6

ZAC’S POV

I saw the moment she realized the same thing as I did: she was my mate. Her brows pulled together and her lips tugged into a straight line.

“Daphne,” I called, carefully. I still couldn’t understand this. It had to be some sort of mistake.

Her eyes looked glassy as she looked up at me to confirm what she was feeling. She staggered back and I reached out instinctively to grab her elbow to stable her. Violently, she ripped her arm from my grip, stepping back and glaring at me.

“Don’t touch me,” Daphne spat with so much venom, her hands shaking with the effort.

I folded my hand into a fist and watched as she struggled with herself. She looked like she was in disbelief, exactly how I felt. “This can’t be happening,” she muttered.

That was one thing we were on the same side about. “Tell me about it,” I agreed, “I just found out that an omega is my mate.”

She looked up at me, her eyes full of hatred. “This is your fault. You just appeared out of nowhere. You should have stayed where you belong instead of coming into my town and ruining my life,” she said, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

Her anger unnerved me. She’d never shown this side of herself, not even when she was knocked down and bullied. She was always quiet. She was feisty. Still, I was annoyed as she was. But, I was more annoyed that she had the guts to be angry that I was her mate. I was Zachary Ackerman – everyone wanted a piece of me.

“I suggest you don’t talk to me like that,” I said, narrowing my gaze at her. I knew that she could feel the tug of attraction between us but we were both visibly fighting it.

“This is a trick. You’re trying to trick me and turn this into some kind of prank that the whole school is going to be in on,” Daphne replied, her eyes hard as she looked at me. Laughter travelled in the air around us and she glanced briefly, almost believing that she was being laughed at.

I realized just how deeply rooted her mistrust was. Bateview Academy was a mine field for people like her, and it was because of me. A feeling like guilt sank like stone into my stomach. It filled my mouth with regret.

Children run past us, holding paper windmills. I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to explain. It’s not a game. I’m not trying to trick her. Despite myself, I took a step forward, the mate bond pulling me to her. She shifted her stance to block me.

“I said, don’t touch me,” she gritted out lowly, not wanting to garner attention from the people at the gathering.

“I wasn’t trying,” I replied, softly.

Something flashed behind her eyes before a guy appeared at her side, holding two solo cups. He looked me up and down and asked her, “Is he bothering you?”

I realized that he was the guy she’d been talking to at the back of the Cinema.

She took one of the cups from him. Her hands tightened around the cup briefly before she turned, “No, he’s nobody. Let’s go.” The guy hesitated for a moment but followed after her, his body blocking me from seeing her leave.

Nobody?

I scoffed, turning to walk in the other direction. I couldn’t believe that she’d just called me a nobody. I had followed Daphne out of curiosity.

This bond was more of a curse than a blessing. It was a burden. Was this what people called karma? I was the one who made her hate Bateview Academy and the moon goddess decided that I was her mate.

Was I dreaming? What kind of a cruel joke was this?

Coming to this town was a mistake. If I had never caught that plane to come here, I wouldn’t have met her and none of this would have happened. I needed to get out of this place now.

I pulled out my phone to call Hillary. He needed to meet me at the airport.

“Yo, are you lost now?” Hillary asked the moment he answered.

“I need to get out of here,” I told him.

“Where are you?”

“No, like I mean, out of this town,” I corrected, “I’m getting a ticket and leaving.”

“Dude, you just got here. Mom’s not going to like that.”

“I actually don’t care what our parents think,” I stopped in my tracks.

I can’t just let her go. I have to make sure she doesn’t tell anyone about it, that she keeps it a secret. What would my father say if he found out? What would happen at school if anyone found out?

I turned, searching for Daphne. I found her, in conversation with the guy. “I need to talk to you,” I began.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said the moment she turned to look at me.

“What’s up with you? Can you leave?” the guy with her asked, trying to shield her with his body. He looked like he was ready to push me.

“It’s fine, Kane,” she said with a sigh, splaying her fingers on his chest to stop him. I looked down at it, a feeling rising up in me in waves. Was that jealousy?

“Mind your business. This is between me and Daphne,” I retorted, the bite back in my voice. No one disrespects me and gets away with it.

“Well, Daphne is my business and if you’re making her uncomfortable…” Kane replied.

I scoffed, looking between them. “Is this the reason?” I asked.

Daphne had the audacity to look confused. “What are you on about now?” she asked.

“This is why you walked away. He’s your boyfriend. You’re in love with him and you think I’m going to ruin it,” I chuckled drily. It finally made sense. There was no reason for her to react that badly to finding out that we were mates.

“No, that isn’t…,” she groaned at the same time Kane said, “And what if she was, what's your deal if we're dating?”

Daphne said nothing, her attention on me. I didn't think she even heard Kane. “You know what, I don’t have to have this conversation with you.”

“Oh?” I smirked, “Does your little boyfriend know what happens in Bateview? Does he know how you get down on your knees—”

Before I realized what was happening, she lifted her hand and struck me on the face. The shock on her face was nothing compared to the one I just felt.

“Did you just slap me?”