I Reject You As My Mate

“See you at home, baby.” He pecked my cheek and left me standing in the hallway of the college he’d just registered me.

I watched him leave and I began to feel alone. It was still early and classes were yet to start.

He said we would be in Stone Shadow pack for a long while and I suspected it had something to do with that woman and girl we had gone to see.

She looked like we would be age mates. I wasn’t sure.

Lost and confused on where to start my journey in this gigantic building that radiated wealth and all who went here, I walked slowly, trying to find someone who looked nice enough to talk to.

“Hi.” Someone approached me.

It was a very pretty girl who looked confident and sure of herself.

“Hi.” I greeted back, quietly envying her classy mini dress and boot heels.

Those pair looked expensive.

“You’re new.” It didn’t come out as a question but an observation. She eyed me from the crown of my head of long auburn hair to my sandaled feet. It made me aware of myself and what I was wearing.

I looked like a plain Jane compared to her.

“Yes, I am.” I replied.

“And not rich.” She continued her observation.

I swatted embarrassment and decided to use this opportunity to ask her for directions. “Please where’s the lecture class for second year students?”

“Were you not given a guide by the school management? Mrs. Ficklehorn provides that for new or transferred students. And if you’re in year two then you’re both new and transferred.”

Well, at least she was smart.

“I wasn’t given any guide and I wasn’t attended to by a woman. It was a young guy.”

“Oh, that doofus. Hm, such a shame.” She made to walk away.

“Directions, please.” I reminded her.

“You…”

“Enisa.”

Another student just walked in through the entrance, waving at her. She grinned then waved back. She turned to me. “Sorry, I’ve got to go.”

I watched helplessly as she abandoned me there to go meet her friend.

I heaved a sigh. “I’d better go find my way.”

I started to walk the opposite direction of this Enisa girl. Then I heard the shouts and screams as soon as I turned a corner.

Startled and curious, I ran back to know what the commotion was all about.

It was them.

I was almost pushed out of the way by the unbelievable crowd of student that rushed past me. It was like I was watching some cheesy high school movie where the bad boys of the school were admired and revered like some divine beings.

The empty hallway now had many college ‘immature’ students crowding them.

“Hey Trenton.” A girl with the hair the color of Raven waved, all big smiles.

She dressed like a goth.

But the Trenton guy didn’t even acknowledge her.

“Lucas.” A girl with blond curls was grinning from ear to ear.

Lucas, the one who had thrown that punch, winked. The girl giggled, some other girls let out a wistful sigh.

I noticed girls touch the sleeve of one of them and someone said. “Black looks good on you, Zach.”

“Anything looks good on me, sweet pea.” His response was cocky and confident.

“Hi, Aaron.” Another girl on a white crop top and high waist denim waved.

“Hi.” He merely replied, not giving the girl a second look. That was when I saw her. The way he held her, there was something possessive yet protective about it.

He looked so much like him but I knew it wasn’t him because my wolf — Aliya — was quiet and calm.

Without meaning to, my eyes searched the crowd for him but he was not with them.

I kept my gaze steady on the girl. Ben’s daughter. My supposed step-sister.

She looked very beautiful and was expensively dressed, as were the boys.

She raised her eyes and caught me looking at her. Feeling uncomfortable, I averted my gaze but it unconsciously roamed back to her face.

I studied her. She was tall, though not as tall as the guy who I needed no one to tell me was a twin to my mate.

My mate.

All four pairs of eyes rounded on me as well. But that was not what made my heart race.

It was the person who was now standing beside my supposed stepsister.

Aliya growled in my head. “Mate! Scarlett, mate!” She was doing a happy, prancing in my head.

“No, Aliya.” I communicated right back through the telepathic connection every werewolf was born with.

Aliya whimpered when I turned on my heels and continued on my lone journey.

“Wait.” He called.

I heard him walk faster, trying to reach me. He caught up with me.

I made the mistake of looking into his sterling grey eyes. God! They were so beautiful.

I averted my gaze, nervously toying with the bracelet that was no longer adorning my wrist.

Even after so many years, I still missed my bracelet.

“What is your name?” He asked.

I didn’t respond, only kept staring at the polished floor of the hallway as though it was some beautiful work of art.

He lifted my chin to meet his eyes, that casual touch sparked something within. Scared and uncertain, I moved away.

“Stay away from me.” I couldn’t even bring my tone to be firm and serious.

“Why?” Perplexity expressed itself on his very attractive face. “You felt the bond. You even came close to me.”

“I felt n-nothing.” Damn my stepfather and his manipulations.

I heard footsteps.

The rest of his siblings and the girl were watching, even the crowd had followed us here.

“You can’t say that. You definitely felt something.” He was getting more confused.

It only hurt me more. “Just let me be, please.”

I made to leave but he held my wrist. “Can I know your name at least?”

“Why do you want to know the name of someone so… insignificant?” That voice belonged to Enisa, the richly dressed girl who had brutally observed me this morning.

“Shut up and mind your own business!” One of boys shunned her. It was the one called Zach.

She didn’t look happy but she went silent.

“Your name, please?” He asked again.

I searched his face and only found sincerity and openness that made a significant dent within my chest.

But a certain threat sounded in my head.

Frustrated and angry, I wrenched my hand from his. “I reject you as my mate!”