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1497 Words
JASMINE
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His lips were hot against mine as we kissed. I’d thought he’d pull away. Full-bloods weren’t exactly known for tolerating half-bloods let alone kiss one.
But Evans—a name I knew after reading his ID card—didn’t hold back, his hand wrapping around my waist and pressing me against his sturdy body.
It was my first kiss and it was electric.
We didn’t pull away, we couldn’t, not until the sound of laughter drawing close, then we did, our eyes still locked onto each other like we were in trance.
He blinked. “Tomorrow.”
I didn’t know what that meant, and before I could ask he had disappeared down the path that led to the dormitory.
*********
Tomorrow came, I’d told myself it didn’t matter to me when I was showering, when I was slipping into the grey uniform, the skirts shorter than I expected. By the time I reached the hall, I’d told myself it didn’t matter that I had just had my first kiss a thousand times.
The lecture hall was gigamous, if that was even a word. Tiered rows of seats climbing high like a stadium.
The true blood clustered on the right side clad in their black uniforms, laughing loud, like the class belonged to them. On the left was ours—half bloods. The corner was quiet, stiff, like they weren’t allowed to breathe.
My stomach knotted with flutters as I spotted Evans. He sat in the midst of the true bloods, impeccably handsome, laughing at some jokes.
‘Isn’t him handsome,’ Nyra purred.
My pulse hiked when our eyes locked. I’d thought he’d wave. Maybe nod. Smile or something.
But he didn’t. Rather he threw his gaze like I didn’t exist, and continued laughing, throwing his arm around another girl.
My chest ached as my heart shrank. After our kiss, he just acted like I was nothing.
I let my hand drop,curling my finger tight.
Nyra stilled. No sarcastic comment. Just a thick silence.
He probably was ashamed of me.
Camille wove me over. She’d left earlier to reserve a seat for me and Emily.
I dropped beside her. “Where is Emily?”
Camille shrugged, sucking on a sweet.
The instructor entered. A man in his mid 40s with lips so thin they looked permanently pressed in disapproval.
With a clap, he silenced the hall.
He rested on the wooden lectern. “Listen carefully, y’all will be taking the same class for the first six months. Your performance at the end, will determine whether you stay in your current programme or your current, transfer or get dropped,” with a firm voice,he said, “work hard.”
Something in me sparked. If I did well enough, I could transfer to the healing programme. Get close to herbs, and get rid of Nyra for good.
The man began, introducing us to the courses we would be taking,when the door creak opened and a tall figure entered.
It was Zane. His dark tousled hair fell in waves, framing his face, highlighting his striking features in dangerous ways.
He was really the Elite of the elite.
His presence made the air shift. The girls arranged their hair. The boys fell silent.
Mr. Weldon shot him a wide servient smile. “You may take your seat.” He gestured towards the True-blood section.
Zane’s eyes swept across the hall like he was scanning for someone. And when they landed on me, my breath hitched.
Like he owned the world, he climbed the aisle, the thuds of his shoes echoing in the frozen silence.
Reaching my row, Zane dropped into the seat next to me like it was the natural thing to do, his black uniform standing out among our grey uniforms.
My heart dropped.
The silence doubled down. Thick. Heavier. The whole class froze like there was a glitch in reality.
Mr. Weldon wavered. “Mr. Argent, the true bloods sit—.”
“I’m fine, here.” He leaned back, his broad shoulders taking up the space.
‘What the hell was he doing?’ Nyra questioned.
My mind was too tangled to answer.
While my body stiffened, forcing my gaze on the blank book before me, Camille stared like she might pass out.
Through the rest of the class, I did my utmost best to ignore his occasional glances, the sharp stares from other students.
As the bell rang, Mr. Weldon began wrapping the class. “Remember, after the break, we will be testing your wolf strength to put you in groups.”
His voice barely thrived beneath the noise of students rising and packing their bags.
Quickly, I jolted, and slipped out the far end, darting of the class before their eyes swallowed me whole.
***********
The aroma of food hung in the air, and the soft chatters filled every corner of the cafeteria.
“Why did you sit next to you? Does he know you?” Camille questioned, twisting the cap of the bottle.
I shook my head. “I’ve never met him,” I responded.
My gaze drifted to Evans, who sat amongst the popular kids in school. And of course Charlotte and Charles were there.
I should’ve let him be, but Nyra kept seeking his attention, and she ached when he didn’t respond.
Camille swallowed another spoon of rice. “It’s funny how he just—”
She didn’t get to finish her words, when Evans stood, his voice raised.
“Wolves of Blackthorne, I need to clear this up, before the rumors spread,” Evan said, his eyes glinting mischievously as they met mine. “Whatever happened last night was nothing. I don’t mess with half breeds.”
Everyone’s gaze flew to me, and my body shriveled, my breath hot in my lungs.
Evans tipped his chin. “I, Evan Cornell, Alpha of BlackClaws, reject…” he paused, and turned to Charlotte. “What’s her name again?”
Everyone erupted into a laugh.
“Reject, Jasmine, daughter of whatever pack as my mate.” Evan smiled.
My chest ached. Why did he kiss me if he didn’t want me?
‘Don’t let him reject us,’ Nyra said, like I could actually stop him.
Their eyes were still on me, and laughter still on their lips like I was some kind of joke.
As though she had won an award, Charlotte grinned, while Charles remained indifferent.
Get up. Runaway.
But my legs didn’t move, my throat tightening with swallowed shame.
“You have to reject him,” Camille mouthed. “Say the words.”
I didn’t know if that was what I was supposed to do, but I repeated his words, flipping the names.
“I, Jasmine Blakes, reject you as your mate.”
I stepped out of the seat, about to flee, when the pain came—hot and searing—dragging me to the floor.
In hunter training, I have taken punches, broken a bone. But this…this felt like my soul was shattering.
A strangled groan tore for my throat.
The Half bloods didn’t laugh, they just sat frozen, watching. The True bloods laughed harder, the gnawing sound echoing of the halls.
Nyra howled in pain.
Camille crouched beside me and helped me up. “Let’s get out of here.”
With her help, I trudged to the health center.
The male doctor carried me and placed me on one of the beds in the room. After Camille explained what had happened, he gave me some herbs.
After a while, the pain subsided. But the void in my chest remained.
Like she too had left me, Nyra remained silent. While I curled my fist against the mattress.
The door burst open, and Emily ran inside. “How did this happen?”
Her phone was in my face. A video of me groaning in pain. The caption boldly written: Half blood rejected by a True blood Alpha.
Comments popped up:
Did she really think she could have him?
His way out of her league.
Who did she think she is? Cinderella.
It made me dizzy and nauseated.
Camille pushed the phone away. “Ignore it. This will die down,” she said, “rest now, once the break is over we have to test our pheromones.”
My chest tightened. If they test me, and Nyra was weak, I’ll never recover from the humiliation.
The bell rang, and my heart lurched in my chest.
“Go, I’ll meet up with you,” I said.
Camille and Emily gave me a worried look.
“I just need some time alone.”
They both nodded and left the room.
I pleaded in my head. Please be strong. Give me something to hold on.
I dragged my body that felt heavy. Getting to the hall, I pushed the door open.
Everyone’s head turned.
From across the room, Zane stared at me like he knew something I didn't.
And the air in my lungs trembled.
- Writer
