#Chapter 5: Unveiled Truths

My locker had been forcefully opened, evident by the fact that I couldn't even close it anymore.

 

The lock had been wholly mangled and rendered useless, leaving me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

 

An overwhelming wave of anxiety swept through me as I realized that whoever had my diary now possessed all my private and personal secrets.

 

The thought of my deepest thoughts, the details of my bullying experiences, the words of encouragement I wrote to myself, and my heartfelt drawings being exposed to the entire school made my heart race.

 

I knew that if someone decided to broadcast it, I would become the laughingstock once and for all.

 

And why wouldn't they share that information?

 

After all, I was the wolfless girl, the perpetual loser, the outcast who was the primary target of bullying.

 

Amidst my panic, a memory flashed in my mind.

 

It was the photo of me and Bear, my only picture of him.

 

A sense of both comfort and concern washed over me as I contemplated the possible consequences if that photo were to be revealed.

 

And then there was the drawing of Lucas in my diary…

 

I cursed under my breath, realizing that if that drawing were made public, everyone would assume I was obsessively in love with him.

 

This was an absolute nightmare.

 

With trepidation, I made my way to class, keeping a vigilant eye on every student I passed, desperately searching for any sign of my missing diary.

 

Who could have it?

 

Who was responsible for this violation of my privacy?

 

But as I stepped into the classroom, the sound of boisterous laughter reached my ears, instantly dampening my hopes.

 

A crowd had gathered near the back of the room, and there she was—Jessica—reading my diary entries out loud, reveling in the amusement of my classmates.

 

Jessica's gaze met mine as I approached her, but instead of offering an apology, she adopted a fake pouting expression and placed a hand over her heart.

 

"Shana, I had no idea you complained about me so much in your little diary," she taunted, relishing in my vulnerability. "It truly saddens me to hear that."

 

Her words were like daggers, but it was the venomous glare from one of her classmates that intensified my humiliation.

 

As Jessica flipped through my diary, she came across the page where I had drawn Lucas as an Alpha figure.

 

Her smirk grew wider as she mocked me, "Damn, Shana, we all knew you had a crush on Lucas, but this? You're actually obsessed. You're in love with him, aren't you?"

 

I remained silent, understanding that my anger and humiliation would only fuel Jessica's torment.

Don't excite them even more with your reaction, Shana. Learn from your experience.

 

She cocked her head, her expression shifting as she noticed my lack of response.

 

"Oh, and look what else we found," she sneered, producing the picture of me and Bear. "You used to be so vibrant, so strong and tan. You looked like a completely different person back then, full of promise. What happened to you?"

 

With a twisted smirk, she continued, "And who's this in the picture with you? Your fat boyfriend? You two would make a cute couple... A fragile, broken little thing like you with a big, beefy man that could probably crush you."

 

A chilling suggestion erupted from one of Jessica's minions. "You should share these entries in the school's group chat! Everyone needs to know the truth about the wolfless girl."

 

"What a marvelous idea!" Jessica exclaimed, capturing photos of my drawing of Lucas and the childhood snapshot with Bear.

 

The sound of her phone's "whoosh" confirmed that the damaging message had been sent.

 

I fought hard to suppress my emotions, biting down on my lip so fiercely that I feared it might draw blood.

 

But the rage, humiliation, and despair surged within me, threatening to explode at any moment.

 

As Jessica flipped through another page of my diary, making herself comfortable, she casually crossed her legs.

 

"Your mother died," she declared callously, her voice devoid of sympathy.

 

She stated it as if it were an indisputable fact, not caring about the pain it inflicted.

 

"Did she die because of you?" Jessica inquired, her eyes appraising me. "With you being wolfless and all... Your bad luck must have rubbed off on her."

 

I took a deep breath, attempting to steady myself.

 

"Did you kill your mother, Shana?"

 

The weight of her accusation was unbearable.

 

In a fit of uncontrollable fury, I lunged at Jessica, my hand connecting with her cheek in a resounding slap that reverberated through the room.

 

The sting in my palm was nothing compared to the satisfaction of momentarily silencing her.

 

"Don't you dare talk about my mother!" I screamed, my voice filled with anguish.

 

But my triumph was short-lived. In an instant, one of Jessica's minions forcefully pushed me to the ground, slamming my head against the floor.

 

The impact caused my ears to ring, and before I could regain my composure, another person kicked me in the ribs, intensifying my agony.

 

As the assault continued, the sound of an Alpha voice growled from the doorway, commanding attention, and inducing an eerie silence.

 

Jessica froze, taking a step back from me, and the rest of the room lowered their heads in deference.

 

Probably because I lacked the inner wolf, the primal essence that defined a wolf's existence, I remained unaffected by the commanding resonance of the Alpha's voice.

 

Confused and disoriented, I glanced up, my eyes meeting a pair of piercing blue orbs.

 

It was Lucas.

 

It was considered highly improper for an Alpha to use its commanding voice in public, as it could affect other Betas and Omegas around them.

 

But Lucas seemed unfazed by convention, disregarding any potential consequences.

 

Pushing his way through the students, Lucas brushed past Jessica, focusing his unwavering attention on me.

 

I couldn't comprehend the concern reflected in his gaze.

 

I touched my forehead and felt something wet and warm trickle down.

 

Blood stained my fingertips, indicating an injury I hadn't noticed before.

 

Without hesitation, Lucas scooped me up in his arms, cradling me protectively, before swiftly exiting the classroom.

 

Dizziness washed over me, and the world around me blurred as I struggled to stay conscious.

 

"Where are you taking me?" I managed to ask, my voice was weak and trembling.

 

"I'm helping you," Lucas replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

 

"Why?" I inquired, my hand clinging to the back of his neck for stability. "I thought you told me to stay away from you."

 

"You still remember your little neighbor Bear?" Lucas asked, his gaze never leaving mine.

 

His fingers tightened their grip beneath my thighs.

 

A surge of recognition jolted through me, and suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place.

 

A genuine smile graced Lucas's lips, one that was vastly different from his previous flirtatious ones.

 

It radiated warmth and authenticity, causing a soothing sensation to spread within me.

 

"Shana, you were there for me when I needed you. Now, it's my turn to be there for you."

 

Blinking in astonishment, I found myself staring into the familiar face of Bear—

 

the chubby-cheeked, infectious-smiled, and brilliantly blue-eyed best friend I had thought I lost.

 

"Is it really you?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief and awe, unsure if this moment was reality or a product of my head injury. "Are you truly my Bear?"