Broken

Lily sat alone in the back corner of the school courtyard. The day had been tiring and her mind was a mess of regret when she saw Liam and his parents go into the principal's office. 

She looked around at the students laughing and chatting, living their lives without the constant tension she felt every day. 

Sometimes, she wished she could have that kind of freedom, to just be a regular teenager without the responsibilities and complexities of being associated with the pack.

As she sat there, she felt an unwelcome presence approaching. 

The faint sound of heels against the concrete made her heart sink. She knew that sound well. It was Lexa, walking toward her with her usual air of superiority and purpose. 

Lily could sense the hate radiating from her even before she spoke, and she braced herself, knowing whatever Lexa had to say would only bring more frustration.

Lexa crossed her arms and sneered as she looked down at Lily. 

“Well, well, if it isn’t the new Luna sitting here all by herself. What, too scared to show your face to everyone after the mess you caused yesterday?”

Lily clenched her fists but said nothing, hoping Lexa would lose interest if she didn’t react.

But Lexa had other plans. 

“Honestly, you should just run away. Stop trying to be something you’re not, Lily. This whole situation with Liam and Lucas is pathetic, really.” She leaned closer, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re nothing but a burden to them, you know that, right? A burden to everyone in the pack.”

Lily’s chest tightened. She’d heard enough accusations recently to last a lifetime, but Lexa’s words struck a nerve she hadn’t realized was so raw. 

She took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure, but Lexa continued, her words cutting deeper with each passing second.

“They’re both in trouble with their father because of you, Lily,” Lexa said, her tone mocking. “All of this — it’s all because of you. Do you honestly believe you deserve their protection? Because you don’t. You don’t belong with them. You’re just a weak little girl who’s completely out of her depth.”

Lily finally looked up, meeting Lexa’s gaze, trying to show a sliver of the strength she didn’t feel at that moment. 

“You don’t know anything about me, Lexa,” she said quietly, her voice wavering but resolute.

“Oh, please.” Lexa laughed, rolling her eyes. “You can’t even defend yourself! You’re weak, Lily. And don’t think for a second that hiding behind Lucas and Liam will protect you forever. They’ll get tired of it eventually, and then you’ll be left alone with nothing and no one. Just like you deserve.”

Lily felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside her, but as she opened her mouth to respond, another familiar voice interrupted them.

“Leave her alone, Lexa,” Alex said, appearing beside Lily and placing himself between her and Lexa. His expression was steely, his voice calm but firm. “You have no right to speak to her that way.”

Lexa’s lips twisted into a smirk. 

“Oh, look who’s here — Lily’s little guard dog. What’s the matter, Alex? Afraid she can’t stand up for herself?”

Alex shot her a warning look. 

“Back off, Lexa. Lily doesn’t need to prove anything to you.”

But Lexa only laughed louder, her eyes flashing with amusement. 

“See, Lily?” she said, her tone taunting. “Even your so-called friends think you’re too weak to handle yourself. Isn’t that right, Alex?”

Lily felt the heat rise in her cheeks, a mix of anger and embarrassment flooding her senses. 

Lexa’s words were cruel, but they hit a truth she didn’t want to admit — that she had been relying on others, constantly looking for support instead of standing up for herself. 

She looked down, her fingers digging into her palms as Lexa’s words echoed in her mind.

“Why don’t you just admit it, Lily?” Lexa continued, her voice turning cold. “You’re nothing but a helpless, weak girl who can’t handle anything on her own. You don’t deserve any of this.”

Alex took a step forward, his jaw clenched. 

“Enough, Lexa. If you don’t stop—”

But before he could finish, Lily stood up abruptly, her gaze fixed on Alex, anger sparking in her eyes. 

“Stop it, Alex. Just stop!” Her voice was sharper than she intended, but the words came out before she could hold them back. “I don’t need you to defend me.”

Both Alex and Lexa looked at her in surprise.

The frustration and helplessness that had been building up inside her finally found its release.

“I don’t need anyone to protect me, okay?” she said, her voice breaking slightly as she turned her gaze from Alex to Lexa. “I don’t need people fighting my battles for me. I don’t need… I don’t need to be someone else’s burden.”

Lexa raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback, but her expression soon shifted back into a smirk. 

Lily turned to Alex, her expression hardening. 

“Please, Alex. Just leave me alone. I need… I need to figure things out for myself.”

Alex opened his mouth to talk but he stopped himself. He knew he needed to respect Lily's decision no matter how hard it was.

She could see the hurt in his eyes, the confusion as he tried to understand why she was pushing him away, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain. 

She needed space — needed to feel like she could stand on her own, without relying on anyone else.

Without another word, she turned and walked away, ignoring the whispers and stares from the students around her. 

Her heart was pounding, and she could feel the sting of tears in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. 

She kept her head high, each step taking her further from Alex, from Lexa, from everything and everyone that had made her feel small and incapable.

As she finally got out of sight from everyone else, she leaned back against the wall, taking a shaky breath. 

Maybe Lexa was right. Maybe she wasn’t strong enough.