Chapter 5

Maya

I stepped out of the Jeep, gently brushing away the lingering tears. Hidden beneath my top, the stinging wounds demanded constant adjustments to remain concealed. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone catching a glimpse and subjecting me to ridicule, or worse, mockery in front of a horde of students. Clutching my backpack, I quickened my pace to avoid their prying eyes, though their oppressive presence still loomed behind me.

They were like devils—sinister and steeped in malice.

As usual, curious gazes followed my every move. In this pack, everyone knew I was little more than a slave, and college didn’t feel any different.

Just as I was about to enter the college, a familiar voice rang out.

"Babe!" Camila’s excited shriek pierced the air. She rushed toward Max and Leo, completely bypassing me, throwing herself into Maximus's arms.

"I’ve been waiting for you. Why are you so late?" Her pout was unmistakable.

Camila had been Maximus's girlfriend for the past nine months. How had she ended up with him? The story was brief and brutal—she had been my only friend after I came to this pack, and that friendship lasted a mere three months before Max decided to take her from me by fucking her. That’s how easily he took away the one friend I had.

At first, I had genuinely considered Camila a friend, but now her true colors were clear—she’d befriended me only to get closer to the Sterling twins. The game was hers to play, and Max played it willingly.

Max’s arms circled her waist as he pulled her in for a kiss, his hands groping her arse, which I was sure he’d fucked more times than anyone could count.

"Dealing with some shit, you know."

I continued walking, ignoring Camila’s voice cutting through the air.

"Well, I think I know what the ‘shit’ is," she chuckled, glancing back at me.

"So, what did she do this time? Hey, bitch, what’s your latest offense?"

With every step, I put more distance between us. The last thing I wanted was to deal with her drama, especially when my body ached. All I wished for was an escape from this world, a place where no one could ever find me. I knew such a place existed, but I was too afraid to take the necessary steps. It was as simple as a few deep cuts with a blade—across my wrists and the backs of my knees. It would be easy, but also hauntingly terrifying.

"Hey, you piece of shit! I’m talking to you—where the fuck are you going?"

First, the twins, and now this bitch…this day was already too much for me.

I bit the inside of my cheek to contain my anger, my legs fighting the urge to stop. I wanted nothing more than to slap her, and I knew it would take just one hit to break her jaw and send her teeth flying.

I wasn’t defenseless, but it seemed like the ones who had power over me always exercised it—my so-called twin stepbrothers.

I closed my eyes tight, just to refrain from lashing out at her.

Suddenly, I felt a firm grip on my wrist. Camila’s gray eyes blazed with fury, as if she believed she had some kind of authority over me. Maybe being Max’s girlfriend had deluded her into thinking she was the next Luna, a position she’d always longed for.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to lash out.

"Let go of my hand, Camila."

"Why, you piece of shit? So you can run off to some classroom and cry like a baby, like you always do?" She batted her eyelashes, pushing me so that my backpack slipped and fell to the ground.

She was a clown. What would you even call a girl who had worn all-pink outfits for a whole year just because she believed it was Maximus’s favorite color? And why did she think that? Simple! She’d worn a pink dress the first time he took her to one of the many rooms on this campus and fucked her so hard that she could barely walk for a week.

The last thing I’d allow was for this clown to insult me after everything I’d endured in that Jeep.

"I said—let go of my fucking hand, Camila!"

"What, are you trying to command me now?" She scoffed. "You really need a—"

I couldn’t take it anymore. I’d endured weeks and months of silence, but it hadn’t eased my pain. Why should I continue to keep my head down and tolerate this, especially after what Maximus and Leonardo had done to me today? There was no point in staying quiet any longer.

"What do you think of yourself? Just because you’re Max’s cock-sucking whore doesn’t mean you have authority over me. You don’t own me. Yes, we were friends, and I genuinely considered you one—until you proved you’re nothing but a girl trying to worm your way into the pack and get a shot at being the Luna. But don’t mess with me!" I snatched my wrist from her grip, tears welling up in my eyes—not from pain or weakness, but from anger, frustration, and a deep desire to kill everyone who had wronged me.

"You don’t own me! No one owns me!" My gaze shifted to the twins, and I shot them a glare.

Both of them—calm and composed as when they had stepped out of the car. It was all part of their facade. From the outside, they appeared to be the perfect future leaders, but only I knew what lay beneath.

"What the hell did you just say?" Camila’s rage flared. "You’re so done." She raised her hand to slap me, but I grabbed her wrist and slapped her across the face.

By now, we had drawn the attention of the entire college.

Her eyes blazed with fury as her hand reached for the spot where I’d struck her.

"Did you just—"

"Yes, I damn well did, and if I have to, I fucking will again! So, stay the hell away from me, got it?!"

The twins just watched, and I knew they were already plotting something in their minds. But I couldn’t care less. They had already burned my skin today; what else was there to lose? Kill me? They could very well do that, and I still wouldn’t care.

It wasn’t as if my existence mattered to anyone. For fuck’s sake, my own mother cared only for money and power.

"You low-life pathetic piece of shit, how dare you hit me!" She stomped her heel on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum, shouting, but she didn’t dare take a step closer—the slap had made its mark.

"Just like a cock-sucking whore dared to think she has authority over me." I shrugged, crouching to pick up my backpack. Then I turned and walked into the college, ignoring the stares of onlookers.

Fuck everybody. I was just counting the days until my birthday, hoping to find my real mate—and run away from all of them.