Chapter 3

It only took me a couple of minutes to apply my make-up but I wasn’t brave enough to go back downstairs right away. I waited upstairs until I heard Ryker say goodbye to his parents and leave. I waited a couple of extra minutes before setting off for school myself. Maybe avoiding him wasn’t the best way of dealing with our feelings for one another but right now I didn’t know what else to do. 

Every time we found ourselves alone in the same room together we ended up being drawn to each other in pretty much the same way. Part of me wondered if this was just a crush or something more. Maybe the way we felt meant that we were destined to be together. 

That would be the best case scenario for me. If I end up with the same trait that my mom had then it would put me and anyone around me in danger. That would include my mate, just look at what happened to my mom’s mate. They loved each other more than anything but it wasn’t enough to save them in the end. 

I have wanted to meet my mate all my life. I want the kind of love my parents and Ryker’s parents have but the older I get the more I worry about my mate. The responsible thing to do would be to reject them to save them. 

Even if I was blessed with a mate who was strong enough to keep us both safe. What was there to say that they wouldn’t want to use me for the power that I could give them. It was a huge risk. Being what I am meant that I couldn’t even trust my own mate.

That is why I hope that Ryker will end up as my mate. He knows what he is getting into with me. He already knows all my secrets and I know I can trust him. Maybe that is even why I feel so drawn to him in the first place. I feel safe around him in a way that I don’t with anyone else. 

I looked at my phone as I approached the school building. I must have been daydreaming too much on my walk in. I only had a few minutes before class was due to start. I quickened my pace and joined the rest of my classmates who were all rushing to get to their classes on time. 

When I arrived at my first class Ryker was already sitting at one of the desks at the back of the class. He had saved the desk next to him by putting his backpack in the seat. My ex, Mary-Anne was standing over him saying something. She looked upset. 

I sighed and started mentally preparing myself for yet another breakdown. She was having real issues letting go of our relationship and it looked like she was giving Ryker a hard time about it. I backed up so that I was out of sight but I could still hear what they were talking about.

“I have seen the way you look at her.” Mary-Anne said, I could hear her sobbing. 

“There is nothing going on between us.” Ryker said. 

He didn’t sound convincing, in fact he sounded suspicious as hell. If I was Mary-Anne that would have been all of the confirmation that I needed to prove that there was something going on between the two of us.

“I know you are lying.” She said. She sounded angry but at least it sounded as though she wasn't crying anymore.

“Think whatever you want Mary-Anne, I don’t care anymore.” He said 

“How dare you steal her from me. You could have any girl you wanted and yet you have to take mine.” She screamed.  

I cringed, I guess I should go and rescue him. I walked into the room. Everyone was staring at drama at the back of the room so I had to slam the door shut to draw their attention to me. 

“I already told you why we couldn't be together anymore Mary-Anne. Why do we have to have this same conversation every time I see you.” I said.

“But it doesn’t make sense.” She said.

“Of course it does. You met your mate. You should be with her, not me.” I said. 

“I don’t care, I will reject her. I love you.” She said. 

She was crying again. I felt so guilty, we were only meant to be having some fun together. I never thought that she would fall in love with me. If I had released she was starting to develop feelings for me then I would have broken up with her sooner.

“Don’t do that. You only get one mate, you should at least give her a chance.” I said. 

I couldn’t believe I was fighting for someone else's mate bond when I didn’t even know if I could accept my own mate. Maybe if I was honest I was a bit jealous of Mary-Anne. 

I saw the anger cross her face as I spoke. The last thing she wanted was for me to speak up in defence of her mate. She turned her full attention towards me, I was sure that I was about to get the full weight of her anger.

“Miss Demont and Miss Thyme get to your seats now.” My teacher shouted as they walked into the room. 

I have never been so happy for a maths lesson to start before. Of course that relief was short-lived and It completely disappeared at the mention of a pop quiz. Why would anyone make us do a pop quiz first lesson on a Friday just because none of us completed the homework earlier this week? Surely that classifies as cruel and unusual punishment.

I turned over the test paper and suppressed a groan. Algebra, my life would be much better if I never had to do algebra again. Right after I graduate in a few months I was going to obliterate all traces of maths from my brain.