Tasting

33–The Mean Girls 

Nora: 

“Fine,” without even caring about the look on my face, he continued and dismounted the bike. It was a bit slippery everywhere since it rained the entire night. 

“Let’s go inside and inform everyone that you’re not who they think you are to me,” he rolled his eyes and strode past me sternly. I wanted to jump on his back and knock him down, but I kept my anger inside and followed him. 

As soon as we entered the school, I noticed everyone pausing to turn and gaze at us. I could see April standing with her friends, staring at 

1. us. 

The bell rang, and everyone had to head to their classrooms. Ryker and I first went to the teacher’s lounge where he introduced me, and now we were trailing behind my teacher who was leading us to the classroom where the introduction would take place. 

Once we entered the classroom, everyone went silent, confused about what was happening and why Ryker was there with me. 

“Class!” Pam didn’t even need to call for their attention. They were already ogling Ryker as if they would devour him. The girls were just staring him up and down, and I could tell he was aware of their stares. There was a subtle smirk on his lips at the acknowledgment of his looks being praised. It was crazy how bad his mood had been, but suddenly he seemed content. 

“Alpha Ryker is here to have a word with you guys,” she said, smiling 

way. She was our history teacher, usually teaching us about our pack’s history. 

She was very young too, probably in her early thirties, but still, it was odd that she was blushing for Ryker, who was much younger than her. 

“Hello, everyone.” Ryker used his s*xy tone, the sharp way of 

pronouncing words being his habit. But now that everyone was silently listening to him, he sounded even s*xier. 

“I wanted to introduce someone here today,” he paused, causing April to gasp and cover her mouth to maintain her composure. She looked guilty over giving a reaction. I could watch her face and tell she was hurt, thinking we were dating, and he had come here to introduce me as his girlfriend. 

“I want you all to take care of my–.” Ryker suddenly paused, unexpectedly for him. 

“My stepsister and make sure her stay here is peaceful.” 

As he finished, April’s eyes widened, and her mouth hung low. She was in shock, but it was a happy kind of shock. 

“I’ve heard about some bullying going on. Keep my sister out of that game, and I won’t show up here again,” he added very coldly, his entire attention seeming to be on watching the girls drool over him. 

“Thank you. Alpha Ryker. I’m sure everyone understands and will make sure they don’t upset you,” Miss Pam smiled and nodded her head to reassure Ryker that she would take care of me, even though she hadn’t done that in the past. 

“Thank you. I’ll leave then,” Ryker mumbled and turned to leave when 

his eyes fell on me and a smirk covered his lips. “I’ll come pick you up later, ugly little duckling,” he playfully slapped my forehead. 

Everybody laughed because to them, it was an alpha joking around with his sister, but I knew what he was doing. He was giving me a hint that now he also gets to treat me badly under the disguise of just being a brother. 

After I sat down, I felt a little tug on my shirt from Natalya. 

“Hey!” she giggled, looking so happy. 

“Let’s sit together at lunchtime,” Natalya suggested, and I gave her a 

nod. 

The period went smoothly that day. Nobody dared to make jokes towards me. 

After the bell rang, Natalya and I grabbed our lunch and went to the end of the cafeteria to sit together. 

“You are so lucky. You are living with the alpha brothers.” Natalya hadn’t stopped gushing over how lucky I was. 

“It’s just fine. They’re not very sweet,” I sighed, shaking my head. It’s not like they were super sweet to me. They have not left a single chance to make my life miserable. 

“That’s because brothers do stuff like that. They tease their sisters a lot,” she giggled, leaning over to say, “it means I can come over for sleepovers then,” she looked so excited, and I was just blank. It was like she was inviting herself when she should have waited for me to offer her. 

As I blanked out, thinking it would be a bit off having her around and then the brothers disrespecting me also, I like some alone time because 

11 The Mean 

I love to spend time with Akira whenever I get a chance. Sadly, I took way too long to respond to her, and she picked up on the hesitation in my body language. 

Her smile faded, and she leaned back, straightening her back and taking a bite out of the breadstick before she cleared her throat and added, “I was joking.” 

“Oh no! I didn’t mean to zone out. It’s just that–,” I was ready to lie and noticed that she narrowed her eyes, listening to my excuse with the intention of believing whatever excuse I laid down for her. 

“I was watching April and her friends stare at me. Do you think they are talking about me?” I inquired, feeling guilty for lying. She turned around to look at them, and well, they were indeed looking our way. 

“I don’t like her,” Natalya uttered with a little head shake. 

“Are they still bullying you?” I questioned. 

“They are more subtle now. It’s just that, even when I saved so many pack members from a monster that day, it didn’t change much when it came to April. She knows my wolf wouldn’t wake up so easily to become a hero like that day, so she annoys me a little only in hopes of getting her frustration out while my wolf stays sleeping,” Natalya lamented everything in one breath, and I just nodded my head for her. I didn’t want to talk about her hero story. It made me feel bad for her. 

“They are coming here,” and then I had to announce the sad part when I watched April get up and walk in our direction. 

“Shit,” Natalya closed her eyes while I wondered what she was going to do now.