Chapter 5 YOU'RE MY PERSONAL SERVANT

CHAPTER 5: YOU'RE MY PERSONAL SERVANT

AMANDA'S POV:

I was barely out of the cafeteria when I heard footsteps behind me. I glanced back and saw Steven coming after me.

I honestly didn't want him mixed up in anything that had to do with me. The whole school already treated me like I carried some kind of curse, and the last thing I needed was someone getting in trouble because they stood too close.

But Steven. he still followed me out of the cafeteria.

"Hey. wait," he called out as I stormed down the hallway, wiping at the food stains on my clothes. I didn't even look back. I just kept walking fast.

"Amanda, hold up," he said again, this time jogging until he caught up and stepped in front of me.

I stopped, breathing hard. "Why are you following me? Aren't you afraid Donovan might pick on you? You saw how he treated me back there and even wanted to pick on you."

"I don't care about Donovan." Steven shrugged like it was nothing. "I'm not scared of him. Being the future Alpha doesn't give him the right to go about hurting people."

I blinked at him. "Well, you should be afraid of Donovan. He's the future Alpha, and he could have you punished."

He chuckled softly. "Come on, Amanda, enough of what Donovan can or cannot do. Let's go somewhere else and get some food. You look famished."

My stomach growled at that exact moment, betraying me. Steven smiled like he understood everything without me needing to explain. And somehow. I didn't have the strength to walk away again.

So I let him lead me toward the entrance of the campus. We ended up at this tiny off-campus restaurant-more like a shed turned into a food place. Not fancy at all, but here, no one treated me like I wasn't worthy to be alive.

And the smell of food hit me like heaven the moment we stepped into the place. My clothes still smelled like that cafeteria disaster, and people kept staring at me when we walked in. Steven didn't care. He paid for our food like it was the most normal thing ever.

While I ate, I kept glancing at him. His face was calm, almost too calm.

"Why'd you help me back there?" I finally asked. "You know everyone keeps their distance from me."

Steven leaned back in his seat, tapping his cup lightly. "Because you helped me first."

I frowned. "I helped you? When?"

He smiled a little. "First day I transferred here. You probably don't even remember. Well, no need to go into the details but I'll never forget."

I forced a small smile. "Oh, that must have meant something to you."

"It sure did," he said. "Because that was the only kindness I got that day."

I looked down, feeling his eyes pierce through me. "I didn't even. I don't really remember showing kindness to you."

"Of course you don't," he said with that same calm smile. "Back then you had Donovan and his circle around you. Why would you notice some ordinary guy like me?"

I felt totally embarrassed hearing Steven describe the kind of relationship I once had with Donovan.

Now he has become my greatest nightmare. Sometimes I feel like this wasn't the same Donovan I grew up with.

Sigh.

Right now, I didn't consider Steven as an ordinary guy. Not right now. Not when he was sitting across from me, treating me like I mattered.

But something about his smile. something in his eyes. I couldn't put my finger on it. Like he was telling the truth but holding the other half of it behind his back. A secret.

I pushed the thought away and focused on eating. I told myself again what I'd promised myself earlier-stay invisible. No more trusting people. No more depending on anyone.

The moment we left the restaurant, I told Steven I wanted to go home. He nodded and told me to go ahead. He still had a few things he wanted to do in school.

I thanked him once again for the food and started walking down the road, heading towards the bus stop. I had only taken a few steps when these three male werewolf students stepped out, blocking the path.

"Where are you going, traitor girl?" one of them sneered.

I tried to walk around them, but another stepped in front of me.

"Move out of my way," I said sharply. "Or you won't like what I will do to you."

"Oooh, she got some fire," one of them mocked. "Maybe that's why her dad ran off. Couldn't handle the heat."

Anger rose in my stomach and it twisted painfully. "Don't talk about my dad."

They laughed like it was a joke. "And what if we do? What can you do, Omega?"

Another one leaned close, his breath hot and disgusting. "You know. instead of struggling for scraps in the cafeteria later, why don't you be smart and please us so we can take it upon ourselves to take care of you?"

I tensed as I realised what they were insinuating. "Get away from me, I'm warning you."

One of them grabbed my wrist. "Relax. We're trying to help. No one is willing to come near you, let alone touch you. Aren't you happy we're here trying to help?"

"Let go of me," I said again, louder this time.

"No," he smirked, putting his hands on my chest like he was trying to squeeze my breasts. "Not until we've had some fun."

"Hey!"

I heard a voice from a distance. And that voice sounded familiar. The boys stiffened.

I turned around and saw Steven.

He moved toward me, eyes sharp in a way I had never seen before.

"Let her go. Now," he said.

The leader scoffed. "Who's she to you? And what makes you think you can come here, acting like some hero in a shining armour?"

"She said let go," Steven repeated. "Unless you want problems."

For a second I thought they'd fight him. But something in his stare made them look uncertain. The one holding my wrist released me like my skin burned him.

"Tsk. Whatever. Not worth it," they muttered and backed off. "She's just a worthless Omega, and her family has become the dregs of this pack. I don't want to get myself stained by touching her."

I let out a shaky breath as they hurried away, not looking back.

"You okay?" Steven asked.

I nodded even though my hands trembled slightly. "Yeah. Thanks."

He told me to wait here, then went back to the campus and got his car. It took less than a minute before he pulled the car in front of me and told me to get in. In a matter of minutes, we were in front of my house.

I turned to him with a warm smile. "Thanks Steven. I don't know why you're doing this but I really appreciate it."

"Oh, it's nothing," he said. "If you want, I can pick you up every morning. And drop you after school."

Something about the offer felt. too much. I couldn't just accept it without giving it a thought.

"I'll. think about it," I said quietly.

He nodded and drove off. But I stood there longer than I should, staring at his car as it disappeared down the road. I couldn't tell why but my heart felt heavy.

I sighed, turned around and started toward the stairwell. And that was when I crashed into a solid chest.

I looked up and froze.

Because standing in front of me was Donovan Reed.

His eyes snapped down to me instantly-then flared wide as he inhaled sharply. And before I could step back, his hand shot forward and wrapped around my throat.

"What the hell is that smell?" he growled.

I clawed at his wrist. "D-Donovan-wait-"

"You smell like a dozen men," he snarled, squeezing harder. "I knew it. I knew the moment you defended that idiot at the cafeteria that you two are messing around. And there are others too? You're such a shameless slut, ready to open your legs to any guy who says hi."

I tried to speak but no air came out. I was out of breath and my vision blurred.

Yet he didn't stop.

"You're pathetic," he hissed. "A traitor's daughter acting like a cheap slut."

My knees buckled. He wasn't letting go. Spots danced in front of my eyes. A buzzing sound filled my ears.

Then suddenly-his grip loosened.

Donovan's eyes widened when he realized I was seconds away from passing out. He let go completely, and I slumped against the wall, coughing violently, gasping for air.

He stood there breathing heavy, his jaw clenched hard.

"Don't wander around like that again," he snapped. "If you get hurt, the pack will dump the blame on me. And I'm not babysitting you."

I wiped my eyes, trying to steady my voice. "I didn't wander. Some guys tried to."

"I don't care," he cut in.

His eyes flicked down my body, taking in the wrinkled, damp clothes, the dirt from earlier, my swollen throat.

"From now on," Donovan said in a cold, sharp voice, "you've become my personal servant. That's one little way you can atone for your father's sin. You belong at my beck and call."

My heart lurched painfully.

"What?"

"A traitor's daughter has to atone somehow," he said. "You're gonna work for me. You're my personal servant now. When I call, you come running. No excuses."

I stared at him, stunned. "You can't do that."

"Yes, I can," he said calmly. "And I just did."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he stepped closer-too close.

"Try disobeying me," he whispered, "and see what happens."

My throat throbbed where his fingers had been. I swallowed hard, unable to look away from those burning amber eyes that held nothing but dislike for me.

Donovan brushed past me, shouldering me against the wall as he walked away.

I stayed frozen for a moment, my legs shaking, my breath unsteady.

He walked straight to where his SUV was parked, got in and drove away .