THE SENATOR'S DAUGHTER

MAEVE'S POV

“Hey! Watch it!” I said when my bag fell to the floor because a girl bumped into me. She was surrounded by two other girls, and I knew they thought they looked put together to themselves, but they just looked like a hot mess to me with their cakey makeup and tacky clothing. 

The main girl who had pushed me laughed and looked at her ilk for support. 

“You watch it, girl. Can’t you have some respect?” Her voice was shrill and it almost made me raise my hands to my ears. 

I knew what was happening, of course. I had run into the HBIC (high-bitch-in-charge). Just my luck, huh?

“You were the one who bumped into me, girl.” Of course, I knew what I had to do. I had to establish myself as the Higher-Bitch. Nothing else would do. 

“Seems you don’t know who you’re talking to, huh?” Minion number 2 said with a smirk. 

“I don’t know, and I don’t give a shit. Now get out of my way.”

“Or what?” 

I couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s your name?” I asked the HBIC. 

“Oh, now you’re afraid huh. Well, you should be. Because I'm Ashley Jefferson, and Blackwood University is my turf. So, if you don’t want to make your life hell here, I suggest you get on your knees and grovel. Maybe I'll forgive you.” 

“You really are a dumb blonde Ashley. You should apologize so I don’t make your life a living hell.”

“Bitch, what did you just say to me?”

There are two simple rules I follow in life. One, never let anyone get the upper hand on me. Two, wield the Collins name like a knight with no mercy.

Right now, rule number two was in play because I had to teach this girl a lesson.

“I said you should apologize. It's rude to bump into people and act all high and mighty about it.” I said, and the girl and her horde of witches laughed. 

I knew girls like her. The ones who thought they were untouchable because their daddy was rich, and he always bailed them out of any ditch they got themselves into. Well, not this time. 

I took my phone out of my bag and called my father’s secretary, Ali. 

“Hey Maeve. What's up?” She asked as a greeting.

“Nothing much Ali. Do you happen to know any Jefferson family?”

The girl frowned, but I just smirked at her. I had only just gotten started after all. 

“Yeah. Has a daughter named Ashley, needs your father’s funding for a project. What is the matter?”

“I think you’ll have to tell daddy dearest that the Jeffersons no longer need our assistance. His daughter is a raging bitch.”

Ali finally caught my game and laughed. She didn’t say anything, but she stayed on the phone. Of course, I couldn’t influence what deal my father signed on or not, but Ashley didn’t know that, and her white face brought joy to my heart. 

“What the hell are you talking about bitch? Is this some form of joke? Who the hell are you?”

“Ah Ashley. But that should have been the first question you asked. I’m Maeve Collins.”

Minion number 1 swallowed. “Like Collins, as in the Collins empire?”

I smirked at her. “The one and only. It seems one of you has some brain in your head after all.”

“Shit Ashley!” We've fucked up. Her family is one of the richest in the country. And their connections to people in power are unmatched. She can ruin our lives!”

Ashley’s eyes widened as she took me in again, and I knew my dressing was deceptive. The weather was hot, and I had some jorts, a crop top, and some pink sneakers on. My silver hair was packed into a messy ponytail, and my headphones hung off my neck. I looked plain and boring, and that was exactly the point. I didn’t want attention, because I was so not ready to find my place on the Omega food chain in Blackwood, but only if wishes were horses. 

“I’m so sorry! It's just a bit of harmless fun amongst girls!” Ashley stuttered out and ran before I could say a word. 

I knew word would spread, and everyone would leave me alone just like I wanted.

Bliss finally. 

Standing in front of Blackwood University, I knew this would be the perfect place for a girl like me to thrive. I looked back at my driver who had been quiet for the whole encounter and rolled my eyes at the look on his face. 

I didn’t overpack for today. I wanted to map out the territory first and know if I would be staying on campus like my mother wanted, or if I would be looking for accommodation elsewhere. 

But with my first encounter with miss HBIC, I knew I would absolutely not be staying on campus.

“Hey Nick. I’m going to take a look around. You can take my box to my assigned room and go home.”

“Okay Miss Collins.”

“Tell Mommy Dearest I’m alright, will you?”

“Of course, Miss Collins. But you know she will prefer to hear from yourself.”

“Yeah yeah. Tell her I'll call once I'm settled. Drive safe.”

And with that, I began my exploration into my new home, Blackwood University.

Blackwood University was one of the few that accepted Alphas, Omegas and Betas all together. Other institutions tended to separate the ‘aggressive’ Alphas from the ‘weak’ omegas, and Betas were admitted into these segregated schools.

Right now, as the scents of different omegas and alphas assaulted my senses, I kinda saw a little reason for the segregation. But i would never say that out loud of course.

My mother had to be convinced I her I wasn’t going to leap onto the first Alpha I saw and make him mark me. My mother was a beta who had married an alpha, and she had given birth to two omegas, and an alpha. Poor woman.

I shouldn’t be thinking of my mother right now so I put the thought out of my mind and skipped halfheartedly across the hallway till I burst into a field where the freshers seemed to be a field where the freshers seemed to be socializing. 

I was about to go make myself some new friends when I felt goosebumps rise on my skin. I paused and looked around to find the person.

My eyes collided with a man standing by himself with his hands in his pockets. He had the stance of someone who was used to getting everything he wanted. He was very obviously an alpha, and when his scent drifted to me, I stumbled. 

Even beneath all the suppressants I used, I could smell him vividly. 

He smelt like... my mate???