the chemistry lab. Instead, I sat in the empty classroom Mary and I had unofficially turned into our secret meeting spot.

If anyone discovered two girls sneaking around empty classrooms every day, they would assume drugs before body swapping.

I was tapping my fingers impatiently against the desk when the door pushed open.

Mary walked in looking irritated—correction—more irritated than usual.

She shut the door behind her and folded her arms immediately. “What was that stunt you pulled with Ethan?”

I blinked innocently. “Which one?”

“Don’t do that,” she snapped. Then she narrowed her eyes. “Why would you tell him to find the person who posted the pimple video?”

I shrugged lazily. “Because he’s technically my boyfriend right now. I figured he should start acting useful.”

Mary stared at me like I personally offended the moon goddess. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re welcome.”

She rolled her eyes, groaned in frustration, and tossed her bag onto a chair.

“We only have twenty minutes before rehearsal,” she said. “Come on.”

I stood reluctantly and followed her toward the center of the classroom.

Cheerleading.

That was the thing that ruined my life. When my academic coach suggested an extracurricular to boost my chances at the academy, I should have joined the music group even though my voice sounded like a frog in heat.

Mary clapped once sharply. “Focus, Emily.”

I mocked her under my breath but straightened anyway. She demonstrated the first stunt effortlessly, like gravity personally respected her. Her movements were smooth, controlled, annoyingly perfect. She was showing off.

Then she pointed at me.

“Now do it.”

I stared at her. “You’re joking.”

“Do I look like I joke?”

Yes. All the time. And mostly with my sanity. Still, I copied her movements carefully.

And somehow, my body moved like it knew the stunt already. I landed smoothly and blinked at myself in shock.

Mary looked equally stunned.

For a second, neither of us spoke. Then slowly, I placed my hands on my waist and smiled smugly.

“Well,” I said. “Looks like I’m naturally talented.”

Mary rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might disconnect from her socket.

“It’s my body,” she snapped.

I frowned immediately. “Then how come you can’t suddenly solve chemistry equations with mine? And you just did a stunt with my body too.”

She opened her mouth, paused, then pointed at herself.

“My mind is trained for stunts,” she explained impatiently. “It doesn’t matter what body I’m in. My brain already knows the movements.”

I crossed my arms.

“Interesting,” I said sweetly. “Then your brain should also be trained enough to stop failing my chemistry practicals. After all, it's technically mine.”

Her glare sharpened. “Can we focus?”

I laughed softly but followed her instructions anyway. We practiced for a while longer, and disturbingly enough, my body really did remember the movements naturally. It was like Mary’s muscles carried their own memories.

Terrifying.

And honestly a little cool because I didn't have to practice too much.

Eventually, Mary checked the time and sighed.

“Let’s go before they start without us.”

The moment we stepped into the gym, every head turned toward us.

Or more specifically, toward Mary inside my body.

Joye spoke first. She was always the first to say something nasty. But she was as mute as a donkey in class.

“Well, look who came back,” she called loudly. “This isn’t chemistry lab, Emily. Planning to fall again?”

The other girls laughed immediately.

Mary stiffened beside me like she was trying to stop herself from saying something she'd regret.

Another girl snorted. “Careful. We don’t need another ambulance situation.”

A tiny part of me hoped for another fall of it might magically switch us back. At this point, I was open to minor head injuries.

The girls kept laughing while Mary stayed unusually quiet.

And suddenly, it sounded ugly. That was my problem with them. They never knew when to stop a joke and good thing Mary was in my shoes…and body.

I stepped forward, frowning. “Interesting,” I said calmly. “I thought cheerleaders needed coordination. Apparently all you need is cruelty.”

The gym fell silent.

One girl frowned at me. “She literally almost broke her neck last week.”

“And?” I asked. “She fell once. She didn’t die.”

Joye looked genuinely confused now. Probably because Mary Saint Laurent usually led the bullying instead of stopping it.

“Why are you defending her?” Joye asked slowly. “She’s just an Omega.”

My stomach tightened slightly at the word. I folded my arms.

“I’m not defending anyone,” I replied. “We’re here to practice, not audition for mean girls.”

A few girls exchanged shocked glances.

Joye stared harder. “You’re acting weird.”

I ignored her completely and clapped once. “Everybody into formation.”

Nobody moved immediately. So I straightened slightly and let Mary’s confidence settle over me like borrowed armor.

“I’m team captain,” I reminded them. “Which means I decide formations. If anyone has a problem with that, the exit is right there.”

No one spoke. Power was frighteningly addictive and I loved it. I started rearranging the groups carefully.

Then I pointed toward myself and Mary. “Emily and I will lead the main stunt line.”

The gym erupted instantly.

“What?”

“Emily?”

“She literally just joined!”

“She can’t lead stunts!”

Joye looked personally betrayed. “You’re giving her lead over me?”

I shrugged. “I tested her already. She’s good.”

Mary snapped her head toward me in surprise. The other girls started grumbling immediately, but I ignored them.

Now that I had access to rich girl authority, bullying people back felt a little therapeutic. And I was only giving Joye a taste of her own medicine.

Can't handle what you dish out?

Practice resumed eventually. And when it was finally Mary’s turn to perform in my body, the gym went silent again. Everyone expected her to fall again.

But she moved like an expert and she executed the stunt perfectly.

Someone gasped softly. “She moves exactly like Mary.”

Another girl blinked in disbelief. “Since when was Emily this good?”

Then Joye muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Clearly, all you need is one massive fall.”

A few girls laughed nervously. Others didn't. Practice wrapped up shortly after that. As everyone started packing up, Joye walked toward me carefully.

“Mary,” she called. “Can we talk?”

Before I could answer, Mary stepped forward immediately.

“I need to talk to her first.”

Joye frowned but nodded, clearly irritated. “Fine. Later then.”

I grabbed Mary’s wrist and pulled her toward an empty corner of the gym. The moment we stopped, she yanked her hand away sharply.

She looked offended.

“I don’t care about Omegas,” she snapped immediately. “Stop turning me into some kind of Omega defender.”

I stared at her.

That was what upset her?

Not the bullying. Not even the humiliation.

That I defended her?

“You’re unbelievable.”

“That’s how this school works,” she said coldly. “You defending people beneath us makes me look weak.”

My patience snapped instantly.

“There are things I can fake, Mary,” I said quietly. “I can pretend to like Ethan even though he makes my skin crawl. I can survive your mother slapping me every five f*****g minutes. I can even wear your ridiculously uncomfortable skirts.”

She folded her arms tightly.

“But?”

“But being a bully?” I shook my head. “No.”

Her expression hardened instantly..“That’s how this school works. So you'd better adapt while you're being me.”

“Then maybe this school is completely messed up,” I shot back, “because I’m not standing there while people get treated like trash just for existing.”