CHAPTER TWO

Riley was hardly paying attention in class, her thoughts wandered off, and luckily she wasn’t noticed among the other students.  He wouldn’t make a bad mate. She thought, squeezing the paper she held in her hands absent-mindedly. “He’s handsome after all, and oh! I could become the Luna of this pack after all! It’s destiny!” Unknown to her, it was time for a general break and she was the only one left in class. She sat there, smiling to herself dreamily and picturing the moment Shawn would take her as his mate.

A group of girls stood at the door, staring at her in bewilderment, their brains brewing up a mischievous plan to disrupt Riley’s seemingly peaceful moment.

“I told you she was a weirdo, a freak. Who just sits there smiling at nothing and no one in particular.” The leader of the group, Lena, the daughter of the Beta of the pack said in a high-pitched voice.

“Well, maybe…maybe she’s daydreaming. Look at how happy she is.” Another girl in the group of five said.

“Exactly, she looks happy and I don’t like it!” Lena snapped and walked towards Riley, trailed by the others

Riley was only aware of their intimidating presence when Lena rapped on her desks and their figures clouded the area around her. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at them with bored eyes.

“What is it again?” She asked, fed up with the way they bullied her at the slightest chance they got.

“What were you smiling at?” Lena asked.

“What are you talking about?” Riley inquired, staring blankly at her.

“A moment ago, you were smiling, I can bet you were also talking to yourself. Now doesn’t that make you a weird freak?” Lena remarked and the other girls giggled.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t have time for this,” Riley said and got up, expecting a hand to pull her back but nothing happened. 

She walked out of the class, leaving Lena and the others staring after her.

“Something’s up with her, something’s making her happy and I don’t like it!” Lena said, her shrewd brain wondering what could make such a plain girl as Riley that excited.

“I hear she doesn’t have a lot of reasons to be happy, her stepparents don’t treat her too well.” A girl from the group said.

“Really?” Lena exclaimed more to herself than the others. “Then, in that case, only a boy can make such a lonely girl happy, let’s go find out.” She said stiffly and walked out of the classroom.

Riley had hoped of bumping into Shawn again, she desperately hoped she would see him and perhaps, even have a chat with him. Although she wasn’t sure if she could muster up such confidence. She walked into the courtyard and awkwardly it was deserted, she turned to leave and bumped into Lena, who pushed her away.

“How dare you touch me!” Lena screamed at her.

Riley tottered and prevented herself from falling, then she looked at Lena and asked, “Are you following me? What issue do you have with me? Can’t you leave me alone?”

“Why?” Lena asked, walking towards her along with the other four girls. “Do you think you belong here? Of course, you don’t!”

“Just leave me alone!” Riley gave a shrill cry and crouched while they surrounded her.

Everything was against her, everyone didn’t like her, she wished the earth would open at that moment and swallow her up.

“Step back, don’t get too close,” Shawn said sternly as he could feel the heat emanating from the three guards behind him. “I’ve always told you guys to stay at least five feet away from me!”

He didn’t like the scorching sun, he wasn’t used to being under such harsh conditions as the Alpha’s son, he decided to head back to the Packhouse after visiting his favorite place. He loved the courtyard because of its serene nature, most students avoided it whenever he was there. He had built a cold reputation as the Alpha’s son, he was rude, mean, and ruthless and he loved the timid look of fright whenever he walked into a place.

He stopped abruptly as he met the scene that played out in the courtyard. 

“A group of bullies over a prey.” He said to himself. “A typical scene in a dominant world like ours.”

He wasn’t bent on interfering, but when he saw and recognized the girl crouched in the middle of the arrogant girls, he decided to take action. He had taken a mental note of her face in the hall when she had bowed to him. He walked over.

“That’s enough.” He said with an authority associated with those of high power.

The girls froze and as they turned, their faces became ashen at the sight of him.

“Alpha Shawn!” Lena cried.

“Get out.” He said flatly and without a word, Lena and her crew walked briskly out of the courtyard.

Riley was breathing heavily and still had her hands on her head when she felt his touch and it was like a fire had sparked at the point of contact. Shawn abruptly let go, feeling an awkward sensation flow through him and he recognized what it was immediately the mate bond! His guards sprang forward and helped her to her feet.

Riley looked into his eyes, again feeling the connection between them, from the way he stared at her too, she knew he had also felt it.

“The mate bond.” She suddenly blurted out before she could stop herself.

Shawn regarded her, his eyes darting around her body and examining her features. For a moment, Riley thought he was going to accept her, but the rejection words came pouring out of his mouth.

“No. You can’t be my mate.” He said flatly and turned to walk away but she clutched his hand.

“Why are you rejecting me, Alpha Shawn?” She asked desperately, her emotions open and plain before him. “Please! You feel the bond too.” She couldn’t wait any longer, fate had brought her mate to her and she wouldn’t let him go.

“Get your hands off me.” He said without making any movements.

“Please don’t reject me!” She cried and Shawn saw the urgency and desperation in her eyes.

He wrenched his hand free of her grip and looked at his guards, “Take her to the Packhouse, now!” He ordered.

They seized her and as powerful as they were, she went limp in their grip. Shawn didn’t know what to do, she was his mate and he knew it, but he wasn’t willing to accept it.