Chapter 4

Bridget is Caspian's mate.

The words echoed in my mind, mocking me. Caspian's mate. He is her mate. She's his. Not me.

My world crumbled as the implications of her words hit me. A wave of despair washed over me; my eyes stung, and I fought back tears threatening to fall. The pain was suffocating, making it hard to breathe, hard to think.

All I could do was stand there, fighting back my tears, as my heart broke into a million pieces.

Caspian spoke up, disrupting the storm raging in me. "I told you, Bridget. We're not mates." He sighed frustratedly.

There were not mates.

Just as fast, the storm cleared, and I perked up. He wasn't hers.

"But...but you're my mate." She cried out.

Now I was confused. Are they mates or not?

"It's a two-way thing, Bridget." He said. "I'd feel it if you were my mate."

"You need to stop claiming me as your mate," Caspian added. "We're not."

With that, he grasped my arm and pulled me along, the crowd parting to let us through.

The joy I felt at his words was unmeasurable. They weren't mates. I couldn't hide my smile as he walked me to my class, my steps feeling light.

Stopping at the front of my English class, he bent to drop a quick peck on my lips. "I'll be gone for the rest of the day." He said, reminding me of his Thursday training. "I'll pick you up after school." He added, turning to leave.

I entered my class, ignoring the stares as I made my way to the seat. By now, I should have gotten used to the looks, but they still made me feel uncomfortable. I slid into my seat, trying to focus on the lesson, and pulled out my notebook to distract myself.

After class, I debated whether to go to the cafeteria. Whenever Caspian was absent, I tried to make myself scarce. But today, I'd skipped breakfast and had no money to buy lunch. My stomach's loud growl made the decision for me. I headed to the cafeteria, planning to grab something quick and leave. "Just slip in and slip out," I thought, already dreading it.

Luckily, no one noticed me as I entered, or so I thought. I grabbed a tray and joined the line, anxiously waiting as my legs tapped the ground impatiently. I wanted to be out of here as soon as possible, but the long line made that seem impossible.

I'd been so focused on the line that by the time I realized the entire cafeteria had gone suspiciously silent, it had been too late.

Suddenly, cold iced tea poured down my head and face. Gasping at the shock, I dropped my tray and spun to face the culprit.

Bridget stood there with a wicked smile on her face, holding a now empty cup. "That's what you get for kissing my mate."

The entire cafeteria burst into laughter, mocking me. I felt my cheeks redden as I looked around and saw everyone laughing at me. Like I was in the wrong here. No one tried to defend me or stick up for me. I had done nothing wrong. Caspian wasn't hers to claim.

"He isn't your mate." I gritted it out, my teeth clenched.

"Shut up, bitch." She hissed out, taking a step closer to me. Purple flashed in her eyes, a sign that her wolf was close. But I knew she'd control herself. There were humans present, and there are strict rules about revealing our true nature to humans.I stood my ground, knowing she couldn't hurt me in wolf form, at least not here.

"Caspian is mine. He is my mate." She said. "And I don't want your filthy omega paws anywhere near him."

I wasn't sure what gave me the courage; perhaps it was Caspian's rejection of her as his mate, but I couldn't help the smile spreading across my face as I replied,

"He doesn't seem to mind my filthy omega paws on him."

That set her off.

She let out a crazy shriek as she launched herself at me, grabbing my hair with a vicious yank.

I winced, my scalp burning, as I grasped her wrists to stop her from pulling me down. Her nails dug into my scalp as her grip on my hair tightened. I held firm, digging my fingers into her skin as she tugged hard on my hair, the pain excruciating.

The cafeteria erupted into chaos as students screamed and cheered, watching the fight in fascination, but no one intervened.

She wrenched my hair to the side, my face upwards, and I caught a glimpse of her eyes, crazed with hatred, her wolf flashing. Fear gripped me, my body freezing in terror as my instincts screamed at me to run, but she held me firmly in place.

She bent her head, her hot breath against my ear as she whispered. "I'm going to kill you."