Four.

Tears rushed down Lupita's face as her friend read aloud to the hearing of everyone what she had written in her diary about Conan.

She had written about how his hair was soft, his lips looked like candy and how staring at his eyes was like staring at the oceans. And, how she wanted to be in his embrace forever.

As Maya read these things to the hearing of everyone, they all laughed and mocked her. She couldn't take it anymore so she threw the mop she was holding to the ground and made to leave.

"Maya, I always see you visit Lupita secretly, aren't you her friend?"

Lupita stopped walking as she heard Lilith ask Maya the question. She wanted to hear her answer. Maya on the other hand knew that Lilith would ask this question because Lilith told her so and she also told her the answer she would give to her question.

"Friend?"

Lupita's heart sank as she heard Maya scoff.

"She isn't my friend but a fool. I pretended to be a friend so I could stab her in the back. I wanted to treat the trash a lesson."

Lupita staggered backward. She was weak in the knees and dizzy. She was so shocked that she felt dizzy. Was it really Maya talking?

"Yep, she's right," Lilith agreed. "I knew about it. I and Maya planned everything. Now, we've dealt with her."

Everyone laughed.

"How can they be this cruel?" Lupita muttered to herself in a brittle voice. She pushed the door open and ran out of the room. Their laughter got louder at her departure.

~~~

"That girl, Lupita likes you?"

Conan remained mute as his friend laughed.

"Liking someone isn't a crime," Conan said flatly and his friend scoffed.

"I'd choose death over being liked by a girl like Lupita. She is the pack's outcast. Alpha Romulus brought her to this pack so that she can be tortured by everyone in the pack and since our Alpha hates her, we should hate her and hate anyone who likes her."

Conan took note of how his friend had pronounced the name, ‘Lupita’ like it was a forbidden word.

"That girl is bad news," he continued and Conan just listened to him without chipping in his thoughts. "A big jinx. You should avoid her."

"Not like I care," Conan paused. Of course, he cared. He wasn't as heartless as the rest but if he showed that he pitied Lupita even if it's a bit, he might end up being bullied alongside her. That was the last thing he wanted. Fitting into the pack was hard enough. He did not want it to be any harder. "But, I wonder why she's treated with this much hatred. What exactly did she do wrong?"

"Have you forgotten when she walked in with the Alpha five years ago?"

"I remember. Ten years ago, the Alpha and his late parents had traveled for a meeting for royals but when it was time to come back, Alpha Romulus did not come back with his parents. He came back with Lupita instead. But, does that warrant the torture."

"Five years ago, he commanded everyone to torture her. Like I said earlier, she is a thorn to our Alpha's flesh so she's a thorn to ours."

"The Alpha was only thirteen at the time," Conan countered and his friend began to scrutinize him. He got nervous under the scrutiny and began to titter. "This actually makes a good argument."

Conan did not want his friend to think that he had developed a soft spot for Lupita.

"Yeah," his friend agreed, nodding and still scrutinizing. "It's almost like you are on her side."

"I'm not," Conan

"Good. Then, you have to avoid her."

His friend was right. He had to fit into the pack and being friends with Lupita would only make him out of place.

"Conan."

Conan froze.

He knew the person calling his name. That voice sounded like that of Lupita's.

"She's chasing him in public? Pathetic." Conan heard a she-wolf scoff and everyone laughed. This confirmed his suspicion.

He looked at his friend who looked away and walked away afterward. Conan sighed and without looking back, he walked away from Lupita, following his friend.

Tears streamed down Lupita's face as she watched Conan leave. Since her diary incident, she had tried to talk to Conan but he kept on avoiding her. It sucked. She just wanted to tell him that her feelings were not deep and she did not expect him to like her back. She had only admired him for his kindness. Apparently, Conan was not as nice as she thought. He was just like the rest. Maybe he was a bit different from the rest since he only pitied her.

With the back of her palms, she wiped her tears. The next day was going to be her birthday and the last thing she wanted was to be sad. She watched Conan for a while and when he was out of view, she turned around and walked away.

"Slut," she heard someone call out and that was not all. More insults were hurled at her as she walked.

"After warming the Alpha's bed, she has decided to warm the bed of another werewolf."

"Sex object."

"Dirty werewolf."

"She has feelings for someone when she isn't worthy to find love."

More years streamed down her face. It was too much for her to handle. She hastened her steps and in no time, she was running down the hall in tears to her room.

~~~

"How is she?"

"As miserable as you expect, my Lord."

Alpha Romulus relaxed in his throne as those words left the mouth of the lanky lad genuflecting before him.

"Good." He heaved a sigh of satisfaction. "But, you still have to monitor her. Tomorrow's her birthday and until I'm done, I want the situation under control."

"M...my Lord," the lad called out in a low voice, contemplating if he should say what he had in mind or not.

"What?"

Alpha Romulus’ voice sent shivers down his spine. He shuddered in fear, then gulped and decided to brace himself for whatever outcome the words he will speak will lead to.

"I... I just hope I don't get killed after saying this. I j... just mean well for my Lord."

"That'll be for me to decide. Go on."

"My Lord, the she-wolf has not met her wolf yet. Is there a guarantee she will on her birthday? And, if she doesn't, how then will she meet her mate? There should be a backup to make her vulnerable." He knelt and placed his head on the ground. "If your servant has said something wrong, please pardon him."

Alpha Romulus reached for his silver spear on his left-hand side. He watched as the lad's body became tense and he smirked. He raised the spear and moved it from his left to his right-hand side and the lad relaxed.

"Some things are not always as they seem," Alpha Romulus said with a smirk. "I know that everything will happen as I planned because I know who she is more than she does."