Defect.

I had just walked home from school. This was when we were still living in the city. I could tell by the seven flights of stairs I had to walk up to get to our apartment, the elevator never seemed to work for some reason. It was dark out by the time I made it to our floor, I had been at the library working on a project.

I had just entered our apartment when I overheard my mother and Andromeda in the kitchen.

“Oh my, you have a lot of friends don’t you Andy?” my mother asked Andromeda using her nickname. A light giggle was heard.

“Yeah mom, three sleepovers in one week!”

Through the slightly ajar door, I was able to see my mother gently patting Andromeda’s hair with a small loving smile as Andromeda ate her gelatin, “Don’t be an outcast, like your sister, Andy.”

“Why?”

“She brought shame to the family. Such a disgrace.”

I clenched my hand tightly in an angry fist and ran silently to my room. I already know that my family was ashamed of me, that I was basically unwanted; it just hurt to hear it come directly from her mouth.

Emotions running through you only cause pain.

I violently threw things around my room. I shoved everything off my desk; it sent papers flying all over. My lamp banged onto the floor with a spark. Anger was still coursing through my body; I wasn’t able to think straight.

Turn them off, Venus.

I shouted out my frustration and kicked my dresser over, the drawers sliding open. I yanked my old comforter off and threw it over my vanity—not wanting to see how demented I looked.

Cut off your emotions, Venus.

I gave up fell to the ground. I cradled my knees, turning me into a ball. The tears were stinging my eyes, making everything blurry. I closed my eyes, and I saw as my small hand reached out and turned the faucet’s knob. It stopped the emotions from rushing out.

I whimpered loudly and clutched my chest in pain. It hurt so much, but the anger from me had vanished. It was worth it.

I turned over in my bed and fell asleep again.

“Venus, Venus, oh-so-ugly. Venus, Venus, big and fat! Venus, Venus, big four-eyed. Venus, Venus, what a sight!”

I sniffled back a sob and rubbed my eyes while I waited for the dreaded last verse to the song. The girls circled in closer, and shoved me down with an evil chuckle. My thick glasses flew off as I hit the tiles on the bathroom floor.

The floor was sticky with God knows what.

The biggest girl of the three leaned down and harshly whispered the last verse into my ear, “Venus. Venus. So disgusting.” Right before they all stepped on me. The breath was forced out of my, making it even harder for me not to cry.

I didn’t let out a single tear until they had walked out of the Girls’ bathroom. Only then, I let out all of my tears and gathered my things that were scattered all over the bathroom. They had grabbed my backpack, opened it, turned it upside down and shook all its contents out.

The other girls that were in there just quietly left. I saw myself in the mirror—I wasn’t fat. I just wasn’t as thin as the other girls around me. There were fatter girls around them than me, though that didn’t stop them from singing that horrible song.

It was the girls that hung around Tristan that created it .What was their problem? Sure, Tristan and I used to be very close, but now he hates me. I had only been back for a few weeks before the bullying began.

I another sob wracked my body. I looked like a mess, my clothes were dirty, my hair sticking out in various directions because they had grabbed it to yank me in here , my knees scraped from trying to escape them.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Once again, I saw myself reaching out and turning the faucets knob. The trickle of sadness and humiliation quit flowing. I whimpered and let a tear slip from the pain. I opened my eyes, wiped that tear away, and put on a stoic face before heading back out in the hallways.

All I have is myself. And Nick.

I tossed around in bed again.

I was still in the seventh grade. I had just gotten my lunch. I scouted the lunch room for Nick and began walking with my tray over to where he was. There were snickers all around me but I ignored them.

I didn’t think much of them until I met the floor face first.

Someone had tripped me. I had been right in front of the table Nick was sitting at. I felt a cold slimy substance ooze onto my head, it was apple sauce. I looked up and saw a girl with curly redish-orange afro hair, “oops.” She said with a smirk. I didn’t remember her name. But I didn’t remember one thing:

She had been the one to create that stupid song.

Her and her posse wanted me to stay away from Tristan. I had. Now I bet that she wanted me to stay away from Nick too, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Nick was amazing with his swirling blue-green eyes, stunning smile, and soft brown bed-head hair that was always defying gravity. He was so funny, once we were at the Malt Shop and he made me laugh so hard I shot a vanilla milkshake all over the counter. He laughed but helped me clean up when the waitress glared at me. He was so kind to me—he was important to me.

“What’s your problem Carrot Top!” Nick yelled and shoved her.

Her face showed that she was flabbergasted that he’d stand up for me. My face was like that too.

“W-what?” Carrot Top asked sincerely confused as to why he had confronted her.

Nick helped me up off the floor, “Did I stutter?” he hissed. I looked around, a majority of everyone’s attention was now on us. It made me very nervous to know that all those eyeballs were focused on me. I didn’t have to worry about it for too long because apple sauce dripped into my eye. It stung! I could barely see

And I didn’t have my glasses on, they were currently sprawled on the floor—along with my lunch.

“I-I-I didn’t-”Carrot Top had begun stuttering when Nick cut her off, “What? Think it’s funny to bully a smaller girl?”

Carrot Top’s mouth kept flapping open and closed—like a fish out of water—but no words came out at all. She looked at me and suddenly she gritted her teeth. Her face contorted into something evil, and incredibly ugly.

Even Nick made a face of disgust, and he’s seen some pretty gruesome things before.

“She deserves it.”

That was the first time anyone had told me that I deserved the pain I was given, than I was receiving. I never forgot those words, they made me cringe.

“Bullshit!” Nick yelled pointing an accusing finger at her, “No-one deserves this shit you put her through.” Carrot Top still had her distorted face on as Nick grabbed my hand and pulled me away. I was so surprised that he’d object to something like that.

The snickers about Carrot Top’s face were heard all throughout us, some even dared to laugh out loud. “You’re bullshit!” Nick shouted as we sped walked out of the cafeteria.

Carrot Top was expelled for bullying; her family was so embarrassed they moved away to another state.

Nick had got detention for me.

No-one had ever defended me like that before. Nick was my savior.

I tossed around in bed once again.

“He’s gone.”

“He’s gone?” I repeated the main office lady’s statement, completely and utterly confused, “What do you mean?”

The office lady stopped stapling papers to look over the counter at me. She had big hair and old fashioned glasses that she pressed further up her nose. She looked annoyed, “Sweetie. He’s gone. He left the school.” she said with a soft twang.

My eyes went wide and my heart sank to my stomach, “When? Why?”

He never said goodbye to me.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Please! He’s my best friend, I have to know!” she gave me an apologetic look, “Please.” I begged.

She sighed and took off her glasses to rub the bridge of her nose, “Alright. I’ll tell you.”

I gave her a small grateful smile.

“Your friend, Nick, was expelled. It was this whole big fuss with stealing from a teacher and something about a loud fight with another boy in his grade.”

“Which boy?”

“A little boy with big connections,” she said as she stapled more papers. A man in a suit walked past us as she pretended to busy herself, “Very big connections.” She whispered, eyeing the man in the suit who walked into a room and closed the door.

“Who?” I must’ve looked very confused because she sighed loudly and leaned forward across the counter to whisper very quietly to me, so quietly not even a werewolf could hear her, “Tristan Daniels.”

“Thank you.” I breathlessly whispered as I ran out of the office. I kept my tears in check until I had reached Nicks old locker. Then I couldn’t hold them in any longer. I cried my eyes out as I slid down the locker.

Tristan Daniels I hate you with every single cell in my body.

You stole my savior away from me.
He was my only friend.

That’s when I decided that I despised him.

**

I sat up in Brady’s bed completely dazed. The aroma of food had wakened me up. I got out of bed and noticed that Brady was already up. He must be the one making the food. Yesterday’s events flashed through my mind. I grunted loudly and rubbed my temples, last night was terrible. Even in my dreams.

I changed back into my pants before I walked out to the stairs. I took one step at a time because I felt hung over—however that feels like. The foods aroma began to smell sweet.

“Venus!” I heard Brady shout my name from the kitchen. I slowly walked over to him, dragging my feet the entire way.

“Hurry it up lazy-ass.” Brady commented just as I stepped into the kitchen. I grunted. He gave me a big bright smile; he was still in his pajamas. He motioned me over to where he was standing by the stove.

I walked over to him, peeped over his shoulder and saw that he was making Rice Crispy treats. “Look, I made chocolate pancakes for breakfast too.” He said pointing to the counter. He had a tray full of pancakes; each had been drowned in chocolate syrup.

Yes, it seems very healthy.

“Smells delicious.” Was all I said. Brady smiled at me still stirring the Rice Crispies to keep them from burning. Some were already cooling on a tray.

“What smells so unhealthy?” we heard a deep voice from behind us. We both turned around, and it was Alpha Henny. He was in a muscle shirt and jeans. I tried so hard not to ogle his sculpted body. He eyed the pancakes, “Seriously Brady, you trying to kill us?”

Brady’s bright smile slightly fell from Alpha Henny’s comment. It panged my heart.

“Don’t listen Brady.” I comforted him by patting him on the back, “They’ll taste delicious.” I lowered my hand to my sides. My arm hit something on its descent. It was a pancake tray.

Fifteen chocolate pancakes went flying into the air, and about three hit their mark—Alpha Henny’s chest.

Dead silence filled the kitchen. The only sound heard was the snap, crackle and pop of the Rice Crispies.

A pancake slid off his chest. My eyes were big and round, Brady was frozen, and Alpha Henny looked down at his shirt then slowly looked back up at me. One pancake had managed to get part of his shirt and part of his neck. Forget Tristan, I’m in some deep trouble right now.

“Seriously?” he picked off a pancake, the chocolate stain prominent on his white muscle shirt, “This is my favorite shirt.”

Brady couldn’t hold it in anymore and he broke out laughing. So hard, in fact, that I could see the tears forming in his eyes from where I stood.

I grabbed the closest thing to me for protection, which was the Rice Crispies cereal box. I was ready to protect myself, but then I saw Alpha Henny’s body shaking with laughter. I couldn’t help but quietly laugh at the sight.

“Can I at least get a napkin or something?”

I grabbed a wet rag that was on the counter and began walking towards him. Bad idea.

I slipped on one of the pancakes off the floor, my leg slide forward forcing me to fall in forwards while doing the splits, which in turn sent the contents in the Rice Crispy box flying out of my hand and all over Alpha Henny. It was silent for a split second before Brady fell to the floor, clutching his stomach, laughing even harder.

Stunned, I dropped the box and took a step back.

Alpha Henny shook his head and a few pieces fell out of his hair, but a majority of the cereal was still there. It was funny to see the little vanilla colored cereal stuck on his small beard. It made him look mess—and sexy.

I took another step back, my heart rate picking up.

Alpha Henny looked me straight in the eye, “It’s on.” He said right before he lunged at me. I screamed.

Luckily for me, he also slipped on a pancake which gave me enough time to run around the kitchen island, past the dining room and out into the living room. I could hear his footsteps thundering behind me, “Venus!”

I was panicking so my instincts were able to take over. A common instinct is to go for the nearest exit when in any danger. In my case it was the front door. I yanked open the door and was only able to take a one step outside when I was tackled onto the somewhat soft lawn.

We landed with a loud “oof!” I had landed on top of him.

He grunted, “More pain than I thought.”

I laughed and quickly stood up, slipping out of his grasp. Honestly, I wanted the chase to continue. Wolfs live for the thrill of the chase—but since I’m not one I just must be one crazy ass human. Alpha Henny was quick to stand up. He smirked at me and I repeated his previous words right back at him, “It’s on.”

I crouched a bit and so did he. He gave me a wink and I returned it with a wide toothy grin—something I hadn’t done in years. It threw him off. I laughed at his confused face as I ran towards the sidewalk, with every intent at winning this chase. Though he was faster, he grabbed my wrist, I screamed on the way down as he pinned me to the floor within seconds.

Then again, I huffed my hair away from my glasses, you can never win when there’s an Alpha involved.

I couldn’t help but laugh at my realization.

“What’s so funny?” he had a smile on, “Thinking about your punishment?”

“You’re such a pedophile!”

He gaped at me, “I’m only twenty-two! Barely five years older!”

I laughed and squirmed underneath him, “Get off, you’re heavy!”

“Hmm. What shall be your punishment? Death by humiliation—Wait, did you just call me fat?”

I laughed even harder, “No, I said you were heavy not fat!”

He shook his head and chuckled. “No! Now, your punishment is to get dirty!”

My eyes went wide with horror.

“I meant chocolate stains.”

I giggled uncontrollably. He smiled down at me and I wound down from my giggle fit. He was awfully close to me, I could feel his body pressed up against mine in an attempt to keep me trapped. My eyes flickered down to his soft lips and back up to his eyes. He saw and started bringing his mouth closer to mine. A blush blossomed on my face as I noticed his eyes became darker in color.

I realized something. “Wait,” he stopped moving closer, “I can’t get dirty.” He seductively arched an eyebrow, “I’m wearing your shirt.”

I felt his breath fan over my face as Alpha Henny opened his mouth to say something but another loud deafening roar cut him off short, “What!”

We both quickly whipped our heads to my right, “What are you doing!”

There he was, being held back by five guys and still managing to advance forward. I pushed Alpha Henny off and scrambled to stand up, “I-It’s not what y-you think!”

Tristan Daniels was ready to murder Alpha Henny.

Then me.

He growled loudly, “In his shirt?!” he was still advancing towards us.

“I slept over.” I whispered, my voice cracking. That wasn’t the smartest thing to say at the moment.

His pupils dilated, “WHAT!” he roared. He was struggling to keep his wolf in. I was terrified.

His friends tried harder to keep him down and off of Alpha Henny’s property. Trespassing is considered as a serious threat. I had to admit, as terrified as I was and as deadly as how he looked, he was till drop-dead gorgeous.

His nostrils flared, “You dirty slut!” he shouted and I jumped back, “You’re just a whore!”

My heart was writhing. I wanted to cry, he’s right I’m a slut.

Cut off your emotions Venus, turn them off.

I imagined myself reaching out for the faucet that allowed my emotions to rush freely. It creaked as I turned the knob. I felt the pain deep inside that always came with it. I whimpered out loud from the pain. But the sadness and heart ache vanished immediately.

Alpha Henny was by my side, “Venus. Behind me.” he grabbed my elbow and pulled me behind me.

“Don’t touch her!” All attention was on Tristan, “Or I will-”

“Threatening an Alpha, Pup?” Alpha Henny scoffed and stood in front of me. He crossed his arms, making him look more deadly than he already was.

Tristan didn’t recognize his mistake, but his friends did, “No sir!” each one of them shouted.

“I’m so sorry.” I barely whispered, still in pain. Tristan heard, he always heard.

He had considerably calmed down. He shook his friends hold off of him.

“No sir,” he said calmly, “Sorry. My wolf had more control than I did at the moment.”

“Apology accepted.” Alpha Henny said keeping his arms crossed.

I sniffled. What’s wrong with all of us?

“Go with Brady and calm down, Vee.” Tristan flinched as if hearing his old nickname for me was also painful for him “I have to settle things here.” Alpha Henny finished saying.

I nodded, though he wasn’t facing me, and walked towards Beady who had run out onto the lawn during the commotion. He wrapped a comforting arm around me, “Let’s go.” he murmured as he walked me inside.

The tension outside was still thick, but Alpha Henny was safe because he was on ThunderBird pack property and also because he had Alpha blood coursing through his veins.

They won’t fight him. They wouldn’t stand a match, the only one with a chance would be Tristan but he currently was in the right state of mind.

What had gotten into him?

**

A Menchies bowl filled to the brim with a variety of frozen yogurt was placed in front of me, “Here eat this. It’ll make you feel better.” Brady said as he sat down next to me with his own bowl.

Brady’s way of comforting someone was taking them to the mall for a shopping spree. Then once they claim they’re tired and want to go home, he’d take them to the closest Menchies and force feed them.

I had already told Brady the story between Tristan and me. He seemed too quiet after I had told him. It was like he soaking up all the information he could so he could go back and report it to Alpha Henny.

I ate a spoonful of the heavenly treat.

We had gone to nearly every store. We even stopped my Wal-Mart so Brady could order me some contact lenses. I hope he knows that I’ll probably never wear them.

“This is all too much.” I said quietly.

“Nonsense! I’ve wanted to do this since I saw your closet. And I also want to spoil you.”

I smiled a bit and continued to eat my treat. Thanks to Brady’s inner fashionista, I have a whole new stylish wardrobe which meant that I could donate all my old clothes to … somewhere.

“Thank you. So much.”

I wasn’t going to return the clothes when he wasn’t looking—I’m not one to slap away a helping hand.

He smiled at me, “Your welcome, it was nothing.”

We continued to eat our Menchies in peaceful silence.

“You’re my first real friend that’s accepted me for Me.” he said not looking at me. I smiled—I’ve been doing that a lot lately.

“Me too. Not even Robin knows about my defect.” Let alone about the Shifter race.

He smiled brightly at me.

I was right, Brady is a great friend.

After we finished our bonding moment over our frozen yogurt, and we had picked up my contact lens prescription, we headed home.

In the car ride back, we sang along to the radio—more like Brady blurted out the lyrics to all the songs while I hummed along occasionally joining him. By the time I had gotten home it was dark, but I didn’t know what time it was because my phone was still lost at Brady’s house.

I waved bye to Brady as I struggled to keep all the shopping bags from falling and opening the door simultaneously. The lights were off in the living room so that meant my parents were in the backyard. They almost always had a barbeque on Sundays.

I walked inside, put the bags down to close the door. After closing it I turned back with a smile on my face, but it instantly fell into a frown the moment I saw Andromeda glaring me down.

“Hey, I’m hom-”

“Is that his shirt?!”

I closed my eyes and silently cursed. I was still wearing Alpha Hennys shirt.

“Yeah, but-”

“His scent! My mates scent, is all over you!” Andromeda spat out, furious and confused.

“Andromeda, nothing-”

“You dirty slut!” she yelled at me.

Twice in a day, that stabbed my heart.

Her body was shaking uncontrollably with anger. It meant that she could shift any second now. “Calm down.” I whispered.

“You stole him from me.” He was never yours.

She snarled at me and I froze, I had unintentionally said that out loud. “Venus. Is that you?” I heard my mother call from the backyard. But the only thing I heard was Andromeda calling me a heartless Bitch right before she shifted.

And attacked me.

The sound whished out of my ears and Andromeda’s wolf stood there, her muzzle drenched with my blood. I saw my mother frantically running towards me from the back sliding glass door, worry and fear etched into her face. I think she screamed, but I’m not sure.

I was too busy trying to keep my blood from leaving my body. I put my hands over the wound and pushed down, but it wasn’t working. My dark blood was seeping through my fingers, staining them. So much was oozing out, it looked like watered down maroon pain was gushing out of my side.

I added more pressure Bra—Tristan help!

Somebody grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. I felt myself letting go, becoming numb.

Then… Then… Then, I don’t remember anything.