Don't Leave Me, Mate

Ava's POV

"Ava, leave. Go with your mother. They will kill you both."

My father yelled at me, his eyes filling with fear as he looked at the other side of the forest.

"N-No," I mumbled and sobbed. I could see him lying on the ground.

"Little girl, always take care of your mother," he said while struggling to sit up. There was blood all over his legs.

"Angela, run away with Ava. Don't waste time," he told my mother, who was kneeling in front of him and crying loudly.

"How can I leave you in this condition, Hector?" She cried out in a distressed tone.

We all heard crunching sounds.

We were in the middle of a war, and every wolf was fighting each other.

"Leave. I can't shift to protect you two because of my wounds. At least save our little child." My father said it again to my mother.

When my mother saw that a pack of wolves was approaching us, she got to her feet, picked me up in her arms, and then started running in the opposite direction while she was carrying me.

While running, my mother whispered in my ears with a crying voice,

"Don't look back."

My arms were wrapped around her neck in a tight hug. Curiosity was killing me so I dared to look at what was happening there.

I saw two wolves jump on my dad to kill him. My eyes widened. I was so shocked that I closed my eyes and let out a scream.

"DAD!"

I opened my eyes and realized I was in my bedroom.

"I was dreaming again," I muttered, pressing my hand to my forehead.

I sat up and took deep breaths. My entire body was drenched in sweat.

Actually, it was not a nightmare. It was a reflection of moments from my past that I would never be able to forget.

My father was killed in a war when I was only five years old. He was a pack fighter, but they attacked his legs before he could shift, leaving him unable to save himself.

My mother had to run away with me from that pack and seek shelter in another pack.

This pack's Alpha and Luna were kind enough to let us live in their pack.

Since then, we have been living in the Mystic Shadow Pack.

"AVA, YOU WILL BE LATE."

I heard my mother's voice, shouting from downstairs.

"YES, MOM. I'M COMING," I replied loudly so she could hear me.

I ran to the bathroom, took a shower, and then got ready to go to my university.

I was in my freshman year. So I did not want to be in the professor's bad books by becoming a latecomer.

I took a quick look at myself for a moment in the mirror. A long, loose-fitting white dress was what I was wearing at the time. I tucked my hair back into a low ponytail. My big glasses fell on my nose, so I lifted it to my eyes.

My eyesight was perfectly fine. But I preferred to wear large glasses because I wanted to hide my emotions and my face behind them. Though the glasses were transparent, they helped me disguise my sentiments.

Because I did not want to draw attention to myself, I never put on any makeup. For the same reason, I preferred to dress in simple, long, loose clothing.

People referred to me as a "nerd" because of my high grades and appearance.

Or maybe I was really a nerd. I decided to take it as a compliment. This tag also caused me to deal with some bullying when I was in middle school.

I went downstairs and hugged my mother. We had breakfast together. She was the only one in my life. I wanted to study hard and establish myself so that I could give her a happy life.

"Ava"

I looked at my mother. "Yes, Mom?"

"You will turn eighteen next week. You'll find your mate soon. Before that, I want you not to mess up with someone else. You already know how we got into this pack. You are an omega. We don't have a male member in our family to protect you, my dear."

I stared at my mother's worried face. She was concerned about my safety because this pack was full of Alphas.

"Don't worry, Mom. You have my word that I will not mess up with anyone and cause any trouble for myself. I will keep my promise. I always avoid grabbing attention."

"My child, I long for the day when you finally find your mate. He will accept you, and I will be able to die peacefully."

I quickly got out of my chair and rushed over to give her a hug. "Mom, don't say that, please."

She never married again and dedicated her entire life to me. I could not bear to see her in pain.

After reassuring my mother, I left my house. I went to the bus stop and got on one.

It took me twenty minutes to get to my university.

The letters were written in an italicized, bold font.

'Mystic Shadow University'

I started walking in the direction of the department's building. My eyes wandered around as I walked past the students. It was the best university in our pack. It was only possible for wealthy kids to enroll in this university.

However, I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship and gain admission to this university.

I could see girls looking at me with disgust.

A girl walked past me, not forgetting to push my shoulder.

"Bloody nerd."

I heard her, lowered my head, and walked directly to my class.

My friend Abigail waved at me. I sat beside her. I only have three friends. Abigail was the closest one. We had the same schedule, so we could spend more time together.

When the professor entered the classroom, the lesson began. I tried to concentrate but was distracted by gossipy girls whispering behind our backs.

"Have you seen Ian today?" A girl asked another.

"No, what have I missed? Don't tell me he took off his shirt to show off his hot abs and I missed it."

"I'm going to die just thinking about it. But no. I heard his friends mention about Luke's party."

"Omg! I can't miss it then."

I stared at the projector, but my thoughts were focused on their gossip.

They were talking about the hottest boy at our university.

He was none other than Ian Dawson.

He was our head Alpha's only son. But he was not like his father, who was very strict about rules and regulations. He was the complete opposite-a troublemaker.

He was a bad boy that every boy feared, and a playboy that every girl desired to be with.

"Ian Dawson never dates. He only believes in one-night stands," my best friend, Abigail, muttered from my left side.

I turned my head toward her. She smirked at me and said,

"You innocent girl, don't listen to this gossip."

"I was just-"

"Babe, I know you really well. But let me tell you something. He is waiting for his mate. That's why he doesn't date. These are his own words," she whispered to me.

I turned my attention away from her and tried to concentrate on the class instead of responding to her.

But I could not lie to my heart. I did not know why but whenever I saw that boy, I felt my heartbeat turn faster.

After the class, Abigail and I took a leisurely stroll to the locker room. During that time, I received a text message from my friend Luke.

He was the only boy who was my friend. It was because he never bullied me.

"Who texted you?" Abigail asked.

"Luke. He is calling us to the basketball court."

"You go first. I'm coming in ten minutes. I have some work."

"Okay."

I exited the building and made my way to the basketball court, which was quite a distance away.

When I arrived, there were many boys leaving the court. They had just finished their practice.

"Hey, Nerdy." A boy teased me and laughed.

I lowered my head, trying to avoid him. I could hear some whistles, too. I felt that it was a bad decision to come here alone.

Though there were many girls there, they only picked on me.

I started to walk fast while looking at the ground.

But suddenly, my head bumped into a hard chest.

My gaze was drawn to the person's black shorts, which exposed his strong thighs. I shifted my gaze, which led me to the tank top, revealing his tattooed hands.

He possessed the most flawless physique.

I slowly raised my head, and my eyes froze on his face.

He had a pair of thick brows, dark hair that was wet, dark eyes that were mysterious, a piercing in his eyebrow, and a perfectly defined jawline.

There was a scream of danger coming from him.

I should run away from him. Everyone claimed he was the only hazard capable of killing anyone alive.

However, my heart wanted something else. It started to beat faster, like a marathon. I stared at his face. He was without a doubt the most handsome boy I had ever seen.

As soon as I noticed a frown forming between his brows, I felt myself returning to my senses.

He looked fierce, which made me take a step back in fear.

I could not help but stutter.

"I-I am sorry, Ian."

He looked at me with a frown, but then he nodded his head.

"Whatever," he muttered in a deep voice as he walked past me.

When he walked away from me, I closed my eyes, remembering his attractive cologne. I realized it was the first time we had spoken.

"Hey, Nerdy. Why are you alone? Did you think any of us would count you as a beautiful lonely girl?" A boy paused and said to me.

I did not argue with him; in fact, I never argued with anyone because I was afraid that if I did, they would bully me or lie about me to the dean, causing problems for my mother. Except for my three well-wishers, I tried to avoid interacting with others.

"Robin, stop it and come on. We don't have time for your nonsense," Ian spoke up from a little distance from me.

I turned my head toward him. He was looking at the boy who was standing beside me.

That boy named Robin walked to him and said,

"You should not have stopped me. I was making fun of that nerd."

"Still no time for your nonsense," Ian said as he walked ahead, running his fingers through his wet locks.

"Why did Ian save this girl?" I heard whispers from the girls around me.

I stared at Ian's back until he went another way and disappeared from my sight.

"AVA"

I turned around and saw Luke waving at me, so I went over to him.

He was a top student in his third year, the same year as Ian.

"I was waiting for you," Luke said, holding a sports bag over his shoulder.

Luke was the basketball captain of Ian's opposing team, 'Red Flamor'. Ian was the captain of the team 'Black Diamonds'.

"I ran into someone and ended up being late," I replied.

"You mentioned that you needed my help with statistics."

"Oh yeah."

"Let's go to the library."

"Good idea. I'm telling Abigail to get there."

"Okay."

Together, we made our way to the library. That was how we met a few months ago.

He was a top student, and I was trying to solve math problems. He assisted me and offered to help me study. Following that, he met my friends, and we all grew close. But he also had other friends.

We went to the library and started our study.

Later on, Abigail joined us. Besides her, there was Debra, my other friend. She was a very sweet girl. She was fashionable and trendy.

"I am throwing a good party tonight," Luke spoke out.

"Where?" Debra asked.

"In my guest house."

"Okay, that's good news."

Luke turned to me and said,

"You have to come tonight."

I was stunned. "What? But you know I can't come to any parties."

"Why not? I will talk to Aunt Angela."

"No, no. She will not allow me. By the way, I don't want to go there eithe-."

Abigail interrupted our conversation and assured, "Luke, I will bring her there."

Later they persuaded me to go to the party.

-

In the evening,

Abigail came to my house.

My black t-shirt and my baggy blue jeans were flexible enough to cover up my body type.

"Please wear something nice, Babe. I mean, these are not bad, but you should wear some party dresses," Abigail said, starting to check my closet.

She turned her head with disappointment. "Not a single dress to wear at parties," she said.

"I told you all. Parties are not my thing. I should not go there."

"Wait, no! I didn't mean it. You are my best friend. I was just saying this because I wanted to give you a hot look. Forget about my words. You look good."

I chuckled at her panic reaction. I pulled all of my hair toward the back of my head in a low ponytail.

I pulled out two thick hair stands to cover my face. I reached for my glasses and put them on.

"Do you know how beautiful you are? Why are you hiding yourself like this?" Abigail asked.

I turned around and smiled at her. "This is not called hiding myself. This is me."

Abigail removed her long black coat and offered it to me.

"Wear it."

"No, there is no need for it," I said, admiring her hot purple dress, which fit her body perfectly.

She wrapped her coat around me. "This is just a coat. You have to wear it. You will get a cold."

After putting on the coat, I looked at myself in the mirror.

"What about you?" I asked her.

"I don't need it anyway." She winked.

After leaving my house, we got into her car. She was rich enough to have her own car. Her father was a successful businessman, so buying an expensive car for his daughter was nothing to him.

However, Abigail never treated me arrogantly.

As I leaned against the seat, I looked outside the window.

After about an hour, we arrived at Luke's guesthouse. I noticed a large number of cars parked outside.

As soon as I entered the house, I was greeted by thick smoke and loud music from the moment.

As Abigail and I made our way through the crowd of people, I grasped her hand tightly.

The entire house was transformed into a nightclub. Here and there, people were drinking beer in red cups; some of them were even holding bottles. Some boys and girls were talking and moving their legs to music.

"Ava, Abigail."

Debra rushed over to us when she noticed us. She looked pretty and gorgeous, as always.

She hugged Abigail, then me. "I am so glad you have come. I must say that Abigail works some real magic. How did she handle your mother?"

"My mom wasn't at home," I said.

"Shit! You shouldn't have said it. They might think I am a genius," Abigail uttered.

We laughed together.

"Let's go to Luke. He must be at the poolside," Abigail said to me.

We made our way to the poolside, with Abigail leading the way because she had been here three times before.

"There he is!" Abigail said this when she found Luke when we arrived at the poolside.

Luke was talking with a group of boys. Abigail walked up to him. I was trailing her behind. But something caught my eye, and my steps came to a halt.

I noticed that some boys and girls were cheering for something.

When I turned around, I saw a boy wearing a black blindfold.

It was Ian Dawson!

He was in black jeans and a sleeveless black jacket, revealing his tattoos. His jacket's half-chain was unzipped. He was not wearing a t-shirt inside, which gave him an extremely hot appearance.

The girls were giggling as he moved around, walking closer to them so he could catch them at any time.

It looked like he was playing blind man's buff with the girls. His friends were drinking while having fun with the game as if it were a dare for him to catch a specific girl.

My eyes widened when I saw he was coming in my direction. I took a few steps back. However, he kept coming toward me.

I turned around when he was almost there. But before I could move to the other side, a hand grabbed my wrist and drew me to a firm chest.

Everyone became silent around us.

I was shocked by the closeness. His touch made my whole body freeze.

He chuckled and bit his lower lip as if he could hear my rapid heartbeat.

His lips caught my attention. He had a mole in the center of his lower lip. It struck me as the world's most beautiful sight.

He slowly lifted his hands and took off his blindfold.

But the moment the black cloth was removed from his eyes, his smile faded.

"You!"

Ian appeared to be in shock. Within a moment, he let go of my hand.

A roar of laughter erupted from everyone. He glared at the other people, signaling for them to be quiet, and they did obey his command.

"I-I did not mean to get in your way. But–"

After his gaze had returned to me, I paused for a moment. Because of his dark eyes, I was unable to move or speak because I was so captivated by them.

"What exactly are you doing here?" He questioned me with gritted teeth.

His question astonished me. Before I could answer his question, another voice rang out.

"I invited her. She is my friend."

I turned around and noticed Luke. I felt relaxed when he came to my rescue. Abigail was alongside him. He came up to me and held my hand.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked me.

Without uttering a single word, I simply nodded my head.

"When did you start making friends with nerds?" Ian asked with a careless tone.

I felt hurt by his question. I lowered my head, trying to conceal my emotions behind my glasses.

"Don't speak about her like this, Ian. She had done nothing to you. Stop picking on her unnecessarily."

Ian frowned upon hearing Luke.

"Excuse me? Did you say I was picking on her? Like, seriously? Don't I have anything else to do in my life?"

"Ian, leave it. Let's drink," his best friend, Ronald Solace, said to him.

"Yeah, it's better if we continue the party. I have no intention of arguing either." Luke let out a sigh while gazing at Ian.

Ian gave a slight nod before turning his attention to me. My glasses allowed me to catch a glimpse of him, and as soon as he caught my attention, I quickly averted my gaze.

He rolled his eyes and turned around to rejoin his friends.

Luke turned to me, saying,

"I am so sorry."

I raised my head to look at him. "For what?"

"You almost got lost at the party. I should have welcomed you from the outside."

"No, it's okay."

"You came to my party and received a lot of attention, which you did not want. It's my fault."

I looked around at the other people who were still looking at me with judgmental eyes.

I told Luke that he did not need to be concerned about me. He then introduced me and Abigail to some of his friends.

His friends were decent, just like him. They were kind people. They did not judge me based on my looks or appearance.

Abigail wanted to dance, while Luke was chatting with his friends. So I went to sit on a couch near them. Abigail tried to persuade me to go with her. But I had enough for the day. I had no desire to receive any further attention. Therefore, I did not agree to accompany her.

My eyes traveled all the way around the surface of the pool. My eyes fell on Ian once again. I had no idea why my eyes were always drawn to this bad boy.

What was the feeling all about?

I was not the type of girl who could get involved with a bad boy. I was not like the other girls he had slept with. He always spent the night with girls who eagerly wanted to be played by him. As if the girls would gain a reputation for warming his bed.

I noticed he was looking at a girl while sipping on his drink. My focus shifted to the girl. My eyes nearly popped out when I saw her strip off her dress and reveal her white bikini, exposing her almost naked body to seduce Ian.

Everyone started to cheer for her. She winked at Ian and dove into the pool. A few minutes later, some other girls joined her in the pool.

Ian smirked at the girl. His gaze remained fixed on her as though she were his prey for tonight.

For some unknown reason, my heart ached.