Chapter 3

Anastasia's POV

For a second, I just stood there.

My cheek burned.

She actually slapped me.

I was trying to process what had happened when she laughed.

“That'll teach you to know your place,” she said, turning to leave.

Something inside me snapped.

I reached out, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and yanked her back.

She barely had time to react before I slammed her against the nearest locker.

The metal rattled from the impact.

“You should've kept your hands to yourself,” I said as I slapped her across the face.

She gasped, stumbling sideways.

I stepped toward her, my anger boiling over.

But before I could do anything else, her friends rushed in.

“Get off her!”

Hands grabbed my arms and pulled me away. At the same time, two girls dragged her in the opposite direction.

I struggled against them, yelling, “Let me go!”

But they didn't.

One of them shoved me, and another struck me across the shoulder.

Then another hit me.

“Stop!”

I tried to cover my face as the girls crowded around me, hitting me from different directions.

“Get off me!”

Shit. I couldn't let this happened. Not at a new place. I couldn't just let everyone think that I was a pushover.

Dad might be dead, but fuck... I was his kid, and we never give in to defeat.

I forced my arms, about to drag the feet of two of the girls in front of me when...

“HEY!”

A loud voice thundered through the hallway.

Everyone froze.

“What the hell is going on here?!”

***

Mom picked me up from school herself.

I was on a roll. In less than a month I had been summoned for bad behavior by two different principals.

But I was sure Mom didn't see it like something to be impressed about.

The moment I got into the car, I could see the anger and worry written all over her face.

Neither of us spoke until we were a few minutes away from the school.

“I’m disappointed in you, Anastasia,” she started.

I stared out the window. “I didn’t start it.”

“That isn't what I heard.”

“Maisie—" I found out her name later. " Slapped me first!”

“And you slammed her into a locker!”

“She deserved it!”

Mom slammed her hand against the steering wheel.

“That's enough!”

I flinched.

She took a deep breath before continuing.

“Do you know what people are saying? They're saying you attacked her for no reason.”

“I don't care what they say!”

“Of course you don't!” she snapped. “You've been acting like none of this matters to anyone but you!”

I turned toward her.

“Because I’m the one living it!”

“So am I!”

“No, you're not!”

Mom's eyes flashed.

“You think I wanted any of this? You think losing your father was easy for me?”

That again.

“You've certainly moved on pretty quickly,” I replied.

The car went silent.

Mom's grip tightened around the steering wheel.

“Don't say that.”

“Why? It's true.”

“You have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Then tell me!”

She slowed the car, pulling toward the side of the road.

“You want to know why I married Silas?”

I stared at her.

“Yes.”

“Because your father made it easy.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“He was never there, Anastasia.”

Her voice cracked.

"Even when he was home, he wasn't really there. There was always something with the pack. Some meeting. Some duty. Some problem that needed him.”

She wiped away a tear.

“I spent years feeling alone.”

Her words did something in my heart. How come I never noticed?

"But... You were mates."

"Not all fated relationships worked."

I shook my head, unable to accept it

“That doesn't mean you can just replace him.”

“I'm not replacing him!”

“Then what are you doing?”

“Trying to live!” Her voice echoed through the car. “I loved your father. I still do. But I can't spend the rest of my life mourning him.”

I looked away, my own tears falling. But I wiped it away immediately.

I couldn’t listen anymore. I felt hurt, my anger boiled inside me, and I yanked the car door open. “I’m done talking about this,” I snapped and stepped out.

“Anastasia, wait!” Mom called after me, but I ignored her and kept walking.

I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I needed to get away from her.

Away from the car. Away from the house.

Away from everything.

A few minutes later, I found myself standing in front of a bar, a place I had never been before.

For a moment, I hesitated.

Then I pushed the door open and walked inside.

The bar was filled with quiet conversations and the clinking of glasses. I slid onto a stool at the counter and ordered a drink, not even knowing what I wanted.

The bartender gave me a curious look before handing me a glass of something gold-colored.

I took a careful sip.

The liquid burned down my throat, making me wince.

Maybe I should have stopped.

Instead, I took another sip.

The harshness somehow matched the anger twisting inside me.

Fifteen minutes later, I was still nursing my drink when I felt something strange.

My head lifted on its own.

Across the room stood a man.

He was young, incredibly handsome, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. The moment our eyes met, something inside me shifted.

I couldn't explain it.

My heart began pounding, and a strange warmth spread through my body. I felt drawn to him, like some invisible force was pulling me toward him.

I didn't understand what was happening.

I only knew I couldn't look away.

Then he started walking toward me.

My heart raced with every step he took. The closer he got, the stronger that strange feeling became.

When he finally stopped in front of me, he stared into my eyes for a long moment.

Then, in a deep, husky voice, he said...

“Mate.”

***

“Anastasia! Get up! You’re going to be late for school!”

I jerked awake.

My heart pounded as I stared around my room, completely disoriented.

What the hell?

I slowly sat up, my head throbbing slightly. The last thing I remembered was the bar. The strange pull I'd felt toward that man.

My Mate.

I frowned.

Had I dreamed it?

I rubbed my temples, trying to piece everything together.

Maybe it had all been a dream.

But then why did everything feel so real?

“Anastasia!”

Mom's voice came again, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I'm awake!” I called.

The door opened, and Mom poked her head inside.

“Are you okay? You've been silent since.”

“I'm fine.” I quickly got out of bed. “Just... had a weird dream.”

She studied me for a moment before nodding.

“I also wanted to apologize about yesterday.”

I paused.

“I was harsh. I shouldn't have said some of the things I did.”

I looked at her. I didn't see that coming. Plus, she didn't seem angry. And... Neither did I.

“I understand why you're struggling with everything,” she continued. “Your father's death, the move, Silas... It's a lot.”

I gave her a small smile.

“It's okay, Mom. I get you.”

She smiled in relief. “Thank you.”

She turned toward the door and then stopped.

“Oh, and Silas wants us downstairs for breakfast. He managed to convince Jed to join us.”

I froze. “Jed?”

“His son.”

“Oh.”

“I'll see you downstairs,” she muttered and left.

I quickly got dressed, but my mind kept returning to the previous night.

Mate.

I shook my head.

It had to be a dream.

There was no way.

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs.

Halfway down the staircase, it happened again.

That feeling.

The same strange pull from the night before.

My steps slowed.

My heart began pounding.

Was this what the mate bond felt like or am I hallucinating? And even if it was, then why here?

I forced myself to reach the bottom of the stairs and walk toward the dining room.

Mom and Silas were already seated at the table.

“Good morning,” I muttered.

I moved toward an empty chair, about to sit when... I stopped dead.

Dark hair. Piercing eyes. That face.

It was him.

The man from the bar.

The memories then hit me, harder than expected.

My mate.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

He was sitting at the breakfast table.

In my new home.

“Ah, Anastasia. Good morning,” Silas said, but I couldn't answer.

He then gestured toward the man.

“You don't have to be shocked. Besides, I want you two to meet properly.”

The man looked up at me. Looking from this close, he didn't seem that old.

Our eyes locked, and that same pull hit me again.

“Anastasia,” Silas continued, “this is my son, Jed.”