Screw My Mate, I'm Going Lycan - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

The sudden ring of Amy's phone cut through the tension. She answered, her face paling as she listened. "It's about Jimmy," she told Dylan and Marcus, voice trembling. "He's at the animal hospital."
The guys exchanged worried glances. "We'll take you," Dylan said immediately.
Marcus placed a reassuring hand on Amy's shoulder. "Don't panic - he's gonna be fine. We're right behind you."
Before I could blink, Dylan had wrapped Amy in a tight hug, murmuring comforts while stroking her hair. He barked at Marcus to get the car running. Within seconds, they'd piled in - Dylan even remembered to open Amy's door like some damn gentleman - and peeled out of the parking lot without so much as a backward glance. Not that I expected them to ask if I needed a ride, but seriously? They were this worked up over Amy's golden retriever?
A bitter laugh escaped me. I'd accepted being second to Amy in their eyes, but losing out to her dog? That stung more than I cared to admit.
Turning around, I found my so-called classmates smirking at me with open contempt. I squared my shoulders and walked across campus, ignoring the whispers that trailed me like toxic smoke. Then I saw them - crude photoshopped images plastered on every bulletin board, depicting me in compromising positions with university administrators.
My blood ran cold. The bile rose in my throat as I stared at my digitally altered naked form. Who would do this? And why?
Near the cafeteria, a pack of hyenas in letter jackets spotted me. Their ringleader, some steroid-case named Chad, sauntered over with a shit-eating grin. "Well if it isn't Bella 'Dean's List' Blackwood," he drawled. "Guess we know how you really earned those grades."
"Explains how a female Alpha keeps her pack in line," his sidekick added. "Must be giving the whole damn pack special 'benefits.'" The group howled with laughter.
I tried to push past when something wet smacked my chest - a banana peel. The crowd erupted as sticky fruit residue soaked into my shirt.
Then Jessica - perfect, petite Jessica - grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise. "You're disgusting," she spat. "Think you're special because you spread your legs for faculty?"
"Those pictures are fake!" I shouted.
Her manicured fingers twisted my sleeve. "Prove it," she purred. With a vicious yank, she tore my sleeve clean off. "Why not give us a private show? Let's compare you to the photos."
The mob cheered as someone upended a trash can over me. Rotting food slid down my clothes. I was drowning in humiliation when Chad stepped forward, already unbuckling his belt. "Maybe she needs some... motivation."
That's when a voice cut through like a blade: "Enough!"
The crowd parted for a towering figure I vaguely recognized as the new professor. His thunderous expression scattered my tormentors like cockroaches.
"Are you hurt?" he asked me quietly.
I shook my head, trembling with adrenaline. "Just my pride."
His jaw tightened. "This won't go unpunished. But until then..." He handed me his jacket. "Keep your guard up."
As I walked away, his warning echoed in my mind. They wanted to break me. But I'd be damned if I let them.