Four Mates And A She Wolf
37

As the afternoon stretched towards evening, Avery found herself enjoying the rhythm of her workday. It was almost time to clock out, and the supermarket had quieted down a bit. She was organizing a display of canned goods when she heard the unmistakably annoying voice of Cassie, her high school bully, echoing through the aisles.

Avery's heart sank. Cassie had always been a thorn in her side, constantly belittling and mocking her throughout high school. It seemed that even years later, Cassie hadn't changed.

Cassie sauntered into the supermarket with her usual entourage of minions, their laughter carrying across the store. Avery tried to focus on her task, hoping they would pass by without incident. But, as luck would have it, Cassie spotted her and made a beeline towards her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Avery," Cassie sneered, loud enough for everyone around to hear. Her minions snickered behind her, always eager to join in on the bullying.

Avery straightened up and turned to face Cassie, doing her best to remain calm. "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing much," Cassie said with a malicious grin. "I just wanted to see if it's true what they're saying about you. I heard you're quite the little hoe now, with four mates. Is that right?"

The words hit Avery like a slap in the face. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks as a mix of anger and humiliation surged through her. She could see her coworkers glancing over, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Avery's heart raced as Cassie's words echoed in her mind. She fought to maintain her composure, her jaw clenched tightly as she struggled to find the right words to respond. Every fiber of her being wanted to lash out, to defend herself against Cassie's cruel accusations. But she knew that sinking to Cassie's level would only give her satisfaction.

Instead, Avery took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. She squared her shoulders and met Cassie's gaze head-on, refusing to let her see the extent of her hurt.

"Cassie, that's none of your business," Avery replied. "And you have no right to talk to me that way."

Cassie laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, come on, Avery. Everyone knows what you've been up to. It's pathetic, really. You can't get one guy to love you, so you have to go for four? What kind of desperate slut does that make you?" Avery clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to lash out, to defend herself, but she knew that reacting in anger would only give Cassie more satisfaction. Instead, she took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I don't owe you an explanation," Avery said. "My relationships are my business, and they don't define my worth. Your opinion means nothing to me."

Cassie's face twisted in anger at Avery's calm response. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You think you're so much better than everyone, don't you? But you're just a pathetic little girl who can't stand on her own."

Avery stood her ground, meeting Cassie's gaze without flinching. "I know who I am, Cassie. And I'm proud of it. You can try to tear me down all you want, but you'll never succeed."

Before Cassie could respond, Laura stepped in. She had been watching the exchange from a distance and had had enough. "Cassie, that's enough. You have no right to come in here and insult Avery. If you don't leave her alone, I'm going to call the manager and have you escorted out."

Cassie's eyes widened in surprise at Laura's intervention. She glanced around, realizing that other employees and even some customers were watching the scene unfold. With a final sneer, she turned on her heel and marched towards the exit, her minions trailing behind her.

"You haven't heard the last of this, Avery," Cassie called over her shoulder. "You'll regret this."

As the door closed behind Cassie and her entourage, Avery let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, mixed with gratitude for Laura's support.

"Thank you, Laura," Avery said, turning to her friend. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

Laura smiled warmly. "You don't have to thank me, Avery. Cassie had no right to treat you that way. You handled it with a lot of grace. I'm proud of you."

Avery nodded, feeling a bit more composed. "I just hate that she always tries to bring me down. But I won't let her get to me. Not anymore."

"That's the spirit," Laura said, giving Avery a reassuring pat on the back. "And remember, you have a lot of people who care about you and support you. Cassie's just a bitter, unhappy person who tries to make herself feel better by hurting others. She is just jealous that not only did you get Cruz but the Alpha and his hot brother too."

Avery smiled, feeling a renewed sense of strength. "You're right. Thank you, Laura."

The rest of the shift passed without incident, and Avery felt a sense of accomplishment as she completed her tasks. When it was finally time to clock out, she felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

As she left the supermarket, Avery's phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Shane, checking in to see how her day had gone. She smiled as she read his words, feeling a warmth spread through her. "Hey Shane, it's been a bit of a tough day," she replied, "but I'm okay now. Thanks for checking in."

Shane responded almost immediately. "I'm glad to hear you're okay. Want to meet up later? I'd love to see you."

Avery felt a rush of happiness at the thought of seeing Shane. "I'd love that. Let's meet at the coffee shop in an hour?"

"Perfect. See you then," Shane replied.

As Avery walked home to freshen up before meeting Shane.