Torn Between The Alpha And The Lycan Prince

Scarlet's POV

"Wake up, Scarlet!!" My eyelids fluttered, then flew open as I sat up with a sharp intake of breath. My sister, Sylvia, was standing at the edge of my bed with a huge smile on her face. "Happy Birthday Red!!!"

I groaned as I rubbed my eyes. "What time is it? And why do you always have to yell?"

"It's 6:30." She replied, beaming. "You're going to find your mate today. I can't wait to see him."

With a gulp, I jumped up from my bed as if it had burned me. Her words had suddenly jolted me back to reality. Today was my eighteenth birthday and I would find my mate.

"Get out of my room," I said, pushing Sylvia to the door. "I need to get dressed." When she exited the room, I heaved a heavy sigh.

The thought of finding my mate, feeling the mate bond and his desire for me, caused me to tremble. I didn't know how to feel but I knew I needed to look good because today was the most important day of my life.

I studied myself in the mirror, frowning at my bundle of messy red hair. I wondered if my mate could reject me based on my looks alone.

When I was born, my mother was frightened by my red hair and refused to look at me for hours. As I grew up, I endured a lot of bullies because of my hair color which was very unusual for an omega like me. I felt the fear of my wolf, terrified that my mate might not like us.

I could sense my mate already and it seemed like he was so close to me. His scent was everywhere in my room, like a familiar fragrance that I had been craving for so long. My wolf seemed to be distracted, filled with the desire to find and claim my mate. Whoever he was.

I couldn't help but get excited although I was incredibly nervous. For years, I had dreamed of this day. My sister and I had started a countdown six months ago, my stomach rustling with bubbles of excitement each time a month went by. As someone who was barely noticed in the pack, it was my day to feel wanted, to feel desired by someone. Anyone.

I quickly had my bath, drenching myself in my favorite body wash. I put an extra effort into my hair, hoping I could get it to look less messy.

I was torn between wearing the dress my mum got me for my birthday or just going with my usual hoodie and jeans. In the end, I settled for a tank top and white jeans because the dress was too short. I styled my hair into a curly wave and for the first time, I was impressed with the way I looked.

"Hello baby," my mum said, as I trotted down the stairs to the dining room. "Happy birthday darling. Are you excited for today?"

I plopped down on a chair. "I don't know. I'm so anxious that I want to throw up but I'm also excited."

"I know," she replied, handing me a plate of strawberries, waffles, and yogurt. "I can remember how anxious I was on my own day as well. Trust me, it's going to turn out great."

"What if he doesn't like me?"

"That's absurd!" My sister chipped in as she walked into the dining room. "Who wouldn't love you? You're the prettiest girl I know."

"Yes, that's right. It will be a shame if he doesn't fall head over heels for you." Mum added. I couldn't help but smile a little.

After forcing down yogurt and some waffles down my throat, I grabbed some strawberries and headed out to campus. Before leaving, I promised my mum I would call her if anything went wrong.

On my way to college which was a fifteen minute walk, I spent the entire time contemplating on who my mate could be.

Could it be Daniel from my art class? No. He smelled like aloe vera and cheesecake-nothing like the scent of my mate that lingered in my nostrils.

Was it Jacob from the Humanitarian club? I didn't know what he smelled like but he had once winked at me during lunch.

By the time I made it to campus, I was sweating profusely and my heart was hammering against my chest with intensity. My wolf became restless the moment I walked into campus. She was fighting to be let out, to take control and salvage our mate.

I took long strides as I walked through the hallway to my locker. The scent was stronger now, and my mate smelled awesome. I knew he was close and I trembled with excitement and desire.

I followed the scent, completely giving in to my nostrils. I could vaguely hear the bell ringing for my first class but I couldn't focus on anything except the scent of my mate.

My nose led me to the front of the boy's changing room. Then suddenly, I found him. Brad Wilson was my mate and I knew the second I laid my eyes on him.

He was just leaving the changing room with a backpack draped on his shoulder. He looked majestic, like he was molded from a different cast.

Just like every other girl in school and in our pack, I was electrified by his looks. Brad was the next Alpha of the Breakstone Pack and he was quite popular in school. My inner wolf howled with joy and nudged me to stake my claim on him immediately. But I had one thing on my mind-Brad Wilson had a girlfriend, and not just any girl but the most beautiful she-wolf in our pack.

I froze at the entrance of the locker room, staring at him. Then, he turned toward me and our eyes met. Caught off guard, I waved at him wearing a nervous smile but immediately regretted my decision when he started to walk toward me.

"Hello," his low, masculine purr stirred my wolf intensely. "You're Scarlet, right?" I stiffened, bracing myself, then looked up at him.

Brad's incredible good looks still hit me like a fierce blow. He was even more gorgeous than I remembered. He was tall, around six foot two, with broad shoulders and a hard muscled body. His green eyes were electrifying against his tanned skin and black hair. In spite of my best effort, Brad left me tongue-tied.

"Are you going to say something?" My cheeks turned pink when I realized I hadn't said a word for minutes.

"Hi," I swallowed nervously. "Yes, I'm scarlet."

"Follow me," he said gruffly, and swiftly began to walk to the back of the cafeteria. I followed him, my feet working faster than my brain.

A thousand thoughts were flitting through my mind as I followed quietly behind him. Brad was my mate and he knew that. But was he going to make me his? Would he break up with his girlfriend, Valerie, to claim me?

He halted close to a small tree at the back of the cafeteria and I did as well. My heart was thumping hard as I waited for him to speak, to choose whether he wanted me or not.

"Gosh, this is so embarrassing." He whispered, running his fingers through his hair. My heart dropped as I heard him. I didn't know if he was embarrassed about being my mate or even speaking to me at all.

"You're an Omega, right?" He finally asked, his eyes completely cold and distant.

"Yes."

"You should obviously know who I am," he said and I nodded. "Good. Since you know that, you should also know that I have a lot of responsibilities to fulfill. I am going to be the next Alpha of our pack and I need to have a strong Luna."

I already knew where our conversation was heading to and I felt nauseous. I wasn't prepared for it, I wasn't mentally ready to be rejected. A tear escaped my eyes and dropped to my feet.

Brad sighed and pulled me closer. "Look, you're beautiful, no doubt. I can feel the connection between us and you would be a wonderful mate. But.." But? I waited for the words that would crush my heart. "But I have already chosen a Luna and I love her. Valerie is perfect for me and my father believes she would be a great Luna."

My wolf cried out in pain and my soul cracked to its core. My vision blurred as hot tears filled my eyes. "What does that mean? Ar–are you...."

"It means that I can't accept or claim you as my mate." He leaned away from me. "It means you have to forget about me and find someone else to love you. I've made my choice and it's not you, Scarlet. I'm sorry."

Scarlet's POV

I staggered back from him, my lips quivering as I burst into tears. He scooped me into his arms and I buried my face in his chest, ashamed to let him see how broken I was.

I cried for minutes, pouring my heartache out. I didn't think a rejection would hurt so much but it felt like a knife was stuck in my chest. My wolf's pain as she cried with me was so devastating. It was a soul crushing anguish that gnawed at my heart intensely.

"Listen, I've got class to attend. I'm sorry to disappoint you but we can talk about this later." He whispered, stroking my hair and cradling my trembling body. My sob quieted as I gathered myself and pulled away from him.

"Please don't reject me, Brad." I begged, as I clung to him. "If you reject me, I will be a rogue wolf. Don't you at least care about me? Do you really want the pack to banish me forever?"

There were a lot of things accepted in our pack but a rogue wolf wasn't one. A rejection like mine, especially from the Alpha's son would be made public and I would be banished from the pack. That was the fate of every rejected wolf. That would be my fate if Brad pronounced his rejection completely.

Brad was silent for a while, contemplating if I was worth it. I knew that I was nothing compared to his girlfriend, Valerie, who was perfect in every way. And it hurt so bad. All I wanted was a way out of my heartache, a way to avoid the painful reality that I was rejected.

"Our rejection has to be sealed, Scarlet. Don't you know the consequences of not doing that?" He touched my arm and I felt ripples of electricity on my skin.

"No but–"

"There you are!" I turned sharply to see Valerie sashaying toward us with a sneer smile on her face. I quickly withdrew and took steps back from Brad. When she got to him, she wrapped her arms around him. "I've been looking for you everywhere. What's going on?"

"It's nothing important." Brad avoided my gaze as he answered. Nothing important? Really? A part of me wanted to scream as I heard those words but I remained mute.

"Then what's she doing here?" Valerie glared at me with disdain. "I didn't know you're hanging out with freaks now."

Unlike me, she was an epitome of perfection. With her shiny blonde hair, perfect sculptured nose and hips, she was considered the most beautiful she-wolf in the entire pack. Her dad was also the beta of the pack, earning her respect and great recognition. I was nothing compared to her, absolutely nothing.

"It's not a big deal sweetheart." Brad planted a kiss on her lips and my stomach twisted into a knot. It was nauseating to watch him kiss the girl he rejected me for. "Let's get to class."

"I'll be right behind you." Valerie said and waited till he disappeared into the hallway. On her signal, three of her friends, Tricia, Zoey and Mia, came up behind me. They worshiped her like a goddess and seeing them rounding me up, I knew I was in trouble.

My heart was hammering in my chest as Valerie took steps closer to me. Her eyes glimmered with hatred and disgust as she pinched the tip of my hair. "A little birdie saw you wrapped up in Brad's arms. You must feel very lucky to have him as your mate, don't you?"

I contemplated lying, but there was no point. I had no explanation for being with Brad alone at the back of the cafeteria especially on my eighteenth birthday. She would still hurt me whether I had good reasons or not. To her, Brad was off limits.

"You don't have to feel threatened. He doesn't –"

Valerie erupted into a maniacal laughter, her voice tiny and fake as always. "Me? What makes you think I would ever feel threatened by you? That is the most absurd thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Isn't that why you're here?" I swallowed. "If you don't feel threatened by me, then you should let me go. It doesn't matter because Brad already–"

"Rejected you." A cold grin settled across her face. "He doesn't want you because you're nothing important. It hurts, doesn't it?" I fought back the tears that threatened to fall freely from my eyes.

"I need to go to class." I didn't want to be reminded of how pathetic I was. I tried to walk past her but Valerie was ready to make my day hell. She grabbed my hair and pulled me back while her friend, Tricia, tripped me.

I landed on my back and my head hit the ground. I cried out in pain, my vision turning blurry. Valerie bent toward me, grabbed my hair and lifted my head up to face her. "Nobody walks away from me, you red haired freak. And now, I'm going to teach you a lesson for attempting to steal Brad from me."

Before I could beg, she slapped my face and pushed me back to the ground. Despite the array of stars dancing around my eyes, I tried to scramble to my feet but Zoey's foot collided with my waist, sending me back to the dirt.

"You little whore!" Valerie screamed before stamping my head with her boots. I choked as blood seeped from my mouth and a deep cut on my head. I couldn't fight them, especially Valerie who was very strong and angry.

In tears, I curled up on the ground, my hands shielding my head from more blows. There was nothing I could do but endure the torment and insults from them. In my pain, I cried to the moon goddess to help me.

"Hey!" In the midst of the commotion, I heard a deep voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing to her?"

The torment stopped and I could sense the presence of an unfamiliar being. A wolf too but he was different. His aura washed over me and I could feel his power settle in my vein, stirring my wolf into silence.

Valerie motioned to her friends. "Let's go. She has learnt her lesson." I could hear their quick steps as they dashed away in fright. Still curled in my position, I wondered who my savior was.

Then I heard him draw closer, his footsteps heavy against the earth. The nearer he got, the more his scent enveloped me like an umbrella. His scent washed over me like a strong wave, it was a combination of rosewood and musky leather. I stiffened, my heart thumping at my sudden ability to feel his every move.

When he reached me, he lowered himself and rolled me slightly to face him. I slowly opened my eyes, squinting from the scratches and pain all over my face.

Deep blue eyes cut straight to mine as I stared at the boy squatting beside me. He was different from other boys in every way. He was majestic, and superior. But it wasn't just his chiseled jawline or golden hair that made him breathtaking. It wasn't just his height or his broad shoulders.

It was the ruthless intensity of his blue eyes. It was the curve of his sensual lips and his hawkish nose. A shiver went through me as he touched my face.

"Help..." I whispered, blood dripping from my bursted lips.

"Hang on." He scooped me into his arms, my body pressing against his broadened chest. I winced at every step he took, the pain from my aching ribs and joints jolting through me. "I need you to keep your eyes open." I vaguely heard him say as I blacked out.

Brad's POV

Walking back into the boy's changing room, I slammed the door behind me and collapsed on a bench.

Rejecting Scarlet turned out to be more difficult than I prepared for. She wasn't the typical mate I expected to have, yet, the bond between us tore through my heart like a spear.

Scarlet wasn't my type. My girlfriend, Valerie was sleek and sophisticated. She lavished hours at the salon and gym as though it was her full time job. She knew how to keep her lips red and to welcome me in her room wearing nothing but silk lingerie. And most importantly, she was easy to control.

Scarlet, on the other hand, was beautiful-maybe. But she was attractive in her own way. She wore no makeup and clearly saw her hair as a chore. In her constant baggy shirts and jeans, she obviously had no interest in fashion, or even showing her figure to any guy.

She was so unguarded, so innocent, and I thought it would be very easy to reject her. But when she stared up at me with her large and luminous eyes, my wolf melted away.

"Hey! Can we talk?" A voice jolted me out of my thoughts and I lifted my eyes to meet Elias' cold gaze. He was towering over me and I felt intimidated. I slowly gathered myself from the bench and rose to my feet. What the hell was he doing in our side of school?

"Seeing you here, I assume it must be very important." I dug my hands into my pocket. "I hope what you want to discuss is worth my time."

Elias, three years older than me, was the Lycan Prince of the Noble crest pack. As much as I hated to admit it, he was feared and respected more than everyone in school. But I was happy that Lycans and wolves were not allowed to interact at school due to years of dispute.

Lycans were aggressive and tended to spiral out of control, crushing anyone who came between them. They were possessive creatures who left their claim on girls whether they were mated or not. The separation was important for peace and as the Alpha's son, I maintained that stability at school.

"It's about Scarlet." He said, calmly. But Elias was no mind reader. How could he know about the mate bond already? I wasn't even sure he was supposed to know who Scarlet was.

"Who?"

His brows furrowed. "Your mate."

I stared at him for a long moment. "What about her?"

"Did you reject her?"

"No. Not yet." Obviously, if he knew about the mating bond, he had to know that I wasn't going to accept it. But why was all these important to him? "Why are you suddenly concerned about Scarlet?"

"You need to reject her." I was starting to get suspicious.

"Why?" Who did he think he was to try and make decisions for me? And why on earth did he think I would listen to him?

He was silent for a while, then smiled as he looked back at me. "She's not yours to play with, Brad. Valerie is your girlfriend and I'm sure she keeps you entertained enough. Stay as far away from Scarlet as you can."

I was starting to get pissed off. "She's my mate and I can do whatever I want with her. If you have something else to say, you can say it now or–"

Elias shoved me to the wall before I could finish and wrapped his hands around my throat. "Listen to me, Brad. I know you have no intentions to love her like she deserves. So, back off or you'll have to deal with me."

I pushed him off me and adjusted my shirt. His eyes were a blazing red with dark veins around them. I had only seen a Lycan that way whenever he was defending his mate or trying to claim her from someone else. But how could it be? How could my Scarlet be his mate? How could he try to take her from me?

"From your reaction, I can tell you want her." I said, rubbing my elbow. "But she came to me first and luckily, I've changed my mind. I'm going to claim and mark her."

Elias turned his back to me, with hands clenched beside him and his body shaking with rage. "I'm going to rip out your throat if you hurt her." With that, he walked away without looking back once.

"Fuck!" My fist punched through the wall before I could stop myself. Rage, pure rage washed over me as I considered Elias' threat. How could he come to my territory to threaten me? How dare him try to take my mate from me? "I'm not going to let him have her."

"Brad, are you in here?" The door creaked open with Valerie poking her head through it. "Why are you hiding in the changing room?" I sighed and bit back a curse. She was the last person I needed to see.

Valerie came to stand in front of me, her scent of expensive perfumes and shampoo swamping my nostrils. I was painfully aware that she smelt nothing like Scarlet who scented like natural wet roses and vanilla.

"Why didn't you tell me you found her?" Her hands were on her waist and she was tapping her foot gently.

I wrapped my arms around her and faked a smile. "Because I didn't think it was important to tell you. After all, I was planning to reject her."

"You were planning? Did you reject her and did she accept it?"

It was hard to keep eye contact especially when I was thinking of a lie to tell her. "I didn't but I told her we couldn't be together. She begged me not to reject her because she will be kicked out of the pack."

Valerie's eyes were cold and angry as she stepped back from me. Her face was curled into a malicious frown. "We promised to reject our mates when we find them. Don't you consider this a betrayal to me? Why are you choosing that freak over me?"

I straightened up and ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. Every minute I was wasting with her, Elias was probably taking the advantage to get closer to Scarlet.

"I'll reject her tomorrow, I promise." The lie was easier to tell than the truth. "I was just trying not to hurt her so much. She's probably crying her eyes out right now."

She sighed and placed her palms on my chest. "You're mine and I don't want to share you with anyone." She pressed her lips to mine and wrapped her hands around my neck. "Besides, I've already taken care of her. She wouldn't dare to ever come close to you again."

Without thinking, I pushed Valerie away from me. "What did you do to her? Tell me!" My voice thundered across the room as I rose to my feet. "Where is she?"

"We–we just–she's at the back of the cafeteria." She was nervous. "Elias stopped us from hurting her."

"What have you done?!!" I dashed out of the room to the hallway, without waiting for an answer. I couldn't let Elias take her away from me.