Once Best Friend, Now My Bully Mate

DONOVAN'S POV

I watched Amanda's eyes-those eyes I had once loved more than anything-fill with tears she refused to let fall. For one unbearable moment, my chest seized with a pain I couldn't name. My wolf snarled inside me, clawing to get out, to reach our mate, to wipe the tears from her face and pull her into my arms.

I promised to protect her forever. I would have torn apart anyone who dared hurt her.

That was supposed to be my purpose. My destiny. And I would have embraced it gladly.

Then, just as I felt myself slipping-just as I almost stepped toward her-someone else got there first.

That damned Steven.

"Since when does this school make rules based on your mood?" His voice was calm, steady, dripping with defense for her. "Who gave you the right to decide who eats and who doesn't?"

I wanted to kill him.

I forced myself to turn, to face him. "New arrival," I said, each word slow and deliberate, "as the future Alpha, I have every right to make rules for the safety of this Pack."

"Oh, really?" He raised an eyebrow, and the look on his face made me want to rearrange his features. "I don't recall hearing that children have to starve just because their father committed a crime."

"If you're deaf, that's not my problem." I smiled-a cold, sharp thing. "I won't waste my energy repeating myself to someone so far beneath me."

Steven's hands curled into fists at his sides.

Good. Throw the first punch. Give me a reason.

I wanted him to swing. I wanted to tear that smug, righteous face apart. I wanted Amanda to see-to finally see-the ugly, hypocritical soul hiding behind that heroic mask.

But the coward didn't move.

Instead, she stepped in front of him.

"Leave Steven alone." Her voice was small but steady. "This has nothing to do with him."

The words hit me like a blade between the ribs.

I stared at her-my Amanda-standing between me and another male. Protecting him. Him.

My wolf howled in fury. My jaw tightened so hard I thought my teeth might crack.

"You're defending him now?" The question came out lower than I intended, rougher. I couldn't quite hide the edge beneath it.

She didn't flinch. Didn't back down. Just stood there, soaked in soup, looking at me like I was the monster.

"I'm just stating facts," she said, her jaw set with that stubborn resolve I knew too well. "You're targeting me. There's no need to drag innocent people into it."

"Innocent?" The word nearly made me laugh. "A traitor's daughter like you-do you even know what 'innocent' means?"

She flinched. The light in her eyes dimmed, just for a second. But instead of the satisfaction I'd expected, something else twisted in my gut.

She looked at me-really looked at me-with something I hadn't seen before.

"I misjudged you," she said quietly. "I was foolish to think we. at least we used to be friends."

The disappointment in her voice hit harder than I wanted to admit.

Before I could reach for her-before I could stop myself-she turned and ran out of the cafeteria. I should have gone after her. But my feet stayed nailed to the floor.

Because Amanda didn't look back. Not once.

---

AMANDA'S POV:

I ran. I ran like I could outrun the tears, like if I moved fast enough, no one would see me fall apart.

I never thought Donovan would become my worst bully. I could ignore the others-their sneers, their whispers, their cruel little jokes. But every time his eyes met mine with that look of disgust, it felt like my heart was being carved out piece by piece.

Could I really survive this? Finish school in this place? Maybe I should just disappear. Find a corner where no one would ever notice me.

"Hey, Amanda." Steven caught up to me, breathless. "Are you okay?"

I didn't understand why he kept following me. When the whole world had turned against me, this boy I barely knew kept showing up. Maybe he was just too good for his own sake.

"I'm fine." I wiped my tears quickly and turned to face him. "Thank you. But I just want to be alone right now."

His outstretched hand hesitated, then dropped to rub the back of his neck. "Okay. I get it. If you ever need anything, just call."

I nodded. We said goodbye.

The afternoon passed faster than I expected. Maybe because I'd started learning how to tune out the hate. I left before the final bell this time-I couldn't risk missing the early bus to the Omega tenement. I couldn't stomach another minute of their stares.

But luck wasn't on my side.

The moment I reached the bus stop, three male wolves stepped out from the shadows, blocking my path.

"Where do you think you're going, traitor girl?" one of them sneered.

I tried to step around them. Another one moved to block me.

"Get out of my way," I said, my voice sharp. "You don't want to find out what I'll do to you."

"Ooh, feisty," another mocked. "Maybe that's why her dad ran off. Couldn't handle all that heat."

Rage coiled in my stomach, hot and sick. "Don't talk about my father."

They laughed like I'd told a joke. "What are you gonna do about it, Omega?"

One of them stepped closer, his breath hot and foul. "Tell me, why beg for scraps in the cafeteria when you could just. be nice to us? We might take care of you. Real good."

My body went rigid. I understood exactly what he was suggesting. "Stay away from me. I'm warning you."

One of them grabbed my wrist. "Relax. We're trying to help you. No one else will touch you. You should be grateful."

"Let go of me!" I yelled, louder this time.

"No," he grinned, his other hand moving toward my chest. "Not until we've had our-"

"Hey!"

A voice rang out from across the street. Familiar. The boys froze.

I turned.

Steven.

He walked straight toward us, and I'd never seen that look on his face before. Hard. Dangerous.

"Let her go. Now," he said.

The leader scoffed. "What's it to you? Who made you the knight in shining armor?"

"I said let her go," Steven repeated. "Unless you want trouble."

For a moment, I thought they might swing at him. But something in Steven's eyes made them hesitate. The one holding my wrist let go like my skin had burned him.

"Whatever. Not worth it," he muttered, backing away. "She's just a worthless Omega anyway. Her whole family is trash. I wouldn't want her stink on me."

They slunk off without another glance.

I let out a shaky breath.

"You okay?" Steven asked.

I nodded, even though my hands were still trembling. "Yeah. Thank you."

He told me to wait, jogged back to the school lot, and pulled his car around in under a minute. Twenty minutes later, he dropped me at the tenement.

I turned to him with a warm smile. "Thank you, Steven. I don't know why you keep doing this, but. I really appreciate it."

"It's nothing," he said. "If you want, I could pick you up every morning. Drop you off after school."

The offer felt. big. Like something I shouldn't accept without thinking.

"I'll. think about it," I said softly.

He nodded and drove off. But I stood there longer than I should have, watching his car disappear down the road. I couldn't say why. Something heavy settled in my chest.

I sighed and turned toward the stairwell.

And walked straight into a solid wall of muscle.

I looked up.

My blood went cold.

Donovan Reed stood right in front of me.

His eyes snapped to mine-then widened. A sharp inhale cut through the silence. Before I could step back, his hand shot out and closed around my throat.

"What the hell is this scent?" he snarled.

I clawed at his wrist. "D-Donovan-wait-"

"You smell like you've been rolling around with a dozen men," he growled, his grip tightening. "I knew it. The moment you stepped in front of that bastard in the cafeteria, I knew. You're sleeping with him. And not just him?" His lip curled. "You're pathetic, Amanda. Spreading your legs for anyone who says hello."

I tried to speak, but no sound came out. My vision blurred at the edges.

He didn't stop.

"A traitor's daughter whoring herself out like some cheap slut," he hissed.

My knees buckled. Still, he didn't let go. Spots danced in front of my eyes. A ringing filled my ears.

Then-his grip loosened.

He let go completely. I slumped against the wall, coughing, gasping, dragging air into my burning lungs.

He stood there, breathing hard, his jaw clenched like stone.

"Stop running around like a stray," he bit out. "If you get hurt, the Pack will blame me. I'm not your babysitter."

I wiped my eyes and steadied my voice. "I wasn't running around. Some guys tried to-"

"I don't care," he cut me off.

His gaze dragged over me-taking in my wrinkled, soaked clothes, the dirt, the red marks blooming on my throat.

"From now on," Donovan said, his voice flat and sharp as a blade, "you're my personal servant. A small way for you to atone for your father's crimes. You come when I call. You do what I say."

My heart dropped, a cold, heavy stone sinking in my chest.

"What?"