HIS RELUCTANT MATE

JARED'S POV 

The afternoon sun boiled harshly on my skin, drenching my forehead and shirt with sweat. 

I squinted my eyes, frantically searching for a cab to take home. But there was none. 

On the campus road, where numerous cabs should have been working on an afternoon like this, my unluckiness peaked, sending off all available cabs. 

The sun scorched, and my skin reddened. Discomfort grew from within, chest tightened, and stomach grumbled, not from hunger but from the familiar weakness that had been growing for a week already. It was also the reason I left class so early. 

I rubbed my nose bridge, trying to keep my thoughts focused on the road as I deliberated walking to the bus stop to take a bus instead. 

Dizziness swept over me, and I staggered backward. I held my backpack tightly, eyes turning blurry as I silently prayed. What was going on with me?

It felt so hot. Uncomfortable and really scary. 

Heat continued to grow in my chest, and my stomach wouldn't stop growling. I bent over, hands on my belly as I tried to drag my feet toward the bus stop. However, a black sleek car suddenly stopped beside me, and the window wound down.

"Hello," a deep voice said. 

Confused, but too tired to think, I turned to face the man sitting in the car, and my eyes widened subtly at his looks. 

Without a doubt, the man must be an alpha. 

With a black glass covering his eyes, all I could see was his perfectly defined face and thin lips, highlighting his natural coldness. His upper body bulged with power, and so did his long fingers holding the steering wheel. 

He shifted at my gaze and pulled down his glasses, revealing his heterochromatic eyes. Dark gold on one and sea blue in the other... really strangely handsome. 

A low gasp escaped my lips, pulling me back from my thoughts, and I bent over again, hands clutching my belly as more sweat formed on my forehead. 

"Come in." I heard the man say, amidst the pain. 

I raised my eyes, my obviously red eyes taking in the man's features again. "You... you want to help me?" I asked. Every word took more strength than the last. 

The man returned his glasses to his eyes and nodded. "Come in." He repeated the two words, which seemed like all he could ever say to me. 

I frowned, "Why..." I sharply bit my lower lip, and my fingers trembled. 

The pain was becoming unbearable, and so was the heat. 

I swallowed my refusal and quickly dragged my legs toward the other side of the car. I opened the door and got in. "Thank you," I mumbled and then provided my address. 

The man remained quiet all through the drive, but his eyes wouldn't leave me whenever he had the opportunity. 

Under his gaze, even my pain receded, and all I could feel was the discomfort of being watched by such a strangely handsome alpha. 

The car smelled of Cedarwood, which somehow comforted me.  At first glance, anyone would think the man would be one of those Alphas who detest perfumes as they believed their pheromones were surely better, but this Alpha seemed to be different. 

Then again, the perfume was great. 

As a beta, using such perfume would attract many omegas to me... 

I ignored his gaze and just focused on the road. Although the gaze was annoying, the man was my helper, and his perfume also helped relieve my pain. No matter what, I wouldn't want to step out of his car before I got home. 

"We are here." I heard him say. It was his fourth word since we met. 

I immediately sat right. My eyes lit up, and I revealed a small smile. "Thank you, mister." I calmly said and opened the car door. 

"I hope I can treat you to a meal next time," I said before closing the car. 

It would be my way of expressing my appreciation to him.  

I walked to my apartment, and only when I opened my backpack in search of my key did I notice the car just leaving. I raised a brow, wondering why he had waited for so long...

Damn!

I slapped my forehead. 

How could I forget to ask for his name or his contact? 

I promised to take him out for a meal without even asking for his details? 

He must have seen me as a boastful liar... Damn it!

But then again, it would be nice to stay away from him. His gaze... it was particularly uncomfortable. 

I stepped into my apartment. My sight settled on the pairs of shoes at the entrance, and my eyes widened. My heart raced in excitement, and I rushed into the house. "Babe. Baby!" I called happily. 

Standing at the center of the sitting room with a bag in hand was Kane, my alpha boyfriend and fiancé. I rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly. "I've missed you." I found myself whining. 

It had been so long since we last saw each other. "Your business is becoming so stressful. See how much weight you've lost." I lamented. 

He had to travel almost every month for a business trip, and this time, he had been away for a whole two months. 

I wrapped my arms around his narrow waist and rested my head on his shoulder. "Do you miss me?" I asked with a slightly raised brow. 

"Hm," Kane replied, and my eyes twitched. 

Something was wrong. 

Kane was always enthusiastic about me... about us. 

I pulled back from the hug, and only then did I realize Kane hadn't been returning the hug. I raised my eyes slightly and looked into his eyes, but he evaded my gaze instead. "Kane," I called, my tone layered with confusion. 

Kane let out a deep breath and raised a hand to my shoulder, rubbing it gently. "I'm sorry, Jared." His tone turned apologetic. "I've failed us... our love." 

My lips parted. I shook my head and forced a smile. "You're joking, right?" My voice cracked. 

He must be. 

Kane sighed again. "My parents wouldn't let me be with a beta..." He trailed off and raised his eyes to meet mine. "They've found an omega for me, and I have to marry him." He revealed. 

I staggered backward, shaking my head as I tried to stop my violently racing heart. Sweat formed all over my body, and my eyes turned blurry... probably with tears? 

"Kane..." I called, hoping everything would be nothing more than a terrible nightmare. 

Kane took a step toward me and held my shoulders, but I grabbed his hands instead. "You can't do this to me, Kane. We'd been dating for three years and didn't you promise to marry me? I know it's hard for betas to give birth, but it isn't impossible. Please, Kane..." I pleaded. Liquid drenched my jaw as I desperately held on to Kane. 

His eyes flickered, and he looked away again. "I will lose my inheritance if I stay with you. I'm sorry, Jared." He begged. "We... can't be."  

He pulled his hand away and turned back. "Bye, Kane." 

I watched his retreat. My face was covered in tears, and my lips trembled. I wanted to plead, hold on to him, and remind him of all we used to share. But I knew it was over. 

From the moment he returned to our shared apartment, Kane had made up his mind. Our three years of fragile love weren't enough to break the bond between an Alpha and an omega...

I slumped on the ground and wept bitterly.