Fated rejection: bounded by love, divided by fate

Avery's POV

"Hi, thanks for coming," I acknowledged, smiling at Flair. He looked really handsome, his black tuxedo portrays dominance around him.

"You're welcome. You look beautiful by the way," he complimented.

He is the beta's son, Jameson's best friend. Who is the Alpha's son.

They are totally opposite when it comes to personality. Flair is a nice and an easy going person, unlike his best friend. Who is bent on annoying me. If there is one person I hated to my bones, that would be Jameson Alexandro.

He is not only rude, but also a bully and a pervert.

It all began when my Dad enrolled me into the college to discover my abilities as a wolf, about three years ago. I was just fifteen then. He has always been on my neck after I fiercely had a fight with him. He wanted all students to kneel and bow at his feet because he was the Alpha's son.

Really? Definitely not me.

Tonight was my birthday party, still can't believe that I'm freaking eighteen!

"So, were are you able to get my phone from...." My voice trailed off when a sweet, intoxicating scent filled my nose. For the first time in a long run, Anna, my wolf reacted to that scent.

The scent was coming behind Flair, my heart began pounding heavily and I took a few steps backward. I almost tripped on my gown but Flair was quick to hold me again.

"Girl, what's wrong with you? Are you okay?" He placed his hand on my forehead but my gaze was on the person behind him.

He followed my gaze before he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I'm so sorry, please don't take it the wrong way. He insisted on tagging along in order to give the phone to me. Please, don't be mad," he mumbled out, but Jameson and I kept staring at each other.

After school yesterday, Jameson had snatched my phone with the excuse that he wanted to know if I was dating someone. After inviting Flair to my party, I had pleaded him to help me get back my phone from Jameson.

Little did I know that this rascal will be here. When I emphasized to Flair that he wasn't invited.

His usual smirk was covered with a serious expression. I pointed my index finger at him, he also looked just as surprised as me.

"Mate," Jameson whispered.

The word hung in the air, and at some point, I forgot to breathe. My heart skipped a beat when he took a step towards me.

"Stop right there!" I suddenly screamed out, my eyes were red and my tears were threatening to fall. My whole body was trembling.

"Bro, what's wrong with you? You called her mate?" Flair questioned Jameson, whose gaze was on me. How can the moon goddess do this to me?

"We are mates," Jameson repeated and I saw red immediately.

"Never! I will never be a mate to someone like you!" I ranted.

"What's going on here?" my Dad asked behind me. I turned to him, my tears had become uncomfortable.

"It turns out that we are mates," Jameson responded.

"Never! Take that back!" I bent swiftly, taking off my heels and throwing it at him. He caught it smoothly and walked towards me.

"It's not my fault, darlington. The moon goddess must have a ....." I interrupted him.

"I don't want you,"

"Excuse me?" he arched his eyebrows.

"You heard me, Jameson Alexandro," I called out his name in full. My already racing heart increased its pace at the thought of what I was about to do.

"Avery, I think you need to calm down. Everyone is looking at you already," Amelia, my best friend said in a comforting tone. And truth be told, everyone was staring at us already.

"Honey, I think Amelia is right. Don't make a rash decision out of annoyance," my Dad encouraged, but I've made up my decision.

"I-I," my voice trembled, pointing at my chest while my heart was aching bitterly.

"I-I would rather be mateless for life, than to be your mate, Jameson," I spat out and everyone gasped. His face contoured from embarrassment and humiliation.

No ones dares say such to the Alpha's son.

"I reject you as my......." I was silenced when Jameson charged forward and covered my mouth with his palm.

"You won't dare," he growled silently, his glare boring into my eyes. I froze in my spot when the spark sensation rushed through my veins as he covered my mouth.

We both stared at each other with widened eyes. Everyone has heard me already and they all looked shocked. I just rejected the son of the Alpha. That, in front of many eyes.

I pushed him hard, but he didn't bulge at all. Before I knew it, he carried me on his shoulders out of the hall.

"Let go of me!" I shouted, violently dangling my legs and hitted his butt. He doesn't seem to care and continued to walk out.

"Dad, get me from his hold!" I cried bitterly, wanting to be away from him. The more our skin makes contact, the more I could feel Anna's heartbreak.

I wanted Flair to my mate, what I've always longed for. And Jameson being my mate was something I never saw coming. My worst enemy being my mate. Picturing us together in my head disgust me a lot.

We arrived at the back of the hall before he dropped me to my feet. I was so mad and furious, my hands worked on their own. But before they could collide with his cheeks, he has grabbed my hands on the air.

The dim light from the corridor made me catch a glimpse of his expression. He looks deeply hurt and heartbroken. I yanked my hands from his hold, wiped my tears harshly.

"You'll regret this," he declared and I would be a lie if I say that I was stunned. This made me chuckle even though I was broken inside.

"I guess your ego was hurt, Mr. Pervert. I don't want to see you around me or I'll reject you for real this time," I vowed, took off my other heels and walked back to the hall.

I bit my lips to suppress my cries, the bond was really strong. I was just putting up a tough front when I was clearly broken inside.

Jameson's POV

Two Weeks Later.

"Can I come in?" I looked behind me, I found Flair at the door.

"You are in already. What's the need of asking for my permission?" I questioned in a lazy tone. Continuing with my assignment on my desk.

He walked in and rested on the wall in front of me. He didn't say anything and I ignored him completely.

"Won't you try chasing after her?" He asked after a long silence. I paused in what I was doing, my grip tightened on my pen.

I took in a deep breath and continued with what I was busy with. I didn't say anything after that and I knew he was waiting for my response.

"Jameson, are you just gonna give up like that?"

"Tell me what to do!" I slammed my pen on the table. He continued looking down at me and the pains I felt that night rushed through my veins.

It really hurts.

I closed my eyes, the image of her teary eyes replayed in my head. She didn't even hesitate to reject me at all.

'Only if you haven't been an asshole around her!' my wolf, Matthew, growled in my head.

I have been in love with Avery from the very first day I set my eyes on her. She looks timid, but tries to act brave.

I have always wanted to be around her which results in pesting her but she calls it bullying. I roughened my hair and groaned in pain.

The girl I have been in love with turns out to be my mate. But she didn't return my feelings or give us time to iron things out.

Flair walked closer, patting my shoulders. I wiped my tears and didn't turn to him, he kept patting my back, giving me the comfort I needed.

"I can help you talk to her if you want," Flair suggested. I snapped my eyes open when I heard him.

A few times, I have seen the way she smiles at him. Jealousy was eating my raw, I shrugged my shoulders and stood up.

"Please, leave," I said coldly and he sighed.

"I totally understand you. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I will always be here," he said firmly before walking out of my room.

Immediately I heard the click sound of the closed door, I left where I stood and went to sit on my bed.

News has been flying around about the Alpha's son got brutally rejected by a commoner's daughter. I haven't been able to go to college ever since then.

I was starting to think, if I had act like Flair. Will she had liked me and accepted me? I pondered about it.

Nothing was coming to my head in order to have her back to my side. I checked myself in the mirror, my hair was disheveled and I looked to have lost some weight.

Just in two weeks.

My heart aches at the thought of if we should meet again, will she reject me completely?

I was still in my thoughts when I heard my Dad's voice, the Alpha in my head. He just mind-linked me to come to his room.

I made sure I wasn't looking like what I was dealing with before leaving my room. On arriving at his door, I heard some voices inside.

"They have to be paired together. The insult and embarrassment she caused to my family can't be overlooked," I furrowed my brows when I heard my Dad's voice.

The guard at the door announced my presence and I was asked to go in. A man, dressed in a suit, bowed at my Dad before leaving the room.

"My son, come in," My Dad welcomed me in, in his usual happy and content smile, playing on his lips whenever he sees me.

I bowed at him before settling beside him. He patted my shoulder proudly.

"How have you been doing, my boy?" He asked endearingly.

"I'm not ten," I told him, wasn't in the mood for his sweet talk.

"I know that you are sad. But trust me, it's temporary. You don't have to worry about anything," he assured me. I looked at him and he nodded at me.

"I have sent orders to people, stopping them from talking about what happened. Anyone caught talking about it will be severely punished," I didn't know how to feel about this. I only nodded at him.

"Was that why you called for me?"

"Well..." he sighed deeply before continuing, "I want you to go to cuollege tomorrow," he asserted, the air around him changed. Frown lines formed on my forehead.

"May I ask why?"

"No. But I want you to trust me. Your battle is mine to fight for you," I gazed at him for a moment before standing up.

"I'm nineteen, Dad. I can take care of myself," I told him. He laughed slightly.

"I was like that when I was of your age. Always trying to act independent. I am proud to have you as a son," his gaze turned wistful.

"I will be in my room," I walked out of the room before he could say anything. My Dad and I have a good relationship, I wasn't just in the mood for his sweet talks.

I didn't put meanings to his words and brushed it off my mind.

*****

The Next Morning.

I entered the classroom and my gaze fell on Avery's seat, she wasn't there. I was in my usual white round neck shirt and a leather jacket. I settled on my seat and avoided the curious gazes of the students.

"Do you need a drink? I can get it for you," Flair asked behind me.

"Please, stop it. I don't want your pity, it's getting on my......" my voice trailed off when Avery entered the classroom. Looking beautiful as ever, our gaze met but she was quick to look away.

Mathew growled in my chest to be let out, he wants to meet our mate.

Avery's POV

I bit my lips anxiously as I walked to my desk. Amelia pulled me back and I turned to her.

"You don't have to meet their gazes. Just avoid them, I will be watching from my seat," she assured and I smiled. Everyone has been gossiping about what happened at my birthday party.

Low-key, I was kinda regretting my decision. I settled on my seat and brought out my books. Shutting all my guts that was telling me to steal a glance at him. His scent was getting into my head, as if it was making me high.

Well, I was prepared for that.

I brought out a nose mask and put it on now. People were looking at me suspiciously. I could only face-palm inwardly.

How can you be staring at someone and make it so obvious? I shook my head and sighed. The teacher walked in after a while and the class began.

To be honest, my mind was far away from what he was teaching us. It has been two weeks since Jameson was last seen in school, because of Anna, my wolf, Jameson kept replaying in my head.

I could feel her emotions. It was as if she was mad at me for the decision I made. I heard a distant voice calling my name, I didn't respond until I heard a loud voice.

"Miss. Valentino!" I flinched at the intensity of the teacher's tone. He looked displeased as ever.

"Can you please tell us what you have been thinking about?" He asked in a stern voice.

"I'm sorry. I got a bit carried away," I apologized, standing up and bowed slightly at him. He looked to still have some words to say to me, but because of how respectful I sounded.

He swallowed the rest of his words and I concentrated on the class.

".... It's about channeling your inner strength and abilities. It comes from your soul and every part of your body," he explained. I looked at the board. It wrote channeling energy.

I continued listening to him, jotting down some things until the topic navigated to finding a hidden treasure.

"Trust me class, it's gonna be fun. The treasure sparkles like a diamond but dull like coal. All I have to do is pair you guys up in groups," the teacher gushed, everyone looks so excited.

Perhaps it was because of my already dampened mood, I wasn't feeling it at all.

"So I have my list here. Before I call out the names, do you have any questions?" He asked and someone raised their hands.

"Can we switch partners?"

"Nope! It's a big no. You are to work with your designated partners," the teacher emphasized.

"Will there be a tutorial on how to survive in the forest?"

"Of course. We can't just leave our students stranded,"

"What if we don't find the treasure?" This question caught my attention. I rested my chin on my palm, my elbow on the desk, boringly looking at the teacher.

"Uhm... let's think and work with positivity. There are nine groups in total, at least one group should be able to find it," the teacher responded.

A thought crossed my mind and I decided to ask, so I raised my hand.

"Yes, Miss. Valentino?"

"What's the sole purpose of looking for this long lost treasure? And why is it that suddenly we are asked to find it?" I asked him, and I noticed the way he looked uncomfortable.

"T-That... uhm.... It's not in my hands to know about it. I was only asked to inform you guys. It's a project for your midterm assessment," he said, reluctance was in his voice.

I sighed and nodded at him.

"For group one, Keely and Simon...... group two, Amelia and Flair, group three Avery and Jameson, group....."

"What?!" I shrieked aloud when I heard my partner, interrupting the class.

"Any problem, Miss. Valentino?" The teacher asked, he looks ready to give me a piece of his mind if I dare to complain.

I shook my head and my gaze turned to Jameson. He pressed his lips together before looking away. My stomach tightened when I saw this, I was expecting him to smirk at me or something.

My heart was already beating in anticipation of what was gonna happen with our time together. For the rest of the class, I wasn't myself.

*****

We just concluded the last class and that was all for the day. I placed my head on my table tiredly. I heard approaching footsteps, walking towards me.

From his scent, I knew who it was already. I raised my head and started packing my bags.

"We need to talk about the project,"

"Amelia is waiting for me alrea...." I was interrupted.

"I will wait!" I turned my head to the direction of where the voice came from. I gawked at Amelia and she winked at me before pointing at Flair. I nodded in understanding, they also wanna talk about the project.

"So what do you wanna talk about?" I asked Jameson, avoiding eye contact. He brought out a book and passed it to me. I raised a brow, I didn't collect it.

"It's just a book. Open it,"

"Tell me what's inside before I collect it from you," he scoffed when he heard me. He opened it before placing the book in front of me.

"What's this?" I asked, looking at the sketched diagrams. I opened it to the other side, same thing.

"Since he didn't tell us what the treasure looks like, based on his statement, 'sparkle like a diamond but dull like coal,' we can infer that in terms of their physical properties, both diamonds and coal can be sharp or abrasive when fractured. Therefore, it's possible that the treasure is either as heavy as a diamond or as light as coal," he analyzed. I can't lie, I was amused.

"Oh... okay," I pressed my lips together, looking up to meet his gaze. For the first time, I saw seriousness in him.