The Cold Alpha Is Cruel To Everyone But Me

"Stop!" I yelled, sprinting forward.

Jackson paused, leaving the crowbar wedged in the metal seam of my locker. He turned, a cruel smile stretching across his face.

"Look who decided to show up," Jackson mocked. "I was just doing some maintenance for you, Maeve."

"Get away from my locker," I demanded.

Maya stepped in front of him, crossing her arms. "Or what? You'll growl at us? Oh wait, you can't."

"I'll report you to Mr. Harrison," I said.

"Go ahead," Jackson laughed. "Tell him the big bad wolves are picking on the poor little human. He won't care. No one cares about a defect."

He gripped the crowbar and yanked. The metal screeched again.

"I said stop!" I lunged toward him.

Maya shoved me back. My shoulders hit the opposite row of lockers.

"Keep your hands to yourself," Maya snapped.

"Mr. Harrison is coming!" a freshman shouted from the stairwell.

Jackson dropped the metal bar. It clanged against the tile floor.

"Saved by the bell, Omega," Jackson sneered.

Maya grabbed his sleeve. "Leave it. Let's go."

They bolted down the corridor. I skidded to a halt in front of my locker. The dial was heavily scratched, the metal casing dented, but the lock held firm. I sagged against the neighboring unit. Safe.

I skipped the cafeteria for lunch break and headed straight to the courtyard for self-study. I needed space. I spent forty minutes under the oak tree, reviewing chemistry notes, convinced the worst was over.

I was wrong.

When I returned to the main corridor, the locker door swung wide open on a broken hinge.

"No," I whispered.

I dropped my backpack and fell to my knees. My hands tore through the remaining contents. Binders. Pens. Gym clothes.

The thick biology textbook lay discarded on the linoleum.

The space behind it was empty.

My leather diary was gone.

I stared at the empty shelf. A ringing sound started in my ears. Three years of secrets. Three years of writing Kael's name. Every desperate, pathetic thought about my broken wolf. Stolen.

I stood up, my knees shaking. The hallway buzzed with students heading to fifth period.

I grabbed the shoulder of the nearest guy. Toby from math class.

"Did you see who did this?" I asked.

He yanked his arm away. "Watch it, Maeve."

"Someone broke into my locker. Please, Toby. Did you see them?"

"I just got here." He adjusted his backpack strap. "Maybe your invisible wolf ate it."

"It's a leather notebook," I pushed, stepping into his path. "Who took it?"

"Toby, please. You sit next to me in math. You know I don't bother anyone."

"Yeah, and you don't contribute anything either," Toby replied. "Look, Maeve. The Alpha line doesn't care about you. Why should the rest of us? Maya is a high-ranking female. You're a zero. I'm not getting on her bad side for a zero."

He shoved past me.

I stumbled, catching myself on a trash can.

A couple leaned against the trophy case nearby, whispering and pointing at my busted locker.

I marched over to them.

"Excuse me," I said.

The girl rolled her eyes. "What do you want, defect?"

"My locker was pried open. Did Jackson come this way?"

The guy sneered. "Why do you care? You don't have anything worth stealing. Unless someone finally decided to throw out your trash for you."

"It's a journal," I said. "It's really important to me."

"A journal?" The girl laughed, covering her mouth. "What do you write in there? Tips on how to stay human? Or maybe a list of reasons why you're a disappointment to the pack?"

"Just tell me if you saw them."

"We didn't," the guy said, stepping between me and his girlfriend. "Move along, dud. Go fetch Kael. He likes playing hero for strays. Maybe he'll fetch your little book."

"He's not playing hero," I snapped.

"Oh, right," the girl mocked. "He's totally in love with the girl who can't even grow claws. Keep dreaming, Omega."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I backed away from them.

I spotted Sarah and Chloe near the water fountain.

I marched straight up to them.

"Where is it?" I demanded.

Sarah stopped filling her plastic bottle. "Excuse me?"

"You know Jackson and Maya were messing with my lock earlier," I said. "Where did they go?"

"Are you barking at me, Omega?" Sarah asked. Her eyes flashed a faint yellow. "You forget your place."

"I just want my notebook back."

Chloe snickered. "Why are you so panicked? Is there a little secret in there? Maybe a love letter to a certain Alpha?"

I dug my nails into my palms. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please," Sarah scoffed. "Everyone sees the way you stare at him during athletics. You're practically drooling. It's disgusting. Kael is destined for Seren. You're destined to be a lone wolf outcast."

"I just want my property."

"Go check the trash," Sarah said. "That's where garbage belongs."

"Did Maya take it?" I asked, my voice rising.

"Lower your tone," Sarah warned, stepping closer. "You have no right to question us. You don't belong in this pack. You barely belong in this school. If Maya took your pathetic little diary, she did you a favor. Maybe she'll teach you not to aim above your station."

"Tell me where she is."

Sarah shoved my shoulder. "I said back off."

I stumbled backward. Nobody would help. They wanted to see me break. They wanted the entertainment.

I jogged down the hall, checking the empty classrooms.

I found a freshman girl packing her bag in the corner of the art room.

"Hey," I said, panting.

She jumped. "Oh. Hi."

"Did you see