Crushed hopes

Chapter 4

Harper's POV

"See you at ten." I dropped my cell phone after reading Scott's text. I stared at myself in the mirror. My hair was up in a ponytail, light pink lipstick on my lips and I was wearing one of the few cute dresses I owned. It still felt like a dream. I was going to a school party as Justin's date. He had been my crush since middle school and I hoped he would turn out to be my mate when I turned eighteen.

Sadly, I was part of the rare omegas who had no wolf. My heart was crushed when I thought it was over for us. However, turned out it wasn't. He might have felt the same way as I did. He hadn't found his mate either. Maybe we were indeed meant to be. I smiled at the mirror and let out a deep breath.

No one was downstairs when I stepped out. The triplets were nowhere to be seen after what happened in my room. I didn't know what it was but I knew I could never be that close to them ever again. We were siblings now despite how much I hated that fact. I hadn't met the Alpha yet either.

"Where do you think you are going?" Stella asked walking towards me in her flowing night robe and a glass of wine in her hands.

I fiddled with my fingers. "Uhm...out?"

Her eyes took me in. "Whatever. You shouldn't be here anyway. The Alpha's having a meeting in an hour. Your presence here will be an eyesore. Off you go," she shooed me away with her hands without bothering to ask exactly where I was headed. I walked away from her presence before she could change her mind.

The party wasn't organised at school. No party ever was one that I had not been invited to before. Justin had sent me the address and I was supposed to meet Scott there as well. I took a cab to the address. Justin was standing at the door when I arrived. He smiled and waved me over. I smiled walking over to him tugging at my dress nervously.

"Hi."

He smiled pushing himself off the wall."You came." I nodded in response. My heart is thudding in my chest. It felt unreal that this was happening. Justin looked as good as always. He had curly blonde hair and was slightly taller than I was. His grey eyes were always hidden behind his glasses.

"I'm glad you paid heed to my invite. I never thought you would come," he said as we both headed inside.

"You invited me. Of course, I would show up," I responded. We both stepped into the room. It was the house of one of our students. Every popular person I could think of was present. The lights were low, there were drinks and couples were hooking up on the couch.

"I will get us some drinks," Justin said to me in a loud tone over the loud music blasting from the speakers. I looked around nervously. This wasn't my usual type of scene and I couldn't see Scott anywhere. I felt a bit uneasy but I was probably just in my head. I was on a date with my crush. What could be better than that?

"I forgot to say you look beautiful tonight. I will be right back," he winked at me before disappearing into the crowd. I smiled clutching the hem of my sleeves and biting my lips. I pulled out my phone and dialled Scott's number. He was supposed to be here minutes ago. He picked up on the third ring.

"Hey, I thought you would be here already..."

"I am. But Harps, something doesn't feel right. Stay somewhere safe where I can reach you....be right there.."

"Hello? What do you mean? I can't hear you. Scott?" I called out confused and worried wondering what he was going on about. I tried to step out in order to hear him better but then I noticed some people I never wanted to meet outside the school walls. My heart leapt in my chest. I wanted to turn around, pretend I never saw them but the grin on their faces told me all I needed to know.

"Hey, omega trash. Fancy seeing you at a party like this," Rachel said to me with a smug smile. Laura was right behind her and so was Allison. Those three were my worst nightmare. Allison was the Whitmore brothers' mate. She prided herself on being the next Luna and everyone in school practically worshipped her.

Rachel staggered towards me and I took a step only to bump into someone.

"Going somewhere so soon freak." It was Justin. I gulped, confused.

"Y...you invited me."

He hummed, his eyes turned cold. "That's because we needed some sort of entertainment. The clown bailed on us at the last minute." I stared at Justin in disbelief. The boy I had a crush on since I was fourteen, my throat tightening.

He scoffed placing his hands on my shoulder. "Come on. You didn't seriously believe my lies. You think someone like me would fall for someone like you?" He spat out the last part like the mere thought of that disgusted him. I heard snickers as the music stopped. Before I could react, Rachel dumped a cup of sticky punch over my head. It splattered on my dress and dripped down my arms and legs. Gasps and laughter erupted immediately.

I clenched my fists tightly feeling the sting behind my eyes and the burn in my chest. My hands trembled.

"Are you going to cry freak?"

"Perhaps howl at the moon. Why don't you let out your pathetic howl, let's hear it."

"You never should have been allowed into our school."

"Why don't you just kill yourself!"

"Die Freak!"

They all threw things at me as I became the centre of attention. I assured myself it was okay. It was all going to be over soon. I just had to bear with it and...

"Why don't we play with her in the pool? Would be fun, wouldn't it?" Someone asked diverting their attention. Oh no. I couldn't swim. I was going to drown if they did that. I shook my head. They could do whatever they wanted to me but throwing me in a pool shouldn't be one of them. Scott wasn't even here. Who was going to get me out of the pool?

"The freak looks scared. Fuck it, let's do it," Laura slurred excitedly. Someone grabbed me by the arm and dragged me towards the pool at the back of the house.

"Please don't. Don't do this," I pleaded my heart thumping loudly out of fear in my chest. No one listened to me.

“Justin please,” I pleaded again hoping he would at least listen but he only took a sip from his drink and stepped back.

"Have a nice swim, omega bitch!" Someone yelled. One hard shove from behind and I was already under the cold water. The weight of my dress dragged me down. I kicked and tried to scream but more water rushed down my throat. Was this the end? Was this what the moon goddess had in store for me even after everything I went through? Death. I couldn't do it myself so she found someone to do it for me.

I stopped struggling as darkness pricked the corner of my vision. The water suddenly became oddly calm. I wasn’t able to comprehend what was going on before an arm grabbed my wrist and another strong one wrapped around my waist and pulled me out.

"Hey, Red! Stay with me! Look at me!"

A gasp tore through my throat as I coughed, breathing in air. It was Noah. His wet shirt stuck tightly to his chest and Cole as well as Hayes. They had saved me.

"Have you all completely lost your mind or has the alcohol taken over your senses?" Hayes growled furiously. His eyes had changed to a bright golden hue. A chill went down my spine. I could tell I wasn't the only one who was terrified. Everyone cowered away.

"Hayes, chill man. It was only a joke..."

He grabbed Justin by the throat and shoved him towards a wall. "How about I make a joke too, by ripping out your throat!" Justin visibly gulped.

"W...what? I'm a highborn. She's nothing but an omega freak..."

Hayes's fists tightened around Justin's throat cutting off his oxygen supply. His face turned beet red and his eyes almost popped out of their socket. Noah and Cole simply stood and watched. They did nothing to stop him.

"We can bully her but no one else can. No one touches what belongs to us."

I stared at Hayes in shock wondering if I had heard correctly. Was I dreaming or was I already dead under the pool?