Cross the Line

Cole POV 

The rumors spread through Blackthorne Academy by morning. Hallaway, classroom,  locker room, everywhere I went, I heard those words “Rejected Mate”, “Pathetic Alpha”, “Serena Vale’s unfortunate fate”. People stared openly when I walked past them. Some laughed and some whispered about last night. Others looked almost relieved that it wasn’t happening to them.

I read lots of books about rejected mates but never thought I would be rejected too. In those books, omegas were rejected by their cruel alpha. In my case alpha was rejected by his fated Omega. Well, at least they got a better alpha in the end, can't say that about myself. 

I kept my head down and walked toward class while gripping my bag tightly, then I heard a cheerful voice “Hey, Black!”

I looked at the source of that voice and saw a group of students blocking the hallway.

One of them smirked and said “You are still her mate?”

Laughter erupted in the hallway, I ignored them and kept walking. That only made them louder.

One of them said “Maybe Cross will let you watch next time.”

My fist tightened so hard my nails cut into my palm. I stopped walking.

The hallway suddenly became quiet but before I could move, another voice cut through the tension “Move.”

It was cold and dangerous. Hearing it, everyone froze instantly.

I looked at the person and saw Aiden Cross walking down the hallway wearing his hockey jacket loosely over his shoulders.

Seeing him, students immediately stepped aside. Fear mixed with admiration in every face around him.

That was Aiden Cross, the Untouchable king of the campus. The rules simply bent around him. His dark eyes slid toward me lazily and then down toward my bleeding palm.

Looking at my bloody palm, his expression changed slightly then became emotionless.

He murmured while passing me “Control your temper, Black.” 

I glared at him. Damn it. It all happened because of him. My mate rejected and humiliated me because of him. And not to mention, he came to taunt me last night.

He continued “You should try it sometime.”

His friends snorted quietly. Aiden only smirked before continuing down the hallway.

And somehow that irritated me even more.

………………………………….

Practice that evening turned brutal. Coach barked orders while players slammed each other violently against the rink walls.

Our next match was against Crimson Claw, against Aiden Cross.

Everyone was tense.

The coach shouted “Move faster, Cole!” 

I pushed harder across the ice. Sweat burned my eyes. Pain spread through my muscles. Pain was good. It kept my mind away from Serena and away from that jerk Aiden.

Couch shouted “Again!”

I grabbed the puck then someone slammed into me hard. I crashed into the glass wall painfully. The rink exploded with laughter.

Lucas slowly skated backward with fake innocence.

He said casually “Sorry, I didn't see you.”

We both knew this was a lie.

I pushed myself upright, breathing hard but before I punched him, Coach frowned “Enough.”

Lucas shrugged but his eyes held satisfaction.

He enjoyed this because humiliating me made him look stronger.

I grabbed my stick tighter.

I snapped “Come on then.” 

The team went silent.

Lucas raised a brow and asked with confusion “What?”

I continued “You heard me.”

A dangerous smile crossed his face. This was a good chance to explore all of my anger. I was frustrated from last night, and couldn't express it. But now it was a good chance for me to express my emotions. 

Within seconds, the rink cleared around us. Everyone wanted entertainment.

Lucas skated toward me slowly and asked with an arrogant voice “You really think you can challenge me?”

A smirk appeared on my face and I said with a mocking tone “I think you talk too much.”

Hearing it, his expression darkened, and then we collided violently.

The impact echoed through the rink.

We fought hard and fast across the ice while teammates shouted around us.

Lucas was stronger physically but I was angrier and anger made people dangerous.

He slammed me against the wall and he hissed near my ear “You’ll never be Alpha of our clan,” 

Hearing it, anger appeared on my face and I punched him directly across the jaw. Gasps erupted around us.

Lucas snarled and tackled me down onto the ice.

The coach finally blew the whistle aggressively and shouted “That’s enough!”

Players separated us roughly. Lucas wiped blood from his mouth while glaring at me.

Then suddenly the entire rink grew quieter. I looked toward the entrance and saw Aiden standing there watching. 

His black hockey uniform made him look even bigger somehow. He looked more dangerous.

Girls filled the stands behind him, already whispering excitedly.

Aiden’s gaze slowly moved between Lucas and me.

Then he smiled slightly and said with a teasing tone “Cute fight.”

Lucas immediately straightened. Everyone also did the same, like instinctively they all wanted his approval.

This was disgusting.

Aiden walked onto the rink casually and asked with his teasing tone “Ready to lose next week, Black?”

I stepped forward instantly and said with gritted teeth “Dream on.”

The tension between us sharpened immediately. Even the coach looked nervous.

Aiden stopped directly in front of me. He was too close again.

His eyes dropped briefly to my split lip, then back up and he said with a mocking tone “You look good at bleeding.”

My jaw tightened and I said with gritted teeth “Get out of my rink.”

Aiden leaned closer and whispered “Make me.”

Something dark flashed in his eyes. It was not teasing but a challenge. What the hell! How dare he challenge me in my group? 

My wolf reacted violently. The air between us practically crackled.

Then Aiden smirked, suddenly stepped back and said with a mocking tone “See you at initiation, Little Wolf.”

Hearing it, the entire rink went silent and heat rushed into my face.

I wanted to kill him.

Aiden only laughed softly before walking away with his gang following behind him.

He was arrogant and completely insane.

And somehow, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

…………………………….

That night I returned home late. The Black family mansion stood cold and massive under moonlight. It had no warmth or comfort, just expectations.

I entered quietly only to hear voices from my father's office.

A female voice said “Lucas is clearly the better choice.”

I stopped outside the door instantly.

Father sighed heavily and said “Cole lacks control.”

My chest tightened painfully.

Lucas laughed softly and said “He's an emotional fool and weak.”

Hearing it, I clenched my fists.

Father spoke again “If he embarrasses this family again, I’ll remove him from succession entirely.”

The words hit like knives. The atmosphere became silent.

Then Lucas asked quietly “What about his mother’s side?”

Everything suddenly went still.

Father’s voice turned dangerously cold “We do not discuss that.”

Hearing it, a strange chill crawled down my spine. My mother died when I was young. Nobody ever talked about her.

Before I could hear more, footsteps approached. I moved quickly away from the door.

Lucas exited first and his eyes landed on me immediately.

A slow smile spread across his face and he asked with a teasing tone “How long were you standing there?”

I murmured “Long enough.”

Lucas stepped closer and said with a dark voice “You know Father’s right.”

I stayed silent.

He lowered his voice “You’re not fit to lead this pack.”

Something dark moved behind his eyes.

I knew that emotion very well. It was hatred. He hated me as much as I hated him. 

Then he brushed past me and murmured “Try not to embarrass us again, Cole.”

I stood there alone long after he left. My chest felt hollow and empty like no matter how hard I fought, I would never belong here.

Then my phone buzzed. I looked at it. It was a message from an “Unknown Number”.

I opened the message slowly and read “Wear Black, Little Wolf. See You at Midnight. I will be waiting for you. Don't disappoint me”.

Reading it, my stomach dropped. Then I remember, today was the Initiation of the "Obsidian Circle”.