William's POV
The day of the school games had finally arrived. My heart was beating fast as I stood in front of my locker, putting on my football jersey. The noise of the changing room filled the air — teammates talking, lockers closing, and the sound of cleats on the floor. Six months had not passed yet. Everything from the bullying incident with Isaac and the others was still fresh in my mind.
Most of the alphas on the team still kept their distance from me. They didn't say mean things anymore, but they also didn't talk to me much. It hurt a little, but I tried to stay focused on the game. Then Ronald walked past my locker. Surprisingly, he gave me a small nod and a half-smile. No attitude. No cold look. It was a small change, but it meant something.
"Ready for today?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, surprised. "Yeah. I hope we play well."
Before I could say more, James appeared beside me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled brightly.
