Chapter 2

I lowered my head as I hurried along the path heading to class, while I tried to ignore the throngs of people that were determined to press me, even make me disappear, as we headed in the same direction.

Their whispers and chatter rose, and I could have sworn I had someone called me disgusting. But I ignored it and continued to press on until the voices had merged and all I could hear were words about an alpha—a particularly handsome one—who would be playing today. And this was of importance because it was often difficult to see him.

However, I waved aside all they were saying, ignoring the alpha who had left most of the females tongue-tied. Nothing of that nature concerned me. Basketball games, hot sporty boys, and even handsome alphas all belonged to a world I couldn’t even dream of belonging to.

And there was a 100% chance that he wouldn’t know about my existence.

Yet my legs were moving without thought, following the multitudes of people that were tripping into the basketball court. I could blame my desire to fit in like a normal student, but deep down, I knew I just wanted to gaze on this male that was on the lips of everyone.

I had neared the court when my foot paused midair, my nose flaring as a scent hit me.

It was almost too pleasant. Like flowers blooming in the chill of the midnight sky. Like a soft whisper curling through the air, brushing against my skin and something about it stirred a feeling deep in my soul.

But then his eyes met with mine, and I stilled, everything around me dulling even though my insides were igniting. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine with dark hair that had been brushed back and held with a headband.

His skin was the shade of warm sunset, his jawline already defined at his age. And his face..gosh his face was one that made my knee buckle just for the beauty in it.

My dormant wolf reared her head, stirring awake violently after a deep slumber, and she whispered just four words that changed everything.

“He is our mate.”

I froze, the world coming to a halt as I tried to comprehend what I had just heard, but I shook my head, a broken laugh almost escaping my lips as I marveled at the absurdity.

It was impossible, almost laughable, that I would be mated to someone like him. Someone so powerful, so breathtaking. Someone who could command things, even people, to be, and then he was mated to someone like…me. Plain old Callista.

Callista who had the fear of looking at the scale because of the triple digit.

My first instinct was to tuck my tail between my legs and run for my life, but something—an invisible force—held me in place and tugged me towards him.

I stayed rooted in my spot even as the final whistle went off and the game ended. My gaze was fixated on him as he walked off the court, his jersey drenched with sweat. But even with the exhaustion on his face, he had a little smile on his face, and he just seemed to light up.

He held a towel, rubbing it over his neck to wipe the sweat there before he dropped down on one of the benches, and he sat, resting his back.

Yet I couldn’t look away, not when I wanted to just run to him and be with him. I was still staring at him when his head snapped up, looking towards my direction, and our eyes met.

I perked up in delight, waiting for the recognition to click, but there was nothing in that blank stare; it was only as cold and emotionless as frost. He gave me a lazy once-over before he shifted his eyes away, like one would do to a complete stranger, and my heart sank.

My lips tightened in a frown, and I couldn’t stop the wave of disappointment that filled me.

He had no idea I was his mate.

I was still occupied in my self-loathing when a female walked towards him. She was slim and tall, her face devoid of any spot, and her lips widened in a smile as she saw him. She stopped at where he was sitting and handed him a bottle of water, so casual that I knew it wasn’t the first time, and her smile only increased, her shoulders straightened in confidence as he took it.

I watched the interaction with keen eyes, unable to tear my gaze away. My mate didn’t reject her, but his lips were pressed together—no smile showing.

However, he didn’t push her away either.

Their interaction was natural, almost familiar, and I couldn’t deny that there was something between them—they were obviously close enough.

Then my breath hitched as the puzzle came together, fitting in place, and I realized the truth.

She was his girlfriend. He was already taken.

I shook my head, unable to shake off the sharp sting of betrayal that coursed inside my stomach; even my wolf was baring her teeth, angry with the realization.

And I came to a conclusion: the Moon Goddess was surely cruel.

I steeled my heart and turned, ready to flee the scene before I broke down, but the Moon Goddess wasn’t through with her cruel joke.

Because the girl called out a name.

“Selim!”

I froze, time standing still as my ears picked up on the name. The familiarity in it made me search myself, trying to place why it triggered something in me, and then it clicked. The name—Selim. Se-lim.

Could it be that the Moon Goddess had misunderstood my words when I begged her to make me "slim”?

Anger coursed through me as I realized I had been played. She hadn’t made me slimmer.

No!

She had tied me to this man—Selim—to an Alpha I could never reach.

I couldn’t bear to look anymore. My eyes were stinging from the scene in front of me.

My heart felt like it had been flayed open, layer by layer.

And I did the only thing my body still knew how to do.

I turned—

—and ran.

I didn’t stop even when the air burned my lungs or when the students blurred past me. I just kept running.

Running from that name.

From that scent.

From the truth.