Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 25

Ren's

POV

I could say that I would die for my best friends, Aiden and Zac without hesitation any time and any day but today was the very first time that I actually felt embarrassed about their behaviour.

Lily had done nothing to them to warrant this kind of behavior and no matter Aiden's convictions that she needed to pay for her father's sins because of what happened to his parents, I didn't believe that anyone innocent had to pay for the crimes of their loved And now Zac was being cruel to her because she looked like someone that he hated with vitriol.

ones.

We were beings that could turn into gigantic wolf creatures and yet, the fact that Lily could be a doppelganger flew right over his head. Callista may be the source of his nightmares but we all knew she was dead. We had all seen her bleed out her miserable life. Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on him because I didn't want to invalidate the horrors he may have faced at her hands, especially at such a young age, the irreversible damage she had done to him, but it's starting to look like when it comes to Lily, I'm more biased in my judgement.

I had to make this right. I couldn't just let her go thinking that everyone here completely felt the same way about her.

The part about being ugly was a clear lie, meant to hurt her and Aiden and Zac had succeeded.

I saw the other boys laughing and welcoming Zac back and the back of my neck itched with annoyance and righteous rage.

There was zero remorse. There was zero consequences for their actions. They were being hailed as kings for hurting an innocent girl.

I have never felt so feral in my entire life.

Rage clouded my judgement and I was seeing red as I marched over to him and I wasn't even thinking straight when I grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against the table.

Everyone stood still, frozen fear on their faces but I couldn't hear anything through the blood roaring in my ears.

Aira, who rarely ever stirs from his sleep was eager and ready to take control if I let him, and that would be disastrous for every one of them gathered here.

"You went too far!" I growled.

Zac didn't even look perturbed by my outburst, an excited gleam in his black eyes, probably because his defective wolf was thirsty for blood. "Ask me if I give a flying f**k." "You will, when I beat the s**t out of you."

"You think you can beat me?" He asked, earning a few nervous snickers. His lips stretched into an even wider grin, so wide that I saw his fangs slid out with the promise of blood shed.

"Show me what you've got, Ghost." He had probably said that dreaded nickname as a jab but it only made me more enraged and my powers blasted out of me before I could stop myself, knocking him against the brick wall of the lounge and earning terrified shrieks from the others gathered around.

He sat up through the rubble, a bloodthirsty look in his eyes.

I started to stalk towards him when suddenly, ropes of darkness latched around me, halting my movements, threatening to break my bones in half.

I glared at Aiden whose eyes had gone pitch black as he used his powers to restrain me. It only took a second of eye contact to have him collapsing on the ground, fighting for breath and as soon as his concentration slipped, I marched towards Zac again, grabbing his collar and lifting him up.

His irises had turned blood red the way it usually does when he conjures up his own powers and the excruciating pain began deep in my chest until it felt like my skin was trying to peel off my bones.

"Ren! Zac! Stop this!" Rhea suddenly yelled, stepping between the two of us, putting herself in harm's way. "You're being unreasonable. You both!" She chided.

I glared at Zac whose irises had turned back to normal. He still had a ruthless smirk on his lips that I wanted to wipe off his face.

I shoved him away, turning around and making my way out of the lounge when Chelsea and Rhea caught up with me.

"What the f**k, Ren?!" Rhea demanded. "After we've tried so long to keep your powers a secret, you go and pull that out of your a*s?!"

I stopped and turned to look at her, her livid teal blue eyes, disappointment etched over her features. Rhea never cursed. Never said such crude words.

I looked at Chelsea who was beaming at Rhea proudly. "You," I pointed at Chelsea, "you're a bad influence on my sister." I looked back at Rhea, "And no. I don't regret it. I'd do it again if I think he deserves it." The thought was exciting. Exhilarating. I had been prepared to do whatever it takes to make him feel a sliver of the pain Lily was probably feeling right now.

Lily. I should go find her.

I turned around, about to go after her when Chelsea stopped me.

"I'm going with you." She said, her tone leaving no room for argument and I was about to object because I didn't know if Lily would appreciate more than one person coming to find her when she raised her eyebrows at me.

"She has had enough royals for one day, Ren, don't you think so?" Her tone was heavy with disapproval and she looked back at Aiden and Zac who were back to conversing easily amongst themselves like nothing had ever happened, before looking at me as if to prove her point.

Well, she had a very fair point and I was ashamed by their behaviour but I was not going to sit back here and let Lily think that I didn't care about what happened with her.

Rhea stared at me and she must have seen the strong conviction on my face because she took a step forward and held Chelsea's hand, causing her to turn around and look at her.

"Just let him go alone, okay?"

"But-"

"Trust me. Besides, saying that my brother is the same as those assholes is very appalling by the way. He's a literal angel." Rhea said and I gave her a grateful smile when she glanced at me.

If there was one person in life that I would forever be grateful for, it was Rhea. I had no idea how I would have survived my entire life without a little sister.

Chelsea warned me with her kohl lined eyes and I had to give it to her because it was. necessary to have a steel backbone when associating with the royals and elite of this school, something that someone as sweet as Lily did not possess and was already bearing the consequences of.

Nodding at the two of them, I was already at the exit door when someone grabbed my arm and when I turned around, it was Mauve and the fake smile that she had been parading around all day was off. Of course, she only pretended to be a human being when others were around and unfortunately, I didn't belong in that category.

"And where the hell do you think you are going?"

"Not now, Mauve," I answered and tried to leave but she screeched and that stopped me.

"Some boyfriend you are. Look at you, running off to chase after some girl, while doing nothing after your best friend almost broke my arm. Your girlfriend's arm, Ren! Me! I'm your girlfriend! Your mate! You started a fight you couldn't even finish, running away like the coward you are because running away is what you do best. You're too much of a coward to face the people that insulted your precious Lily, too much of a coward to face Aiden for assaulting me, too much of a coward to face the fact that you are hiding behind the mask of being a goody goody because you can't stand up to your friends who are better than you, I must say. I wish I was mated to Aiden, because I mean he has more balls than you will ever have!"

Like sharp knives piercing into every part of my body, her words opened up old wounds that I had thought were long healed, triggering memories that I thought were long buried but I was done right now. Mauve was always going to be like this. Nothing I could say to her would change who she was no matter what. And my priority right now was Lily.

"You will have to find a way back home on your own today, Mauve. I'll be too busy to drive you back home."

Her mouth fell open in shock and she screamed but I didn't wait, leaving the cafeteria and trying to find Lily by scent.

After several minutes, I finally find her in front of the bus pass machine trying to swipe her bus card and secure herself a bus ride home and I was about to rush to her but stopped, watching for a moment as her body shook with tears and the card kept falling from her hands every time she tried to make a swipe.

Her pain was so raw and it hit me like a freight train, pausing my movement because I didn't have a clue on how to make things right.

This gift was a blessing and at times like this, I wondered if it was a curse to be able to feel just how much hurt my friends had inflicted on her.

Just try, Ren.

I took slow steps forward, but as if she sensed that someone was watching her, she turned around and when she saw that it was me, she started shaking her head immediately.

"No. No. Enough. I've had enough of you guys. Please leave me alone."

"Lily-"

"No, get out of here, Ren. Please. Leave me the f**k alone. I don't want anything to do with you or anything that pertains to you. Get out." She screamed and I stopped moving, unsure of what to do.

She had every right to not want me here but I didn't want to leave her alone either. Confused, I could only watch as she continued to angrily try to swipe the card, hating that I could not turn off the gift that allowed me to feel emotions the way I could turn off mind reading.

Wait. Maybe reading her mind this once would help me know how to help her.

"What are you still doing here?" She whispered, not looking at me but with my mind reading back on, I heard everything that she was not saying.

Please don't leave me.

I'm so scared. And so tired.

I'm so alone. So f*****g alone. Please stay, Ren.

"I want you to leave me alone, Ren. Please go away."

Relieved that I knew what she was truly thinking, I didn't hesitate to grab her and pull her in for a tight hug, crushing her to my chest. She tried to move away but I shook my head and buried my face in her hair, hugging her even closer. Close enough to let her know that I will never leave her.

"I'm not leaving you, Lily. You're here. You're safe. I'm not going anywhere."

She stopped fighting and looking up at me with tear stained cheeks and teary hazel green eyes.

"Ren," she whispered in a voice that sounded like heartbreak. "I'm so sorry, Ren." She cried and it broke me that she would be apologizing even when she was the one that was hurt.

"There is nothing to apologize for, Lily. Nothing." I whispered, wiping her tears with my thumb and hugging her again as she cried.

With her in my arms, everything felt like it was right in the world again. Aira settled back into me, slipping into the recesses of my consciousness, content and sated. My powers stopped their frazzled assault on my senses. She calmed me as much as I calmed her. I didn't know how long we stood there but I didn't care either. I didn't want to let her go. I was going to be here for her and I knew that it was not going to be a one time thing.