Chapter One

Raquel's POV.

We all have that someone that grates on our nerves and has us cursing their soul to the abyss of eternal damnation. Harsh, but true.

For me, that someone is Leo Draven.

"Look what the dog dragged in." Leo snickers and his Grade A asshole friends join in. He leans on the locker beside mine, takes a piece of my hair, and twirls it around his finger. "So what did you do yesterday, four eyes? Start the new season of Harry Potter?"

As if on cue, his friends start hollering, some even going as far as wiping imaginary tears from their eyes. 

'Kick him in the balls, Raquel,' my mind screams at me.

Slamming my locker shut, I face Leo to find him with a cocky grin on his face. Exhaling harshly, I push my glasses back up the bridge of my nose. "Just go away, Leo." 

One of his friends speaks up from behind him. "God, what a freaking nerd. Look at how big those glasses are."

Just as Leo is about to answer, a pair of long limbs find their way around his neck and lower his head down for a kiss. Those limbs belong to Kendra, the head of the cheerleading club. I hate to say it but they make a perfect couple.

Beauty? Check.

Athletic skills? Check.

Hearts made out of stones and lacking human empathy? Double check.

While they are distracted with sucking their faces off, I quickly make my escape, sidestepping his hoard of friends and rounding the hall to get to my Geometry class.

I'm such a wimp. When will I finally have the balls to tell Leo and his pack of hyenas to fuck off?

Sighing, I enter my Geometry class and find a seat by the window. The sun streaming in from the window hits the edge of my glasses and forms a golden circle on my table which I trace with my finger absentmindedly, my mind running a mile a minute.

It doesn't even matter if I stand up for myself or not. After all, I'm moving next month due to the promotion my mom landed. I will finally be able to put all this behind me and start afresh. No, Leo. No annoying jocks shoving me into lockers. No bitchy cheerleaders making ridicule of my outfits. None of those.

Just... a fresh start.

***

Opening the door, I let myself into my eerily silent home and throw my keys onto the table by the door. 

Entering the kitchen, I pick up the note on the counter and scan through my mom's writing. "Have to work overtime, sweetie. The pizza is in the microwave. Kept some money on the fridge for you in case you need to go out. Love you."

The usual. 

I can't blame her though. Ever since the news of her promotion, she has had to work herself to the bone to make sure that everything is settled here before we move.

And true to her words, some twenty notes are being held to the fridge by a magnet. 

Heating the pizza, I take a seat at the counter and dig in. The silence in the house is deafening and at the same time so loud. It's like I can hear my every single thought and at the same time, I'm hearing nothing. I hate it.

My phone pings, the screen lighting up to show that a message was sent to the school group chat.

CADE: Party at my house tonight. Everyone is invited.

Cade happens to be one of the jocks that I could actually stand and that's because he ignores my entire existence.

After eating, I head into my room and throw myself onto the bed. My eyes lock on the ceiling, examining the intricate pattern designed on it. 

My phone pings again. I lift it over my face to see that another message has been sent to the group chat.

CADE: The dress code is bikinis and swim trunks. It's going to be lit so don't even think of missing it.

I hate parties. I hate drinks. Mix that in with stupid teenagers and it might just be my worst nightmare. But there is something I hate more. Silence. Silence has the ability to weave thoughts into your head. Thoughts that I will rather not have. Thoughts of my dad who recently passed away. His death is one of the main reasons why we are moving- to get away from this town that holds nothing but sad memories.

I can't stay in this quiet house that has most of those memories.

That's how I find myself parking my car in front of Cade's house. My polka dot white bikini is hidden under the tank top and jeans shorts I have worn over it.

Even from this distance, I can tell that the party is already in full swing. The music from the house can be heard at full blast, red plastic cups littered the front lawn and people in all stages of undress pill around the house. 

Taking a deep breath to brace myself, I open my car door and start heading for the front door, narrowly hitting a drunk girl that has only a bikini bottom with no top on. How have his neighbors not called the cops yet?

Inside the house is basically in the same state as outside. A lot of people from school are present but thankfully I can't see any of my tormentors around.

Locating the kitchen, I find an unopened beer bottle, uncap it and take a swig, wincing as the bitter taste hit my throat. Powering through it, I take another swig, this one is not as bad as the first.

The balcony is the only place that doesn't have a drunk teenager so I take myself there. Leaning over the railing, my drink in hand, I watch the way the sky drifts between dark blue and black. The night air flows around me, wrapping me in a blanket of comfort.

Coming here was better than staying alone in that shell of a home.

"Well, what do we have here?" 

Chills run down my spine as the owner of the voice registers in my mind. Jake, my worst tormentor.

Whereas, Leo derives joy in verbally annoying me, Jake on the other hand gets his kick from inflicting pain on me. It varies from shoving me into lockers to putting his foot in my way and making me and my tray of food land on the floor in the middle of the cafeteria.

"Damn. You clean up nicely. Almost didn't recognize you," he says. 

I ignore him, hoping that he will take a hint and leave me alone.

"I'm talking to you, bitch." A cry escapes my lips as Jake grips a fistful of my hair in his fist and forces my face to meet his. 

"You're hurting me." My hand closes over his fist as I try to peel it away from my hair.

His eyes darken as his gaze roams over my body and leaves me feeling dirty in every place they touch. "I've always wanted to have a taste of you. Guess today is my lucky day."

No, no, no. This can't be happening to me.

He kisses me. I gag as his wet tongue forces its way into my mouth. Tears roll down my cheek as his fingers glide down my butt and squeeze. Hard.

"What the fuck!" A voice yells out.

Within a second, Jake is off me and on the floor with Leo above him, his fist smashing Jake's face. 

"Leo, stop," I whisper yell so as not to draw attention to us. Pulling on his shoulder, I drag him off Jake who scurries away back into the party with his bloodied face.

Leo faces me. "Why the fuck did you come here, Raquel?" Leo barks, his face hard with an expression I've never seen before. "Did you show up for attention?"

I know he saved me but that doesn't give him the right to talk to me in such a manner and I tell him just that, "Thank you for helping me out but you're not the boss of me. I can go wherever I want to." I dart to his left to get the fuck out of this party that I'm now starting to realize was a bad idea in the first place. 

He grips my hand, halting my movement. "Where do you think you're going to? Are you going to look for Jake so that he can finish what he started?" 

My hand starts moving before I even realize what I'm doing. The sound of my palm slapping him across his face seems amplified by the still night air. 

Shaking, I bring my hand back to my side. My mouth opens in shock as an angry red mark in the shape of my palm starts to take form on his cheek. 

What have I done?

I'm not the only one in shock as Leo gapes at me. "Did you just slap me?" Then he is laughing darkly, his head falls back and a deep rumble sounds from his chest.

"Leo, I'm so sorr-"

I'm cut off as he advances. I back up against the railing and cage myself in with no way of escaping as Leo's fingers coil around the railing on both sides of my waist. 

He holds my eyes, not saying a word. Something hot and dark passes through his eyes and before I know it, his lips are over mine.

Chapter Two

Thirty minutes ago.

Leo's POV

Cade's party is a blast. 

The party is in full swing, both inside and outside the house. Presently, plastic cups and beer bottles litter the living room. 

Outside isn't in a better state as drunk people sit around the pool, shouting and drinking, in all stages of undress. 

The hard bass of the music pulse through the whole house. We had pushed all the furniture against the wall, creating a space that had become a makeshift dance floor.

People filled the dance floor, pressed against their partner and I could see some body parts that had no business being visible in a dance floor. Like please, get a room, people.

"Hey, Leo." Kendra, my current girlfriend, comes up to my side. "Want to go upstairs?" She trails a finger down my exposed chest, my nail scraping against my nipple.

"I'm busy," I say pushing her hand off my chest and bending down to pick up a bag of ice. I walk into the kitchen with Kendra trailing directly behind me and the urge to roll my eyes is strong.

Cade takes the bag of ice off my hand and I turn back around to go and fetch another but run into Kendra who was still standing behind me all this time.

A heavy sigh. "What is it, Kendra?" Having Kendra as a girlfriend is fun. That's when we're doing anything that doesn't involve talking. 

"What's wrong with you?" Her eyebrow scrunches together like she's trying to figure something out. "Something is off about you." 

"What do you mean?" I sidestep her and head back outside to get another bag of ice. Kendra, of course still follows me.

"Who is it?" Her annoyed voice asks from behind me.

I'm not really paying any mind to this conversation but I do hear her question and it gets me curious. "Who is what?" I turn around and face her, giving her my attention.

"Is it that bitch?" Kendra crosses her arms over her chest, her stance is defensive.

My eyebrows furrow together. "Who?" I'm starting to lose interest in this conversation. If she's not going to give it to me straight then she should get out of my way and stop bothering me.

"Raquel." She spits out the word like it's venomous. "I noticed that you've been bothering her more often."

Dear God, Is the girl for real?

"I bully her, Kendra." I drag out the words so they sink into her thick skull. "I torment her life." 

Raquel is the only person without a wolf in a school full of wolves. I think that's why she's an easy prey.

The fact that she knows nothing about the werewolf world makes it even easier. From what I heard, her father was a werewolf who got married to a human, one of the worst crimes that a werewolf could commit. She and her family are basically the outcast of the pack.

"Yeah, sure. But most guys hide behind the pretense of bullying the girl they are secretly having a crush on," Kendra says.

I'm done listening to this nonsense. 

I pick up the ice and push passed her into the house. She calls out my name but I don't stop walking until I get to the kitchen.

Cade is pumping and pouring out the first cup of foam, emptying them into the kitchen sink and walking back over to the keg to do the same process again until the dark brown color of the beer starts pouring out. 

I dump the bag on the ground. It lands with a thump and Cade notices the mood that I'm in.

"Is everything ok?" He asks.

"Kendra." It's just one word but he understands.

"Why are even still dating her? Dump her and find yourself another eyes candy." He takes another sip from his cup. "You're the soon-to-be alpha. You can have any girl you want."

I don't comment on his suggestion, just pour myself a cup from the tap and chug it down, wiping my wet lips with the back of my hands.

"Cade!" Grace, Cade's girlfriend shrieks, throwing her arms around his neck, and yanking him down so she could place a kiss on his lips. 

He balances his cup in one hand like a pro, grabbing her waist, pulling her to himself, and kissing her back.

They pull away and she giggles and stares up at him with hearts in her eyes. The poor girl was going to get her heart broken. Cade didn't do long termed girlfriends.

"Hey, Leo." She waves at me.

I tip my cup to her in response.

"Let's go dance." She grabs Luke's free hand, wrapping herself around him like a vice.

Cade quirks his eyebrows at me, silently asking if I'm ok with being left alone.

I cock my head and salute him with my cup, silently telling him to go and have fun. We both didn't need to be having a bad day. He deserves to enjoy his party.

Cade gets dragged away, leaving me alone in the kitchen. I fill up my cup again and head into the main room where the party is in full blast.

I lean against the wall in the dark corner of the room, watching everyone having the time of their life. Is it sad that I'm jealous of them?

Finn, another friend of mine leans on the wall beside me, a beer bottle in his hand. "Nice party, right?"

"Yes." I give a one-word answer, hoping he would take a hint and leave my company. My brain can't carry on a conversation right now and I don't even want to fake it. I just want to be left alone.

The universe has no such plans for me as Finn keeps on talking, pointing at various girls on the dance floor, and commenting on whether he has slept with them or not. 

"She was nice." He points to a red-headed girl on the dance floor. "The carpet matches the drapes with that one." He laughs at his joke and I'm left shaking my head at him. "I wouldn't go near that ass again though, once was enough." 

Some guys are just pigs. Myself included.

He whistles. “Now, her on the other hand,” Finn pipes up, standing up straight. “I wouldn't mind hitting that ass a dozen times. Does she go to our school? She looks sort of familiar.”

I followed his gaze across the dance floor to the open front door where a girl just walked through. 

Jesus Christ. What the hell?

Raquel never shows skin, she doesn't wear make-up and she sure as hell doesn't attend parties that are filled with sweaty, horny teenagers.

So, why the fuck is she doing it now?

Chapter Three

Raquel's POV.

Leo pushes open the door and drags me in by my arm. The door doesn't fully close before we are grabbing at each other again.

He pulls me by the waist into his body, his mouth all over mine. This kiss is nothing like the one Jake forced on me earlier. It's different. It feels right. 

Leo pulls away, his lips leave mine with a wet sound and he drops his head on mine, his eyes gazing into mine. "Are you sure about this?"

Sliding my hands around his neck, I bring his lips back to mine. "Yes. Please don't stop." I pull on his bottom lip, sinking my teeth in and it draws a groan out of him.

With another groan from Leo, I find myself up in the air and my legs wrap around his waist automatically. 

Leo carries us over to the bed and lays me on top, with his body following mine down. 

He dives down, his lips suck on my neck and a gasp escapes me which is swallowed by Leo's lips. "You feel so good under my body." Leo's hand skims my stomach and slides into my top, cupping my breast through the bikini top I have on. I arch into his touch, pushing my chest into his palm and longing for more.

"Fuck, Raquel." Leo sits up, yanking me up by my arm and maneuvering my tank top over my head which he then flings across the room. 

My bikini top is next as he unties the strings that hold the bikini together and peels it off my body. This too is flung to the side.

Lowering my body back on the bed, Leo's lip latches onto my nipple. His teeth tugged on it, pulling hard and turning me into a whimpering mess.

My fingers thread into his hair, pulling lightly on the strands. "Leo," I beg, but I have no idea what exactly I seem to be asking for. Thankfully he does.

"I've got you." His lips leave my breast and he kisses his way up my jawline to take my mouth in his. Swirling the tip of his tongue against mine, he pulls it into his mouth and then massages it with his.

He tastes so good.

I subconsciously notice his hand going into my shorts and slipping through my bikini bottom. I don't really take notice of it until he cups my pussy. "Oh, my God." I dig my nails into his arms, using them as anchors for the overwhelming pleasure I'm experiencing.

He rubs my folds with his fingers, his thumb pressing on my clit and causing unimaginable pleasure. Then he sinks a finger in and I damn near bolt upright on the bed.

"Just one finger and you already feel so fucking tight. I can't wait for my cock to replace this finger." Said finger slides in deeper and curls. 

Fuck!

"Leo," I whimper, my hands moving up and down his back.

"Let's get this off you, shall we?" Sitting up, Leo slides my shorts along with my bikini bottom down my legs and leaves me stark naked. His eyes feast on me.

I fist the bedsheet as the urge to cover up takes over me.

Leo gets off the bed, his eyes still locked on my body as he strips down. He removes every piece of item on his body and stands there unfazed with his legs slightly apart.

His stance draws my eyes down and oh my God. His hard cock juts out looking foreboding and dangerous but oh, how I want it... Need it inside me.

As if being led by my horniness, I get on my knees and crawl over to the edge of the bed where Leo is standing. I reach out and grip his cock in my hand, feeling the weight and smooth texture that seems misplaced. My grip tightens as I move my fingers up and down, causing Leo to let out a gasp.

"Raquel," His hand closes over mine. "I not going last if you keep doing that and then it will be over before we even start." He pulls my hand away from his cock, dropping his head down and placing a kiss on it before letting go.

"Spread your legs for me," he says in a husky voice.

My breath catches, and my chest rises and falls in excitement. Or is this me being terrified? 

"Come on now. Are you going to back down on me?" His fist slides up and down his cock.

No. I'm not going to.

I lean back on my arms and my legs fall open, exposing my sex to his eyes. 

His eyes drift down, slowly, so slowly down my sweaty and panting body as he climbs back on the bed, his knees settling between my opened legs.

He lays down on his stomach, his head between my opened legs, and before I can comprehend what he has on his mind, his tongue slides up my pussy.

"Ahh," my head falls and my fingers sink into his hair, pushing his face on my sex as my hip lifts.

Unaffected by my grip on his hair, he snatches my clit between his lips and sucks on it, drawing out a cry from me.

He swirls his tongue around and sinks his tongue in, and that only sets off my hips. My thrusts are clumsy as I fuck myself on his tongue.

I start shaking and it feels like my world has shifted, all my nerves are focused on the head cradled between my legs. He is my only focus as I try to catch my breath.

With one last lick, he raises his head and climbs up my body with a sexy smirk on his face. "Do you want to have a taste of yourself?"

I nod.

My head lifts as his lowers and our lips meet, our tongues tangling together. I taste myself on his lips, salty but otherwise not bad. 

Pulling away, he rests his head on mine and his eyes gaze into mine. "Sweet, right?" His tongue runs over his lips. 

Tired of waiting, I run my hand down his cheek. "Now," I beg and my legs go around his waist, holding on tightly. "Please."

Lifting his upper body with one hand planted on the bed, Leo's free hand slips down and I feel the head of his cock slide through my pussy lips but not penetrating me.

Sliding my hands around his neck, I thrust up and he slides in further. Fuck. That hurts.

Leo is still above me. "Raquel," he calls out slowly, trepidation infused in his voice. "Are you a virgin?" 

Tightening my legs harder around his waist, I yank his head down. "Please, don't stop," I say against his lips. "Please, I need you."

"Goddd," he groans. "You're killing me here." His head falls on my shoulder and he takes in a deep breath. "Ok, but we are going to go slowly."

Nodding eagerly, "Yes."

His hand takes its previous position between our legs and he guides his cock slowly in, stopping every now and then for me to catch my breath, and then he is inside me to the hilt. I squeeze my eye and bar my teeth as I try to breathe in through the pain.

"Fuck," he breathes out. "Are you ok?" He cups my cheek, his thumb rubbing it. 

My inside feels hot and there is a bit of an awkward sensation but confusingly I want more. "Yes, please move."

"Ok then."

He slides out then in, and the air rushes out of my lung. 

"You feel so good." His head falls to my chest where he takes a nipple into his mouth, sucking and biting on it. His hip piston in and out of mine, his pace increasing.

I close my eyes and my mouth falls open as my nails dig into his back. God, that feels so good. "More, Leo. I want more."

Sounds of pleasure fall out unbidden as he moves in and out faster, wrecking me and turning me into a hot mess. 

My nails scrape his wide back as I find something to hold onto to stop my world from crashing down. 

Leo hooks the back of my knees over his arm then he really gives it to me, pounding into me like he is trying to imprint his mark on me and I'm scared it's working. 

My back arch and my breasts bounce wildly as I moan long and hard, my pussy clamping down on his cock. "Oh, God."

"Fuck!" His thrusts turn shallow and clumsy as his cock jerks inside of me. 

I can't think of anything other than the fact that I just lost my virginity to my bully and that's after I practically begged him for it.

"Stop thinking so hard." Leo places my head on his chest. "Just go to sleep." His fingers run through my hair, smoothing the wild curls.

That's how I fall asleep. So, why did I wake up to find Leo gone?

Chapter Five

Raquel's POV

Nothing changed after that night. Leo still treats me like I'm dirt under his shoe. Well, nothing changed, except... this.

I hold the stick in my shaking hand and stare at the two colored lines on it in shock. 

I'm pregnant.

"Sweetie, what does it say? Is everything ok in there?" My mom's voice asks from the other side of the bathroom door.

How do I tell her that her daughter got pregnant from a one-night stand with a guy that is currently treating her like gum underneath his shoe? She is going to be so heartbroken.

I slide down the wall and hug my knees as a sob rips out of me followed by hot tears falling down my cheek. She is going to be so disappointed in me and I can't even blame her. I'm disappointed in myself too.

"Raquel, I'm coming in." The door opens and then I'm in my mother's arms as she sinks to the ground beside me and places my head on her shoulder, her fingers running through my hair. "It's ok. We will figure it out together."

"What am I going to do Mom?" Another round of fresh tears streams out of my eyes, making my vision blurry as I lift my head to meet my mom's eyes.

"I'm going to be right here beside you and support you in whatever decision you make ok?" She grabs my hands and places them in her lap, her eyes shimmering. "You will always have me no matter what step you choose to take." She runs her thumb over my knuckles, soothing me in the way only a mother could.

"I'm sorry Mom." My throat closes up as a wave of shame washes over me. "I'm sorry I disappointed you." Having a daughter who got pregnant at seventeen is never something that would be on a parent's wishlist.

"No." She grabs my face and brings hers closer, her expression serious as fuck. "Never say that again. You didn't disappoint me." A tear rolls down her cheek and she wipes it away with the back of her palm. A sad smile graces her lips. "You could never disappoint me, sweetie."

The tears don't stop falling from my eyes. I can't stop them either. Not when I'm feeling a wave of emotion I can't cipher. There's sadness. There's soul-wrecking nervousness. Then the one that is just a tiny ball of emotion shoved at the back of my head. Excitement.

******

I can do this. I can tell Leo that the one night we spent together has resulted in a baby. No biggie. Easy peasy. 

I'm just going to go there and say "Hey, you're going to be a dad."

Goddd. Why is this so hard to do? I've been dragging my foot in the ground for the last few weeks by telling myself that the moment just isn't right. But, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow so it has to be today or never.

Leo and his group of friends linger in the hallway, their voices booming in the tiny walkway. I know I'm running out of time to break the news to him but pulling him aside and away from his friends has me sweating a bucket. 

No, I will just have to tell him later.

With my head down and my books clutched tightly in my hand, I shuffle past them while praying to whatever deity above that they don't notice me.

The universe must be against me because a leg sticks out and I don't notice it fast enough, so I'm tumbling down and my books are spiraling out of my hands and all over the floor. Laughter can be heard all around me and I feel my face burn in shame.

My gaze slide up the leg that tripped me to find dark blue eyes staring at me with something akin to hatred. Leo.

"Look at her in her natural habitat. I'm sure you spend a lot of time on your knees." More laughter breaks out. 

My eyes sting as the meaning of his words sinks in. No, no, no. Don't let him see you cry, Raquel. Wipe those tears and pick yourself up.

Sniffing, I get up from the floor and bend down to pick up my books sprawled across the hall. Once I'm done, I dust the slight dust off my knees and stand up straight. Then I face Leo.

"I. hate. you," I spit out and his facial expression changes for a split second then that hard gaze is back in his eyes.

"Darling, the feeling is mutual." 

My chest starts hurting at his words. Am I having a chronic disease?

I'm not surprised by his words but damn, why does it fill like my heart is being pierced by a million tiny needles? I have every right to hate him but why does he?

At least, I've gotten something from the encounter. I now know what I have to do. 

Someone like Leo doesn't deserve to be in my child's life. He or she deserves someone better and I'm going to be that someone for them. I'm going to do my very best to make sure they never feel the absence of their father.

I hurriedly wipe the tears that spill before Leo notices them. He does. His eyes soften and his lips open up to say something but I don't hear them because I'm already walking away.

Throughout the rest of the day, I make sure to avoid Leo, even going as far as having my lunch in the library. 

At the end of the day, I'm running home before the bell even stops ringing and I'm begging my mom to let me stay at home for the next day.

She agrees and that was the last day I saw Leo.

Before I know it, I'm strapped in the car with all our belongings shoved in the boot as my mom drives us into our new lives. 

A new start. With my baby. Because that's all I need.