It didn't matter whether it was a werewolf or a human who bullied her; the fact that one of the Alpha kids pushed her into the pool was unerasable.
"I don't care if they're human or not, but I've never forgotten the kid who nearly killed me." Aria's hands clenched into fists as she recalled where one of the Alpha kids pushed her into the pool even though that boy knew she couldn't swim.
"Can I ask who did?" Iona asked curiously.
If the one who bullied her was a werewolf kid, she could tell Lyod, and the Alpha would punish anyone who tyrannized his mate.
However, she never expected that the one who bullied Aria in her childhood was the Alpha king himself!
"I'd love to forget his name, but I couldn't. His name is Lyodreck Wildridge."
If Iona's eyes could be bigger than they are now, her stare would probably be the biggest in the entire universe.
"No way! Why did he do it?"
"How should I know? He knew I couldn't swim, but he pushed me into the pool and didn't help me. If Meryl and Quinn hadn't helped me then, I might have died."
"She was right. I was there when a boy pushed her into the pool. At that time, I wanted to hit him and scold him, but Meryl stopped me. She said the boy was an Alpha boy. So I did nothing."
Iona couldn't believe what she was hearing and felt confident that something was wrong with her ears.
What has Lyod done??
No wonder Aria hated werewolves so much. The culprit turned out to be Lyod himself.
"Now, do you understand why I hate them? Everyone said they were our protectors, but the truth was, they were free to torture weak children using the excuse that they were immature. What a ridiculous excuse if you ask my opinion."
"Oh, Aria. I didn't know. I'm sorry. But, really. Lyod was a jerk in the past, and so was Doug. He always stole my snack without my knowledge or hid my textbook, making the teacher drive me out of the class."
"He did that? When?" inquired Quinn.
"You know when Mr. Dean told me to stand outside the classroom."
"You forget to bring your textbook almost every day," added Quinn.
"I'll correct that. Doug hid it every day."
"Why would he do that?"
"I have no ideas. Doug was so annoying, a jerk, and a pain in my ass. I often wonder why this kid keeps bothering me and not disturbing others instead. We're like oil and water that will not get along even though we grow up. But then, everything changed when he came to the mortal realm to carry out the duties of his Alpha."
"He's not bothering you anymore?" Quinn guessed as enthusiastically as she heard the romance she so desperately wanted.
"Oh, he still annoyed me and kept bothering me. But he's not hiding my things or stealing my food. Instead, he bought me my favorite food and did whatever I asked, except for one. He wouldn't do this request of mine."
"What were you asking for?"
"I wanted him to get out of my sight, and he didn't want to fulfill it. I found it was overwhelming and annoying at first, but he was being nothing but sweet to me every time we met. Which girl doesn't melt to get his attention? Besides…" Iona placed her chin above her palm with a dreamy look. "He is also very personable and looks dashing while protecting me from perverts. I feel like I won the jackpot because he chose me."
Quinn laughed in amusement to see her childhood friend smiling to herself like a madman.
"I'm so happy for you. You found your soul mate, and that too, a werewolf." Quinn said sincerely.
"I know, right. And now I'm delighted with my life," added Iona while glancing at Aria.
As expected. It wasn't easy to change the girl's view of the werewolf.
"Aria, Meryl was right. Lyodreck is an Alpha. But you can't always keep in mind how he treated you when you were a child. He has changed and become a great Alpha. He even risked his life to guard the border so that no rogue would enter our world. Give him a chance, and let him show you he's changed."
"Why should I? It's not like he would want to meet me."
'You don't know, Aria. He's the one who most wants to meet you in person.' continued Iona in my heart.
"Hi, girls. I heard what you were saying earlier."
Aria and her two friends looked up to see who greeted them. Aria beamed in delight when she saw that Meryl was also there.
"Meryl! You eat here too?"
"I wanted to buy meals for my friends, and then I heard you girls talking. Do you mind if I join?"
"Of course not. Please, sit." invite Iona to Meryl and let Meryl sit next to Aria.
"So, what are you talking about? Why do I get the impression you want to change the way Aria views werewolves."
"I had the same feeling," added Aria nodding in agreement.
"Aria, how did you feel when you heard that I once hated you?"
"I feel unfair. Why would someone hate me when I did nothing?"
"That's how I feel. I feel that your hatred of werewolves is also unfair." came the answer from Iona.
"Why are you talking like that?"
"Lyod indeed pushed you, but that doesn't mean everyone who bullies you is a werewolf. After I had lived in the werewolf realm for many years, I got to know everyone who had attended the academy. And to my knowledge, these people have never once bullied you."
"…"
"Isn't it unfair that you hate them while they didn't bully you?"
"Who said they didn't bully Aria?" Meryl refuted with a cynical snort. "Aria, don't listen to her. She's just trying to shake your decision."
"What is that supposed to mean?" inquired Iona while folding her hands against her chest in a demanding tone. "It seems to me that you were the one who spread the hatred seed inside her heart."
Meryl looked at Iona with a disapproving look, then turned to Aria without responding to Iona. "Aria, the girls and I will be having a picnic by the lake today. Do you want to tag along?"
Iona: How dare she!!