-Three Years Earlier-
Today was the day my dad had been officially challenged for his place on the throne and as I walked through the wispy hallways of the Central School in LunarSun, my books clenched to my chest, my bag softly bumping against my leg and my eyes watching the floor, all eyes were on me and everything was dead quiet. I never really had any friends other than my flowers in my garden back home but that was just embarrassing. There had been multiple attempts from classmates to approach me and befriend me but I never reciprocated. They were just wanting to hang out with me and talk to me because of my status and I never wanted fake friendships. I wanted people to befriend me because they liked me for who I was. I usually ignored them but today, their true colors were shining bright as day and I was the one being avoided.
I could hear them all snickering and looking down on me because my dad was the first Alpha to have his seat challenged in a millennium. These ridiculing belittling words didn't get to me near as much as whose mouths that they exited from. These were the same classmates that were fighting their asses off trying to befriend the 'Alpha's daughter' and trying to score some kind of reputation to truly be friends with me. It really struck a nerve with me but I let it be. I walked to my locker and opened it up to put my stuff in when a tall, fit girl approached me and slammed it in my face. I snapped my head around to stare the wench right in her ugly face. It was Amber Dwight, an orange-haired bully of the school who just couldn't get enough of me and tried her darndest to befriend me but her sad excuses of an attempt usually ended in her saying how she can introduce herself to my dad and wanting to finally be friends with a royal family. It was never about me. She scoffed at me and smacked my books out of my hands. "Not so big and tough now that your daddy is about to lose his entire throne to some outsider, are you?"
I ignored her and bent down to grab my stuff but right as I had my hand wrapped around my science book, I felt a sharp pain as my silky white hair was snatched and I was now dangling in front of her, our eyes locking together and she laughed throwing me to the wall hard. She was crazy strong and I was honestly pretty small compared to the other girls. When she threw me against the wall, my head smacked against it pretty hard and it threw me into a daze. I reached my hand to massage and soothe where I hit my head and I felt something wet and warm. I looked at my hand and my eyes grew wide with horror seeing as my hand was covered in blood. I was so caught up in the blood on my hand and the pain in my head and body that I didn't even notice Amber approaching me. It was her voice that snapped my back into reality. "I bet you thought you were just so much better than the rest of us, didn't you? Never struggled a day in your life. I'll show you what struggling is like!"
I felt a swift and hard kick to my stomach forcing me back against the wall and I coughed hard. The pain was insane and I almost threw up. I curled up in a fetal position and shuddered, my head throbbing and dripping on the floor, my stomach convulsed almost causing me to vomit and my back was absolutely searing from the pain. "Why…?" I managed to say. "I never did anything to you…" I peered up at the other classmates just watching, no one caring to help. Tears began to form in my eyes and I screamed, "I NEVER DID ANYTHING TO ANY OF YOU-"I was cut off as Amber snatched me once more by my snow white hair now stained in my own blood and threw me once more but down the hallway. Her words basically chased me as I skidded across the floor, "SHUT UP, YOU FUCKING MUTT!!! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO SPEAK TO US!!"
I laid there for a moment trying to process everything that was happening. I could vaguely see her in the distance kicking my stuff around and stomping on my papers and books. This was insane. This was way overboard and I truly felt like I was going to die today. No one was going to help me and that was pretty clear. Then again, maybe I did deserve this. I never gave any of them a chance at friendship with me. I know they all just wanted to push me into a friendship because of my status but was that so wrong? At least I wouldn't be laying here right now if I just gave them all what they wanted from the get go. I started picking myself up and Amber's head snapped to look at me, "who gave you permission to stand, bitch?"
I closed my eyes and braced for the impact I was sure to feel. I was so sore and defeated that I didn't care at this point. I'd rather just take the beating than start more unnecessary problems for myself or anyone around me. I waited what felt like forever on the strike but it never came. I peeked open a single eye to see what the delay was and I gasped in shock as I saw her feet dangling in front of my face not touching the floor. I shot my gaze upwards and saw a large hand tightened around her throat, holding her in the air above me. I had absolutely no inkling as to what was happening right now but I wasn't about to complain nor did I have the energy to if I wanted to. A deep growl erupted from the attacker's throat and for some reason, I felt like I recognized that voice. "You got some nerve beating up an innocent girl like that. She ain't done shit to none of you, fuckers."
I could hear Amber coughing and sputtering in his grasp and the attacker growled much deeper and angrier before dropping her in front of me. She hit her knees and grabbed at her throat fighting for air to return to her lungs, blessing her with relief. "Apologize to her. Now. She has a hard enough time as it is." Amber grumbled and glared up at the assailant before her nasty gaze fell upon me. She snatched her head away and stared at the wall grumbling under her breath. "Whatever, I don't have time for this…" She picked herself up and darted down the hallway flipping me and her attacker off before turning the corner and booking it. I pressed my elbow against the hallway floor tiles pushing myself up and slipped in more of the blood coming from my split open scalp. I felt myself fading out of consciousness but before my eyes closed, I saw the prettiest emerald eyes I had ever seen staring right back at me.
Getting attacked like that definitely was not common for someone of my stature but I wanted to go to a normal school like the other wolves. Some royal wolves would opt into home schooling and have a well-paid tutor come in to teach them. The teacher was typically of elvish origin as they were one of the most intelligent races in our realm aside from the vampires but they don't like us so much so it was best to just stick with the elves. I wanted to make real friends by going to a school like other wolves did so I asked my parents to enroll me at the Central School system of our pack. They were definitely hesitant but caved to my enthusiasm and desire to make new friends.
When I began to stir from my sleep, I carefully opened my eyes bit by bit and looked around the room. I was laying in a little bed in a white room. It was rather comfy in here and there was medical equipment and first aid stuff laid about. However, what truly caught my eye was the striking young man who was sitting in a chair next to the bed with his head resting in his hand as he scrolled through his phone. I recognized him immediately and began to sit up. As I did so, he looked up from his phone and immediately stood up to help me, "Hey, hey. Relax, don't go running off. You hit your head pretty hard. Your mom is on the way."
I shook my head and felt my chest getting heavier and heavier. My mom coming was not okay. That means she was pulled away from the debate today and wasn't there for my dad. I felt tears form in my eyes once more and I began to cry. This was just too much. "She can't come, she has to be with my dad. He needs her the most today, not me! He isn't going to have any support and- "He put his hand on my face and wiped the tears from my cheek, "Hey… shh… Stop stressing out. I'm here for you. Don't worry about it. Your dad is a strong man and he can handle himself. No matter the outcome, it won't stop him from being your dad and he won't love you any less. It's alright." I stared at him in confusion and my lip trembled as I fought back any more tears, "Why? Why did you help me? You have nothing to gain from this."
He gave me a very somber and pained look which almost made me bite back the words I said. He sat softly on the bed and placed his hand on the top of mine. "I don't care who you are. I don't care if you're some royal whatever or some dusty scrap from the side of the road. No one deserves to be assaulted so brutally for just existing and making your own choices." I squinted at him and let out a soft huff of air in partial disbelief. "Who are you?" He gave me a very warm smile and flexed his arm for me, "Your lord and savior, Aaron Martin. It's nice to meet you and I am sorry it had to be this way." I smiled a bit at his flex and gave a small giggle in amusement at his silly behavior. I gave him a soft bow with my head before jolting due to an immense pain shock I felt by doing so. "Holy shit, my head hurts…" I put my hand on the spot that had bled and noticed a giant plate of gauze was pressed and strapped to the wound. "Ah…." I followed the bandage and it wrapped around my whole head, crossing around my forehead. "
He made a cringed face and carefully moved my hand from my head, "I wouldn't touch it so much. It was not pretty and you are probably going to need stitches. Your mom is going to be taking you to the hospital when she gets here." My hands fell into my lap and I sighed heavily. My body ached but it was tolerable. I was still guilty about her having to take time from a very important day to come get me but it was inevitable. This also felt like the first of many soon-to-happen beatings but that felt pretty inevitable, too. Aaron's attention was stolen by someone motioning him at the door to the nurse's office and he suddenly buried his arms underneath me and lifted me up out of the bed, "put your arms around me. Your mom is here."
I wrapped my arms around his neck anxiously and tried to turn my head away but it hurt way too much. He noticed and whispered softly to me, "Rest your head on my shoulder if you have to. It's okay, dork." My cheeks flushed even brighter and I grumbled in embarrassment as I laid my head on his soft shoulder. His t-shirt smelled really nice and he felt so pleasant and warm. This was the first time I had felt so vulnerable to a stranger but that was alright. He seemed like a good stranger. My mom was waiting in her car for me and when he set me inside next to her in the passenger seat, she nodded to Aaron giving her thanks. He smiled and waved to her before closing the door.
On the way to the hospital, my mom bit her bottom lip and growled in anger, "Just so you know, that little twat has been expelled and will be suffering a very harsh punishment for her behavior today. I would love to rip her apart myself but that wouldn't be very becoming of me now, would it?" I gave her a half smile and looked out the window at the passing woodlands around us. "That boy…. His name is Aaron. The one who helped me." She peered over at me before focusing on the road again, "He will be handsomely rewarded for standing up to you." I nodded, "I would like to be the one to give it to him. Is that alright?" She smiled very warmly and agreed, "That would be fine. We can stop by his home right after we get you all taken care of and stitched up."
After I was promptly taken care of at the hospital, I was advised that I would need at least a week at home to fully heal and rest. I didn't mind. It would give me a lot of time to get myself back together mentally as well as physically. I ran my hand against my cheek and closed my eyes remembering how he smelled, his warmth and his kindness. It was such a euphoric feeling and I couldn't shake it. No one had ever gone out of their way to help me like that and it was such a wonderful feeling. I have only had a handful of people who at first came across very sincere and kind but always managed to rope it around to wanting to meet my dad and ask for privileges or money. None of those people were as genuine as him and Aaron was truly unmatched. Those same people who tried getting into my life were also the ones who snickered as I was helplessly beaten and slung against a wall. They wouldn't have made good friends anyway.
I was warned about people who were going to approach me trying to get benefits or special treatment since I was a pup. It happened more often than people thought and it had to have been the most obnoxious thing I had ever had to deal with. Not to mention, I really loved meeting new people but it always made it so hard when the people I met were never being themselves but instead were putting on a front to try and win my affection or kindness. It was always a competition with other wolves to see who could get past my walls and social barriers just enough to get some kind of rapport built but they would always end up showing their true desires in the end. It was really bad when my dad was ruling as he had very humanistic laws in place that were causing a lot of wolves to go into poverty or even go hungry.
As we made it over to Aaron's house, I stopped a moment to think. "Hey mom? How did you know where Aaron lived?" She gave me a very warm smile before handing me a handwritten check to give to him and his family. "Well, when I got a call from the school, I asked who the boy was who got you to safety and they told me it was a young lad named Aaron Martin. I went through the residential records and there he was. You forget who I am, pup." Honestly, I should have known without even asking. I took the check and stepped out of the car carefully. His house was like a modernized home from those Hallbark movies I like watching so much. The outside of the home was white with pretty blue shutters and lilies planted along the walkway. There was a nice little yellow car parked in the driveway and a skateboard in the grass.
The board immediately piqued my interest as I absolutely loved to skateboard. I usually did it by myself in my backyard but maybe he might want to skate with me. I knocked on the door and waited patiently on an answer. A very pretty young woman with long brunette hair and eyes as green as Aaron's opened the door and peered down at me, "Yes?" I gave her a small bow in respect and asked, "Is Aaron home?" Sure enough, there he was coming out from behind her and he looked at me in surprise. "Oh hey. How are you feeling?" He stepped out and his mom looked at us both curiously. My hand lifted with the check and I motioned for him to take it, "Please accept this as a token of my family's thanks and…" I blushed and looked away, "w-would you…. I would like it if…. Can you maybe be…" I had never asked someone to be my friend before and this was a lot harder than it looked. This was all a completely new experience for me. I felt his hand lay over mine pushing it down, "I would love to be friends with you but paying me for simply being a decent wolf is not necessary. Keep that."
I lifted my hand again and shoved the check down his shirt before turning and running back to the car. I hid my face as much as possible as it was so red hot it would have started a fire. He laughed and yelled after me, "I will take this just this once but don't do it anymore, ya dork! Let's hang out sometime!"
I hopped in the car and pulled my shirt up over my face in embarrassment. My mom put the car in drive and began to move forwards, "Did you really shove the check in his shirt?" I gasped and turned away inside my little shirt cocoon, my whole face blistering hot with embarrassment and also a hint of happiness that I finally made my first friend. "Yeah, well, he wouldn't take it so I made him. Can we just go home now please?" She giggled, "Alright but no more assaulting people with checks."
After that day, Aaron and I ended up hanging out a lot and Amber was never seen again. Other students went about their day and him and I grew closer and closer. He became my best friend and we did almost everything together. He helped me with my garden, he introduced me to the skate park and we had the greatest of fun together. "I hope it stays like this forever…" I had thought to myself. My dad ended up losing the debate and the throne with it. But after a while seeing how the new ruler established the new laws that he never had faith in, he calmed down and admitted his defeat because the laws were actually saving our pack and economy. It was truly difficult for him but he was the only one who really saw himself differently. The rest of the pack still gave him the utmost respect and even bowed to him when he was seen out and about in public. Our pack was large with around 7,000 members. We had our own town established with stores, imports from other continents and even foreign visitors. It was a nice life that I could not imagine trading but I still would not have minded experiencing what it could have been like to be born as a normal pack wolf. I guess I would never truly get to know.