His Bullied Fated Mate (Riverville Fated Mates #1)

Prologue - Janella

“Janella! Are you up yet?” I could hear my mother’s voice down the hall and internally groaned. I did not want to get out of bed. I didn't want to go back to school and deal with the looks and everyone whispering behind my back.

My silence was her answer. I heard my door open, and my mother’s voice filled my room. “Jan. Oh, for heaven's sake.” My mother's sweet voice moved closer, and I felt the sheets being ripped away. “Up. Come on. You’re going to be late for school.”

“I’m sick,” I groaned, pulling my pillow closer. “I need to stay home.”

She crossed her arms, tapping her foot on the ground. “Unless your illness is you dying, I think you look well enough to go to school.”

I sat up and looked at her. She was a short, petite woman with deep red hair. She had smile lines and looked radiant. She was wearing a floral blouse over slacks. Her hair was pulled back in a neat bun, and she looked professional, dressed as a nurse.

I sighed and watched her face soften. She moved closer, reaching her hand up and cupping my face.

She gave me a soft smile. “I know it’s hard.

I wish things were easier for you. But you are a strong woman, and you don’t take shit from anyone, you hear me?

You deserve to be here just like everyone else. ”

If only it were that easy.

I forced a smile because I could see the worry building in her eyes. “Or, I could be a weak woman, and you let me stay home.”

She looked at me with a mom look. “I did that last week, and it didn’t help you any. So, new motto.” She kissed the top of my head. “Now, up. Your brother is waiting.” She slipped out of my room, and I groaned loudly. But I dragged my ass out of bed.

Ten minutes later, I headed to the front. Where my brother, Troy, was waiting. He was spinning his keys as he sat on the couch, flipping through something on his phone. Our mother was searching through her purse as she slipped on her heels.

“I’m ready,” I grumbled as I stepped into the living room.

Troy popped up and smiled. “Great.”

“I’ll be home late tonight. We have a work meeting after my shift gets off.” She kept fiddling through her purse. “And dad will be home early, so he’s in charge of dinner.”

“That’s a mistake waiting to happen,” Troy chipped in.

I snorted as I walked over, sliding my shoes on.

Mom gave Troy a look. “Be nice to your father. He tries. He's not chief, but at least he can cook something.”

Troy smirked. “He is many things, Mom, but a cook is not one of them. I will cook dinner tonight.”

She smiled, patting his shoulder before she pulled the door open. “Alright, everyone out. We all have a day to get to.”

Troy and I stuffed ourselves into his beat-up truck. I turned the AC on, and hot air blasted at me. “Jesus.” I quickly turned it off and glared at him. “Remind me again why you wanted this piece of shit over a nice vehicle.” I cringed as I took in the worn-down exterior.

Troy gave me his lazy smile. “Because I can store all my stuff in the back.”

I waved myself and started to roll the window down. The wind blew as he drove, and I took in the town. I felt my stomach drop as we got closer to school.

“I have a counseling meeting after school with my guidance counselor. So, I can’t give you a ride back until I’m done with that. You okay waiting?”

“I’ll just walk.” We only lived half a mile away from the school anyway. I looked over at him. “What’s the meeting for?”

“Just stuff,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Boring stuff. I would rather chew my own foot than go to it, but dad told me I couldn't keep avoiding it.”

I knew that was Troy’s way of downplaying something, which told me it was important. My stomach settled even lower.

My folks had Troy when they were twenty.

Our mom just landed herself a nursing job at the hospital.

Our father was promoted at his job from assistant to manager at a construction company.

They were over the moon when they had Troy.

They tried for years to have another, but never did. So, they decided to adopt.

Which was where I came in. I was four years old when they picked me. Mom had always wanted a girl. She said as soon as she laid eyes on me, she knew I was meant to be hers. It also helped that the agency said I was just a young pup.

I was quickly adopted and brought into their home.

Mom had decorated my room with animals, and they did nothing but love me.

They treated me and Troy the same. We were loved the same, disciplined the same.

I never once thought that I didn’t belong.

Even when they were informed that I was just a human, and the agency had lied. Their love remained.

The outside world was less loving. The first few years I was here, I remember feeling safe.

Mom took me everywhere, and I couldn't help but smile.

Everyone thought our parents were so lucky to have us.

That having a daughter was special. But after word got around that I was just human, that view quickly changed.

Suddenly, everyone pitied them for being stuck with me. I was suddenly less.

We pulled into the parking lot, and I frowned. Troy smiled, waving at a group of his friends. I quickly got out, swinging my backpack over my shoulder.

“I’ll see you later,” he said as he headed over to his friend group.

I hurried inside, keeping my head low, but the whispers were always there. Look who came to school? God, do you think her parents wish they could get rid of her? I feel back for them. They would be the perfect family.

I made it to my locker and yanked it open. I froze when I noticed there had been notes shoved inside. I shouldn’t have been surprised. It wasn’t like this was new. But what scared me was the picture of me taped to the back of my locker. The words, I’m watching you in black Sharpie.

I looked over my shoulder and spotted my brother and his friends coming down the hallway. But my eyes stayed on Riley, my brother’s best friend. He was the worst of the bullies that I had in school.

His eyes snapped to me, and a smirk pulled at his lips. I knew right away it was him who was in my locker.

I ripped the picture off my locker and crumpled it up. I felt anger burning in the back of my throat, but I stayed quiet. Nothing I did would stop anyone. And I couldn’t tell my brother it was Riley because he was best friends with him.

I grabbed my books for class and slammed my locker shut, heading down the hallway. The rest of the day went by slowly. I could hear people talking. I tried to sink further into my chair. I ate my lunch in the library in the back corner, hoping to disappear from my problems for a little bit.

I only had two more years to get through, and I was free from all my problems. As soon as I graduated, I had every intention to leave. I knew it would break my parents' hearts, but it was for the best. I didn’t belong here, and nothing I did would change that.

The bell rang, and I headed back to my locker. I grabbed my backpack and headed out. I chewed on my lip as I walked, knowing Troy wasn’t giving me a ride home. Normally, I didn’t have to worry when I arrived and left the school. But there was that sinking feeling that never went away.

I made it halfway through the parking lot when an arm was slung over my shoulders. I was yanked to a stop. “Where are you going?”

I turned my head, looking at Riley. His brown hair was messy, and his brown eyes were narrowed on me.

“I’m going home.”

He smirked. “I can drive you.”

I tried to shake out of his grip. “No.”

His hold only tightened on me. “Does the human think she’s better than the future Alpha? Is that what I’m hearing?”

Human. I’d never hated a word so much in my life. I chewed on my cheek, trying everything in me to keep from crying.

“Just let me go, Riley. I need to get home.”

His arm turned me, his lips turning in a snarl. “That’s never going to happen. You can run and hide all you want, Janella. But I will always find you.”

He let go, and I fumbled backward, slamming into the sidewalk. I tried to catch myself, scraping up my hands as I did. Riley just smirked.

I felt tears burn, and I tried hard to keep them at bay. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “So, I ask again. Want a ride?”

I bit harder on my cheek and could taste blood now. I could see that everyone was looking at us. Girls were giggling, and the guys were hooting at him. I was the entertainment.

Just then, the space went quiet, and I could see Troy walking down the sidewalk towards us. Suddenly, everyone was moving—everyone but Riley.

“Jan, what are you doing?” Troy stopped, looking between Riley and me. Riley offered my brother a smile, appearing like the hero he liked to portray himself to be.

“She tripped. I was just offering her a ride home.”

Troy looked at me.

I knew that the right thing was to tell my brother. But my brother didn’t deserve to have his life shit on because his sister was less. He was going to be an Alpha, and I didn’t want to hold him back. I didn’t want him to feel he needed to protect me more than he already did.

“You know me…clumsy.” I pulled myself up, and Troy ran a hand over my hair. His eyes were worried, and I wanted to change the subject. “Why are you here? Didn’t you have a meeting?”

“I rescheduled.” He looked at Riley for a moment before looking at me. “You ready to get home?”

I nodded, stepping away from Riley, who hadn’t moved. I walked with Troy and glanced over my shoulder. Riley still had that wicked smirk as he watched us walk away. It sent chills down my spine.

We went home, and Troy started cooking dinner. I sat at the island and watched him. Troy was an amazing cook who just knew how to cook everything perfectly. I enjoyed spending time with him.

“Why did you reschedule your meeting?” I asked as I opened a soda.

He shrugged. “Because I didn’t feel like having it today.” He stirred some melted butter in a pan.

“Isn’t it important?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “For your future?”

He shrugged. “How about we talk about you? What were you and Riley doing?” His eyes looked up at me, and I could see he was trying to figure it out.

I paused the soda for a split second before I shrugged. “He was offering me a ride home.”

Troy shook his head. “And I don’t believe you.”

“It’s the truth.”

He frowned. “You know I go to the same school. I hear everything.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, and in two years it won’t matter.”

He froze, and I watched the way his shoulders tensed. “You…still planning that?”

I had told Troy my plan to leave. He hated the idea but respected my decision. If anyone saw what I dealt with, it was him.

“The human girl that’s dragging her family down? Yes, I still plan to leave.”

“That’s not true,” he snapped, anger crossing his face.

I frowned. “But that’s how everyone sees me, Troy. Is it wrong that I want to go somewhere else and live a normal life? Just be…me?”

He frowned. “I just can’t imagine a life without you in it.”

“I’m not dying. I want to move.”

“That’s how it will feel.”

“Troy, you're a little dramatic. I’d still come home.”

He laughed at this. “No, you won’t. You will avoid this place like the plague.”

I didn’t want to tell him he was right. I didn’t really plan to come home often. I didn’t know if I would ever want to come back.

“Quit rescheduling your meeting. It's to talk about your future, and I'm sure about what you have to do to become Alpha.” He cringed, which told me I had been correct.

I sat outside on the porch after dinner and stared across the yard. I heard the front door open, and I turned as Dad stepped outside. He smiled at me as he walked closer, sitting down next to me. He sighed as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me to him. “You didn’t talk much at dinner.”

I shrugged. “Didn’t have much to say. Same old stuff.”

He nodded, and we fell silent. We softly swung in the wind as I looked around the space. The neighborhood was quiet. No kids in the street, no animals being heard. It was peaceful.

“Your mom is worried about you.”

I leaned against him. “I know.”

He kissed the top of my head. “I know you have a hard time. That being human is hard in a pack. But I have no doubt you’ll find your place. You just have to get through school. The real world is so different from school life.”

I gave my dad a soft smile. I wished his words were true. I wanted to believe that things would click into place and that I would feel that I belonged. But that was only in books.

“I know. I’m fine.”

I just had to make it through the next two years. I had no idea how I was going to break the news to them, but I didn't want them to know. Not until they had to.

“I'm grateful for everything you and Mom have done for me.”

His hand rubbed at my head. “You don't need to be grateful for us loving you. You're our daughter.”

The space fell quiet again, and I chewed on my cheek. I wished things were different. I wished I were just like them so I could belong.