OU'RE DEFEND

DA'S

classroom, and the entire place went si

lapping his hands once. "Pick up y

arious seats. I started toward mine and my stomach tightened when I saw

t each step felt heavier as their i

the disgust on their faces, but their whispers coul

l standing next to her. "She ought to be in a dungeon, not

illed herself," the

," another girl chipped in. "She ought to have been bani

them. Crying would make them feel they've won. And I wasn't going

The look of disgust on their faces was enough to make me feel lost and confused. And I didn't w

ere, Steven stepp

the label everyone else had slapped on me. "Do you. uh.

Nobody talked to me nicely anym

ng my bag quickly. "H

ile. "Thanks, Amanda.

self to be nice. He wasn't scared to stand close to someone everyone h

didn't look at me

ng else, the teacher yell

ready to face the math exam. Nobody sat near me. Even th

her said, droppin

uations didn't judge me or call me names. Within twenty mi

nald-didn't even look at me. He just snatched the

who used to brag about

," he used to say. "And I have no doubt that s

nald couldn't e

. I wasn't going to

e way. I hadn't eaten breakfast, and the little dinner we shared yesterday didn't help much

e place was packed, but I spotted a small empty space at a table

rry. Ca

et me finish. She pulled her t

ant traitors si

e around to hear, "Yeah, go sit with the

er table. A group of boys were finishing lunch there. The m

ting with he

bounce," anot

ast you'd thin

. My hands trembled as I pushed the chair bac

food. At least foo

hef paused like she'd just seen so

her arms.

a'am. I just want m

door. "Leftovers are out there. Eat

iet. Some people were watching. Others we

humiliation was becoming unbearable. Heat spread throug

That very moment, it felt like my father had die

ng the ultimate price-he gave his life in exchange for the Alpha's. And now th

s were

small s

ly when I noticed

ev

e even spoke. Fresh soap

far corner of the cafeteria, his eyes sca

ed furious as he watched the scene-the chef refusing t

e, his tray in his hands. I stood and he

s eat together," Steven sai

and express my gratitude, a shadow crossed my eye

I heard the sound o

whispered, star

or both of us. was upside down on th

't even the s

sn't just o

as o

lothes and I looked like some

n, the room erupted in laughter. It was loud, sharp, and c

e really looks like trash

so tight I thought

ing up inside a nightm

n stoo

nd there was no sign

en pretend it was an accident. He glared

iating me

bled. "D-Don

ter doesn't deserve cafeteria food

Everyone's attention was on me. Some s

o Donovan. "Why am I not allowed to eat

s the new rule-traitors are not allowed to eat here. And a

slumped and I

tell he was angry. "Since when does the school make rules based on

his head slow

red. "My authority as the future Alpha gives me th

member hearing that because someone's fath

n smirked. "But you're beneath me anyway,

my lunch. You humiliated her. And you thin

sound like you can d

tears. Every heartbeat felt

out. "Steven. it's fine

y. I'll find a way to solve my lunch issues myself. But please, don't get Steven invol

red at me. If looks could kill,

pretending to be a good person while in actuality, you'r

Instead, I looked up at him and whispered softly, "it was my mist

he cafeteria. But before I left, l saw Donovan clench his fi