From Bully to My Alpha

Aurora’s P.O.V

I stared at my reflection in horror; at the fresh bruise on my left cheek, watching the skin swell and turn a deep purple as it throbbed from within.

I brought my hand up to touch a finger to my cheek, assessing the damage, but a sharp burst of pain made me yelp. With trembling lips and sweat glistening on my brows, I gripped the counter so tightly my knuckles turned white; it was all so I didn’t let out the scream trapped in my throat.

Tears welled in my eyes but I knew I couldn’t scream; I couldn’t even cry.

I can’t—shouldn’t—let him know…I thought desperately to myself. I shouldn’t scare him!

Breathing through my mouth in short bursts, I tried to will the pain away, hoping that it would get better, but it didn’t. But I had to be strong, not for myself, but for him.

I was the only one he had and if he saw me like this…no! I had to force myself to smile past my pain, so that he wouldn’t be scarred for life. After all, he was only 5, still untouched by the atrocities going on inside this house.

Steeling my spine, I balled up a few pieces of paper towels and placed the lump inside my mouth. I gagged, but quickly took an ice pack and placed it against my cheek.

This time, my scream was muffled by the paper towels, nothing but the flaring pain overwhelming my senses.

Trembling and panting, I leaned against the bathroom door, my eyes shut tightly as I worked through the agony.

‘You little whore!’My father’s voice sounded in my ears, loud and heavily slurred, an empty bottle of whisky in his hands. ‘Where is the money? I know you work at that stupid restaurant! Give me the money!’

‘I don’t have any money,’I had whimpered, trying to put on a brave front, but we both knew it was all a façade.

‘Liar!’he had bellowed, and when he had raised his hand with the empty bottle in it to strike my across the face. I hadn't been able to block the attack in time as the impact had sent me crashing to the floor. ‘Don’t you lie to your father, you bitch!’

‘I’m not lying, I promise!’At that point, I hadn't been able to stop him as he hauled me up from the floor with a grip on my hair. ‘Please! You’re hurting me!’

My words had fallen on deaf ears. ‘Turn around.’

‘I don’t have it!’I had insisted despite the way my body had trembled violently from the impact, my lips trembling uncontrollably until I had bit down on them. But that hadn’t stopped him from roughly searching my pockets; from ransacking my room, without caring about my privacy.

He had found the money, inside the mattress cover, a total of thirty five dollars that I had gotten as a tip from the restaurant after hours of standing on my feet for hours.

‘You fucking liar!’This time, I hadn’t seen the bottle coming down on me.

But I had felt the impact of the glass on the same cheek; heard it shatter on contact. My head spun; went numb from the pain as black spots danced before my eyes.

He had thrown the half-broken bottle on the floor next to me, making me flinch, and, as if he hadn’t just abused his only daughter, he had strode out of the house, taking my week’s worth of savings with him.

I didn’t know which hurt me more—the fact that my pain meant nothing to him, or that I now had nothing left to buy food for the rest of the week.

When the harsh footsteps had finally faded, I had rushed to the front door, tripping over my own feet as I locked it tight, making sure that no one could get in.

Our house was located at the edge of the woods, and the neighborhood itself wasn’t safe any longer, and my father’s misconducts were well known to the public. It was a cocktail for disaster and I didn’t want any unexpected guests or debt collectors trying to break down the door to get their hands on Riley and me.

…but these days, it felt like the true danger was in my own home.

I miss mom… I would give anything to have her back! I wish she had taken me with her when she died…

But as the ice pack numbed the pain slowly but steadily, I tried to drive that thought away from my mind. If I was gone too, Riley would have no one to live for. How would he survive?

I sighed, turning to the mirror once again. I looked pale as a ghost but the dark bruise on my cheek needed to be covered us. I was already a freak at school whose father was a gambler and a drunk. I didn’t need to announce to the world that I was being abused as well.

So I used the only foundation I had managed to buy at a dollar store to cover up the bruise. It didn’t help much, but it got the job done. My eyes looked too big for my face and my cheek looked hollow on one side, swollen on the other, so I pulled up my hood to try and conceal most of my face.

After I was done cleaning myself up, I returning to the living room; to the mess my father had left, and cleaned up the glass shards and the empty bottles, making sure that there was no evidence left of what had happened last night.

My father only came home when he needed more money, taking all his frustration out on me if he didn't get any. But he always left soon after, because he didn’t want the debt collectors to find him and beat him up.

After cleaning the living room, I went up to Riley’s room and unlocked his door. It was time for him to wake up soon and when he did, I wanted to greet him with a smile. Because he was the only reason why I endured all this shit in the first place; my only ray of hope in this hell hole.

Riley was only five years old and I didn't want to leave him alone at the mercy of that abuser, so every night, I kept his door locked, so that our father couldn’t get to him.

In the kitchen, I fried up two eggs and toasted a slice of bread for Riley. It was all that was left inside the fridge, but that’s okay.

Meals were one thing I didn’t have to worry about much. The restaurant where I worked was kind enough to give me leftovers. Even though sometimes, the rice turned out stale or the food had a stench…it was still edible.

“Is breakfast ready yet?” Riley asked as he came out of his room, his voice quiet, worried that our father was still here.

“Yes!” I gave him my best smile, wincing as my cheek stung. I reached for the last carton of orange juice from the fridge, checking to see if it had expired. It hadn’t, thankfully.

“Did dad come home last night?” He took a seat, big blue eyes sad yet curious.

I only nodded. As he ate silently, I prepared his bag for school. I brought down my own bag and took out my wallet to see what was inside. My heart sank as I saw two five dollar bills and some change.

I might get more tips at work today…right? Some kind person might tip generously if I tried my best. Even another five would be enough to buy bread and eggs.

And then, I’ll get my salary the day after tomorrow.

My job didn’t pay much, but it was enough to keep us going, since Riley’s Kindergardenth didn’t need fees.

“Here you go.” I handed Riley a five dollar bill. “Get something nice for lunch, okay? But save some for tomorrow.”

Riley took it, smiling, and went to put his dishes in the sink while I tidied up the table.

As soon as we were done, we went out the door and I locked it securely. Riley’s Kindergarten was only 5 minutes away from my school, so I dropped him off before I went on my own.

“See you later, sis! Oh! And I’ll be a little late; Ms. Lindsay said that she’ll show us a movie with talking fish in it.” Riley said with wonder.

I smiled at him, but inside, I felt horrible—I couldn't show him cartoons that a kid his age should be watching. I could barely manage food and other supplies for our home, so TV was out of the question. Riley might be the only kid in class who hasn’t watched Finding Nemo yet.

“Alright, have fun!” I kissed his forehead and waited to see him enter the school building before I went to my school, Blue Hill Public High.

As I neared the gate, I saw people talking and laughing merrily in their own little circles. I didn’t have any friends; didn't belong in any of these groups.

I was the person everyone hated and stayed away from. I freak with the gambler father.

But just as I was about to step inside the threshold, I heard a voice yell from behind.

“Move, freak! You’re in the way.”

I balled my hands into fists. That was the voice of the person who has made my high school life a living Hell—also the school’s most beloved bad boy and player.

Caleb Blackburn.

But as I turned, my feet froze; eyes widening in horror as I saw a car speeding towards me…Caleb’s car.

I begged my body to move, to get out of the way, but it felt like I was a deer caught in the headlight. It just wouldn't respond, and so, I could only close my eyes as I braced myself for the impact.

The last thing I heard was the screech of the tires against the asphalt before I dropped to the ground.

Aurora’s P.O.V

I shut my eyes tight, holding my breath as I waited for the impact I knew was coming. I numbly felt myself fall to the ground, and even the sharp pain from my palms scraping against the asphalt wasn’t enough to pull me out of my dazed stupor.

I was too frozen in shock to even fully comprehend what was happening. All I knew was that I was going to die…that I was going to get hit by Caleb’s car at any given moment.

However, the pain never came, and even though I heard the sudden screeching of tires that sounded like nails on a chalkboard, making a shiver run down my spine…I was too afraid to open my eyes, to try and figure out what was happening around me.

Why isn’t it coming? My heart thundered inside my chest, threatening to burst out of my chest. Why hasn’t it happened yet?

However, I didn’t have to worry about what was happening all around me as the next second, I was being yanked up from the ground forcefully by a grip on my collar and then I opened my eyes to meet endless blue orbs that were sparking with anger.

Confused and flabbergasted, I kept on staring into his eyes even though I could see that he was getting angrier by the second.

In that moment, I knew I should’ve said something…at the very least apologized for standing in front of his expensive car…but as I waited for my brain to start working again, I couldn’t do anything but stare at him like a gaping goldfish.

“I…” I tried, I really did, but that was all I could muster up before Caleb’s face contorted into a sneer and he hauled me closer like a marionette, until we were chest to chest.

“Never. Ever. Stand in my way again,” he spat, narrowing his eyes at me as if he loathed my very existence. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, freak. I won’t be responsible for whatever happens.”

And just like that, he threw me aside, without even caring about where I landed. He was outlandishly strong, that much I could tell when I landed a few feet away from the road. Thanks to the thick sleeves of my hoodie, I hadn’t gotten any more scrapes than I already did, even though it hurt like hell.

But the hate and the anger? Those were like physical blows as I couldn’t bear any longer. What did I ever do to deserve this? Why did everyone here hate me?

But I didn’t have any answers to those questions. I could only watch as Caleb went back into his car and drove off, with another vehicle, equally expensive, following behind him. It didn’t take long for them to park into their usual spot. He and his cronies poured out the moment the engine died, laughing and goofing around like a bunch of immature children.

I caught a couple of words from the passersby who did nothing to help me but went back their merry way now that the show was over.

“What a freak…”

“What was she even doing, standing there, blocking their way?”

“Attention seeker!”

I sighed and winced, as I pressed my scraped palms against the road to get off the ground and dust myself off.

I never had any problems with the cliques and circles at school. It never bothered me that they all had their friendly bubbles that excluded me. I didn’t care if everyone avoided me like the plague, hoping I wouldn’t approach them in search of friends.

But what I did care was the way I was judged and berated because of my father’s misdeeds. His gambling habits had landed him in trouble more than enough times for him to learn a life lesson, but he never did. After all, Blue Hill was a tiny town in Maine with about fifteen hundred people, so pretty much everyone knew everyone, and word about my father’s indiscretions has already spread through the town like wildfire.

What was worse was the fact that since no one could get their hands on him, they choose to bully me and make my life living hell instead.

So what if I wasn’t a part of any group? I didn’t need them; didn't even care about them. I had Riley—I had myself—and that was enough.

As I made my way back towards the school building, my eyes instinctively went to the only two expensive cars at the end of the parking spot, their shiny coating just as mesmerizing and intimidating as the people that the cars belonged to.

Caleb and his group…there was something about them that I couldn’t quite pinpoint, but something about them made me feel uneasy, made me want to avoid them at all costs. But at the same time…there was this sense of intrigue that I couldn’t quite shake off.

They were a mysterious bunch, all of them extremely good looking and the men were built like tanks, huge muscles and chiseled appearances, so much so that it was hard to tell they were all about seventeen years old, the same age as me.

Some of my classmates had even speculated they were vampires, just like in Twilight, because they lived on the other side of town where the ‘posh’people dwelled and they were all wealthy and gorgeous. However, they didn’t avoid the sun like the plague, nor did they sparkle. They seemed like a bunch of people with extremely blessed genes to me, people who were untouchable and out of everyone’s leagues, especially mine.

It was really difficult to explain, to put into words, but they just had this… certain aura that made people wary—conscious—of them by nature. The other kids in school would often throw themselves at their feet, trying to please them any way they could, and it didn’t simply end with the kids, but the teachers as well.

It was like they had this… power. A power that even the teachers could not touch. It sounded insane even when I said it in my mind—how could a group of high school students even instill such fear into the teachers’ hearts?

But it was unfortunately true.

Everyone was drawn to them like moths to the flame, and in the centre of that flame, burning the brightest was Caleb Blackburn.

Midnight black hair and electric blue eyes that could look deep into your soul…

He was over six feet two in height and had an athletic build. The quarterback of the school’s soccer team and everyone’s heartthrob, Caleb was easily noticeable for his extremely good looks. But I don’t think I had ever seen him be interested in anyone outside his group.

“That was a good one, Caleb!” A tall guy with dirty blonde hair and startling gray eyes went to clap Caleb on the back, his obnoxious laughter cutting through my stupor as he hopped off of his car. “I can’t believe you actually did that!”

Shane Matthews. Of all the people in their group, he was the one I hated the most. Caleb was bad, of course, but Shane was by far the worst. He was relentless, and had always made it a point to pick on me even when Caleb wasn’t around to enjoy my torment. And he didn’t seem remorseful for even an instance. He truly was the worst of bullies.

“You are such a child, Matthews. Shut up!” Caroline Atkinson. Blonde and sexy, with bright blue eyes and porcelain white skin that always looked flawless, and soft blonde hair that reached her lower back. She was so utterly feminine that she looked out of place amongst the group of bullies.

What’s more was that her personality was also as strikingly different from the rest as her angelic looks. Where the others were crass and mean, she was bubbly and friendly; genuinely charming.

She and Caleb were childhood best friends rumored to have turned high school sweethearts—which made me believe that her kind persona was probably just an act. Because if she was so kind, why would she willingly surround herself with people who were bursting with cruelty? Why would she be the girlfriend of a notorious bully? She’s probably just as bad as them.

“Bah, Caroline, you’re too nice for your own good. Live a little.” There goes Mia Anderson. Brunette with blue eyes and captain of the cheer team. She was a real piece of work, and by that, I meant she was also a notorious bully known to make cheer practice a living hell.

I had often heard the cheer squad whisper in the washroom that she never followed choreography and always did as she pleased and others had to follow or they would be kicked off the team. But still, they worshiped the very ground she walked on, and did everything Mia said with a smile, as if serving her was a privilege.

“Seriously, Mia! I didn’t expect that from you!” Caroline huffed, crossing her arms. “Jade, help me out here!” She turned to the brunette behind her, the final member of their group. Jade Campbell.

Brunette and golden eyed, the man was an equivalent of a Greek statue…in every sense of the word. Aloof and indifferent, he never really took part in any conversation unless it was absolutely necessary. And this time as well, I saw him merely nod and look away.

“Come on, Care.” Caleb’s soft voice startled me, at how different it sounded from when he had spoken to me, as he patted the top of Caroline’s head with a kind of tenderness that had me clutching the straps of my backpack tightly. “Let’s get to class, shall we?”

Caroline huffed, but smiled her brilliant smile at him regardless, and when Caleb smiled back, his blue eyes shining brightly as he looked down at her with so much tenderness…it made my heart clench painfully in my chest for reasons unknown to me.

Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I quickly turned away as I saw Caleb wrap an arm around Caroline’s waist as the entire group started to walk towards the entrance.

This time, I didn’t want to be caught standing in their way, so I deliberately willed my legs to move and walked into the main hallway, heading straight to my locker.

I couldn’t believe that I too was one of those stupid fools who had a stupid crush on Caleb Blackburn. It was clear that he was already taken, and that too by a gorgeous woman who was way better than anyone I could ever be. Then why did my heart still hurt when I saw them together?

Shaking my head at myself, I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath. I had to get to class now, and even if I hated the boring and repetitive routine of narrowly surviving another day at Blue Hill High, it was something that I must do nonetheless.

Because this was the only way out of this hellhole and until I graduated, I had to live with this torment for almost another year, before I was free from the shackles of this dingy town.