The Bully Alpha's Fake Alpha Mate (BL)-Chapter 29: WELCOME PARTY ANNOUNCED

ASHER

The announcement came during Monday morning assembly, and it felt like a death sentence.

Dean Blackwood stood at the front of the great hall, his imposing Alpha presence commanding immediate silence from the hundreds of students packed into the space.

"As many of you know," he began, his deep voice carrying easily through the room, "this Friday is the full moon, and as is tradition at Stone Claw Academy, we will be holding our annual Welcome Party in the woods Thursday evening."

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. For most students, this was something to look forward to, a chance to blow off steam before the intensity of the transformation run.

For me, it was the beginning of the end. I sat near the back with Scott and a few other students, my hands clenched in my lap, trying to keep my expression neutral despite the panic clawing at my throat.

Thursday evening. Three days away. The full moon on Friday. Four days.

My last suppressant dose sat in my pocket, a small vial that represented my final hours of safety.

"The party is mandatory for all students," Dean Blackwood continued, and my stomach dropped further. "It serves as both a celebration and a preparation for the transformation run. Food, drinks, and entertainment will be provided. The party will begin at sunset and continue until midnight."

There was no escape, and definitely no way to avoid it.

"Remember," the Dean said, his tone turning serious, "this is still an Academy event. Fighting will not be tolerated. Excessive intoxication will not be tolerated, and any student who attempts to leave campus without permission will face immediate disciplinary action."

His eyes swept the room, and for a brief, terrifying moment, they landed on me.

Did he know? Has someone reported my increasingly erratic behavior? My absences from meals? The way I’d been avoiding everyone?

"That is all," Dean Blackwood said. "Dismissed."

The hall erupted into conversation as students filed out, voices excited and animated. I stayed in my seat, frozen, and staring at nothing.

"Asher?" Scott’s voice cut through my paralysis. "You okay?"

"Fine," I said automatically.

"You don’t look fine. You look like you’re about to pass out."

I forced myself to stand, to move, and to act normal.

"I am just tired," I lied. "I didn’t sleep well."

Scott studied me with concern but didn’t push. "Are you going to the party?"

"It’s mandatory. So I don’t have a choice than to attend it."

"I know, but—" Scott hesitated. "With everything going on between you and Reed, I thought maybe you’d try to skip it anyway."

I almost laughed. Skip it and face disciplinary action? Get expelled and lose the one place where my mother and I had found relative safety? No, I had to go, I had to face this even if it means risking it all.

"I’ll be there," I said.

Scott didn’t look convinced, but he let it drop.

We walked out of the great hall together, and that’s when I felt it. Eyes on me, and I looked up and immediately locked gazes with Reed across the courtyard.

He stood with Callum and his inner circle, but his attention was entirely focused on me. Those eyes burned with an intensity that made my skin prickle and my heart race.

Even from this distance, I could see the change in him. The pre-rut symptoms were getting worse, and his scent which I could catch even from here had become almost overwhelming in its potency.

My Omega instincts responded immediately, a traitorous warmth pooling low in my belly.

Reed’s lips curved into a slow, predatory smile. Then he pulled out his phone, and two seconds later, mine buzzed in my pocket.

I didn’t need to look to know it was from him but I pulled it out anyway, my hands shaking slightly.

Unknown: Now you know about the party, and what it means.

Unknown: I’m going to hunt you there.

Unknown: And when I catch you, you’re going to regret every second of the last three weeks.

My breath caught.

"Whats that?" Scott leaned over to see what I was looking at, but I quickly locked my phone and shoved it back in my pocket.

"Nothing," I said. "Just spam."

Another buzz.

Unknown: Run all you want, Asher. It just makes the chase more fun.

I looked back up. Reed was still watching me, and still smiling that dangerous smile, then he turned and walked away, his minions following like loyal dogs.

"He’s getting worse," Scott said quietly. "The pre-rut thing. Everyone’s talking about it."

"I noticed."

"He’s fixated on you. You know that, right?" Scott’s voice was worried. "Whatever’s between you two, it’s getting dangerous. Especially with his rut approaching."

I knew. Goddess, I knew, I don’t need to be reminded of the danger I was in. Reed in full rut, with his senses heightened and his control slipping, while my suppressants failed and my Omega nature tried to break free? It was a recipe for disaster.

"I can handle Reed," I said, but I didn’t even believe it anymore. Scott gave me a look that said he didn’t believe it either, but he didn’t say a word which I was grateful for.

We parted ways at the dorms, and I locked myself in my room, pulling out the last vial of suppressants from my pocket.

One dose.

I stared at it for a long time, doing the math in my head. If I took it now, it would wear off by Wednesday, and I’d have to face the party completely unprotected.

If I saved it for Thursday morning, I might make it through the party but then the full moon transformation on Friday would expose me anyway. Either way, I was screwed.

I set the vial on my desk and pulled out my phone, rereading Reed’s messages.

’I’m going to hunt you there.’

The words sent a shiver down my spine that was equal parts fear and unwanted desire. My Omega instincts wanted to be hunted, it wanted to be caught, wanted to submit to the Alpha who’d been tormenting me for weeks, and it made me sick to think that I am this weak.

I grabbed my notebook and started writing, trying to think through my options.

Option 1: Skip the party, face disciplinary action, and possibly get expelled.

Result: Lose everything, put Mom in danger.

Option 2: Go to the party, hope the suppressants hold, and avoid Reed.

Result: Unlikely to work. Reed will hunt me down.

Option 3: Go to the party, make a power move, and establish dominance before everything falls apart.

Result: ???

I stared at option three for a long time. A power move, something that would remind everyone including Reed that I wasn’t weak, and that I wasn’t going to roll over and submit just because an Alpha decided he wanted me.

Something that would cement my reputation as fearless, even if it was the last thing I ever did.

My phone buzzed again but this time it was Scott.

Scott: You sure you’re okay? You seemed really off today.

Me: I’m fine. Just stressed about school.

Scott: If you need anything, I’m here. You know that, right?

I stared at the message for a long moment.

Scott, sweet, gentle Scott who’d become my first real friend at this Academy. Scott, who Reed had tormented for years. Scott, who everyone knew was Reed’s favorite victim.

An idea began forming in my mind. A dangerous, reckless, and possibly suicidal but it would work.

If I wanted to make a statement, if I wanted to show Reed and everyone else that I wasn’t afraid there was one surefire way to do it. I’d already challenged Reed once by stepping between him and Scott on my first day.

What if I challenged him again?

What if I took the one thing Reed considered his to torment and made it clear that Reed didn’t own anyone?

What if I used Scott to deliver the ultimate fuck you to Reed Jackson?

My fingers hovered over my phone keyboard.

This was insane, Scott didn’t deserve to be used as a pawn in my war with Reed but I was desperate, and desperate people did desperate things.

Me: Scott, can I ask you something?

Scott: Of course. What’s up?

Me: The party on Thursday. Would you go with me? As friends?

There was a long pause.

Scott: Like... as a date?

Me: Not a real date. Just... making a statement. Showing Reed he doesn’t control who we spend time with.

Another pause.

Scott: Asher, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Reed’s already dangerous, and if you show up with me, he’s going to lose it.

Me: That’s the point.

Scott: But—

Me: Please, I need to do this. I need to prove that I’m not afraid of him.

Scott: You should be afraid of him. We all should be.

Me: Are you going to help me or not?

The longest pause yet.

Scott: ... Okay, but if this gets us both killed, I’m haunting your ass in the afterlife.

Despite everything, I smiled.

Me: Deal. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

I set my phone down and took a deep breath.

This was it, my last stand.

Thursday night, I was going to walk into that party with Scott on my arm. I was going to flirt with him, laugh with him, and maybe even kiss him if I had to.

I was going to make Reed Jackson lose his mind, and then... whatever happened, happened. Maybe Reed would kill me, maybe I’d expose myself as an Omega and the entire Academy would turn on me. Maybe I’d survive just long enough to face the full moon and die there instead. It didn’t matter anymore.

I was tired of running, tired of hiding, and tired of being afraid. If I was going to go down, I was going to go down fighting.

I pulled out the vial of suppressants and made my decision, I’d take the dose Thursday morning. Get myself through the party. Face Reed’s wrath head-on, and whatever came after... I’d deal with it when the time came.

My phone buzzed one more time.

Reed again.

Unknown: I can smell your fear from here, Asher. It’s delicious. Three days, that’s all you have left. Make them count.

I typed back before I could stop myself.

Me: See you at the party, Reed. Hope you’re ready.

I hit send and immediately regretted it, but it was too late to take it back now.

His response came instantly.

Unknown: Oh, I’m ready. The question is, are you?

I turned off my phone and shoved it in my drawer.

Three days.

Seventy-two hours until I either cemented my reputation as the Alpha who challenged Reed Jackson and lived to tell the tale... or died trying either way, Thursday night was going to change everything, and I just had to make sure I was ready for it.