3

Yaria's POV 

... 

If I didn't come here for something important, I would have left this place instantly. The thought of us being mated once more was appalling. I couldn't even stand him. 

But then, the deal needed to be signed. My aunt had entrusted me with it. I couldn't just walk away, and I wouldn't want to offend the CEO.

"No need to see me off further, Mr Johnson," Drake smilingly told the corpulent man. 

The latter shook his head and tried to insist, but Drake didn't let him. 

"Alright then, take care," the CEO said before pivoting on his foot. 

I walked forward, closer and closer to my enemy mate. 

"Yaria..." he began with a soft tone.

I scoffed and walked past him, picking up my pace as I got the CEO to notice my presence. 

"Oh, she sent you in her stead. Come with me." He was unexpectedly quite kind. Not a trace of arrogance in his eyes. 

If he were the one I was mated to, for instance, it would be more preferable than that devil. 

"Yaria," Drake called my name again, but I didn't even turn my head. He wasn't worth looking at. 

My wolf, though, was warning me. "Don't think of rejecting Drake again."

I almost rolled my eyes. She was my wolf, not my boss. She wouldn't get to decide my life because of some stupid mate bond. 

I won't allow it. 

"Have you forgotten what his parents did, Tricia?" I queried my wolf.

"I haven't, Yaria. But... the moral shortcomings of Drake's parents do not automatically determine his own values. Besides, the goddess must have a special reason for mating you two again. It could be that you're both destined to be," she tried to reason with me, but I didn't want to listen.

After a while, the deal was finally signed and Mr Johnson extended his hand for a congratulatory handshake. 

Smiling, I shook it, promising to make him proud. 

"By the way, Miss Elwood, are you acquainted with Mr Sawyer?"

I nodded. As much as I despised that fact, it was the reality. "Yeah. We attended the same high school." 

I was on a scholarship program at the time.

He nodded sagely. "I see. You may go. Send my regards to your Aunt,"

"Sure. Have a nice day, sir," I told him, rising from the luxurious seat. 

Upon exiting the office, I headed down the hallway, wanting to use the elevator.

I was about to make a turn when I was compelled to stop in my tracks.

This bastard.... what was he doing here? He ought to have left long ago. 

The scent of the mate bond made me want to melt into him, but I gritted my teeth and stood in my spot.

No way would I allow it to torture me like this.

"Yaria, let's talk, please."

"Mr Sawyer, there's nothing to talk about, I've already told you. I don't know how come we're once again mated, but I'll never let you into my life." I spat and resumed my walk, wanting to get away from him as soon as possible.

My previously good mood had been ruined because of him.

"Please, listen to me for once," he interposed himself in my path, eliciting a frown from me.

I tried to elude him, but he kept blocking me, making my frustration spike.

"Don't force me to hit you hard," I warned him, my chest heaving.

"Please just give me five minutes," he pleaded, and I averted my gaze.

The only thing stopping me from rejecting him right now was not because of the resulting pain, but because I didn't want that strange situation to recur and end up in a hospital. 

Now was a crucial point for the company.

"I don't have any time to spare for you. Stop blocking me," I snapped.

"It's only right for you to hate me; I deserve it. But please, give me a chance..."

I scoffed, "A chance? To do what? Hurt me again? Sorry, I'm not that free."

"Please, I'll do anything," he looked desperate, but I wouldn't be tricked by that.

"Nothing you do will make me forgive you." With that, I sidestepped him and stormed off towards the elevator.

Just as the doors slid apart, I heard him ask me to wait.

I would be a fool to do so as he wanted.

I quickly got inside, but before the doors could fully shut, he unexpectedly got in.

I clenched my teeth and balled my hands into fists.

Why couldn't he leave me alone?

"If it weren't for the mate bond, would you ever apologise?" I asked him not out of curiosity but spite.

"Dear..."

"Don't call me that," I corrected him.

He sighed before nodding, "Yaria, I'm a changed man. I really regret my actions back then."

"I don't need your apology. Just do me a favour- stop showing up in my life from now on. Forget about the mate bond..."

"I can't do that. I want you. It didn't start now, but during my final year in high school." He confessed. 

He was a year ahead of me back then.

And that was the time he bullied me the most.

For being overweight. For having funny teeth. For struggling with my grades and having a miserable lunch. I couldn't count the times he called me ugly.

If that was his way of showing love, then I didn't need it.

This ride felt unusually long. If only I could disappear from this box...

Suddenly, the elevator stopped moving and the doors slid apart. I rushed out, ignoring his plea not to leave him.

I only calmed down after driving out of the premises.

'Goddess, please, undo this bond. I don't want it.' I said in my head.