Cynthia Dion:
"What is she saying?" Rosalie disregarded the murmuring crowd and directed her inquiry toward her friends with benefits.
"Is she your mate?" she turned to Atticus, tears already streaming down her face. Her intensity had escalated to a whole new level. She seemed oblivious to the many students recording her emotional outburst for two alphas who weren't even her designated mates.
"Why are you even giving her the time of day?" Enzo attempted to be sly, but I was certain she saw through his act. They must have turned 18 and found their mates by now.
"I'm not lying. They are both my mates. We felt the mate bond---," I halted mid-sentence as Enzo advanced toward me aggressively, causing fear to course through me.
"She's telling the truth!" Rosalie asserted, deducing from his reaction. "You two hid this from me," she cried out, her tears flowing freely.
"That's enough drama for tonight," Atticus finally intervened after a period of silence, signaling to the crowd outside to disperse.
"No! Nobody's leaving until a decision is reached," Rosalie sniffled, wiping her tears and giving herself a determined nod.
"What decision?" Enzo's forehead creased in confusion.
"You two are going to reject this omega bitch right now," she demanded with an air of confidence.
With everything now laid bare, I questioned whether my impulsive admission about our mate bond was a grievous mistake. She seemed relentless in her pursuit to have them reject me, a situation that could shatter my hopes of escaping from my abusive father.
"What are you saying, Rosalie? Let's not delve into this right now," Enzo tried to mask the situation, his smile forced as he attempted to make light of it.
"Why are you smiling?" Rosalie turned to him, her voice edged with frustration. "Can you see me smiling?" she questioned, her cheeks streaked with tears and her sobs growing audibly pronounced.
"You can't ask my mates to reject me," I interjected with a grumble of exasperation, unable to bear it any longer. First, she bullied me to the point of tears, driving me to hide in the bathroom, and now she was acting as though I was the one encroaching on her mates.
Her face flushed crimson upon hearing my retort, challenging her and referring to her cherished alphas as mine.
"Atticus!" she uttered his name in a hushed tone, her gaze never wavering from my face. "If you don't reject her right now, I'll never speak to you again."
Her ultimatum prompted Atticus to shift his posture, straightening his stance.
"The same goes for you, Enzo. If you want her to understand your significance to me, then you'll reject her here and now," she gestured to the spot she occupied, demanding my rejection. It felt like she was driving a knife through me, and my mates stood there, mere observers of her actions.
"Tell her you don't even care about her. Tell her to go screw herself," she persisted, causing my eyes to well up.
This evening would determine whether a mate bond was stronger than the words of a sidechick. I remained silent, allowing her tirade to continue, as it appeared that if he was willing to reject me for her, then perhaps our fates were never meant to intertwine.
Then, abruptly, Enzo stepped forward, his expression unyielding. The onlookers had been observing and recording our interaction for a while now. The decision my mates made this night would inevitably impact my school life in the aftermath.
"This omega rogue holds no significance for me. She's just a stranger who, by some twist of fate, ended up being fated to us," Enzo's words held little sway over her, and she made her disdain clear through vehement head-shaking.
"Reject her," she insisted, her demand locking my gaze with Enzo's.
Before Enzo could utter a word, Atticus abruptly tugged at his jacket, positioning himself directly in front of me, locking eyes with mine.
"I, Alpha Atticus, reject you as my mate," his voice carried no trace of remorse, only a seething blend of hatred and anger.
The audible sigh of relief that escaped from Rosalie's lips and the subdued cheers from the crowd were overshadowed by the agony that gripped my wolf.
"Arghh!" I cried out, my whimper echoing as I crumbled to my knees. I hadn't anticipated the intensity of the pain from rejection. In fact, the ordeal was so excruciating that I couldn't even muster the strength to stand after collapsing.
"See, there you go! Now, hurry up and accept his rejection so Enzo can reject you next," Rosalie taunted, her lips curved in a smug smile. I remained on my knees, my hand pressed against my chest, my gaze raised, and tears streaming down like a relentless river.
I had been a fool to believe he would resist the decision.
However, Enzo remained silent. While I had anticipated that Enzo would follow Atticus in rejecting me, I hadn't expected it to be Atticus who made the first move. In that moment, the realization hit me: I needed to escape from this place, or my heart might cease to beat.
"Come on---," Rosalie gestured toward Enzo, prompting me to regain my feet and race towards the exit.
"Hey! Stop that---," Rosalie's authoritative command was cut short by Enzo, who seemingly recognized his parents' arrival.
I spotted them in the hallway, witnessing the entire distressing scene with a blend of shock and likely disapproval. I hurried past them, tears blurring my vision as I navigated through the agony that threatened to tear me apart.
"Ahh!" I involuntarily cried out, collapsing to my knees and then crawling away from the scene of my rejection.
'Why?' Thia's anguished voice erupted in my mind, broken and desperate. 'WHY DIDN'T YOU FUCKING STOP HIM?' Her cry was even louder this time, causing me to cover my ears and sit on the pavement, my surroundings becoming inconsequential.
'I couldn't. I won't beg him to accept me,' I shouted back at her, though her mournful wails were rendering me nearly deaf. Her pain was undeniable, understandable, but so was mine.
'You are the reason we will never escape this wretched life now,' her cries reverberated in an unsettling manner. It was almost as if she had no self-worth left, fixated solely on being accepted by Atticus.
'Shut up!' I whimpered, squeezing my eyes shut and keeping my ears covered in an attempt to block out her relentless lament.
"Now he will coerce me into even more deplorable acts," she continued her lament, but I offered no response.
"Shut up!" I repeated my plea in a hushed murmur, imploring her to leave me be. However, a warm hand on my shoulder shook me awake from my internal turmoil.
I opened my eyes to find the handsome face of Mr. Zeon Holt hovering over me, concern etched on his features as he leaned towards me.
"Cynthia! What's happening? Why are you crying?" His demeanor radiated compassion and care. Despite being a decade older than me, he seemed more decent than the alphas who were supposed to be my mates.
"I---- g---," I began to speak, but then I shut my eyes tightly, unable to confide in him about my mates. He was, after all, a friend of my father, and I couldn't wholly trust him.
"It's alright. Take my hand, and I'll escort you home," his lovely green eyes locked onto my face as he extended his sturdy hand toward me.
I gazed at his hand in silence, only to catch a glimpse from the corner of my eye that someone was observing us. Atticus and Enzo had appeared, their presence a manifestation of the shattering of my trust in mate bonds.
"Thank you!" With the knowledge that their eyes were on me, I placed my hand in Mr. Holt's. He assisted me in getting up and walked me to his car. After he helped me settle into the seat, I noticed my phone buzzing in my pocket.
It was a faint glimmer of contentment amid the turmoil, a small spark that kept me tethered to life that night. The contents of the text were perplexing, particularly coming from the person who had just rejected me.
Atticus: Who the hell is this guy to you? Why did you get in his car?
I snorted, wiping away my tears and swallowing my frustration before turning to read Enzo's message.
Enzo: So you're into older guys now? What is your connection with him?
I stared at the two messages, the anger within me simmering like molten lava. Finally, I replied with a falsehood that would irrevocably alter the course of my life.
Me: I won't stand for anyone badmouthing him. He's one of my many mates, and he's the one I'm fully committed to, even my virginity.
Cynthia Dion:"Drink this; it will help keep your body warm." After driving for a while, Mr. Holt had stepped out of the car and returned with a cup of tea for me.His consideration touched me deeply. I managed a smile as I accepted the cup from him, my energy levels low. The rejection had taken a toll on me; for several minutes afterward, I found it impossible to form words, until I was a safe distance away from Atticus and seated in the car with Mr. Holt."How did you know I like tea?" I inquired softly, my voice hushed due to my depleted energy. The aftermath of the rejection had left me drained."I didn't," he replied, raising the cup to his lips and taking a sip before explaining, "I happen to enjoy tea."As I looked at him, a thought surfaced--why couldn't boys my age be more like him? A true gentleman."I'm not anticipating you to tell me everything, but it could be beneficial if I could be of assistance with whatever is troubling you. This is the second time I've come across y
Cynthia Dion:Mr. Holt dropped me off at home late that night. Thankfully, my father wasn't present, sparing me from another round of his abuse. However, it had been a few days since I turned 18, and I was biding my time, trying to save enough money to buy myself a cake and celebrate my birthday with my persistent sister, who had been pestering me for a cake.Flora had always regarded me as her role model, and that terrified me because I felt far from worthy of such admiration.Standing in the bathroom, I heaved a sigh as I regarded my reflection in the shattered mirror, offering a silent birthday wish to myself. Sadly, the funds I had managed to gather fell short of what I needed for the cake, forcing me to abandon the idea of celebrating my birthday altogether."All I wished for was to be accepted by my mate on my birthday," I whispered to the reflection in the mirror. Whenever I thought of him, a shiver would run through my body as I recalled the loathing in his gaze. He used to be
Cynthia Dion:He turned around and fixed a stern gaze upon my face."Do you want them to attack you?" he hissed, his sharp jaw clenched as he restrained himself."What makes you think I am safer with you?" I retorted, resisting the urge to cry or whisper, unlike every other time."Cynthia, follow me to my car," he instructed, his eyes closing briefly as he repeated the request."I can go home by myself," I muttered, attempting to walk past him. However, he positioned himself in my way, blocking my path."I can see that. They will still be waiting, hiding behind walls to catch you somehow. So, don’t make a scene, and follow me," he grunted, a noticeable air of annoyance around him. With his words framed that way, I found myself with no option but to trail him to his Bugatti.No matter how angry I felt towards him, I remained a miserable omega who had to do whatever it took to stay safe. If not for myself, then for my sister.He left the passenger side door open for me and settled into
Cynthia Dion:"Ah!" With every lift of the belt, my father aimed to strike, and each time, I sobbed. My cries reverberated through the house, mirroring the wounds etched into my fragile flesh. I couldn't bear for Flora to witness this; it could scar her deeply.As the brutal beating continued, compassion seemed nonexistent in him. I struggled to voice my objections, but inexplicably, I couldn't muster the words.My wolf hadn't undergone the transition yet, a truth I'd kept hidden from everyone. Revealing it would mean being branded as an outcast, a fact I feared more than anything."Dad! Ple---ase stop!" I whimpered, lifting my hand instinctively to shield my face from the blows even though my body throbbed with pain.He muttered, the belt striking once more, "You dared to challenge my principles, and here you are, arriving home at this hour. Why were you outside?" His voice thundered with anger. I lost my senses briefly as the belt collided with the back of my neck, the impact ringin
Cynthia Dion:Atticus rose from his seat, casting me a glare before shifting his attention to Ms. Kylie."I--," I interrupted him before he could fabricate another lie."I just handed my assignment to him," I proclaimed. My raised voice and clenched jaw cast a hush over the entire class. They had never witnessed me speaking up; ordinarily, I would be stricken with worry or an anxiety attack, but today, for once, I found my voice."Cynthia! Then where is it?" Ms. Kylie exchanged a disappointed glance with me, displaying the collected assignments and indicating that mine was conspicuously absent.I couldn't fathom why Ms. Kylie wasn't directing any questions towards Atticus."Ask Atticus. He collected the assignments. These students here saw me handing him my assignment." I refused to remain silent any longer. After everything I'd been through, I'd rather voice my concerns and accept any potential consequences. At least I would know I tried to stand up for myself.I noticed Rosalie's an
Cynthia Dion:"What the heck?" I panicked, moving away from the blood, but it was everywhere. I didn't even realize I had hit my head somewhere and passed out--was this really happening?"You shouldn’t have met him," I heard a weak whisper from the top of the staircase."He's really angry with you--" she squeaked again, struggling to breathe."Who's there?" I asked fearfully, staring at the top of the staircase but stepping back until my back touched the wall. I was holding onto the broom tightly.I saw a shadow moving towards the staircase before the noise grew louder, and the shadow tumbled down with a lot of noise and screams."AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Her screams scared me, making me scream too and cover my ears. With each step she tumbled down, I heard a loud thud. Soon, a body hitting the floor filled the hallway until everything became silent again.I was breathing heavily now, looking around and waiting for things to calm down before I decided to make a run for the door. Forget about th
Cynthia Dion: I paused the kiss momentarily, just to reposition myself, but he wasn't willing to let go. He held me firmly and pulled me beneath him in the backseat of his car. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined making out with him in his Bugatti.In that instant, nothing else mattered. His imposing frame hovering over me, his lips fervently meeting mine – those were the only memories I wanted to hold onto. I adjusted my stance, parting my legs while we continued to kiss, creating space for him between them. And he didn't break the momentum.With my legs wrapped around him, our bodies connected and our desires rising. I could feel his bulge pressing against me, a clear indication of his anticipation. His hands explored my arms, finding their way to my chest, all the while his insistent tongue sought entrance into my mouth.A soft, involuntary moan escaped my lips, "Ah!" I gave in, allowing his tongue to explore my inner world. Our tongues engaged in a passionate duel as
Cynthia Dion: I couldn't believe I had acted that way. Whether I called it frustration or tried to label it in some other way, the fact remained. He had left the car, his embarrassment evident, while I chose to stay inside for a few more minutes to collect myself. "I nearly lost my virginity to someone who couldn't care less," I muttered to Thia, hoping to provoke some sort of response from her. It was odd; even in our inability to transition, at least we had each other's company. However, I hadn't heard from her since I woke up. "Fine, give me the silent treatment. I'm heading home." I rolled my eyes and exited the car, offering the excuse that Thia might be upset over the fact that I hadn't lost my virginity to someone she was still mated to. That's when I noticed Rosalie, the devil herself, approaching the car with food in hand. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted me, and she immediately started scanning the surroundings. "I'm not hiding him between my legs," I muttered under my