Chapter 4

Sierra looked at me. I wasn't sure what was going to happen in those next moments. Suddenly she smiled at me and pulled me up. 

“Oh, Anaya, you're so clumsy.” She gripped my hand tightly—an obvious warning for me to keep my mouth shut—as she pretended to help me up and clean the dust off my skirt. 

Cade had reached us by then. He took one look around the scene, Blair's and Penelope's guilty faces were enough for anyone with half a brain to know what had really happened. 

“What are you doing?” He asked, facing Sierra.

“We were just helping Anaya, she seems to have slipped. Isn't that right Anaya?”

His eyes flicked to mine but I was too shaken up to respond. Sierra's grip on me tightened.

“Y-yes.” 

“Leave.” He said 

Without thinking I started to walk away. He put his hand out in front of me. “Not you.”

Sierra's face twisted when she realised he was talking to her and her minions. 

“What? Boo boo bear, why are you sending me away?” 

I nearly threw up at the name and the tone with which she spoke to him. I caught Cade wince a little too and I nearly burst out laughing. 

“I won't repeat myself, Sierra. And how many times do I have to remind you that we're over?” 

Sierra looked at me like I was the reason for her misfortune. Her face twisted into a scowl then she turned to Cade immediately plastering a smile. 

“I'll come see you later.” 

Cade didn't reply then she strutted off with her minions in tow. I let out a visible sight of relief once they were gone. 

But it was short-lived as Cade was already approaching me. Shit. What if he sent them away so he could break my bones and ship me back home? My eyes darted around the empty halls. Someone please come out, I prayed in my head.

“Barely a week in and you already got on Sierra's bad side.” He said finally, his eyes flicking over my face and battered clothes. 

“I-I don't know what you're talking about. I slipped.” 

Cade scoffed then he leaned in closer to me, so close we were probably recycling the same air. His hands reached up to touch my face. I felt his warm breath as he spoke.

“So the floor slapped you in the face too, huh?” He delivered, standing back straight. My hand instinctively rose to my cheek. It did feel a little sore. 

But there was no world I'm which I'd report Sierra to anyone at all without my diary being exposed too. So I'd have to suck it up. Cade was the last person I needed to be in my business now.

“Why do you even care?”

“I don't. But perhaps I should thank Sierra for returning the favour.” 

“I hit you because you were being a jerk.” I snapped.

“Anyone ever tell you you've got a sharp mouth? Watch it before it gets you in serious trouble.” 

Before I could fire back he was already walking off, carrying himself with quiet confidence and calm. But all I saw was an egotistical son of a— 

“Pigeon?” 

I quickly brushed my hair to cover my face as I turned. Seth had a worried expression on his face as he took in my dishevelled state. I purposely kept my gaze down to prevent him from noticing Sierra's palm imprint on my cheek.

“What are you doing here? And what happened to your clothes?”

“Nothing. I just tripped in the cafeteria and spilled my food all over myself.” 

“Okay, let's get you back to the dorms so you can change.”

“It's fine. Don't you have tryouts on Friday? You should keep practicing. I'm not feeling too good so I think I'll just skip the rest of the day.” 

He didn't look convinced but I didn't want to worry him with my own little problems. Bullying wasn't new to me. 

“You sure?” 

“Yeah, I am.” .

Seth still insisted on walking me to my room before he returned to his own plans. 

I stood in front of the mirror, fully taking in my appearance. It was then, alone in the comfort of my own pain that I finally let the tears fall. I hadn't been hurt this bad since I was 12. I was the runt of the pack long before it was clear that I didn't have a wolf. The other pack kids often picked on me for it and for the longest time Seth always came to my rescue. But it didn't make me feel any less weak.

That sharp tongue Cade warned me about was a result of those years of bullying. A coping mechanism. If I couldn't fight back with fists I could at least do so with my words. 

I wiped my tears slowly, the feeling of defeat and hopelessness was unshakeable. I couldn't do this. This life my father wanted for me. It wasn't mine. I wasn't even a pureblood so would I ever have a place in the pack? 

I shook my head. My mind made up. It was time for me to leave. Cut my losses before things got worse. 

By the time morning came, I was fully packed. All that was left for me to do was to tell Seth goodbye. I knew he'd have questions but I didn't want to betray him by just disappearing without a word. 

So I went to the place I knew he'd be. The arena. I'd never actually gone inside. Seth had only pointed it out to me during his somewhat shabby tour. It looked massive from outside but being inside was a whole other story. The arena was a wonder of its own. 

There were some students in the stands watching as the players practiced. I watched their movements in awe. How the ball was thrown, how they'd shift mid jumps to land the ball.

Seth located me first. 

“Pigeon, what are you doing here?” He asked as he gave me a small hug. 

My nerves were spiking already. This was harder than I thought it would be. As I searched for the right words, I heard someone scream. 

“Look out!” 

I whipped around, pulse already racing as I saw the ball hurling right at me.