Chapter 5

I cried out as she threw me to the ground, my hair tangled across my face. I trembled in fear as she stood over me, her eyes fully changed, flashing with rage.

"Don't you dare touch my Caspian, you whore." She screamed, claws extended, as she threw herself at me.

I scrambled back in fear, hands raised in defense, but someone caught her before she unleashed her hatred on me. Mr. Clarke, the school's biology teacher, held her as she screamed and struggled against him to get to me.

"Miss Reyes, you need to calm down now." He commanded. But she wasn't listening; she continued to struggle with him, screaming obscenities at me. "I'll kill you. I'll fucking kill you." She shrieked.

Mr. Thomas, the school's security guard, grasped my arm, helping me up. Wincing at the throbbing pain in my head, I touched my scalp, feeling puncture wounds from her fake nails digging into my skin.

She continued to fight with Mr. Clarke, who struggled to hold her, and for a moment she broke free, launching at me. I stepped behind Mr. Thomas, clinging to him in fear, but Mr. Clarke caught her before she got to me, dragging her away as Mr. Thomas and I quietly followed.

^^^

Now, we sat in the principal's office, Bridget and I on opposite sides of a long meeting table, the principal at the head. The room was silent, the only sound that of the wall clock ticking. My fingers twisted anxiously in my laps. My eyes never left Bridget, afraid she might finish what she started.

The distance between us was not far enough. I wanted to get as far away from her as physically possible, preferably into Caspian's arms.

He would never have allowed this to happen. He probably wouldn't have imagined that Bridget would hurt me physically. She usually just stuck with words, cutting me deeply. But I guess I did goad her. No one wanted to hear that the person they wanted was sleeping with their enemy.

The principal had summoned our parents as the situation was beyond the school's ability to handle.

I knew my father wouldn't show up, and even if he did, it would only make things worse. The principal was our kind, so he really couldn't punish Bridget. As the daughter of the beta, her position is much higher than his.

But he could punish me. I was just a lowly omega, the lowest position of the pack. I already knew I would bear the worst of it and Bridget would walk away scot-free as usual. It wasn't fair.

Bridget's parents arrived, and just as expected, everyone blamed me. I wished Caspian was here, but I wasn't going to be selfish and call him just because I couldn't handle myself in a fight.

"Oh, Bridget." Bridget's mother exclaimed, pulling her in for a hug, and Bridget immediately burst into tears. I averted my gaze at the display, jealousy eating at me. I didn't have that. She examined Bridget's injuries, which were nothing compared to mine, and glared at me. "What did you do to my daughter?"

I didn't have to answer.

"Mrs. Reyes." The principal started calmly. "Miss Reyes and Miss Martins got into a fight at school."

"Cut the crap, Magnus." Mr. Reyes, Bridget's father, interjected. "That bitch hurt my daughter; I demand she be punished."

The principal tried to reason with him. "Mr. Reyes, both parties were injured during the fight."

Mr. Reyes laughed mockingly. "No one cares about a lowly omega." My face burned with embarrassment. He was right; no one cared. Not even my father, who didn't even bother to show up.

Mr. Wesley opened his mouth to protest, but Mr. Reyes interrupted him.

"Give her the worst punishment there is; make sure she pays for even daring to touch my daughter." He commanded.

The principal nodded reluctantly. I really couldn't blame him; there was nothing he could do. He couldn't go against the Beta's command. The principal agreed, and the Reyes family left.

He paced his office restlessly while I sat where I was. "What were you thinking? Fighting with Bridget." He turned to me. "She could've killed you."

I remained silent.

He sighed. "I didn't need to be there to know she probably started it. But there's not much I can do." I nodded, tears pricking at my eyes.

"But Caspian can. You should talk to him." I shook my head. I won't involve him.

"Olivia, think about it. There's nothing you can do on your own. Let him help." He tried to convince me.

"Caspian doesn't need to know about it."

He nodded once he saw I wouldn't budge. "You won't be punished." I jerked my head up in surprise.

"But Mr. Reyes—" I started, but he stopped me.

"Mr. Reyes will be informed that you were punished. Severely." He smiled.

I nodded, grateful. "Thank you." I whispered as I stood to leave.

"Being an omega doesn't make you less of a wolf, Olivia." His words stopped me. "Don't forget that."I nodded and hurried out of his office, tears streaming down my face.

I wished I believed that.

I didn't return to class; instead, I went home. I was already mentally exhausted from today, and I just wanted to curl up and cry into my pillow.

But as I got home, I met two pack warriors at the front porch of my house, waiting for me.

"The Luna wants to see you, miss." One of them said.

"Me?" They nodded and escorted me to the pack house.

As we walked, I nervously wiped my sweaty palms on my skirt. They hadn't given me time to change, so I was still wearing the tea-stained cloth from lunch, my hair tangled from the fight, and my eyes red and puffy from crying. I winced, mortified by how I looked.

Once we got there, they took me in and led me to the living room. I felt dread as I took in the scene before me. Our Luna sat on the armchair, while Bridget and her mom occupied the sofa, wrapped around each other as Bridget cried. They had probably told our Luna all about what happened, twisting it to their advantage. I had no hope to win this battle. The Luna already hated me; touching her precious Bridget only made it worse.

As soon as she saw me, she stood and approached me, her eyes flashing with anger. "How dare you." She spat, lifting her hand to strike me.