The misfits

After finalizing their discussion with the principal, Selene left and Liam went to class.

By the time lunch rolled around, Liam was trying to keep a low profile in the cafeteria. He grabbed his tray and picked a corner table, but it didn’t take long for yesterday’s bullies to find him.

“Well, if it isn’t the Alpha’s little pet,” one of them sneered, leaning over the table. “Think you’re special now?”

Liam’s jaw tightened, but instead of blowing up like yesterday, he smirked, a sharp, Kyle-like smirk that came almost naturally. “Special enough to put you flat on your back again if you’re looking for a repeat.”

The bullies blinked, not expecting the calm, cutting tone. Liam leaned back in his chair, feeling as suave as Kyle when he was in control. “What’s wrong? 'dog' got your tongue?”

The boys trembled in spot, angry at the sensitive word. However, they only muttered empty threats and backed off, cursing under their breath as they left. Liam grinned to himself at this, feeling elated.

' Kyle’s jerk tactics really works wonders...' He mused to himself.

“Wow,” suddenly, a voice said from behind him, soft but amused. “You’re quite the peculiar guy.”

Liam turned and saw a girl with warm brown eyes and soft curls framing her face. She was wearing a simple hoodie and jeans, but something about her presence made the room fade.

“Uh,” Liam muttered, caught off guard. “Do I… know you?”

She smiled, her lips catching his attention in a way that made his heart drum strangely.

' Why am I staring at her lips?' he thought, quickly tearing his gaze away.

“I was at your coming-of-age ceremony,” she said, sliding into the seat across from him like it was the most natural thing in the world. “With my mom of course. Trust me, I'm not nosy. It's just that being the star of the day, you were hard to miss. Besides, everyone in the pack is talking about you.”

Liam blinked, suddenly embarrassed. “Oh. Right. Uh… thanks, I guess?"

The girl tilted her head. “So, everyone’s saying you’re close to Alpha Kyle, through your mom. Are you, like… his secret kid or something?”

“What?” Liam sputtered. “No! I’m not his kid, why does everyone think that!”

She pouted slightly, pretending to be disappointed. “Shame. Would’ve been kind of cool. Guess we’ll just have to be friends instead.”

Before Liam could respond, she waved over another boy. He was small, scrawny, with glasses that kept slipping down his nose. The boy looked hesitant as he sat down.

“This is Aaron,” the girl said. “He’s… kind of like us.”

“Like us?” Liam asked.

“Yeah. People hate him too.” She gave a small, humorless smile. “Probably because of his mom. She’s, uh… known for sleeping around. Not really a secret.”

Aaron shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.

Liam’s eyes widened. He didn’t know what to say to that. Compared to this boy, maybe his life wasn’t as terrible as he thinks. Sure, people gossiped about his mom, but she wasn’t like that.

Aaron finally spoke, his voice quiet. “I don’t know if I should hang out with him. The bullies will just come after me if I do.” he told the girl.

Liam’s smirk returned, sharp and challenging. “Then grow a spine. You think hiding makes them leave you alone? If you don’t fight back, you’ll always be the loser they say you are.”

Aaron blinked at him, startled. The girl raised her brows, a grin spreading across her face. “Wow. I didn’t think you’d be that blunt.”

Liam shrugged. “I’m just saying. I don’t care about bullies. I’m not letting anyone push me around.”

The girl’s gaze softened as she studied him. “You’re not like the others here, you know that?”

Liam wasn’t sure what she meant, but for some reason, he felt proud.

As he ate with the two of them, Liam thought back to Kyle’s words by the lake. The thing about balance, about control. Maybe the Alpha wasn’t just a jerk after all. Maybe there was something he could learn from him.

He glanced at the girl again, catching her smile. For the first time since arriving in this hometown, he felt like maybe things wouldn’t be so bad.

...

Selene paced around her small living room, phone in hand. She had rehearsed the words a dozen times already, but now, with her thumb hovering over Kyle’s number, she felt like a nervous schoolgirl.

' It’s just money,' she told herself. ' You’re going to pay him back. It’s not like you’re begging.'

With a sharp breath, she pressed call. The phone rang twice before his deep voice filled her ear.

“Selene,” he said, his tone clipped but calm. “What is it? Checking up on me again?”

She flushed immediately. “I… no! I just wanted to know if you’re home. I need to talk to you about something.”

There was a pause, then the low rumble of a chuckle. “You sure you don’t just want to see me every day even though you said you were done with me? Not that I’d blame you though.”

Her cheeks heated. “Don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped, though her voice lacked bite. “Are you home or not?”

“Yeah,” he said casually. “Door’s open.”

When Selene arrived, the sight that greeted her nearly sent her pulse off the charts. Kyle was outside the packhouse, shirtless, sweat dripping down his sculpted chest as he finished with a set of exercises. His dark hair was damp, the veins in his arms flexing with every motion.

She swallowed hard, tearing her gaze away as he smirked, clearly catching her stare. “Like what you see?”

“No,” she lied, pushing past him toward the house. “I came to talk.”

“Sure,” he drawled, following her inside. “Talk. That’s all you ever want from me, huh?”