Any answers to that question. How do you fight when you have no power?
MILAJunior YearHi, I’m Mila Davis and I deserved this scholarship because…Why was this so hard? I deserved that scholarship and I knew why but nothing was coming out. Though the deadline for the application was then the beginning of fall next year, I wanted to be prepared. Still, this essay was kicking my ass. A loud noise from across the way caught my attention, and of course, it’s none other than Tyler and his rowdy group of bullies.Tyler got his werewolf over the summer and spent most of his time training to become the Alpha. Even though we’re halfway through the school year, he hasn’t been attending, which was a blessing until today. I knew that he was graduating this year, and I couldn’t wait. All through my sophomore year, Tyler and his gang tormented me with great pleasure. We didn’t have many classes together, but the ones we did were absolutely horrible. So this year, I cozied up with the administration just to make sure we had no classes together. So far, so good. Still,
MILAA shout broke my thoughts as I saw Amber snatching milk out of Jenna’s hand. “Do I look like someone who would enjoy milk? I’m not a cow.”Jenna looked absolutely horrified. I wanted to say something, but my butt was glued to this chair. Just like everyone else, I watched from afar.“I…I’m sorry,” Jenna whispered, looking down at her feet. “I thought you said–”“That’s the problem, Jenna. You’re thinking,” Amber said. “Go get me something else. Lunch is almost over, and I’m still thirsty.” Jenna turned to leave, only for Amber to grab her wrist. “Don’t forget to take this back.”Amber proceeded to pour the milk over Jenna’s head as the other girls laughed. Even her precious, stupid Leo laughed with the others. I honestly think that was the worst. This time, I looked away. I wasn’t the type of girl to say ‘I told you so,’ but I did tell her this would happen when they invited her to their table last year. Jenna ran from the cafeteria, drenched in milk.“Ari, why do we still keep he
TYLER“Go after her,” my inner beast, Declan, urged as I watched Mila disappear around the corner with Jenna.Four fucking months of training to learn how to control my werewolf, and one encounter with her completely dissolved it. She didn’t even have a wolf. Hell, she might not even get one, but here I was, ready to claim her and take her as my own. How could I be pinning after a weak, orphan she-wolf? I punched the locker in front of me, creating a huge dent.“Damn, man. I said I was sorry,” Leo whined, stepping away from me.“Just go to class, you idiot!”Leo grumbled as he walked away, and I leaned against the lockers, trying to control Declan. He was waging a war inside my head, nagging and growling about his stupid mate. I knew Mila was my mate two months ago when she came to clean my room. Her voice was the first thing that caught me. Goddamn music to my fucking ears, but her scent did it. Wild berries and lilacs. It fucking drove me mad and I…couldn’t get enough. The only thing
MILAMy mind kept screaming at me to stop and forget about it. Just because Arianna slapped Amber hard enough to make her crystal hairpin fly across the floor and right into my foot doesn’t mean I had to return it. Just my luck. Maybe I should wait for Gabe to come back? I stared at the crystal hair clip, thinking it wasn’t my problem. She might notice it and pick it up herself. Besides, why should I care? I hated bullies, especially the rich ones. Seriously, why did they always have to mess with the people who didn’t have much? They had everything in the whole and still crapped on others. Granted, Amber was probably the worst of the worst, but still, that was uncalled for.The lunchroom slowly returned to its normal chatter, and Amber sat down at her table. I looked at the hairpin. It was pretty. The light from outside hit it, casting green shadows on the floor. I picked it up and noticed how light it was. Amber always bragged about all her crystals being Swarovski crystals, but this
GABENever in a million years did I think I would be brave enough to step up to my brother and his friends, not once but twice in a day. When they started to come after Mila, I knew I had to do something. Luckily, I grew about a foot, and my weight was almost evened out in some places. When I brought up my reason for wanting to stop the bullying, my Uncle Aaron gave me great advice.“Well,” Uncle Aaron began, “you need to stand your ground and show no fear. They feed off it. Show them you’re not afraid to stand up for what you believe in. Once they see the strength you have within, they’ll realize they can’t win.”“And that’s it?” I asked, trying to absorb his words.“That’s a start,” Uncle Aaron smiled. “Just remember, Gabe, true leadership isn’t just about commanding others. It’s about inspiring them and showing them what it means to be strong. Soon, others will see and respect that, even for Mila.”The memory of the conversation made me smile as I quickly ran up the stairs of the or
MILAThe rest of the school year passed by in a blur, and before I knew it, summer was here. Gabe was the best thing in my life, and though we continued to act as friends at school, I was still too nervous to display our relationship openly. What truly mattered was the time we spent at the orphanage, having picnics on the rooftop or playing games in the packhouse game room, places where we were never disturbed.Gabe had always made my life brighter, but now it seemed even brighter. Every time he looked at me with that soft, affectionate smile, warmth bloomed in my chest, a feeling I couldn’t quite describe. And when he kissed me, I felt like I was in another world where my parents were still alive, no one bullied me, Gabe and I could date in the open, and most importantly, I was happy.“Well, would you look at that? Two pigs in a sty,” Amber sneered, her voice dragging me out of my daydream. I was cleaning out my locker for the summer, and while it was open, pictures of Gabe and me wer
GABEI couldn’t stop smiling at the dinner table, thinking about Mila’s lips. Or the way her body pressed into mine while her hands slid up my back. My father, Alpha Troy, sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding and calm. My mom, Luna Emily, with her graceful demeanor, was on the other end, casting a critical eye over the cutlery’s placement. Tyler lounged lazily next to me, scrolling through his phone.The smell of roasted veggies and grilled meats filled the air as the door to the kitchen opened. I watched as Mila and the other servants moved around the table, setting down the dishes with ease. I’ve had a crush on Mila since the first time I saw her. She thought it was the day she started working here but actually the first day she came to the orphanage a year after she had lost her parents. Some boys were making fun of her one day and I guess she had enough. She picked up one of the boys and body slammed him into the ground. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. So
MILAI always felt a bit out of place working the dinner shift at the packhouse. Not only did being near Gabe make me smile uncontrollably, but the weird way Tyler had been acting made me uncomfortable. Aside from the constant bullying at school, he watched me like a hawk at the packhouse, always finding ways to subtly touch my hand when I’m placing down plates or pouring his drink. Tonight was no different. As I walked into the dining room, I froze at the sound of my name, and the pitcher I was carrying slipped from my grasp, crashing to the floor. I had been trying not to listen from the kitchen, but these walls apparently aren’t wolf proof. Even the kitchen staff had thrown sympathetic glances my way before I came out. “I…I’m…sorry,” I stammered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I’ll clean it right away.”“Mila…” I heard Gabe’s concerned voice as he moved to help me, but Luna Emily stopped him.“No,” Luna Emily said coldly. “Let her do it alone. It’s her job, Gabriel.”Gabe
ARIThe diamond necklace with the crystal pendant glinted in the mirror, catching the light like it still mattered. Like it still meant something. Gabe had given it to me for a birthday present. Placed it around my neck himself. Told me I looked like someone no one would dare cross. It had to mean something, right? A gift that rare didn’t come without weight.So I wore it today–not for sentiment, but strategy.Let him see it. Let him remember. Let him regret.But he didn’t. He barely blinked. No hesitation, no flicker of guilt. Just another command over the phone and a condescending smirk on his lips.“Nothing a blow dryer can’t fix,” Gabe said, like I was already a mistake he was eager to forget.I could’ve slapped him. I should’ve. But I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. It would’ve meant I still cared.I’d lose a hundred battles before I let him see me lose the war.When I stormed into my father’s office, he didn’t even glance up from his damned ritual–always washing his hands
GABEI barely heard the door open behind me before Arianna’s scent hit the air–a soft, artificial sweetness that never sat right. I didn’t turn around. I was on the phone, my voice quiet.“Just put on a suit. I need you to go over there and fix this. She doesn’t need to deal with this right now. So please handle it.”Arianna moved closer as I flushed the urinal and moved to the sink to wash my hands.“You know the symbols on the outside of the door are there for a reason,” I said, not glancing at her.“Were you talking about Mila just now?” she asked, arms crossing as she leaned against the door. I ignored her and walked towards the office. It's been a busy couple of days with the move back to the Mora company. “You’re really moving on that fast, huh?” Arianna asked, following me. “The ink on the divorce papers is still wet.”“Nothing a blow dryer can’t fix,” I smiled, hoping to get rid of her, but the look on her face told me otherwise. “Arianna, don’t start.”Her lip curled. “Disg
MILAI stared between the both of them before Lena spoke.Lena’s eyes widened. “You. Why–why are you here?”“Oh, relax,” I said, stepping inside and locking the door behind me. The click echoed louder than I expected. “How convenient. Two traitors. One hotel room. The universe really said, ‘Here you go, babe.’”Neither of them had time to react before I walked straight to Lena, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and slammed her face into the wall. Hard enough to sting, soft enough to not get us arrested for homicide. Balance.She gasped, tried to say something. I yanked her back, then shoved her forward again.“Don’t speak,” I hissed. “You’ve already said enough with those sabotage photos.”Behind me, I heard Amira shifting toward the door. I didn’t even turn around.“Take one more step and I will throw you out that window. I’m not saying you’ll die, but gravity’s a bitch and bones snap real easy from the ninth floor.”Amira froze.“Smart girl,” I said.Honestly from this height, it would
MILA“…just waiting for answers. Why did this have to happen? What could have prevented an incident that took two of the most important people in my life?” Alpha Gregory’s voice cracked just enough to sound human. He gripped the podium like it might run away if he let go, flashes from the cameras popping like fireworks behind a funeral. Arianna stepped up beside him, touched his arm–perfectly timed, perfectly staged. A father-daughter moment, photogenic grief included.But I didn’t care about them. My eyes drifted past them to Gabe. He stood stiffly off to the side, holding Noah like the only anchor he had left. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else–expression blank, shoulders tight. I hadn’t seen him since he left the orphanage a couple weeks ago. No calls. No updates. We were both busy–him with God knows what, me trying to salvage my image from the dumpster fire of the fashion show. Oh, and also: still no sign of my dad. The meeting with Emily that was supposed to bring ans
MILAI stirred awake to the sound of birds and the sensation of warmth that had me feeling so good. A strong arm draped over my waist, the steady rise and fall of a familiar chest beneath my cheek. My heart stuttered as the scent of spice and dark chocolate filled my lungs–Gabe. It was oddly comforting, dangerously so. A moment of peace I had no business indulging in.Something tickled my nose. I cracked one eye open to find yellow flowers brushing against my face. That was when the realization hit.We were lying in a flowerbed.Panic jolted through me. I shot up, sending Gabe’s arm tumbling off of me. My breath came fast as I scanned our surroundings. Shit. Jenna’s going to kill me. Gabe groaned, shifting onto his back, his hand searching for mine. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled, his voice sleep-heavy, unbothered.I smacked his chest, ignoring the way my fingers tingle from the contact. “No, no, no. Get up. We fell asleep in a flowerbed. Jenna’s going to be pissed we messed up her
GABEOnly a bit of rain poured down on us. Just enough to soak through our clothes, but not subduing the heat between us. Each drop was a reminder that this moment–this reckless, inevitable moment–was real. That she was real.I wasted no time, removing my suit and tie and watched as Mila took a step back, letting the dress slip from her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Fuck, she was beautiful. The rain clung to her, tracing every curve, turning her rich, dark complexion into something luminous, like she was carved from the night itself. Her hair, wild and untamed, framed her face like a crown she never asked for, and yet, it was rightfully hers. Her lips, now swollen and soft from our kiss, looked as if they were made for nothing more than temptation. She was temptation, standing there with the storm raging around us, and I had never wanted anything more.I stepped forward, closing the distance, my hands cupping her face as I pulled her into a kiss that shattered whatever restraint I
MILA “Open your eyes!” Gabe opened his eyes and looked around the rooftop of the orphanage. The rain blurred the lights from the packhouse in the distance, casting a hazy glow over the rooftop, and for a second, it felt like we were kids again–hiding up here, pretending the world wasn’t as cruel as we knew it to be. “Wow, this place is really coming along,” Gabe said, walking through the rows of flowers. “She would’ve loved this, you know, if she was still here.” Great. Mood killer. I thought, trying to think of something soothing to say. I sighed, watching Gabe’s fingers trail over the petals, his touch softer than I’d ever seen. “She would’ve loved this,” he repeated, quieter this time, as if speaking more to himself than to me. I shifted on my feet. Even with the umbrella, the dampness of my clothes stuck uncomfortably to my skin. What was I supposed to say? That she was in a better place? That everything happens for a reason? Gabe would see through that in a second. Instead,
MILAI looked up at the sound of my name, my heart lurching at the unexpected voice.“Gabe?”He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but his presence filled the room like a shadow creeping in.Why didn’t I notice him earlier? I wondered.He took a step forward, slow and deliberate, as if each movement was weighed down by something unseen. My pulse quickened.“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his voice low, suspicious.I straightened, stepping around the large oak desk to face him fully. I couldn’t let him see how rattled I was, how close I’d been to finding something–anything–that could help Laura’s case. Even though she couldn’t remember what had happened that night, she had told me she was trying to record everything. But her phone was missing, and I had a strong feeling it wasn’t just lost.I needed to find it before anyone else did.“I could ask you the same thing,” I said, stalling for time. I forced my voice to stay steady, to sound indifferent, but my fingers t
GABEThe sound of laughter and quiet chatter drifted from the other room, a cruel contrast to the weight pressing down on my chest. Hundreds of pack members from all over showed up for my father’s funeral, their hushed conversations and forced condolences mixing with the steady patter of rain against the windows.I knew he was a well-liked man, but damn—I hadn’t expected this many people. The sheer number made the already stifling atmosphere feel even more suffocating.Luckily, my mother had taken care of everything, handling the arrangements with her usual poised efficiency. She even managed to get Tyler temporarily released for the service, a feat that shouldn’t have surprised me, yet did.“Don’t worry, sweetie,” my mother said after speaking with one of the councilmen. “Everything is going to be cleared up soon.”I let the words wash over me, too numb to dissect their meaning. Instead, I focused on the business, temporarily handing Alpha Gregory control of the CEO position. He had