The Mate Who Couldn't Remember

Chapter 3

Koa’s POV

Another dull lecture. Another hour of vacant stares and shallow minds, with a few people actually contributing to the discourse. I scan the room, and they shrink away from my gaze, as they should. Fear is the best tool for discipline.

The door creaks in the middle of my speech, and I resist the urge to groan.

She slips in through the tiny c***k in the door, but halts, clutching her bag to her chest like a shield. Long brown hair, wide brown eyes, and a fragility that almost gets me pissed. Her presence is small, almost like she is used to shrinking away.

But at the same time, her scent cuts through my walls. It smells like honey, warm and soft. She makes my senses tingle and fills me with the urge to take a long, slow whiff.

"Yes?" I give nothing away as my voice slices through the silence. Her lips fall open, but nothing comes out.

Not even a whisper.

For a second, her gaze locks on mine, and the air thickens. She can feel the same thing. I watch as she takes a whiff, as her eyes flutter close from the irresistible force, as the whole class starts laughing.

Mate.

Their mockery seems to bounce off her as she takes slow steps forward, her eyes curious, and the hold on her bag less intense. I see Miss Summer put her leg out, but the girl is too focused on the scent that she doesn't realize it.

Until she lands on the floor.

I try to push the concern away from my eyes, the need to jump right there to save her. I don’t want a second chance mate. Not after what happened the first time.

And in one of my students? The moon goddess sure has a weird sense of humour.

I return to discussing the Supernatural Politics of our kind. While half the class thinks this is some fantasy session and the chance to steal a good look at the hot professor, some actually pay attention.

The ones that know it matters.

“There is a thin line between fear and respect,” I murmur, my eyes coming to rest on her at intervals. Her eyes are on a sheet of paper in front of her, and I see her wince slightly. She is hurt.

I shouldn’t pay this much attention to her.

“Can anyone tell me why? “

The lady who pushed her to the floor raises her hands. A coy smile is on her lips as she gets on her feet. "Fear is power, Professor Koa," she breathes, her eyes narrowed in my direction. I notice she has popped open a few buttons on her shirt and now has an inappropriate amount of cleavage on display.

“I didn’t ask you to speak.”

Her face falls as she returns to her seat.

"I have a question." My voice booms around the class as I move to my textbook. I scan the class again, my gaze stopping on her for the umpteenth time. She looks to be struggling to understand what I have been saying and is now peering over her shoulder at the note of the person sitting behind her.

“You.”

She stops, and I hear her take in a sharp breath. Her finger points back to her. "Me?"

I tilt my head with a look of disdain etched onto my features. “I don’t like silly questions, Miss….”

“Alaric,” she murmurs, rising to her feet. “Maya Alaric. I just transferred…”

"Keep the details to yourself, Miss Alaric." The class would have giggled if I weren't frowning. "You had five minutes to do that when you stepped into my class."

She swallows and then nods. Her hands go to the back of her neck, and she scratches lightly.

"We have been discussing the treaty between the werewolf clan and humans, right before any of us existed."

Her eyes widen slightly, and the confusion in her features is unmistakable. What the hell is she doing in my class?

“Can you tell the class what event led to that first formal treaty and why it was considered fragile?”

Maya stops and looks around the class.

“The answer isn’t on the walls.”

“Werewolves exist?”

The rest of the students desperately hold on to their laughter.

“Miss Alaric, do you want to take this class or not?”

“I’m ….” Her lips suddenly slap shut. But something else happens immediately after,

Her fingers dig into the edge of the desk as hr body seizes. Her head lolls forward, and her already distraught strands cover her face. Her lips move, as if she is in a conversation none of us can hear. A conversation I am certain she has no idea about, either.

“Miss Alaric?” I call from the front of the class, forcing myself to stay put, even though the bond tears at me, pushing me towards her.

A loud scream slips from her lips, and suddenly, those seated around her scramble away. The class is a little chaotic right now, and even though that will usually bother me, it is the least of my concerns right now.

Maya falls to the ground suddenly, a sigh reverberating around the walls. Her body still trembles, and her eyes are still shut.

The class grows quiet, and somebody yells. "Is she dead?"

Cruel and pathetic laughter takes over, championed by the student who pushed her to the floor earlier. Sharon? Susan? I am going to have to get her name and kick her out of the class.

She’s getting on my nerves.

“Someone take her to the infirmary so we can get on with the class.” My tone is casual, but the command itself is woven in still. Even though they don’t like her, no one dares disobey.

Two boys scramble to their feet and head in her direction, lifting her off the floor. I know that eagerness in their eyes, to be free of my class for a few minutes. I also know that they won’t be taking her to the infirmary.

She will be tossed aside, probably near the bins, until she gets herself up.

And I let them.

I retrieve my phone and press dial.

The screen blinked once, then the line opened.

“Alpha Koa?” A voice answered.

“I found her.”