Chapter Three

Oakley Carson

"You've been dodging me" Ford says, closing my locker on me. I glance up at him, raising a brow.

"So what if I have?" I ask, reopening my locker. He leans against the one beside me, looking around.

"What do you want me to do, huh? I can't stand up for you without causing suspicion" he says, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I just don't know if the whole coward thing does it for me" I shrug, leaning in closer. "It just doesn't get me hard, yano? Makes me feel sorry for you "I shrug, switching my books and shutting my locker.

"Don't be a prick, Oaks." He tugs me back to him, not too close though. "You know not everyone has it as easy as you" he says, and i know he doesnt mean for it to hit so hard. But it does, I shrug him off, and shake my head.

"You think I have it so easy?" I taunt, shaking my head. "I get bullied for being attracted to someone. I get beat up, Ford. Punched. Kicked. Called names. It's not easy"

"I'm sorry, i didn't mean it like that i just- My parents would care. I'd be shunned" his eyes glance around, likely keeping an eye out for his football friends.

"I get it" I whisper, nodding.

"See you at our spot?" he asks, his eyes lighting up with hope.

"Of course" I nod, and then I'm heading to class. I feel sick to my stomach.

—

"You're even more irritating than I thought" I mumble, writing down some ideas for our project. Mrs. Lowey is my favorite teacher, and her class is one of my favorites. She teaches biology. Our project is to study a wild animal.

We research its habits, what it eats, what it does, what type of animal it is. Axton is fighting with me, because he wants to do wolves. But we aren't going to be allowed to do that. It's a crutch, because we are wolves. Mrs. Lowey won't let that slide, and I've tried to explain that to him.

"It'll be super easy," he says, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. He runs his fingers through his dark hair, his eyes cutting over to me.

"Okay, fine. Go tell Mrs. Lowey then" i close my notebook, and he smirks.

"Good, i will" he gets up, going to get in line. Giana is at the table in front of us, her partner is Ford. She leans back, her eyes flickering to Axton.

"He being a pain?" She keeps her voice low, but he can probably hear her.

"Yup. Wants to do wolves, "I murmured. Giana shakes her head.

"She's not gonna let you guys do that"

"Oh I know. But he won't listen. "I pull my knee to my chest, the other one bouncing on the floor. Axton comes over a few minutes later, huffing.

"We can't do wolves. She gave us deer's" he shoves a packet over to me, crossing his arms over his chest again.

Great. That wasn't on my list, because who wants to fucking study deer? She gave it to us because he tried to cheat. I hate him.

—

"Extra training tonight and this weekend. For those of you in sports, you can miss one of the two training sessions. We are also expecting to hear good news, and wins from the games coming up this weekend. That's all" Our beta says, dismissing us all. Training kicked my ass, I'm exhausted, and soaked with sweat.

Axton keeps looking at me, which is making Cassandra look at me, which is making all the assholes look at me and it's getting on my nerves. Cassandra can be nice, but she can be a real bitch too. We were friends a couple years back, but then she started dating Axton and dropped me.

She's good to him from what I hear, and he is good to her, so yay for them. Giana pulls on a loose shirt, and I eye her. I don't strip in front of others, and I don't take my shirt off for training like most the guys. A lot of the girls wear like sports bras and shorts, Giana does, but she brings a t-shirt too.

"Ready to get some food?" nausea circles my stomach, pulling pulling pulling.

"I'm pretty tired actually, I'll catch you tomorrow?"

"Oaks, you really should eat after a training like that" her voice is quiet, and gentle. She knows about my eating habits. Or issues? Whatever you want to call it.

"I will after I nap" I tell her, although I'm not sure if I'm telling the truth. It's been a rough couple of days mentally, and when im like that i shut down with eating. But if no one knows, it's easier to do.

"Okay" she nods, her dark eyes flickering between mine. "See you tomorrow at school?" she asks, and I nod. I slip out of the field, making my way towards my house.

But someone grabs my wrist, flinging me around. My eyes land on Axton. He drops my arm, and my stomach tightens. I can't do this with him today. "Where are you going?" he taunts, and it's then I realize it's just us.

"Listen, I can't do this today. Your idiot friends aren't around, just leave me alone" my voice comes out weak, which i hate. Axton freezes, his eyes flickering over my body. Then his stupid smirks comes out, and i know I'm fucked.

"Having a bad day?" he asks, stepping forward. I don't back away, I cross my arms and let out a breath. "I was too" he nods, copying me. Crossing his arms, he rocks on his heels. "But you know what makes me feel better?"

He steps into my space, and my eyes start to sting. "Axton.." my voice comes out as a plead. But it doesn't stop him.

A fist connects with my jaw, and my head snaps in the opposite direction. Pain surges through my body. And I was wrong, because his friends start circling around me. My arms dropped to my sides now, and Axton looks...gone?

Another punch, but this time to my gut. A grunt escapes me, and I bunch over, my arms circling around myself.

Then a leg comes between mine, knocking me to the ground. Ford? My eyes collide with him, when another punch lands my eye. From fucking Ford.

"You fucking coward" i snap, shoving him off me. He falls easily, not in the mood to fight me now. I push up to a sitting position, but then Adam is pushing me down, his foot against my chest.

Cassandra comes running over "Giana is coming" she pants slightly. Adam lands a couple good punches to my face, blood floods my mouth.

"Knock it off, assholes," Giana says, shoving her way through. She pushes Adam off me, and grabs my hand. She helps me up, and my eyes find Axton.. And he almost looks like.. He regrets it? But he started it.

I shake my head, wiping a few stray tears and I follow Giana. They leave her alone, because she can kick their asses, and she is really close with our Alpha. Her dad is like his best friend.

"You okay?" Giana asks, once we're far enough away.

"Fine," I murmured, circling my arms around myself.

"I'm sorry, Oaks." Her voice is soft. "I know you and Ford-"

"Nothing now. I'm done with him "I shake my head, and we walk to our cars. We drove separately back home.

I sit in a parking lot, behind the grocery store. I let my forehead rest against my wheel, as tears streamed down my face.

I fucking hate this.