Chapter 5

Ezra's Pov

“Hello, my name is Ivan. You are.” He said with a smile that nearly took my breath away.

When I didn't respond, he reached for my notebook and read out my name. “Ezra Heart. Nice to meet you, Ezra.”

I realized I'd been staring and blinked. “Oh. I'm sorry.”

“It's fine,” he nudged my shoulder. “Why are you in your sportswear? Wait… did I wear the wrong uniform today? I just enrolled yesterday so everything's a bit new to me.”

I smiled. He's telling the truth. So he's a new student.

“No. It's not PE day,” my smile died when I remembered why I was wearing it. “Mine got a mud stain.”

I expected him to tell me he'd seen where eggs were thrown at me but he didn't. Instead, he looked at me with kind eyes — something no one in this school has ever done.

The PA System chimed and I took that as my cue. “Ummm… I should go.”

“Please, wait for me. I'm a bit lost. I can't find the way to my class.” He said.

“What class!” I asked. He was probably a freshman.

“Class 4D.” He said.

That was senior year.

“Can you help me?” Ivan asked, basically towering over me.

This time, I looked at him, like I really looked at him.

Ivan was very handsome. Sharp jawline and chiseled features. His tie was loose and laid dormant in his crisp white shirt but the rest of the suit clung to him like a second skin. He was ripped.

“Ezra?” He called my name and I blinked.

“Sorry. Let's go.” I smiled, leading him out of the library.

I'd barely taken a step when something brushed right past me and I squealed. I braced myself to hit the floor any minute from now but I didn't. Ivan caught me.

“Are you okay?” His brows furrowed and his grip around my waist tightened.

My cheeks heated at the contact and I nodded.

He helped me up and dusted my shirt. “What was that all about?”

I turned to the direction he was looking at and sighed. “The students are making preparations for this year's MoonLight Festival.”

“Oh yeah. I'd totally forgotten about that.” He smiled.

“Me too. We celebrate the MoonLight Festival every year to receive the blessing of the Moon. Those who didn't find their mates during the Mating Ceremony are actually given a second chance at the Moonlight festival to find their mates.” I explained as we walked up the stairs.

“I know. My mother tells me that everyday,” he smiled. “Um… will you attend this year's festival?”

I stopped dead in my tracks when memories of the past flashed through my head.

Me getting rejected in front of the entire school by Alpha Asher's son, the wine that he spilled on my dress, the cake Jake had thrown at me for daring to talk to his best friend, the mockery. I never want to experience that again.

My eyelids burnt with tears and I blinked them away.

.“No. I'm not attending.” I said immediately.

“But why?” Ivan asked.

“I… I don't want to.” I confessed.

“Please, come with me. I don't know anyone in this school and my family just moved here,” Ivan took my hand. “Please.”

I couldn't say no to that face. “It's okay. I'll come with —”

In the blink of an eye, a hand shoved Ivan backwards and he fell to the ground on his back.

I gasped and rushed to his side. “Ivan, are you alright?”

A painful moan escaped him and I turned to his attacker.

“You've gotta be kidding me. What the hell is wrong with you, Jake?!” I yelled.

“Nothing. What the hell is wrong with you?” He repeated my question like the moron he was.

“I should be asking you that! Why the heck did you attack him?!” I yelled.

“He was touching you!”

I scoffed. “And how is that your business?!”

“What?!”

“Leave Ivan alone!” I rushed to Ivan's side and helped him up. “Can you stand?”He nodded softly and leaned against me. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” I smiled.

Then I helped him walk down the stairs to the clinic. For a moment, I swear I saw him smiling but then, it might just be my imagination.

The nurse discharged Ivan from the clinic. Luckily, he didn't sustain any injury from the fall.

He was kind enough to walk me home as payment for helping him.

“Who was that guy anyway?” He asked as we neared our street.

“That was Jake Benson, the richest guy in school and probably the biggest asshole on earth.” I replied with a sigh. In a few weeks, that asshole will be my brother. I nearly threw up at the prospect.

“Does he act that way? Beat everyone up?” Ivan asked again.

I sighed. “You have no idea.”

“Has he hurt you before?”

When I didn't respond, he grabbed my arm. “Ezra, has Jake laid a hand on you?”

Well, not hand, more like his lips.

I shook my head to stop myself from blushing for that jerk. “No. He just throws eggs at me with the rest of the school.”

“That's awful. Why don't you transfer?” He asked.We reached the gate and I took a step towards it. “I’ll be in senior year soon so everything will be over soon.”

“If you need anything, you have my number.” He said it and he really meant it. The look on his eyes gave it away.

“Sure,” I smiled. “Thanks, Ivan.”

“You're welcome, Ezra.”

Ivan didn't leave till I got to my room and texted him that I was inside. He's such a sweet guy.

I dropped my phone on my bed and unbuttoned my shirt when the door to my room was slammed open.

I screamed. “Jesus. Can't you knock — What are you doing here? Get out!”

Jake ignored my questions and grabbed my arm. “Who the hell was that guy?”

“Who?” I feigned ignorance because I knew he was talking about Ivan.

“Don't make me ask you again!” He hissed.

“Ivan?” I scoffed. “Ivan is my friend. How is that your problem?”

“Tell him to stay away from you!” He gritted his teeth.

“Or else what?” I didn't know when my shirt slipped from where I tucked it under my armpit.

His eyes held mine for a second before they trailed down to my chest.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Pervert!’

“Tell Ivan to fuck off or I'll tell him for you.” He growled.

“You don't tell me what to do.”

“We'll see.”

“Prick!” I hissed after him as he walked out of my room and slammed the door behind him.

What an asshole. I'm not leaving Ivan whether he likes it or not.

That night, I made preparations for the Moonlight Festival.

Exactly an hour later, I arrived at the school hall. Like every other year the Alpha collaborates with the school to host the Moonlight Festival.

The hall was filled with powerful Alphas and Lunas and their children. People, young and old, and dressed elegantly in expensive gowns and suits mingled with each other in the great hall.

I didn't want anyone to notice me so I went to a quiet corner, my green eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of Ivan. I'd texted him an hour ago that I'd be here at 7. He was running late.

A wine server passed by and I snatched a glass of wine to quench my thirst. The glass hadn't reached my lips before the whispers began.

“Look, it's Eggwash.”

“Wasn't she rejected last year?”

“Aww. Don't tell me she's here to find a mate.”

My body moved on instinct and I took a step back but I bumped into someone.

I whipped around to find Lisa, smiling at me.

“Well, well, well, if it ain't Eggwash,” Her red lips curled into a smirk. “Are you perhaps one of the servers here?”

“She must be,” Maisie laughed. “That dress is ugly.”

“I know, right?” Lisa laughed.

Lisa was beautiful, no doubt. With her curly blonde hair and ocean blue eyes, she commanded attention wherever she went. While I was a nobody.

I fisted my dress and brushed past her, ignoring the jeers and the whispers. I knew I shouldn't have come here.

I brought out my phone and dialled Ivan’s number. He answered on the second ring.

“Where are you?” I asked between sobs.

“I just arrived. Are you okay?” He asked with concern.

“No,” I sobbed. “I need you.”

“Stay where you are. I'll come get you.”

“I'm at the fountain. Hurry.”

I ended the call and ran to the water fountain in the garden, praying he'd get here sooner.

I cradled myself on the bench facing the fountain and hummed the lullaby mom used to sing to me when I was little. I'd gotten to the third verse when I heard footsteps.

No, it wasn't the footsteps I'd noticed first. It was the scent, the warm thread that pulled me towards someone I couldn't see.

Lavender and wildberries filled my nostrils and I jolted to my feet. I knew that scent the same way I knew my own heartbeat.

My mate was here. Finally, he was here.

I waited till he stepped into the light, dressed in a blue tuxedo.

My smile died immediately.

No.

This wasn't happening.

It couldn't be.

His eyes widened the same way mine did.

“Ezra?” He called my name for the first time but it made no difference because I took a step back disgusted.

Jake Benson was my mate.