Oakley Carson
When I got home after the ceremony my moms cornered me and everything just came out. From the bullying, to the abuse, to the fact he's my mate, to my eating disorder resurfacing. Everything.
I cried in a ball on the floor for an hour while my moms held and rocked me. Then we all stayed on the couch for the rest of the weekend.
We ate lots of ice cream, and chinese food. I actually ate my feelings, which I never can do. I was in so much distress my mind shut down, and left me numb.
Now it's Monday morning, and I'm going through the motions of getting ready for school. I showered, and got dressed. I make my way downstairs into the kitchen where mom is making breakfast.
"If you wanna miss a couple days, you could" Mama offers, sipping her coffee.
"No, i have a lot to stay on top of so i can graduate top of my class" i murmur, grabbing a bottle of water. Cracking the seal, I chug half in one go. I cried a lot this weekend.
"I'm making an omelet with veggies. It's good for you, and has protein. Sit, and eat it" I do as i'm told, sitting beside mama.
"So should we kick his ass, or invite him to dinner?" Mom asks, sliding a plate to each mama and I.
"I don't know" I murmured, taking a bit. It's so good, as always. Mom makes such good food, always. "The bond is there, but it's faint. It's not how it's described to us. It's like it's broken or something."
"It's the years of abuse, and how you view him. If he was a stranger, or someone you barely knew it's still pretty strong because you don't have an opinion of them yet. Mama's and I's bond was strong because we were friends beforehand. It depends on a lot. Being mates doesn't just make you in love, it pulls you to them. You can reject the bond, babe. You have that right'' Mom says, leaning against the counter.
"But once it's rejected it's nearly impossible to repair. And that means you won't have a mate, ever. It's like 1 out of 1,000 rejected mates can repair the bond. It's not something you should decide so soon" Mama adds her opinion.
"He abused him, Poppy" Moms voice is harsh.
"I understand that, Quinn. But he should know everything before he makes a choice. Plus you went to school with Chase too. Something isn't right about him. The youngest boy is always covered in bruises. I'm sure Axton was a victim too. It doesn't make it right, by any means. But maybe he deserves a chance to show he can break the cycle" Mama says, voicing her opinion loud and strong.
"He's our baby" Moms voice wavers, and her eyes become glossy. "He didn't deserve to be bullied, and hurt. No one does"
"Baby, I know that. He knows that. No one is arguing that. I'm just saying, he should think before he acts. That's it"
"I want to see how it goes' 'I speak up. "I hit him back, too. It wasn't always one sided.He always started it, but i didn't just take it either. It's not right, but i'm gonna give him the chance to fix it"
"Are you sure?" Mom asks, wiping her eyes.
"Yes" I nod.
"Okay.. we support you with whatever you choose to do. We love you, babe" Mama
says, wrapping me up in her arms.
—
"Can we talk?" Axton, and his three friends circle me in. My heart starts beating so hard. Was it an act? Was he just trying to make me vulnerable so I'd be weak? "Nothing bad" He quickly adds, his eyes flickering over my face. "Please? Just come with me. I promise it's nothing bad"
I don't know what i'm thinking, because i get the rest of my stuff out of my locker, hold it close to my chest. I nod, and Axton relaxes. He starts walking, and I follow. His friends close behind.
Axton pushes into Mrs. Lowey class. She's sitting at her desk, typing on her laptop. She stops looking up. "Can we talk in your room for a minute? Pack stuff" Axton says, and Mrs.Lowey slowly stands.
"If i find out anything physical happens, I'll go right to Alpha, Axton" her tone is stern.
"Nothing bad will happen. I promise"
"Oakley, stay back, okay?"
"Okay" I nod. She gets her mug, and makes her way out of the room.
"I swear to god Axton-"
"I'm sorry" Axton starts, stepping close to me. He doesn't reach for me, but his blue eyes are locked on me. "For the bullying, the hitting. For all of it. It was wrong, and I never, ever should've done any of it. If I could change things, mate or not, I would." the drop of the word mate makes me tense.
"They know. Cassandra found out, and they overheard her hate speech" Axton adds, and then he's gripping my shoulders and turning me around. Adam, Axton's closest friend clears his throat.
"I'm sorry. Honestly I just thought you were annoying. I never gave you a chance. Either way violence should never have been the answer" he crosses his arms over his broad chest. "I really am sorry, Oakley"
"I am too," John adds. "I was just trying to fit in. It was fucked man."
"Same" Jake clears his throat, his body tense. "I'm not good at this shit. But I'm sorry"
My eyes sting, because tears are threatening to break through. But I will not cry in front of them. They took enough. "Thanks," I murmured, nodding my head.
"That's all i wanted" Axton murmurs from beside me. "I told you I was going to fix it, and I figured an apology was the best place to start. I know it doesn't fix or change anything. But I wanted it to be said at least" Axton hand skates down my arm, wrapping around my wrist. His touch sends fire through my body.
"Thanks' ' is all I can manage. He squeezes my wrist, and then they are all leaving. And when Mrs. Lowey comes back, all the floodgates break.
She lets me sit at her desk, in a chair beside it as I sob into my hands. Years of bullying, years of abuse. Years of everything and now they're sorry? It's hard to process, especially because I think they meant it.
I think they were genuine. Is it because he's my mate, or because they never wanted to act that way to begin with? I'm not sure what to take from that.
"What happened?" Mrs. Lowey's voice is soft.
"They apologized for bullying me" my voice is hoarse.
"I'm sorry-"
"They all hit me" I blurted, "We'd get into physical fights all the time. I'd hit back sometimes. But they'd really rough me up "I rub my hands over my thighs. Then I wiped my eyes. "I told my moms that it was mutual. So they never worried about the bruises"
"I'm so sorry honey" her voice is a soft whisper.
"It feels good to get that out" I admit.
"I'm here if you need anything. Do you want to forgive them?"
"Axton's my mate"
"That doesn't mean he deserves your forgiveness" she doesn't even hesitate.
"I guess that's true, but I think I want to give it. If he can prove he's worth it" my head drops into my hand.
........
Is an apology the step in the right direction? I think it's definitely a starting point but he needs to do a lot more then that.
Check my patreon for early access to chapters of this story and others!
YOU ARE READING
Bully Me
WerewolfOakley is a quiet kid, he keeps his head down and minds his own business. He has a best friend, and a fling. He's openly gay, and in his small town that still lives in the sixties, he gets bullied for it. He has two moms, which only adds to the bull...
