The Rejected Alpha

Helen's POV

The moment I open my eyes and check the time on my phone screen, I panic.

Today is my first school day and it is already 9 o'clock and I'm still lying in my bed, recalling what I dreamt last night. My mind is messy but there are some fragmented scenes I can still remember.

I think I met a blond boy who has a very charming appearance. I believe I fell in love with this handsome guy when he looked into my eyes with a genuine smile.

But as he introduced himself as a prince and asked me to marry him, my crush on him vanished.

I said no because I am not a Disney princess and as a normal girl in the 21th century, I'll not accept a proposal from a stranger who I met for the first time.

The smile on his face disappeared. He became furious and cornered me to the wall, declaring that I would regret this. The gentle prince is gone, replaced by an evil demon. To be honest, I am scared but I managed to stand still and challenged him to wait and see.

He gritted his teeth and was about to say something, and that's the moment I woke up and realized I was already late for my first school day.

When I arrive at the classroom, the first class has begun, and the teacher asks students to make a self-introduction one by one. She does not notice my presence until several students look in my direction, which eventually causes her to turn to me and kindly invite me to move in.

It is a kind of relief. I mouth "thank you" to the teacher and find an empty seat as soon as possible. Yet, I fail.

Looking around, I find all the seats have been occupied except for the one in the middle row. Although there is no one sitting there, the textbooks spread all over that desk, indicating the seat has been taken by someone.

"Dear, what are you waiting for?" the teacher looks at me with a not very dear smile.

"I'm sorry but I didn't spot a seat."

"You are welcome to sit here." before the teacher says anything, I hear a drawl.

Suddenly the whole class sinks in silence as if they were muted. They looked in all the directions but the one from which the voice comes.

That's awkward.

"Very generous offer, Mr Dylan." the teacher gives him the praise and asks me to sit there.

The boy snorts and starts to put away the books scattering on the desk, clearing out an empty place for me.

I want to thank him but as I look at him, I become speechless. It is impossible to ignore the fact that he looks exactly like the person in my dream.

Blond hair, pale skin, and a pair of silver-gray eyes.

I am shocked at my discovery and can't take my eyes off him, which sends a wrong signal to him.

"Why are you staring at me?" he smirks and drawls again, "Love at first sight? I can fully understand that, stupid girls always judge a book by its cover --"

"No! It's not like that." I interrupt him to clarify my point, "you were in my dream. That's all."

And the point just becomes even more unclear because of the ambiguity. I pray to God, letting him skip what I've said but God refuses to answer my appeal. This guy not only catches the information but puts emphasis on it by raising his voice.

"How can you fantasize about me before our first encounter? "

I am sure the whole class hear what he said because they burst into laughter.

"I am not fantasizing about you! It is complicated." I try to explain, to defend myself. But it is useless because people just don't care what truth is. They simply believe in what they expect to see.

The teacher tries to ask them to keep quiet but the laughter just becomes louder and louder. Finally, she gives up and leaves the classroom when the bell rings.

"Oh, really? Do enlighten me. What am I doing in your dream?" the boy raises his eyebrow and I hate him already.

"Being an asshole. "I pause and add, "Just like what you are doing right now."

I must have done something wrong, for I hear half of the class gasp and inhale sharply.

No more laughter, which is good.

No more sound, which is scary.

Fire flares in his eyes, and I can see the storm is coming, just like what happened in my dream.

Moments later I hear the guy whisper to me in a low voice.

"Do you have any idea who you are speaking to?"

"If I remember correctly, the teacher called you Dylan." I control the urge to flinch and answer him casually.

"You should know better." he shrugs and clears his throat, "Let's play fair, silly girl. Given that you know nearly nothing about me, I forgive your rudeness and mercifully offer you a second chance. Apologize now and I will accept it. "

He must be something. An ordinary student will never survive in high school with such arrogance. My instinct is to keep my head down and apologize to him. But my dignity is shrieking NO WAY.

I contemplate the two choices in front of me and make my decision.

"No." I say.

Helen's POV

"No."

There is a stretching silence. Everybody is holding their breath as if Dylan was a kind of volcano and is ready to erupt at any second.

I feel pity for myself that I flinch a little due to the uncontrollable upset, yet at the same time, I am proud of myself for managing to hold my stand like a courageous medieval knight. I have a talent for pretending to be fearless.

The truth is that the moment I give this answer, I already feel regretful because I can tell this answer is unwise and it probably will cause me thousands of troubles. But the tricky thing is if I sacrificed my dignity and apologized to him, I would feel regretful, as well.

Dylan stares at me for a long time and suddenly steps closer. I can't help but take a step back. What is he trying to do? Yank my hair? Kick me? Or strangle me to death? Well, strangling is too much, he can't murder me in front of all the students. My mind is drifting away as I hear a soft murmur, coming from the devil.

I am freaking out when I find Dylan's eyes lingering on my neck. He can't really plan a murder, can he?

"Where did you get this?" he asks.

"What?" I glance down and relax a little.

Of course, he was not planning a murder, he just wants to know about my necklace.

That is even weirder. What I am wearing is a gray-green rock pendant, too ordinary to be noticed by someone like Dylan.

Indeed, there was a story behind this necklace, and the last thing I would do is to share it with Dylan. I am pretty sure he would mock me and my necklace with sarcastic words.

"I don't remember." I lie. But the memory I tried to bury has been triggered and it starts to overwhelm me.

I always keep my promise yet I did break one many years ago. On a summer vacation, my parents took me to the seaside but they spent the most time watching TV in the hotel room. I felt very bored so I sneaked outside to collect some seashells on the beach.

There I encountered a boy who was really good at building sandcastles. We played sand for a while and then spent the rest afternoon playing house. He led the play, announcing that he would be the prince and I would be his beloved princess. Then he showed me all his trophies and asked me to pick one as an engagement ring. Among all the splendid stones and seashells I chose a gray-green one. I forgot the reason but remember I didn't choose it randomly.

"Here you are." the boy drawled as he carefully put the stone on my palm and he gave me a sleepy smile.

After the engagement, we sat under a giant coconut tree, seriously discussing how we should protect our people from dangerous creatures. We had a great time yet when my parents came out to look for me and found what we were doing, they laughed and dragged me back to the hotel because it was time for dinner.

It is a shame to admit that I actually cried because of the heartbreaking separation. I thought I lost my soulmate if such a thing ever existed. My tears kept rolling down and my fiancé hugged me so tightly as if he would never let me go.

But he loosened his grip eventually.

He asked me to meet him at the same place the next day. I said yes but I failed to make it. That night we checked out the hotel and went home because dad was hurried to address some business issues. I cried so hard at the airport that an old couple sitting next to our seats actually asked me if I was kidnapped.

After I explained to them that I was forced to leave my soulmate, they can't help but laugh. I didn't find it funny at all but as time goes by, I gradually understand the reason.

The romantic relationship I cherished so much was just a plot co-created by the boy and me, nothing more. It is like a drama show, when the play comes to an end, actors and actresses should embrace the applause and leave the stage, going back to reality. As for those who refuse to believe there are differences between story and reality? Well, they will be heartbroken for a moment and then be healed by the time.

Dad told me that the pain I suffered could immediately stop if I let the memory go and move on. Unfortunately, I happened to be a sentimental child, so it took me a long time to forget that childish romance.

I did try my best and it worked to a certain extent. But the truth is, no matter how I suppress that memory, it appears in my dream from time to time, forcing me to remember. The scenes become weirder and weirder and the plots are more twisted than sweet. Maybe it is a curse from my fiancé. I broke the promise and this is what I deserve.

"Did you steal it from someone?" Dylan's words suddenly snap me out of my thoughts. The venom in his words sends a shiver down my spine.

"I am not a thief. Besides, why would I steal something like this? It is cheap and outdated." I am angered by his invalid accusation.

"And why are you wearing it if you think it is cheap and outdated?" he raises one of his eyebrows and smirks.

"None of your business."

"Come on, I am curious."

"And why should I satisfy your curiosity?" I glare at him. Why this world must be full of arrogant assholes who always consider themselves the center of the world?

"This is your last chance to save yourself." Dylan cocks his head and gives me a devilish smile. "From what?"

Dylan ignores my questions and sighs dramatically. He clears his throat and leans closer to me, whispering to my ears.

"Now I will give you three seconds to consider this offer. Ready? I'm starting to count. One, two--"

"All right! It is a Christmas gift from my parent, ok? My mom just loves stones and I have no idea why she gives this to me. I don't like this stupid necklace but I need to wear it or my mom won't be happy. Are you satisfied now?" I grit my teeth and hate myself for lying so many times in a single day.

I had thought Dylan would believe this story and see me as a timid person who has no gut to piss off her parents. But what he says is really, really beyond my expectations.

He stares at me with coldness in his eyes and finally says, "Liar."

Helen's POV

Being called liar makes me ashamed and anxious. I am about to tell him the stupid story but Dylan speaks first before I can confess the truth.

"No time for another lie. You've run out of your time. I am sorry." he sighs dramatically and snaps his fingers like an aristocrat.

Two boys and one girl from the other row suddenly stand up and surround me in a circle. They do nothing but silently wait for Dylan's order, like his loyal servants.

It strikes me that whatever this is, it differs from bullying. They are more organized and well-trained. These guys look like more soldiers than bullies.

Am I still dreaming? It could be a dream within a dream. Maybe when I open my eyes the nightmare will stop immediately and I can go to school on time and make some normal friends, instead of being stuck in this weird situation. Besides that, I need to test my theory...

I nerve myself and step closer to Dylan, giving him a not-very-tender pinch on the arm before everyone can act. Dylan takes a sharp inhale and knits his eyebrows angrily. His servants simultaneously send me a glare and if eyes could kill, I am already a body. The girl bares her teeth and accuses me of attacking Dylan. She tries to get closer to me but is stopped by Dylan.

"What is this about?" Dylan looks very calm, compared to the other three. It could be the reason why he is the leader.

"I...I was wondering if I am still dreaming." I stammer, "so I, er, test my theory."

"By attacking our Alp- awesome classmate? How dare you!Why didn't you give yourself a pinch?! You selfish human species!" the girl shrieks yet her curse comes to an abrupt end, like a noisy alarm being canceled suddenly.

"What did you just say?" I notice the weirdness in her words and look at her curiously.

Is this girl a lunatic who deeply believes in the fantasy that she is some magical creature superior to human beings? Or why would my identity as a human would offend her so much?

"Nancy is a born anti-social. Don't know why she is looking down at human beings." Dylan makes a face and turns to the boys, "Off you go gentlemen. Leave us alone and escort Nancy back to her dormitory, will you?"

"Are you out of your mind? What if she attacks you again?' Nancy crosses her arms and refuses to leave and the two boys just stand there, daring not to do anything.

"You are exaggerating! That was not an attack. It was only a pinch."

"And who knows what will you do when we are not around. You may drug him. Poison him. Or stab him to death."

"I'd love to but don't know where to get poison and dagger." I try to make a joke to ease the tension but my words seem to fuel Nancy's anger.

She mistakes my joke for threatening and becomes furious.

"See? She just admitted that she has an intention to murder you. You should stay away from her!"

"With pleasure." I nod eagerly, "May I leave now, your majesty?" I add sarcastically.

The way I call Dylan somehow amuses him. He suddenly yanks my arm and drags me to the doorway, leaving Nancy and his bodyguards behind.

"Free me now or I will call the police." I struggle to get rid of his hand but he is determined to maintain the connection.

"Says someone who plans a murder yet fails due to her incapability to find a weapon." he drawls and I hate myself for finding his devilish smile attractive.

"I didn't mean that! It was a joke." I roll my eyes and huff, "why did you guys treat everything so seriously?"

Dylan stops abruptly and my whole body tenses up as he gazes into my eyes. Those stormy gray eyes remind me of my dream, my fiancé, to be more specific. They both have similar eyes and even their hair color is the same distractingly light blond, but I know it for sure that this arrogant jerk is not the lovely boy on the beach.

I will never forget the moment when I picked up the gray-green stone from my fiancé and my finger accidentally touched his palm. The connection felt so strong and unbreakable, sending a shiver down my spine.

But today when I pinched Dylan with a purpose to test if he is the guy, the result was negative. No sparks, no electricity, no chemistry, nothing. To be honest, I feel a mixture of disappointment and relief. On the one hand, I wish to reunion with my fiancé despite that this is an unachievable dream. On the other hand, however, I am happy to know that Dylan is not the guy, or things would be really tricky.

How am I supposed to deal with this arrogant bully if he turns out to be my sweet, lovely fiancé? First, my heart will be shattered into pieces by seeing this unbelievable change of personality. To make it worse, I will blame myself for causing this change and won't be able to fight against him.

"How can you zone out when someone look you like this?" Dylan asks incredibly.

"Like what?"

"Never mind. You are immune to my charisma." He murmurs shamelessly and I smile before I can suppress it.

"I am not. I can't be immune to something doesn't even exist,can I?"

"Do you enjoy provoking me?" Dylan raises one of his eyebrows.

"No. I just can't stand arrogance."

"There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence, sometimes even the wisest cannot tell."

"You sound like a philosopher." Somehow his serious tone reminds me of my fiancé once again and I am frustrated.

Dylan's expression becomes blank and unreadable. He carefully examines my face and mutters something. I can't quite figure out what he is saying so I step closer, and what I hear next is a reluctant confession.

"My soulmate once gave the same comment." Dylan looks very defeated as he says this. The ice in his eyes is melted, replaced by vulnerability and sorrow.

"What happened to her?" I hold my breath and ask in a soft voice. I can't understand why I am doing this. I shouldn't have shown concern to Dylan. If something bad happened to him, he probably deserved it. But his sadness is as contagious as an epidemic, destroying my rationality.

"She died."