Chapter 2

Mira looked around, skipping and bouncing as she walked. She was eating candy while her hand played with the ball she had just taken from the basketball field. She was dribbling it nimbly.

The time was too early for the students to come. Azarias probably had woken up quite late, so Mira just left a message that she'd go to the college first.

The college ground was vast and filled with green scenery. It was not such a wonder since the area was so close to a forest itself. Werewolves sometimes spent their time in nature when they were in wolf form.

So, the forest wasn't completely unexplored despite its vast area. It was only right to say that this whole area was practically the territory of the werewolves. 

Mira had called that dork, Josh to accompany her to play and come to the college sooner, but he refused. From the drowsiness in his tone, he was probably going back to sleep after picking up her call.

After some time playing around, she grew bored. At the same time, Mira spotted a familiar figure in the distance. He was sticking out like a sore thumb among the others.

He was gazing unrestrainedly at her, which oozing no goodwill in those eyes of his. Mira frowned, disturbed. This man had been acting so strange since yesterday and it irritated her.

Mira continues to look around and her eyes lit up.

"Arlan, look this way," Mira called out to one of her basketball teammates nonchalantly.

A redhead with cute freckles immediately turned his head at the call of his name.

"W-what--" his words were cut short as an expression of shock went through his face. Yet, that shock was only temporary until he finally came to his senses. His body nimbly moved to the side, avoiding the ball coming toward him at full force.

"You ... you, what the hell?" Arlan gasped, clutching his chest as he crouched on the ground.

"Did I offend y-" 

The sound of something hitting against the skin caused the whole place to be silent.

Arlan's eyes widened at the sight before him. That light brown-haired man, who was known as an Alpha, had his right arm hit by Mira's ball. Arlan gulped in disbelief, realizing what had happened. At the same time, he was relieved that he wasn't the one who had offended her.

Mira didn't have any expression on her face as she skipped around until she arrived near Arlan. She asked him, "Are you alright?"

The brown-haired man had a frown on his forehead as his lips twitched.

Arlan didn't answer as he stole a glance at him worriedly. That man was an Alpha famous for his strength. Mira, this girl was currently seeking trouble with him.

"Ah, I am sorry." Mira pretended to be 'shocked' as she stared at the man whose name she hadn't been bothered to find out yet.

"I was intending to aim for my friend since I want to test his reflex. Unexpectedly, he managed to dodge, and thus the ball was heading toward you instead."

Arlan cursed in his head. The way she worded it sounded like it was his fault for dodging the ball, and she hadn't expected him to dodge it at all.

Mira sighed, continuing with her words. "I also hadn't expected the ball could still run so long that it reached your position. I think I had underestimated the force I put into it. However, a mere human's girl's power is nothing in front of an Alpha. I hope that the high and mighty Alpha would be magnanimous to forgive this offense of a lower human girl."

No matter how one looked at it, Mira's words sounded quite polite, even to the point of lowering herself. The tone was quite sincere. One would notice that she looked like she was faintly shivering with that almost seemingly frightened, pale expression of hers. She seemed to be afraid.

Something flashed in the brown-haired man's eyes.

"Get lost." His rough voice and harsh tone came after. 

Mira secretly took a peek, yet she didn't meet his eyes. She could still feel his intense gaze was secretly assessing her from head to toe. It caused a faint ripple of unknown emotion to rise within her heart.

"Thank you." She gulped, swallowing down the somehow whatever it was the sudden anxiousness crawling within. Inwardly, she narrowed her eyes as her brain thought of something.

"Mira, let's go." It was unknown when Arlan had arrived beside her. He picked the ball and dragged Mira away.

After they had arrived in a place quite far away, he looked around to make sure that none was in the vicinity. They should be out of that man's range of earshot from then.

"What the hell did you just do?" Arlan rebuked her, running his hands through his hair.

Despite his seemingly average built, Arlan was the captain of their team.

His eye twitched when he noticed that lazy and nonchalant look on Mira's face. The complete contrast to the earlier seemingly defenseless little girl in front of a powerful Alpha.

He had suspected from the start that this girl was playing around. Yet, when he saw that the other party was an Alpha, he thought that she was unintentional. He couldn't be more wrong.

Mira snickered, snatching the ball from Arlan's hand. "I put quite a lot of force into the ball earlier."

Arlan was in disbelief when he heard that. "And you aimed that thing to me?"

"Yep," Mira answered almost instantly, no trace of guilt appeared on her delicate face.

"You--" Arlan was speechless when she admitted it so easily.

"And what's your deal with that guy earlier?" He asked in frustration. "You know that you are dealing with a powerful Alpha."

She shrugged, answering without sugarcoating her words at all, "He looks so unpleasant in my eyes, such an eyesore. Even more, he has been staring at me for a long time. What a creep."

Arlan was surprised to hear that. She didn't know whether she was bold or simply too reckless. He seemed to have thought of something. "Eh, really? Could it be..."

Mira blinked. Her hand had covered Arlan's entire face the moment it landed, effectively shutting the words he was about to utter.

Whatever it was, Mira didn't want to hear anything regarding that guy anymore. Then, she spotted Azarias in the distance.

"Rias!" Mira shoved the ball to Arlan's arms, surprising him that she just ditched him like that. Mira bounced over to Azarias happily. 

***

Mira checked the watch on her hand, occasionally let out a yawn. She stretched her body and sighed in exhaustion.

She was in the library right now, waiting for Azarias to show up so that they can go home together. Azarias still got one last class for today. Mira didn't mind of course. Walking alone through the woods wasn't fun.

Mira wasn't a studious person. Azarias wasn't either, despite his style that made people mistake him for one. Despite so, Azarias was a naturally gifted genius. His brain was really good that he can remember the contents of a book just by reading it once.

Such a contrast to Mira, who had once had her friend regarded her as having a goldfish memory.

Mira looked at the bag of cookies to her side, munching on it to wash away some sleepiness. She had accidentally fallen asleep in her last class, much to her dismay. It was probably because she was reading her favorite novel for nearly a whole night.

She often regretted it. However, the temptation of wanting to find out what happened next in the story perked her curiosity. She couldn't help it.

Mira yawned again, though it didn't stop her right hand from grabbing for a cookie, while the other hand covered her mouth. She closed her eyes briefly. The next moment, the sight that greeted her eyes somehow soured her mood.

It was the Alpha she had met for over a week ago. She didn't know if he had held a grudge at her for hitting him with a ball or not. Truthfully, she didn't care. The college wouldn't tolerate murder. So, as long as she wouldn't be murdered or kicked out, it was fine. Though, it would be troublesome if she truly got punishment. But, she wouldn't mind if the punishment was some days off.

Ah, she was such a bad girl.

The Alpha unexpectedly approached her. When their eyes met with a slight jolt, Mira narrowed her eyes and didn't back down. She simply waited in her seat, waiting for what this man would say to her.

Fortunately, the library was vast and there weren't a lot of students in the vicinity. Most of them were too engrossed in the books or too busy doing some homework.

Mira raised her eyebrow when he stopped right in front of her. She offered her innocent smile. Mira wasn't as beautiful as other female werewolves. She had delicate looks and a cute smile that could even attract a few male werewolves who hadn't found their mates.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" The sound of her voice sounded soft and sweet.

The Alpha was silent for a moment. His eyes unconsciously trained to her face. Her question made him come back to his senses. He frowned in displeasure.

There was a long silence before he finally uttered his words in an ancient language.

"I, Jason Langton, reject Mirabella Forest as my mate."