Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 16

Lily's POV

Maybe it was because the last time that I trusted anyone, I was only met with nothing but disgrace, heartbreak and total ruin. But seeing Mauve giving me a big smile set off alarms in my head as she closed the distance between us and walked towards me. She was immediately upon me. Chanel no 5 scent assaulting my nostrils.

She was looking at me with a weird look in her eyes. Like I was a poor alley cat that she had decided to take pity on and I should be grateful for it.

It made me feel like it was only a matter of time before she played her hand and showed me what all of this niceties was for.

If Bia was here right now, she would probably scold me for being such a pessimist and having trust issues but every time I wanted to open up to someone, to believe in them, Cade's face kept popping up in my mind, reminding me that not all that glittered was gold. But you started to trust Ren, a small voice whispered in my mind and I could not help but feel my face heat up at the thought. Embarrassment washing over my bones.

"The cafeteria is the other way, Lily. So where are you going?" Mauve asked with a bright smile that showed off her pearly white teeth and her perfectly lined lips.

I... uh..." I started, shifting uneasily on my worn shoes.

She sighed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders in one swift move like we had been friends for a long time.

"I was just heading to the library." I finally found my voice.

"Yeah, duh, no s**t, I'm sure everyone who sees you in this hallway will know that you're heading to the library. My question now is why? Why go to the library during lunch time?"

"I was planning to spend the rest of the lunch period there." I finally replied after spending a long time thinking of what to say without sounding like a pathetic little scared girl.

She rolled her eyes and clucked her tongue and then she shook her head as she looked at me again.

"Oh, no, that won't do, Lily. You're part of us now. You are coming to the cafeteria with us. Right now." She ordered and started to walk but when she turned around and saw that I had not moved an inch, she grabbed my arm.

"Oh come on, Lily. I feel very hurt that you would question what I said yesterday after making a spectacle of it. The last thing you need is to start hiding out in the library or the toilet when you should be getting food in your belly."

"But-"

"Not me, nor my announcement will hold them up for long. We have to stand in solidarity and show them that you're one of us. If you start secluding yourself from us, they'll pick you out again and the entire point of my announcement will be useless." She looked at me, dark green eyes darkening with what looked like genuine interest. "Trust me, Lily. I've been there before. I know how ruthless these people can be. Let me help you. We'll get through this. Together."

I sighed and nodded, seeing the truth in her words. A part of me wanted to refuse, wanted to fight back, but a smaller part of me felt like she was telling the truth and really wanted to help.

She smiled wide, her grin almost as bright as her crystals. And with that, she started to lead me towards the other direction despite my protests, which I considered to very valid even though all she did was laugh heartily at my excuses.

I had thought that Gold crest's cafeteria was ginormous for the number of students that the school had but the cafeteria in Shadow cove? Gold crest could not hold a candle to it, like every other thing about this place.

With horizontal tables and benches on each side, the cafeteria was arranged in a way that you could see everything and everyone from just one glance.

"Well, what do you think? Have you been here before?" Mauve asked and I shook my head, feeling intimidated by the number of people that had now turned to stare at us.

Eyes. So many eyes.

There were so many people here and it made me wonder if this was all a set up after all.

I folded my hands behind my back to hide that they were starting to shake as different scenarios played out in my head, none of them good.

"Well, as from now on. You eat inside the cafeteria with me and the gang." She said and before I could reply, led me up the stairs and down the large hall towards a separate section from the crowd.

As we arrived at the section, I noticed that the table on this end was quite larger than the others and here, one of the tables was occupied by girls in fancy, stylish uniforms and expensive accessories. The boys also looked shiny with their impeccable dressing and their table was loud as they argued about something.

I realized who these people were without having to be told. They were the populars in Shadow cove academy. The richest of the rich, the elite of the elite. They were the kids with parents that were high ranking officials and generally those that had something going for them in this place were all gathered here.

Some couples were shamelessly making out and I felt my face heat up as I cleared my throat and looked away when one of the boys kissing a girl winked at me.

Mauve left me where I stood and started to greet other girls at the table and as all of them started a conversation, it was not long before I started to feel like being brought here was a mistake. Mauve should have just left me alone and allowed me to go and stay in the library in peace.

I didn't belong here.

I turned around to leave quickly before Mauve would finish whatever she was saying and keep me here but stopped in my tracks when my eyes landed on Ren.

I felt my heart skip a beat and start pounding wildly against my ribcage. My face lit up like a light bulb just at the sight of him.

He hadn't even seen me yet and I was already grinning wide like a sedated patient.

I didn't realize that I would feel so much joy seeing another familiar face in this place. My smile was wide as my eyes landed on him.

He was talking to a girl and when she looked towards my direction, trying to show him something, I noticed the striking resemblance between them. Her hair was snow white like Ren's but where the former had brown eyes, hers were teal coloured. I remembered him talking about having a sister. That had to be her.

"Ren!" I called out excitedly before I could stop myself and when he turned away from his sister, his eyes landing on me, I waved at him even more excitedly. My joy was shortlived.

My smile burnt out like a dying star, fading when his face twisted into a worried frown. He was looking at me like I was not supposed to be here.

I don't belong. I don't belong. I don't belong.

course. We've only talked for a couple of hours together. That didn't make us besties. That didn't mean that he'd want to be seen in public with me.

Right?

RIGHT?

I took a step back, and another and another.

He suddenly said goodbye to his sister who only glanced at me before walking back to her own table. He walked towards me, an intent look in his light brown eyes and I could only watch as he closed the distance between us.

I didn't know how he managed to look even more handsome everytime I set my eyes on him. His hair was as artistically messy as before, two thin braids falling over the left side of his face. His light brown eyes were bright and his face look like it had been sculpted from glass. Delicate. Clear. Sharp.

It looked like I could stain him just by being in his presence. Like I wasn't worthy to look at something so bright, pure and beautiful.

My insides tangled into knots. My palm started sweating.

"Hey, it's good to see you." I said with a shaky smile when he reached where I was.

He merely nodded, his shoulders tense.

My heart fell. I wondered if I had said something wrong. If he was perhaps upset about the fact that I had barged in on him and his girlfriend at the studio.

I opened my mouth, ready to apologize.

"Don't." He stopped me, like he knew what I was about to say.

He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a breath before looking at me with whiskey coloured eyes. "Don't be sorry. Don't feel inferior. Don't feel like you don't belong here. And for the first and last time, Lily," he said, through gritted teeth, his gaze turning cold and dark with intent, "Don't ever feel like I don't want to be seen with you in public." He was heaving. "Okay?"

I blinked, my heart racing.

Had... had he... did he hear my thoughts?

My mind ran through the conversation we had few days ago. About his weird powers. His gift of healing and sight.

Did he mention he could hear thoughts? At this point, I wouldn't put it past him.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, gazing up at the ceiling and counting his breath before looking back down at me.

"How is your leg?" He looked down as he asked, obviously changing the topic and my uneasiness reduced as I made a show of stamping my feet on the ground.

"As good as new. Thanks to you."

This made him break into a smile. His shoulders relaxed and his kind gaze warmed me up. "I really enjoyed your cookies. Where did you get them?"

"I made them myself." I beamed proudly.

His eyes widened like I just muttered a foreign concept. "Y-You made them yourself?"

"Yeah I did." I answered, my smile widening.

"Wow." His face broke into a smile and I felt butterflies flutter in my stomach.

Stop, Lily! Bad Lily! He has a girlfriend! A sweet, beautiful, nice and confident girlfriend! Don't feel attracted to him, goddammit!"

"And classes? How are you replaceing them? Anyone giving you trouble still?"

I shook my head and when he smiled at my answer, his gaze gentle and soft, I felt the butterflies in my stomach erupt.

I was about to ask him about what he had been up to since the last time I saw him when someone interrupted us, a flash of red hair, colliding into him.