Dylan POV.

CRACK!

"Argh!" A small pain filled cry left my mouth as I ran in front of my brother, just in time to take the lashing that was originally meant for him.

"That boy, just completely disregarded the alpha of your districts pack, step aside." One of the packs warriors held a long thick whip in his hand while looking at me then glancing behind him to look upon my brother.

"He's six years old. He didn't mean to..." I was cut off by another load crack and a stinging sensation hit my cheek, my hand moved up to my face, as I inspected the wound, I looked at the fingers that had gently grazed my now stinging cheek and noticed a line of blood coated them. My face was bleeding.

"Do you wish to make this a public punishment? I can assure you that it will not end well for you if you don't move aside, human." I don't want to take another punishment, I had received my last one almost 2 months ago now, and it took me weeks to heal, my back is already scarred for life.

"He meant no disrespect, he was just playing, please. He's a child, would you really stoop so low as to..." another crack was heard as his whip slashed down on my arm. I winced before my eyes shot open seeing the lycans fist connect with my Jaw.

I stumbled backwards, spitting blood out of my mouth as I bent my head in submission, simply to save my brothers life. I felt my little brothers hands on the bottom of my top, as he clutched on to me, fear clouding his irises.

"To the court yard!" My head snapped up as my eyes grew.

"Run home and lock the doors! Stay with mom!" I whispered before I felt a pair of hands on each arm as I was suddenly dragged away by two wolves, I turned back slightly, to see my brothers fleeing form head towards our house in the human district, a smile graced my face knowing my bother was safe, shortly after fear clouded me as I was forced along. Many people began staring at me as I was dragged to the stupid stage in the courtyard, my wrists were then fastened to a post and a leather strap was placed in my mouth to bite on.

Humans were always forced to come out of their homes to watch the public floggings, much to our dismay. Even when it's not you receiving the punishment, it's almost just as hard to watch.

The minute the lycans thought they had enough of an audience, my punisher grew his claws, and tore my top to shreds, showing my already scarred back to the crowd. A leather strap was placed in my mouth for me to bite down on and I heard a few gasps from some of the humans that recognized me, as the first hit landed.

After the twentieth stroke I was shaking uncontrollably, the pain in my back was almost unbearable, and I knew without even looking that blood was pouring out of each cut. 15 was the usual amount given for punishments so I couldn't understand why I was receiving more.

After the twenty ninth stroke, I flopped over my arms. I was exhausted, in pain and physically drained. I had taken double the amount given in regular punishment, and was unable to comprehend why. The last stroke sounded through the air and a audible grunt left my mouth as I dropped the leather strap I was biting on, on to the floor.

My hands were released and my body instantly crashed to the ground, blood dropping slightly onto the little stage that was set up.

One thing I should explain, wolves don't care about nudity. They often wander around wearing nothing at all. When they shift, their clothes tear and they take the form of a wolf, fur, tails, the whole works. Naturally with their clothes destroyed, when they shift back they are always butt naked. so me having my entire naked torso on show was the norm now a days.

I lay on the stage, panting trying to cover my exposed front when I felt a foot dig into my now abused back.

"This is what happens when you forget your place, wolves were made to be the superior species, and you will show us respect at all times. AM I UNDERSTOOD!" A few mumbles of yes were heard before my hair was grabbed and I was thrown off the stage. My naked arms scraped on the floor and blood poured out of the wound.

Nobody moved to help until all the wolves were off the stage, out of fear of being next in line. I felt a warm coat being placed over my bloodied back and was helped to my feet, by two men.

"DYLAN!?" My tired head turned towards my best friend, Nick Kiwal. "What the hell did you do?" I was still being held up by the two men who helped me as I spoke to him.

"Freddie." I whispered out, I was too tired to even speak never mind anything else. He just looked at me and nodded his head.

Now all that is out of the way, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Dylan Riley and I'm 17 years old. My hair is a dark brunette almost black in color and my eyes are simple brown. My height is roughly 5"6 and I am a student at high school. My younger brother, Freddie, is 6 years old and I often find him in trouble, hence the reason I have to help him out.

My father was killed by THEIR kind, almost 5 years ago when they actually managed to take over. When the lycans managed to penetrate our town my father rose up with some people from the neighborhood, to defend our livelihood, it was futile to say the least. We lost many people and I watched as my dad was ripped apart by two fully shifted wolves, I ended up shooting him to stop his suffering before they dragged me to the courtyard, i was the person to receive the first lashing of the town when I was 12! The wolves have been pretty strict with me since that day.

Anyway, back to my story.

"Is Freddie ok?" I nodded my weak head at Nick before almost falling over. The men holding me, rushed me to the towns human nurse, Sheila, who quickly cleared her table while I was placed stomach down on it by the two men.

She gently took the coat of off me before gasping and rushing around gathering stuff. A few Torturous grunts left my mouth as the pain suddenly stopped being numb, I was shivering in shock by the time Julia came back.

"I'm going to administer some anesthetic." I felt a sharp stinging pain in my shoulder blade before my back went completely numb and the world became black.

Dylan POV

My eyes groggily opened as I sat up, my neck aching from lying on my stomach on a hard wooden table, and my back stinging. I looked down at my once naked torso to find a large bandage, perfectly wrapped around my entire torso covering my exposed breasts as well.

Looking outside I noticed the sun slowly making its ascent, an orange hue tinging the early morning sky. I sucked in a breath before allowing my feet to take my weight, almost instantly toppling over in the process.

I noticed a small glass of water placed next to me and took it in my hand, greedily drinking every last drop. Realizing I had to get ready for school, I walked over to write a note for Sheila explaining how grateful I was that she helped me and where I've gone. I slowly walked up the hill to my house, once I got indoors I went straight to my room and grabbed my uniform.

After the lycans took over they initiated the rule that all humans must wear a certain uniform, and all wolves can express their individuality. Humans uniform consisted of a long sleeved grey button up, high neck top, and grey pants, on our feet we wore simple black flat shoes. One of my friends in school asked to wear a skirt in stead, and she was placed in iron and paraded through the streets, naked except for a single skirt around her waist.

The lycanthrope species are a disgusting and humiliating race.

Once I was dressed I headed off, the 20 minutes it takes to get to school ended up taking almost half an hour, due to the throbbing pain in my back. Once I got to the human entrance I realized I was late.

"Name, and year!" The lycan in charge of human attendance spoke, his eyes boring into mine as he commanded me. Due to the rules, I bent my head in submission to the wolf as he looked at the electronic tablet in his hands.

"Dylan Riley, senior year." He quickly tapped away on his pad before roughly pulling my arm towards him, the movement caused me to wince, as he injected me with the clear liquid that neutralizes any traces of wolfsbane, that may be in our system.

"Get to class immediately, one more late and you'll be joining in with gym class." My eyes widened at the threat, humans don't have gym class, the wolves feel that we shouldn't be encouraged to get stronger. By joining gym I would basically be target practice for them.

"Noted!" The sarcasm dripping in my voice caused me to snap my head up, the lycanthrope are a very temperamental race, and I just broke one of the rules. My entire stance changed as I realized I can't take another punishment yet.

"Get to class, scum, before I drag you there" I nodded my head quickly before walking off, down the corridor to the human section of school. Luckily on the way I only passed one of their species, I lowered my head as I continued to walk. Once there I knocked on the door and waited for our human teacher to tell me to enter.

I walked through the door and everyone's heads snapped to me. "Dylan? Why are you in?" One of the girls asked, I smiled tiredly and turned to the teacher.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Mr Foley shook his head before telling me to take a seat. He turned back to the board to continue lesson, just as I thought he would start, he turned back to me.

"You don't need to apologize." I nodded my head in thanks. "What happened yesterday Dylan?" I sighed, knowing I was going to have to explain.

"My brother, Freddie, disrespected the alpha, it was either him or me." I shrugged before turning my head away from the teacher.

"Where was your mom?" My head turned to Erin who was sat near the front of the class, on the left hand side where all mated human students sit, with her stupid mark on full show for everyone to see.

"Non of your business. Wolf fucker." I growled out, causing the teacher to look at me shocked.

"Dylan! Don't make me give you a detention." I scowled, the only thing I hate more than wolves, is humans who are mates to them.

Now I know what your thinking, that was a horrible comment for me to make, especially considering we were friends, that is until a few months ago when her mate turned 17. Me her and Nick, were walking through the hall with our heads down, when the stupid beta of our districts pack suddenly took her arm. He uttered the one word no human wants to hear, not even 48 hours later she was wearing his disgusting mark.

We had a few mated humans in our class, one of the girls were already pregnant, while one of the guys would soon be a father. They all had to sit on the left side of the class.

Much like in the early 1900's we have a hierarchy, upper class = the lycans, middle class = mated humans, and lower class = the normal humans, who were basically considered scum.

Now the mated wolves, can express themselves as long as they wear a mark, they can wear whatever they want to, and they do everything with the wolves, except class. They even share the lycans side of the lunch hall, it's disgusting how they forget their own kind.

"Dylan, you know we didn't have a choice, we are their mates." Bull shit, of course she had a choice, they all did. I may hate the lycans but I have done my research, and I know my history.

"Bull shit, a wolf can't mark their mate without permission coz it'll kill you, so shut the fuck up and enjoy betraying your own kind." I'm not going to lie, I bully the mated humans, I can't help it. They simply disgust me, you can call me what you want, my views will never change.

"I hope you end up with a mate." She seethed, tears building in her eyes. "Then you'll know how hard it is to resist the person your destined to be with." My eyes burned holes into her skull as I glared at her. She instantly recanted as tears slipped from her eyes.

"If one of them THINGS ever say that word to me... I'll kill myself." The whole class gasped as I seethed, yes I would quite happily die rather than be forced into a relationship with one of THEM.

"Dylan, don't even joke about things like that," Mr Foley looked mortified at my confession but I simply shrugged, he and I both knew I wasn't bluffing. He eventually spoke to the entire class after staring at me for so long. "No one is going to harm themselves in anyway. Now let's get back to the lesson, shall we?" I honestly didn't care what he thought, I wasn't built for this new world and everybody knew it. "One more word out of you Dylan, and I'll send you to the principal. After what happened yesterday, I would have thought you'd be on your best behavior." Seriously. Now I'm annoyed.

"They threatened a six year old kid." My hands slammed down on the desk as I stood up. "They publicly humiliated me, just for standing up for my little brother. What's the point in following their stupid rules if we're just going to get punished any way? Fuck that." After I spoke Nick stood up, then half the class followed, the mated humans stayed sat, quietly, they looked quite scared actually.

"Ok, sit down all of you. I'm on your side, but starting a rebellion right this minute isn't the way to go, I hate the lycans, but I won't condone the bullying of our own kind." I scoffed but nodded, sitting down and watching everyone else sit down after me.

"Don't you dare call those traitors, our own kind." My head shot to Erin who was fully crying, the pregnant girl began to subconsciously rub her stomach, and Gary, the mated male had his head turned to the door.

Just as we were about to speak again the tannoy went off, and the principals voice rang through the room.

"Humans," I scowled at his words and turned my attention out of the window. "As most of you know, the Alpha twins will be celebrating their birthday tomorrow, as such, festivities are in order." Oh great, the Alphas twin children. Adrian and Arya are the worst lycans alive. I swear just because they are the alphas kids they literally get away with everything. If their birthday is tomorrow, then the wolves are going to be worse than ever.

"All students will be present to greet them, two lines will be made, with humans on the left and the lycanthrope on the right. Any mated human will be at the front of the line for their year, you will all also be in order of your school year. That is all." Chat broke out the minute the tannoy was finished.

"We haven't had a school gathering since the alpha king visited three years ago, before his sons coronation." Nick was right, the last time we all gathered like that was for the king and queens visit, when he decided to let the world know that he was to renounce his title to his only child, son Josh.

"That sick bastard, he wants to make sure everyone is there so those idiot twins can find their mates. That son of a bitch." Yes I was mad, my fists connected with the table in front of me once more as I thought about how disgusting the situation was. You see the twins will be turning 17, so it's very possible someone in our school could be their mate, finding a mate is sacred to a wolf, the minute they say that one word your fate is sealed. They will turn your mind, morph you into being a lover of their kind, and then you'll give in.

That won't happen to me, I'm growing old to see the world as it once was, and I'm going to choose who I'll be with. No one will take that dream away from me.

Dylan POV

"Mom? I'm home!" I yelled the minute I finally got home. Almost instantly she came bounding down the stairs of our little house, she quickly engulfed me in her arms with tears in her eyes.

"Dylan, I'm... I'm so sorry about yesterday, I sat with you for hours, but you didn't move, I had to get home to Freddie." She cried on my shoulder while I just rolled my eyes. I'm not much of a hugger, I always just look awkward. She's also very melodramatic sometimes.

"Mom, I'm fine." My mom eventually stopped sobbing as she slowly let go of my form drying her eyes.

"Your dad would be so proud of the strong young lady you've become." I smiled before turning to head up the stairs. "Dylan... I... I made your favorite." I could already smell the beef broth she was making. The aroma wafting through the house. It was very rare we'd get the food to make beef broth, but I smiled and nodded my head at her knowing she must have done something to get the ingredients.

"Thanks mom." Me and my mom have a complicated relationship, we don't really talk all that much, but the love is very much there. She smiled before walking back to the kitchen to finish up dinner. We just have nothing in common, she doesn't understand my fight back attitude, and I don't understand her submissive one. We never really bonded like most parents do, she wanted a proper little girl, but she got me, the biggest Tom boy in existence. Of course she's not much of a fighter, but it doesn't mean that she won't help me or my brother in anyway she can, or she at least tries to anyway. She relies on me an awful lot, probably too much sometimes, Sometimes I think she sees me as the stereotypical 'man of the house'.

"Dilly." I Turned around suddenly and barely had time to catch Freddie as he launched himself off of the sixth stair.

"Oof." I felt slightly winded as he wrapped his legs around waist. My back stung from the pressure he placed on it. "Freddie, be careful, I'm still hurting a lot." I groaned as he laughed.

"Sorry." I leaned over to blow a raspberry on his cheek causing him to laugh hysterically, I then placed him back on the ground. He took my hand in his little one, as he ran to the dining table dragging me along with him.

"Dylan... your back is..." my mom stopped in the doorway holding two bowls of broth staring at my back as I sat down at the table. Slowly I allowed my hand to feel the shirt that was covering the bandages that were covering my back, it felt wet, I had no doubt that it was bleeding again.

"Shit, I'll have to go see the nurse again after dinner." I looked at my hand and instantly saw a little bit of red red coat my finger proving my suspicions correct. It must have been bleeding quite badly if it was seeping through my layers. I knew some of them were deep.

"Why don't you let me help? I can patch you up after we eat?!" She placed the bowls down on the table in front of me and Freddy, I shook my head at her and smiled.

"It's fine, you'll be too gentle and it needs wrapping tightly. Thank you though." She sighed before going back into the kitchen to get her own bowl, then walking back in and sitting down with me and my brother to eat.

"I think I'm capable of cleaning and re-bandaging your wounds Dylan, I've probably patched up much worse when you were little." I rolled my eyes at her but agreed to her help. I suppose it did save me walking all the way to Sheila's house just to walk back again.

Once dinner was finished, I just wanted to sleep. I'd had a very long tiring day, I quickly sat down on a small stool my mother kept in the storage closet and removed my shirt while Freddy sat at the table to do his simple homework. It wasn't long before my mother came in with a large bowl of warm salt water and some cotton, this was going to sting I just knew it.

She slowly began to unwrap the bandage from around my torso and slowed down drastically when it came to the final layer, I felt it peel off every wound and my fists clenched in pain.

"Jesus!" I heard my mom exclaim once the dressing was completely removed. The air on my back was nice though and I sighed as my arm covered my once again exposed breasts. "This is more than 15!" I began to hear sniffles coming from her and sighed turning round to look at her face, only to notice tears streaming down it.

"Mom I'm fine, it's alright." She shook her head.

"It's not alright, I'm your mother I shouldn't let these things happen. I'm so sorry. Your father would have..." here she goes again. Every single time something happened she'd always bring up dad, it really annoyed me because no matter how much we all wish he was here, he just isn't.

"Stop being stupid!" Was I harsh? Definitely! Did she need to hear it again, absolutely. "Dad is dead, we don't know what he'd do because he never knew this life. He never knew this world." I know what he'd have done, most likely attacked the guy who held the whip and got himself killed in the process. "The best thing you can do for me, is stop crying and help me, next time don't insist on helping if you can't handle it."

She began to wash my open wounds with the warm salt water causing loud winces to leave me, I knew it was necessary to prevent infection, but my god it hurt like a bitch.

"Some of these are really deep Dylan!" She sniffed again and my eyes rolled in my head.

"I told you, I'm fine, just wrap me back up so I can get to bed." My mom was obviously more impacted by my injuries than I was, I suppose that always the case though. When it's happening to you, you've just got to get through it but when it's happening to someone you love, you just want to take their pain away.

She quickly placed a fresh bandage around my waist and chest and wrapped it tightly for compression. The bowl of water that was used was now red in color, I guess from the blood my back was dripping with.

"Can you keep your head down please? At least just this week. You can't take any more lashings." I simply nodded before standing up away from the stool, I walked over to Freddie and ruffled his hair in affection.

"Good night squirt." He giggled and fixed his hair slightly.

"Night Dilly." I smiled walking upstairs to my little bedroom, as soon as I was inside i shut the door and flopped down on to my bed on my stomach and I took a minute to cry to myself at the pain in my back, what my mom did was important but it fucking hurt, not that I'd ever tell her. My hand covered my mouth quickly to muffle any noise I might be making.

I couldn't tell anyone, I had to be strong because more and more people were crumpling these days, and my mom would break if she knew how much I was suffering. Sleep followed me shortly after, she was right though about me needing to keep my head down for the time being, I could not take another lashing!

Dylan POV

After a long night and an even longer morning, we were all finally stood in the hallway at school waiting for the twins to arrive.

"Mine!" Everyone that was stood in the hallway tensed up, as we were seniors, me and Nick were stood towards the very back of the human line. All the mated people were situated directly opposite their wolf mates in their years.

We stayed silent and still as Arya walked down the hall and stopped directly in front of Nick. His eyes widened in fear, unsure of wether to look up or keep his head lowered.

"Look me in the eye, mate." He glanced at me slightly as if asking what he should do. "I said, look me in the eye." He slowly moved his eye line up to look at her face. I took a glance myself to see her eyes pitch black with lust.

"I... can't... I mean... erm." Before he was able to mutter anything else, two wolves from opposite, grabbed him out of the line and dragged him behind Arya.

"Hey!" My head shot up before I could stop myself. My mouth also forgot its place as I jumped out of line. Everyone's head shot to me as my eyes widened in realization at what I'd done.

Adrian, the other twin, walked up to me before punching me right in the stomach, I doubled over instantly. Feeling the sting in my slightly healed back.

"I know you... You were publicly flogged only two days ago." God I hate this guy. "I also have it on good authority, that you openly spoke out against our rules and regulations in yesterday's class."

My head shot down the line slightly to see Erin, looking a little frightened, her mate, the beta to be was looking at her, nodding his head in reassurance.

"You fucking traitor, you grassed on your own kind?" I yelled at her before feeling a fist connect with my cheek. My head whipped to the side from the force, while my class members gasped.

I'm so done with this treatment, right then, I wasn't in charge of my actions. My fists curled up and my stance became a lot more defensive. My head snapped up to the alpha to be, and I looked him in the eye.

"You don't know the meaning of the word disrespect." I suddenly hurled my fist towards his head, which he easily dodged, but my foot came up and kicked him instead. He stumbled backwards from the force with wide eyes.

"You... you Actually hit me!" He didn't even sound annoyed, more shocked. Everyone in the hallway was watching, waiting for the alpha to do something but instead he simply stood up straight, regaining his composure. "I think everyone should get back to class." He began to walk away, following his sister when I called him back.

"What about Nick?!"

"Simple, He's my sisters mate. He now belongs to her." Argh, he's not a fucking object.

"He's not her property." A chuckle left his mouth, before turning his back to me again.

"All humans are property."

A short while later everyone made it to science class, our teacher Mrs Mathews is mated to the lycans pack doctor, she also now has a four and two year old with him. She was one of the first humans to be cohered into a false relationship.

"What were you thinking young lady?" I rolled my head at her before looking at the empty seat next to mine. Nick was with that stupid wolf girl right now. Being changed, I'm so angry it's ridiculous.

"I was thinking, this guy is being a prick. Did you hear him? 'All humans are property.' It's bull shit." I looked up and the whole class looked at me like I had three heads. Talking shit about wolves is one thing, but talking about an alpha is punishable by death, attacking an alpha is an even worse offense.

There was then a knock at the door and in walked Erin and her band of mated bastards. "Sorry we're late Mrs."

"Erin, how are things between you and bata Monroe?" She blushed, the traitor actually blushed at the mention of his name.

"He spoke to me last night about trying for a baby. We need a good strong boy to take over as beta." I scoffed looking at her as she took her seat.

"You guys are actually pathetic, why can't it be a girl? Those mutts are basically Neanderthals" I voiced my opinion and saw all the shocked faces around me. Calling the lycans mutts, is the same as them calling us scum.

After lesson had ended the entire school was called into the hall for assembly. This is where any human who has been found to have broken the rules were punished, usually 10 lashings were goven out or something similar.

"Welcome to the school assembly, congratulations to the alpha twins for finding both your mates. Now on to the business at hand, as the 5 year anniversary of the new world is coming up, we have been informed that the alpha king will be visiting our district next week, this is very exciting news. We want you all to look your absolute best, she wolves and mated females will wear exemplary dresses made by seamstress. Male wolves and mated men will wear tailored suits. Anyone who doesn't comply will be reprimanded." The Alpha King?! No one has met him yet, he took over the throne three years ago when he turned 18.

He really didn't make any appearances though, great, this month is going to be a fucking nightmare.

"As for the humans, you will be given a new uniform to wear for the visit, these are to be neatly ironed and worn to the highest standard. As for the following humans, based on your attitude this past week, you will be coming to the front and facing punishment. Tony summerset?!" Tony's head shot up as he looked around, he was in the year below but he shared my views when it came to the lycans.

He slowly walked up to the front of assembly, almost instantly his top was torn in two and he received 10 lashings. A girl named Kara was next and she too received 10 lashings. A few more people went up slowly accepting their fate then suddenly my name was called. "Dylan Riley." Inside I was terrified but I simply shrugged my shoulders, I guess I did kind of expect this. Although I'm not sure if my back can take any more damage.

"You attacked an alpha, correct!" His eyes bored into mine as I bowed my head submitting to his authority.

"Technically, no." Everyone in the school gym looked on in fear, as my head moved to the front row of the wolf side. Adrian sat, with a werewolf girl in the year below, her name was Jana, I guess he found his mate. Nick and Arya were no where to be seen though. Adrian gave me a shrug as if to say he didn't tell, before smirking at my comment. "He hasn't officially taken the alpha title yet, so he's just..." i looked at the principle and noticed his eyes black and his claws out, he was in what lycans call a half shift, triggered when the subject has become angered.

He turned to two security wolves and gave them a nod, Almost immediately i was forced onto my knees, my arm was slammed on a table and held in place by one wolf, while my body was held in place by the other.

"Ok, I don't think this is needed, I have alpha blood, a stupid human girl can't hurt me." My head snapped to Adrian who had stood up in front of the school to stop what was happening.

"Nevertheless, humans need to know their place." With that the pressure on my arm increased as our principals hand pulled my sleeve up before a long claw punctured my skin. The searing pain shooting from the fresh wound had my eyes scrunched and my fist clenched, I bit the inside of my cheek hard instantly tasting blood, however no sound left my mouth.

He continued to write, using my skin as a canvas and his claws as a marker, it went on forever, my vision blurred slightly at one point as I turned my head away.

After minutes of torture, he was done and the pressure on my arm eased, instantly I snatched my arm away, hissing through my teeth at the pain. I was about to scurry off stage, when I was roughly grabbed yet again, my arm being held in the air by the principal while my feet were inches off the floor, blood dripped from the wound and the pattern he had made was on show for everyone to see.

Loads of people gasped, even the wolves looked slightly horrified at what had happened.

"This is what happens when a human decides to speak out. I can promise, anyone who so much as says one word about our way of life, will have the same punishment." My arm was starting to seriously ache from being held in the air for so long, and the lack of blood flow to my suspended arm was causing me pins and needles, still I refused to make a sound. I held the tears back and I bit my cheek harder causing more blood to fill my mouth.

"That's enough Bradley!" Adrian growled, he was still stood up and looking at the scene in front of him. His eyes hard as he stared at the principal a low warning growl erupted from his chest which had the head teacher gulping, he quickly let go of my arm causing me to crash to the floor.

A small cry left my mouth as I hit the hard floor. Immediately I scrambled away, my foot just missed the high step leading to the stage and I fell, waiting for the impact of the ground, but it never came. Two strong arms wrapped around me catching my weak body causing me to look up, my eyes widened as I noticed Adrian had caught my falling form.

"This isn't part of the human punishment program!" Adrian growled causing me to tense in his grip, I pushed him away from me before fixing my uniform top. The room was deadly silent, taking in the scene in front of them, while I stole a glance at my forearm.

Carved into my skin by his devastating claws were two words, words that would most definitely scar my body for life.

'Human scum'

"Lessons must be learned, she received lashing merely two days ago, and clearly it had no effect on her." Another growl left Adrian's chest as he stepped on to the stage, I wasn't bothered though, you would think I'd be ashamed but I simply smiled slightly. I fixed my sleeve a little so it wouldn't rub on the fresh wound before speaking.

"It doesn't matter," the whole room looked at me shocked by my attitude. "I would rather be labeled human scum, than have any resemblance to your kind. I'm proud of what I am, how many of you can say that?" After my amazing little speech, I walked right down the middle between the humans and lycans and out the door.

No more compliance, I'm going to get away with as much as I can without getting into too much bother. There will come a day when the lycans power will fizzle out. When it does I'll be ready, I'll be waiting for the day we take our world back. As for the best part about my plan...

No one can stop me.

Dylan POV.

"Ouch, not so hard." I seethed as the school nurse cleaned my new wound with antiseptic.

"If you had of just kept your mouth shut, this wouldn't have happened." I turned to my right looking out the window at the few clouds that were floating in the blue sky.

"Like I said, I'm proud to be human, and now everyone knows what I am." I clenched my fist together as the nurse began wrapping a bandage around my forearm.

It had been a good few hours since the incident in the hall, and I had been forced to come to the nurces office after I had tried to clean my wound by splashing it with water from the tap, it also refused to stop bleeding.

"You are impossible. Can you please just try and stay out of trouble? For one day, that's all I ask." Our school nurse is a wolf, she's one of them. However she hates the way they treat us mere humans, she thinks we should all just live in peace with equal rights. Like that would ever happen.

"All I've done is stay out of trouble, but you are just going to humiliate me anyway, so what's the actual point?"

"The pack were discussing a public execution, Dylan. You need to walk on egg shells from now on, not just for you but for your family as well." No ones been publicly executed in over 4 months, I'm flattered they're considering it. They only execute people who they believe are the biggest problems to society.

"Well then... I'm flattered." I chuckled, before looking at the patch job. 'Huh, not too shabby.' I quickly stood up from the human nursing station and pulled the sleeve of my shirt down covering the evidence of ever being hurt.

"This is serious!" I just gave her a blank look before leaving the room. On the way out I heard her call back to me. "Please just think about it." I gave a clipped nod as I walked away wondering how I'm going to tell my mom about this.

Later in the evening...

"Dilly why you say that?" Freddie looked up at me with a mouth full of bread.

"Don't speak with your mouthful!" My mom scolded him as a bashful blush made its way to his cheeks.

"Sowwy mommy." His reply was muffled as he swallowed the last chunk of food.

"I said it Freddie, because it's the truth. The wolf race are a fucking pathetic excuse for..." my mom cut me off with an extremely stern look.

"Dylan! They have ears everywhere, one more word out of you and it's your room." I scowled, my hatred for the Lycan kind growing stronger as each day passes.

"What more can they do to me, lash me? Beat me? Brand me? They've ran out of fucking options." I stated slamming my hands down, then severely regretting it as sharp pain shot though my wound.

"What was that?" My head shot to regard my mothers worried expression. Her eyebrows were raised and her eyes were dull and judging as she looked at me.

"Nothing, it was nothing." I quickly took my plate in my hand and began to walk to the kitchen. "I'm not really hungry, and I have homework to do!" My mom caught hold of my forearm causing me to drop my plate suddenly, I watched it slowly fall before shattering on the floor.

I retracted my arm quickly and turned to Freddie. "Stay there and don't move until it's cleaned up ok sport?" He just nodded with wide eyes, I turned back to my mom and noticed her curious stare on my arm. Her grip shifted to the other side as she turned it around before pulling my sleeve up. The bandage was showing and a bit of blood was seeping though after the wound had been disturbed.

"What the hell happened?" My moms eyes widened as she began to fumble with the bandage. Before she could unravel any of it I snatched my arm away.

"I had an accident at school. No big." I began to gather the large pieces of the broken plate up ready to put them in the bin.

"What did you do Dylan?" She looked at me with pure worry and only then did I realize what the wound must look like to someone who didn't know.

"For fucks sake! I didn't do it to myself! I got publicly punished at the assembly alright? It's no big deal." Her face dropped instantly and she stepped towards me, causing me to step backwards. "Mom, I'm ok. So back off will you."

"What did you do? I've never known them to cut someone's arm as a punishment." Her shock and accusation was evident in her voice and I sighed heavily.

"I spoke against the alphas son." I may have hit him too, but I wasn't going to divulge that part to her. "It's not one big cut, mom, it's a brand, 'human scum' carved onto my arm."

"They've branded you now too?!" My eyes rolled at her hurt tone as I went to get the dustpan and brush. "You're so much like your father." A sigh left her mouth as she spoke, running a hand through her hair, while I quickly swept up the little pieces of the broken plate. "You've had a new uniform delivered. It's laid out on your bed. Dylan, Please just try and stay respectful in the future, I don't want my daughter to be completely mutilated. Although you're not far off."

"Gee, Thanks." I then walked over to my little brother Freddy before blowing a kiss into his neck and hearing him giggle. "So sport, how's school going?"

"It's ok." He shrugged before going back to coloring a dinosaur picture in.

"Well that's good, stay out of trouble, ok little man?" Heading upstairs and into my room, my thoughts wandered to the permanent graffiti scar very slowly healing on my arm. Disgusting beasts. Think they own the world because they're faster, stronger and can shift. Pah. If you ask me they are not all that.

The second I walked into my room my mouth dropped open. On my bed was some grey pants laid out neatly, which wasn't the surprising part, no, what shocked me was the grey high neck no sleeved button down shirt, every single set of uniform had sleeves except this one. They've done this on purpose those, mutts. They want the world to see my arm and know what a disgusting creature I am. They want the world to know that I, Dylan Riley, am nothing more than 'human scum'.

Dylan POV

During the last week, I've been horrible, in class I've been loud in voicing my views, I've insulted at least everyone to some degree, I didn't care about the consequences, and I certainly didn't think about them. I haven't seen Nick at all since he was claimed, and to make matters worse today was the royal visit.

Oh yes, werewolves and mated humans alike were spending every waking minute preparing themselves to meet his royal majesty, king of the wolves. Unclaimed Humans however would rather stick pins in their eyes.

"Dylan, get down now... you're going to be late." She was right, I was dawdling this morning, I really couldn't be bothered today, I gave myself one last look in the small mirror and sighed when my eyes met my newly uncovered brand. It had bad bruising around the letters, and was still extremely tender to touch, it was definitely healing now though.

I made my way down the stairs and came face to face with my mother who was seeing to Freddie, she was helping my brother get his coat on when she turned to me.

"You ready sport?" Freddie nodded his little head at me and smiled while I quickly slid my shoes on.

"Just Remember, the alpha is bad enough, Dylan, please, please don't do anything to anger the king." My mother stopped us from walking out the door to tell me something she had been telling me continuously for the last couple of days, it was almost as if the entire human population of our district was expecting me to do something stupid. "Try and have a good day." I rolled my eyes but nodded, even I know not to push the king, he could kill me in the hallway like it was nothing. In fact I plan on staying out of his way for the entirety of the day.

"We will see you tonight mom." I stated before me and my brother began our walk to school, his little hand clutched my own tightly as we went. Usually Nick would be with us, as he lives next door, well he used to, now he's residing in the main pack house.

I quickly dropped Freddie off at his school and watched him get the wolfsbane neutralizer before walking into him building giving me a small wave before he went in.

With my new scar on complete show, and my figure being complimented by the skin tight shirt I was wearing, I sauntered down the street to school, I gave my name and year in and took the wolf's bane neutralizer injection with no problems at all. It was finally getting into school that the problem occurred.

Walking through the halls I was met by many looks, some of pity some of disgust. You see every single non mated human in the school was wearing a long sleeved version of the uniform I was given. All the Wolves and mated couples were scattered around in fancy floor length dresses or tailored suits. As I turned the corner I noticed a couple, now this couple happened to catch my eye the most out of all of them because it consisted of Arya and Nick, eating each other's faces off.

"What the fuck!" Nicks head shot to me as his eyes widened. He too was dressed in a tailored suit, a navy blue tie hung on his neck to match Aryas dress. Why was this happening all the fucking time? It's always my friends that get completely brain washed. I shook my head in disbelief before turning my back on him. I heard his fast footsteps behind me as I rounded the corner.

"Dylan?!" He ran right in front of me, stopping me in my tracks, making me drop my bag off my shoulder and almost causing me to bump into him. "Let me just explain..."

"Has she marked you?" I mean you could almost see it in his eyes, she had marked him, and knowing the way life goes he's probably even mated with her. "Actually... Don't even answer that." I aggressively picked my bag up off of the floor and stormed off down the hall.

"Dylan, just listen to me, Erin was right, it's so hard to resist your soulmate, and Arya is actually ok once you get to know her." I just kept walking, he caught up to me walking beside me but it didn't matter, I completely ignored everything and everyone.

'I'm so not in the mood today' getting into class was good though, I said hello to Mr Foley and took my usual seat. Nick sighed then took his bag off ready to sit next to me, but I snapped before he had the chance. "Traitors and mated idiots sit on that side of the room." I didn't look him in the eye as I pointed to a seat right at the front of the classroom on the opposite side. His eyes widened as he turned his attention back to me.

"You can't be serious Dylan." I gave him a blank look before grabbing my book out of my backpack, I placed it on the desk then began to write the date on the top line. "I've sat in this seat for as long as I can remember." I ignored him, his voice sounded sad and shocked. "Dylan? Wait! What is that?!" Before I could react Nick had grabbed hold of my branded arm and turned it to see the letters. "Oh my God! What the fuck happened?" I snatched my arm away from him and shrugged as I continued to write in my book before grabbing my water bottle out of my bag.

"The principal happened, it was my punishment for speaking out against Adrian and Arya. I wear it with pride." He just held a complete look of disbelief.

"You spoke out against them?" I shrugged, what did he think I'd do.

"It's no secret that I despise this stupid new world and the mutts that control it. You were my friend, I wasn't going to let them just take you without saying something, although that is exactly what you seem to have done. Enjoy the view from your new seat!"

"Don't be like that, Dylan, I'm your best friend, I'm sorry about your arm, but..." my eyes rolled inside my head at my friends words.

"Anything with the word 'but' in, isn't an apology, it's a rationalization." I took a drink of water from my bottle and kept my eyes facing forward, ignoring his every attempt to try and talk to me.

"Dylan?.. Dylan?... Do you know what? Erin is right, if you push us all away you won't have any friends left." He huffed before walking over to the empty seat and sitting down, I could feel him glancing up at me every now and again but I didn't respond.

"Good morning class, please settle down." He looked at me then at Nick and frowned, we've never sat apart, we were friends before the new world even began. I just shook my head telling him to forget it. "So... as you know the king will be arriving in a short while, but until then lessons will go on as normal." Its funny seeing teachers in the same uniform your wearing, mr Foley and his wife are the coolest. Human teachers and doctors only have slightly more respect than we do. Because of Mr Foley's status him and his wife have better access to food and drink, Mrs Foley is cool, sometimes she even makes sure mr Foley brings some in for me. Ya know, coz I'm their favorite student. It's not in a weird way, it's just they were friends of the family before the new wold took effect. Mr Foley and my dad were buddies from high school, so it goes without sayin really.

"All the mated humans will be at the front of each years line again, after that you will all be placed in status, Nick, as your mated to Alpha Arya, you'll be at the front of your line. Dylan as you have been branded..." his voice trailed off as he looked at me.

"Yeah yeah, I'll be at the back of the line behind everyone. I get it." I huffed, moving my sight towards the window once more.

"I am sorry." I turned to face Mr Foley again, he looked genuinely upset and that look of pity wasn't something I wanted to see. I gave him a clipped nod then turned away again. "Anyway, on to the subject matter, 'Of Mice and Men, page 64, Nick why don't you start us off with the reading."

"Of course sir." Nick began reading the book but I switched off, today is going to be a long day. After almost an hour and a half of reading comprehension, the bell chimed signaling lunch. I shot up and out of the classroom before anyone could say anything. Today, I was avoiding drama like the plague.

Dylan POV.

I wandered the corridors straight to the lunch hall.

All the people I would normally hang out with we're all mated so I grabbed my lunch quickly, and sat down at the end of the human table. Let me lay the lunch hall out for you.

On one side of the room you have two long rows of tables, with simple benches that make it look like prison, on the other side of the room you have multiple round tables with fancy chairs. Yup you get it. The humans sit at the prison tables and the wolves and traitors sit on the fancy tables, they get fancy food, fancy drink and most importantly they get pudding. what I would give to have some pudding.

"Dylan can we just talk?" Nick quickly took the spot next to me as he set his lunch tray down. I looked at his food which had been placed on a ceramic, circular white plate. God that looked good. I sighed knowing he was going to talk anyway.

"Fine, you have two minutes." I used my fork to take a bit of pasta off his plate and shoved it into my mouth. God that was good.

"After I left school, I was taken to the pack house with Arya, and I really got to know her. It took a few days for me to finally accept being with her, but ever since life has been ok, and the sex... well that's a whole other story." Eww, I didn't need that mental image in my head.

"I'm glad your happy." I stated before deciding I had no appetite. His face held shock before he sighed in relief.

"That means a lot Dylan, I mean you know that your opinion matters to me." I cut him off before he could say anything else.

"I said I was glad your happy. I didn't say I approved of what you've done. You've basically turned into one of THEM, I can't ever forgive you for that." He looked hurt, but I couldn't care less about his feelings.

He placed his hand gently on my arm and went to open his mouth when a growl sounded out. All heads whipped to where it came from, Arya was stood holding a glass of soda and a plate, she was looking right at me and Nick and I would totally be dead if looks could kill. Nick quickly retracted his hand, his whole face fell and you could see sorrow flood his irises.

"You sit with me now, get away from that, that... scum!" Wow, Nick was such a lucky guy. NOT.

"You heard her. Get away from me, go sit with your new friends. I'm happy for you, and I understand where your coming from, but don't come up to me again and pretend you didn't betray your own kind. Don't pretend you didn't betray me." I shoved a little bit of food into my mouth before standing up and walking out of the cafeteria, leaving my tray on the table.

I was walking through the hallway to the classroom, you see I decided to spend lunch with Mr Foley in his room, when I happened to hear voices in the corridor.

"Is it wise for her to actually be present when the king arrives? Surely she could be placed in the dungeons, it might actually teach her some respect?" My principal was speaking to the alpha of our district, huh, if I stayed and listened do you think they'd notice, maybe they could smell me?!

"Everyone is to be present, if the Riley girl does one thing out of line she will be dealt with severely, child or not. That girl has been a blight to the district since day one, she's dangerous, if she puts one hair out of place I will personally break her into submission." Oh shit, they were talking about me specifically, and they mentioned the dungeon, that's not been used in months. Normally I would have listened in more but something about the entire situation didn't sit right with me, all of a sudden, I was on edge, and simply wasn't interested in the slightest in hearing how my misery was to be enhanced.

I backed up slightly before turning around and bumping head first into one of the hottest man I had ever seen. I lost my balance immediately and fell straight on to the floor letting out a small grumble in the process.

His eyebrows knitted together quickly and his breath hitched in his throat as he looked upon my fallen state and gasped. "Mate!" He whispered, his eyes fixated on mine. Now, I had seen and heard that many times to know what that means, I gasped before taking a step back.

'No, no, no, no, no. This can not be happening.' He growled slightly before stepping towards me, I however didn't give him time to do anything else as I quickly took off, back down the hall and towards the cafeteria. His growls reverted off the walls and probably had half the school wondering what was going on, it terrified me to no end as I made my way to the double doors leading to where lunch was held.

With my breathing slightly erratic I entered the dining hall. I was slightly praying he wasn't following me when I lifted my head to find the entire cafeteria staring at me in shock due to my sudden intrusion, you could tell that everyone almost instantly knew I was the cause of the large growl.

I didn't pay it any mind, by now everyone should be used to me doing stuff like this, after all I am always in trouble. I simply walked over to the human tables once more and sat down. Keeping my eyes firmly on the door Incase that stupid wolf decided to come and find me, much to my surprise and confusion he didn't enter after me.

The second the lunch bell chimed everyone began to exit the lunch hall. I quickly shot to my feet and walked towards the door, joining the masses of human students to try and cover my scent slightly.

I headed straight for Mrs Matthews room where our next lesson was taking place and walked in. Everyone was fixing themselves to appear neat and proper for the royal meeting.

"Ok, everyone. As you know or may have heard the king arrived at the school during lunch and in 5 minutes you'll be expected to be in your lines with your head bowed, your clothing should be straightened out and your manners exemplary." She then took out a small compact mirror and began fixing her makeup while everyone else sorted their hair and outfits out. I was the only one who was sat down not bothering about my appearance.

My legs were on top of the table while my head was leant back over the chair I was on, my hair was left down, and was undoubtedly knotted by now, you could clearly tell I was a lot less than thrilled at the revelation of the king's arrival. After the classes quick fixes we were led to the very long corridor, every single wolf and human at the school were lined up in two lines, all the wolves on one side with their formal dresses and the humans on the other side.

The king clearly was the man with the crown on his head, standing next to our principal, right towards the end of the hall. something about him seemed familiar, I can't have seen him before surely, he never makes public appearances.

The king began to travel up the two lines greeting everyone in the hall. He stopped at the alpha twins and spoke to them slightly before continuing down the line.

All was going well until Barbara a girl who was stood next to me, decided she needed to fucking sneeze. The kings head shot to towards us so suddenly that I'm surprised he didn't get whiplash, his eyes widened dramatically as he made and kept eye contact with me, his breath hitched in his throat, as the rest of the wolves and humans looked between me and the king. Mine and Barbara's head instantly bowed out of respect for the royal wolf.

"Mate!" My eyes bulged out of my head as I snapped up to regard the guy who is obviously the king. His eyes were locked on mine as he began to advance very quickly. Oh great. That's why he looked familiar, he was the same guy who I bumped into only an hour or two before hand. The one who claimed I was his mate...

Oh... SHIT!