His Rejected Mate

Chapter One: My Mate

Hayden Davis.

Blue Reef High.

Three Months ago.

“With the presence of the white wolf with golden eyes, it is believed that the Uktena has reincarnated in our lifetime.”

“And what do you believe, Mr. Davis?”

I smiled, glancing at the open page of my blog on my laptop before looking back at my students. I started this blog a few years ago to document things that are happening or will occur in the future. Most of them are just theories, but some, I am certain they're real. I managed to gather substantial evidence to back up my research.

Some may argue that this is just some superstitions derived from urban legends, or what some call prophecies. But, we all know that this is our reality. Humans, to this date, still don't believe in the supernatural. Yet, our existence says otherwise.

While doing my research, I take every theory seriously, and I'd make sure to extensively lookup for proof to validate or negate them.

Oliver Sullivan, the boy who asked the question, showed as much anticipation as the rest of the class. I sighed, remembering who my theory leads to. “I think that the Night Wolf is the Uktena.”

“We all figured that much.” Samantha Fischer always showed little to no interest when it comes to our history. The only thing she cared about was her looks, social media followers, and the new car her father bought for her as a birthday present. Although she’s an Alpha and the heir of her father’s legacy, she showed no improvement or willingness to lead her pack in the future.

“Yes, she’s right. We all know that the White Wolf’s pair is the Night Wolf. Which means they’re the Uktena.”

“True. It is believed that the White Wolf with golden eyes is the Uktena’s mate. But we all know how wrong the prophecies or the records can be at times.”

“Yeah, heh, like the myth of the Horned Serpent,” Oliver added to what his classmate said. “Unlike Uktena and the others who we learned about, the idea of one being to rule all seems so farfetched. Also, the fact that they possess god-like powers. . . I mean, even Luna has limits to what she can do.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t you know that Uktena himself is one of the Horned Serpents? It is said that one powerful god, the Horned Serpent, in his last days, divided his powers and created the seven rulers. Uktena was recorded to be the most powerful one of them all. It is why he’s believed to be the one capable of uniting all packs, clans, and covens under his ruling.”

“So, when the Horned Serpent god is reincarnated, will they possess the powers of all seven serpents?!”

“Yes, Oliver. And not only that.” I turned on the projector and connected it to my laptop to show them my recent findings. “As you can see here, recently an archaeologist discovered these ancient symbols in a cave near Charlotte. Can anyone guess what these symbols represent?”

They all showed confusion and started whispering amongst each other, until someone quietly said, “The first seven symbols are of the well-known Horned Serpents, amongst them Uktena and Unktehi. The last two symbols are different, though. I’ve never seen them before. But the last one means nine gods.”

Sylvie Red, the most diligent student in my class, was the one to speak. She always exhibited enthusiasm for learning about supernatural history. She was a top achiever, though her shyness got her overlooked by her peers.

Her eyes shone in realization, and I nodded.

“Although this wasn’t documented in history books, after this recent discovery, some of the Uktena tribe's chronicles emerged that mention the rebirth of the Horned Serpent. This person will behold the powers of all the nine serpents.”

“And who are the other two?!”

Sylvie’s cheeks reddened when Rick Dawson chuckled, mumbling something under his breath. I just sighed at this young man’s behavior. Surely, he has a lot to learn if he wants to run his pack in the future.

“We still don’t know, Sylvie. But I do have a couple of theories.”

She slowly nodded and looked down at her desk. Rick snickered by her side, leaning back in his seat with a satisfied smile.

“And, Rick, it would be better to pay more attention in class. Thinking that you’re so cool by bullying her just makes you look weak and undeserving of your status.”

Cameron Summer, Rick’s best friend, cackled but abruptly stopped under my glare.

I thought bullying the Omega was all beyond us at this time and age, but it seems I was wrong. The existence of Omegas has declined in recent years, which is why the council is doing its best to protect them.

Sylvie is the only Omega we have at this school. She’s so precious to all of us, which is why she’s in this Elite class. This class has only future regional pack leaders, noble vampires, and her. We try our best not to show any favoritism when it comes to her, but I can’t stand seeing her getting bullied. Omega or not, Wolf or not, she’s still a person with feelings.

Unlike Rick, I had a friend about his age who always acted like the Alpha he is. So compassionate, loving, and understanding. He cared so much about his pack members, regardless of their status. He showed great leadership skills that made us all proud of him. Too bad his destiny is worse than mine, getting rejected before he even met his mate.

Mates. That’s another story. It’s troubling how your destined pair could ruin your life in a matter of seconds. Jonathan Blackwell, my best friend, had his heart broken at a young age. The rejection turned him bitter and sullen, to the point he resorted to dark magic to end his suffering.

I didn’t understand how he felt then, getting angry that he condemned himself to never fall in love, while he promised we'd be together.

I felt betrayed and left him and his pack. I needed time for myself, but in all honesty, I’m just a coward. I was greedy, thinking that since I didn’t have a mate and he was rejected, I had a chance of making him my own. I never stopped to think of how he felt. I wasn’t there for him and couldn’t stand seeing him wither away and ruin his life. I chickened out and left.

I’m such an asshole.

“Mr. Davis.” Startled a bit, I looked at the door where Mr. Summer, the principal, stood. “Can I have a word with you?”

“Oooh, Mr. Davis is in trouble.” Joked Cameron and shrugged when his father shot him a warning glare.

I nodded, following Mr. Summer outside the classroom. Once I closed the door, he placed his hand on my shoulder, gesturing for me to follow him.

“Is something wrong?”

I don’t know why I asked, but the look he had on was so worrisome. It's the same look he had on when I first showed up here. I didn’t know I was so famous until I got here. They actually have a nickname for me.

The doomed pair.

They all shared the same beliefs as my parents, thinking that I was destined to be mated with the notorious hunter. Truth be told, I don’t know if I should believe in their existence. I’m already in my early twenties, yet I haven’t met them. The fact that I don’t feel their presence in this world means that they either died or don’t exist at all.

Maybe Luna didn’t choose one for me.

But Alpha Summer and Dawson believe that I’m fated to meet them. And according to them, it might be sooner than they expected.

I just wonder what it will feel like. I wonder about the first look and touch. Will I feel the warmth everyone talked about? Will I also get captivated by their scent? Will it matter that they’re the enemy? Will we prove everyone wrong in not fulfilling the prophecy everyone is talking about?

Will they like me, love, and cherish me?

I know I would. I just want to be with someone.

The worst feeling is loneliness. It’s my natural enemy. Even when I’m surrounded by friends, having some laughs, and enjoying our time, I still feel a part of me is missing. You know what I’m talking about. That emptiness that feeds on you, burning you inside out. No matter how much you laugh, eat, cry or scream even, nothing works in filling it or getting rid of that sensation. And when I’m alone at night, that’s when it hits me the most.

I just don’t want to be alone.

Mr. Summer halted and smiled. “We have a new student who’ll join us this year. I know he’s a couple of months late for this semester, but due to an incident, he had to be transferred here.”

“And?” I pressed when he seemed hesitant.

Reluctantly, he added. “I know that it’s beyond our ethics to have him in this school.” I stared at him confused, and he elaborated. “He’s the son of a hunter. You must’ve heard of him. Thomas Reese.”

“Thomas Reese?” I thought aloud. “You mean that hunter who attacked your pack in the past?!”

“Yes, and you know he was killed just recently?”

“He was?!”

He motioned for me to resume walking, as he explained. “Thomas attacked a wolf from the Night Walker pack, which got him killed.”

The blood in my veins stilled at hearing that name. It’s been years since I left, yet hearing the name of my old pack brought back all those horrifying experiences I’ve been through. I have long wiped their existence from my mind. I did my best to forget about who they were and what they meant to me. I embraced being a lone wolf.

“They killed him and executed their own pack doctor for treason. She was, of course, the boy’s mother. And since he lost both his parents and almost his life, too, Roger agreed to bring him here.”

“Mr. Dawson took him in?”

He nodded. “He asked me to talk to you, since, you know, you’re both from the same pack technically.”

I let out a nervous laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t think. . .”

He stopped in front of his office and sighed. “I know I’m asking for too much, but we thought you'd be the best person to talk to this boy. He’s confused and shows so much hostility towards our kind. His uncle, Seth Reese, pleaded with the elders to let his nephew join this school. He explained how much he didn’t share the same beliefs as their hunters’ council, and that he wanted his nephew not to get influenced by their bigoted beliefs like his dad.”

“Hayden,” he smiled softly. “He’s a kid who's lost and unsure of what he is. He’s been through the same things you went through. You can help him. No one can but you.”

I chuckled nervously, unsure why he thinks I'm up for such a task. “You put so much fate in me, Carl.”

“That’s because I know you. You’re a fighter and a doer. You don’t take anything for granted. What people like us consider small things, for you, they’re big things. You’re grateful and compassionate. You’re the best person to look after this kid. . . His uncle is doing as much as he could to get him to open up, to change his mind about us. And we can do our part and help him during his time at school. We can all show him the way. The right way.”

“What do we benefit from having a hunter in our school?”

“Actually, the kid didn't inherit his father’s legacy and showed no signs of supernatural powers. He is just a human.”

“A human?" I asked, feeling the beginning of a frown. "Now, I’m confused.”

“You see, the real reason why we accepted him into this school is his uncle. Seth Reese exhibited more promise than his brother. His abilities are outstanding, and he could be of great help to us against Church and the council.”

I nodded, although I was still suspicious about the whole thing. We have hunters who support our cause and help us when it's required, but the Reese family is known for their viciousness. For Seth to join us out of the goodness of his heart, he must have some hidden agenda.

“And he agreed to help you if you kept his nephew safe at this school? I mean, with this, the Night Walker pack wouldn’t dare harm the kid.”

Nodding, Mr. Summer replied. “Indeed. So, I couldn’t think of a better person to look after him but you.”

I chuckled out of frustration, given I could barely take care of myself as it is. Sighing, I agreed. “I’ll try my best, but I can’t promise anything. Don’t expect much from someone like me.”

He had a satisfied smile as he opened the door. And just then, all the confidence I had left me. One look at the kid; one look at his ashen face, blank glare, and cold eyes made my entire existence crumble. This feeling was new, so peculiar and uncomfortable. As if I got shot in the chest, I failed to breathe. My eyes tingled, and all my senses heightened.

Just one look and I wanted to know everything about him. I wanted to wipe his sorrows, watch him laugh, and get captivated by his smile. I wanted to hold him. Him, a child?

What’s wrong with me?

“Mr. Reese, sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Mr. Summer introduced us. “This is Hayden Davis, a history teacher in our school and a mentor for our future leaders.”

The boy looked at me indifferently, for a moment, before he grimaced. His repulsed expression affected me much more than it should. My chest tightened even more; my mind went into an overload that rendered me unable to respond.

“Mr. Davis?!”

With heavy feelings, I looked away from the boy's cold eyes to meet those of his uncle. He showed a friendly smile, but for some reason, it alarmed all my senses as if I was facing danger. Maybe because he’s a hunter, and with all that feud our kind has with his family, it must be clouding my judgment.

I brushed the feeling off and took his hand in a firm handshake, fighting the urge to rub my hand off on my jeans, feeling like I'm betraying my kind just by holding his hand. He smiled some more. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Davis. Mr. Summer told me so much about you.” I frowned in question, as from my understanding, Mr. Summer had just introduced me to him. Seth Reese didn't seem to notice my confusion as he looked at his nephew.

“Michael, why don’t you wait outside? I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Summer and Mr. Davis.”

The boy stared at him for a solid thirty seconds in an awkward air before he got up from the chair. His eyes fiercely glared at his uncle in irritation, angrily leaving the principal's office and slamming the door shut.

I swear that I could detect fear in his uncle’s eyes, staring blankly at the door. And as if he remembered where he was, he cleared his throat and awkwardly chuckled.

“Michael is so much like my brother, Tom.” He sighed, smiling a little at me. “He's so stubborn, but he has a big heart."

"I doubt your brother had a big heart."

"Mr. Davis," Carl started with a warning, making me roll my eyes.

Seth chuckled, interrupting Carl as he added, "I understand, Mr. Davis. What my brother did was wrong, and I admit it. I meant to say that Michael is like my brother when he was a kid."

I nodded, still doubtful. After all what we witnessed from his brother, I found it hard to think that Thomas Reese used to be as innocent-looking as his son.

"I'm sorry for not showing any sympathy towards your brother. But I'm not a person who would chase after someone's family to seek revenge. I understand you want to keep your nephew safe, and I'm happy to help."

Indeed, I agreed to help before meeting Seth Reese, but the intriguing feeling I got from his nephew had me wholeheartedly accept to take him under my care.

"I appreciate it, Mr. Davis." He formed a genuine smile. "And in return, I promise to offer my help whenever you need it. The safety of my nephew is my utmost priority right now. The council think that I intervened and hid Michael's powers, believing that he's the best candidate to run the council in the future."

He frowned, and I noticed how he balled his hands into fists. "I know for a fact that they're using him as a decoy, putting Michael's life in danger with their claims. Now, I have some of the notorious packs and covens after him."

I shared his worry, taking a seat across from him. "Is it true that he's human? I don't mean to doubt you or anything. . ."

"He is just a human, and honestly, I'm so happy that he is. I don't want him to live the hunter's life, but ironically, the harder I try to keep him away from that life, the more dangerous it gets for him."

He looked down, gritting his teeth as he mumbled. "Michael's life has been no short of gloom since the start. He's an innocent boy who was dragged into this mess. I want him to be safe, long enough until I nullify all those atrocious claims."

"And we'll do our best to help you and your nephew, Mr. Reese." Carl offered a smile, and Seth Reese nodded.

"Just Seth is fine."

"Okay then, you call me Carl."

Seth chuckled, saying, "thanks, Carl, and you too, Mr. Davis."

I curtly nodded, and Seth looked towards the door.

". . . My brother, he met Kim Andrews, his wife, when he traveled to Prague for a conference. . . They were both young and in love, but that soon changed when they both came back to the States. Thomas didn’t know that she was a Night Walker pack member. Kim, the daughter of the pack’s Beta, didn’t inherit wolves' genes. She is. . . was human. When she met my brother, she left her pack to be with him, living a secret life.”

He looked back at Carl, adding, “her secret was soon revealed when she gave birth to Michael. Although my nephew is human too, he didn’t inherit Thomas’s powers, and that only meant one thing. His blood is ‘tainted’.”

I leaned back in the chair, thinking of the boy waiting outside. I thought of what happened to him, what he’s been through, and how broken he must be.

Seth Reese continued. “Kim, when it got unbearable living with someone who hated her mere existence, she sought refuge in her old pack. They took her in and her child, not knowing that he was my brother’s son. But soon enough, on my nephew’s fifteenth birthday, Thomas showed up. And I think you know the rest.”

I nodded, thinking of the little information Mr. Summer filled me in. I felt bad for the boy, to lose both parents on the same day. That must've been awful, to say the least.

“I don’t want my nephew to grow up filled with those poisonous thoughts and be like his father. I want him to have a somewhat normal life. I want him to learn how to live in harmony with others.”

“You could’ve chosen for him to live his life like a normal human being,” I interjected. I couldn’t help but be suspicious of him and that fake friendly smile of his. Something about him ticked off my wolf. “Why would you bring him here, surround him with wolves? The beings who killed his parents?”

“Hayden!”

“No, it’s alright, Mr. Summer.” Seth cut in and smiled. “I’m used to this, and I get where Mr. Davis is coming from. I really understand.”

He faced me with a frown, seeming reluctant to speak. “Michael hates the supernatural, and the council planned to use him and his hatred towards your kind to create a killing machine. They didn’t think of his feelings or the fact that he’s just a kid. . . A human kid. They thought of a way to make him powerful, forming allies with masters of the dark arts to cheat the system.”

I noticed how he licked his dry lips, maybe out of frustration or nervousness, adding, “And there is the Night Walker pack. They couldn’t let go of the fact that they raised the son of a hunter. They wanted him dead. What could I do, Mr. Davis? I couldn’t just watch his life get wasted before my eyes. I begged and pleaded with your elders to meet me and begged some more for them to protect him. I don’t care about what will become of me. But Michael, he deserves all the happiness he can get.”

I couldn’t help but stare at the closed door when he did, thinking the same way. The kid deserves a normal life. He deserves to be happy and away from harm's way. I don’t see a reason for him to be in a supernatural school, but his uncle is right. The closer he is to us, the safer he’ll be.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Reese. Mr. Davis didn’t mean any harm. He’s always been careful.”

He nodded with a gentle smile playing on his lips. “I completely understand. I would be as apprehensive as he is if a werewolf showed up at my doorstep, asking for help.”

“Mr. Davis?” Mr. Summer started. “Do you mind asking Michael to come in?”

I was quick to open the door to find the boy sitting on a chair by Mrs. Parks', Carl's assistant, desk. He looked away from his phone, glaring at me. “Can I go in now?”

He sounded annoyed, and more importantly, angry. In contrast to his innocent appearance, I could tell he is a difficult, stubborn child.

Finding my voice through the troubling emotions that swirled inside me, I said, “ Yes, please come in.”

He hastily got up, and I opened the door wide for him to go in. He was quick to take a seat by his uncle, eyes again glued on his phone.

“Mr. Reese?” Mr. Summer started, but the boy still didn’t respond. His uncle chuckled and flicked his forehead, which made him frown.

“What?” He said, irritated, and god his flustered-looking face played a number on me. I am seriously enchanted by this boy, and I don’t understand why.

“Mr. Reese, there are a few rules you need to know about this school. First, we don’t accept tardiness, fights, or disrespect at this school. . .”

“The same as every other school,” Michael smugly countered, making me chuckle.

Mr. Summer chuckled as well and nodded. “Yes, the same as every school. But, we allow monitored fights in the gym occasionally, but I believe you won’t be part of those since. . .”

“Since what? Mr. Summer, do I look weak to you?”

You look so fragile to me, I thought, eyeing that small body of his in concern.

Mr. Summer resumed. “. . . since all the students here are either wolves, vampires, or witches.”

“I know that.” He grumbled, and his uncle hit him lightly in the back of his head. And weirdly enough, I wanted to hit Seth back for laying his hand on him.

“Behave, Michael.”

He huffed, rolling his eyes. “I am behaving. Mr. Summer, you don’t seem to know anything about me. Did you check my records?”

I stood there baffled by this kid’s shrewdness.

Mr. Summer smiled. “Yes, Mr. Reese. You have an impressive academic record.”

Proudly nodding, Michael said, “Yes, I do. I’m what you could call an intellectual genius. Trust me, no one will win a fight against me, because I’ll win before they can even make the first move.”

His uncle shook his head, running his hand over his chin. “I forgot to mention that my nephew is a narcissist.”

“I believe your exact words were a narcissistic asshole.”

“Michael!” Exclaimed Seth in disbelief, and the other smirked.

“Seth!”

Mr. Summer barked a burst of laughter, interrupting them. “Michael Reese, I think you’ll fit in here just fine.”

Mumbling, the boy defiantly stared at his uncle. The latter was rendered speechless, looking away instantly.

“Mr. Davis, why don’t you show him around the school? I have some things to discuss with Mr. Reese.”

Though I still had a class waiting, I eagerly opened the door for Michael, who reluctantly stood up and left the office with me following. We walked in silence at first, my eyes watching his every move. I found myself enchanted by his small physique, intrigued by his aloofness and indifference.

He abruptly stopped walking, and stupid me bumped into him. At first, I was dumbfounded by the sparks that jolted my body as if flaming lava flooded my veins, then a sense of terror invaded my mind, realizing what this was. I couldn’t help but move a step away from him, still in shock that this small kid was. . . my mate?

My mate? I have a mate? My pair?

My eyes never left him, feeling more intrigued to see his reaction. Instead, with a bored tone of voice, he muttered. “Which way?”