REBIRTH AND FATED TO TWO

Thalassa Crowe. “Come to the celebration party tonight, and I will accept our mates' bond there. Right there in front of everyone.” Dorian Frost's voice echoes in my mind for the millionth time tonight like bad music playing on a loop. Three months ago at the Fresher's Night party, I discover that Dorian Frost is my fated mate. Dorian is the school's golden boy. The ice hockey captain has straight A’s in all of his courses, he is rich—his family is a major shareholder at Northcrest University—and handsome. He is the type of guy that ladies scream the name of anytime he steps into a room. When the mate bond sparks, I think I have found favor in the sight of the Goddess because I have loved him since the moment I even got a scholarship to study at Northcrest… his pictures are everywhere in my room back home at the Silverstone Pack; he is the reason I dare to dream of coming here to study. My struggling family cannot pay the tuition fee which costs more than a fortune, so I study my ass off for two years to get the scholarship. But that night, Dorian drags me out of the party and tells me I am the biggest mistake of his life. He hates me—hates our bond. The words twist into my chest. I think he is going to reject me that night, but surprisingly, he doesn’t. But he remains indifferent too… until five hours ago when he approaches me as I am changing out of my cheerleading outfit in the locker room and tells me he would like to announce our bond to everyone later tonight. So here I am, standing in front of his luxurious penthouse and trying so hard to stop the tremors coursing through my body. “Breathe, Thalassa. Breathe,” I whisper to myself, though my heart feels like it is trying to punch its way out of my chest. “He is your mate and he has invited you here, so why the hell are you still afraid?” I guess that is because Dorian can be intimidating sometimes, but earlier… he is different. Soft in a way that catches me totally off guard. A blush creeps up my cheeks when I remember that he even kisses my cheek. Once I manage to steady myself, I smooth out the thrifted silk dress that I get from the shopping mall earlier when I realize I have nothing decent to wear other than my faded baggy jeans and polos. I push up my glasses and start walking towards the penthouse, the heels I borrow from my best friend earlier clicking sharply against the floor. Inside, the thick smell of alcohol and cigar wafts into my nostrils. The sound of music, students swaying energetically to it, and laughter echo through the room. I remain by the entrance, my eyes darting around the room to see every cheerleading lady and ice hockey guy dressed in sophisticated and beautiful outfits. Even though I put in a lot of effort, I am still the least dressed. Dorian, who is standing at the far end of the room, leisurely swirling a glass of wine in his hand while discussing with some team members, finally looks in my direction. His eyes rake over me, focusing on the silk dress. Does he know that I buy it for a measly five dollars? Then his lips lift in a smirk. Not the type I expect though. The smirk that seems like I am a joke he does not quite get. With a single flick of his hand, the music dies down and the students murmur in anger at the fun being cut short. “Look who we have here, guys,” he announces, his voice carrying a mocking undertone. “My mate.” All eyes are on me. Some are smiling like they have found something more interesting than the music, while others stare at me with mask-thin disgust and disdain. I swallow past the thick lump in my throat, gripping the straps of the crossbody bag slung across my shoulders tightly until my knuckles ache. Maybe I should not have come here. Dorian gestures at me. “Come here, love.” His smile is dark, sending chills down my spine. “Come, enjoy the party.” With trembling legs, I make my way forward, but when I reach midway and stand under the intense gazes, my steps falter. One of the heels snaps, and I stumble sideways, hitting the floor sharply. Pain shoots through my ankle, but the mocking laughter around me drowns it out. “Pathetic!” “How dare the four-eyes think she can be the captain's mate!” “The scholarship girl really wants to climb up the social ladder, huh?” Those words pierce into my skin and I wrap my hands around myself tightly as if that will shield me from the pain, tears pricking my eyes. Dorian steps closer. His hand reaches down and I stare up at him to see him smiling at me. “Come on.” He gestures that I should take his hand. I smile faintly and grip his hand but suddenly… he lets go, and my ass cheeks hit the floor with a loud, sickening thud. Another wave of laughter erupts. “Why are you doing this to me, Dorian?” I ask, my lips trembling from the great effort it takes to hold my tears back. “You ask me to come here because you want to accept our mate's bond, so… why are you acting like this?” He crouches lower in front of me, his fingers gripping my jaw tightly. “Mate bond?” he spits, his gaze icy. “You dare think I will ever accept you as my mate? No, darling. The reason I invite you here is because I figure we will be bored at the party. I mean, what better way to be entertained than publicly rejecting and playing around with you?” My heart does drop; it feels like it leaves my body completely. So he invites me here just to entertain himself? This time, when I stare at him, all the love I have harbored all these years morphs into hatred and anger. “You hate me, right?” I snap, my voice laced with barely restrained rage. “You want to reject me? I get it… now then get it done with, so I can leave.” I just cannot withstand the humiliation anymore. “Oh… she is angry! The weak, wolfless and pathetic scholarship girl is angry.” He fakes trembling. “I'm so scared she is going to shift into a wolf and rip me apart, isn't she?” His fingers dig deeper into my jaw, stinging. “Now shift!” “Leave me alone, Dorian..” I cry out, my voice desperate. “Leave me…” “You won't leave until I punish you for everything you've done… for ever daring to think I will really claim you as my mate. Oh… you think I don't know about how you've been dropping those ridiculous notes and chocolates in my locker.” He knows? How? I have been secretly dropping him notes and chocolates just to let him know I am his biggest fan. “You've been stalking me, b***h and all that ends today.” He jerks my jaw away and my glasses snap off my face. Everything becomes blurry… my sight drifting in and out of darkness. “No… no..” I murmur, tears slipping down my cheeks. “I will stop everything I do… Please just give me my glasses and let me go.” My hands search the surrounding floor. The silence is thick for a while and the next thing I feel is a heel crushing my hand. “Not so fast, four-eyed bitch.” A shiver shoots through my spine. I recognise that voice somewhere. It is the voice of my worst nightmare.