REBIRTH AND FATED TO TWO

Reject me!

Thalassa Crowe.

My words make the tension in the room thicken to fifty shades. Everyone's eyes widen, murmurs swirling around the room.

“You're rejecting me?!” he asks in disbelief, his hand slapping over his chest lightly like he means to tell me that he is the one and no one else, then he finally says it, “it's me, Thal. It's me and no one else.”

I let out a bitter scoff. “Of course, I know it's you, asshole.”

The last word slips past my lips before I realize it. I mean… I am just too angry about the fact that he still thinks he is the prize.

“I f*****g know that it's you, so what?” I twist my wrist free from his grip.

His lips part, our gazes remaining locked for a while before he regains himself. “Well… I thought you loved me? All these years, I thought you—”

“That was before!” I cut him off sharply, the thought that I had chased him around for years making my stomach twist. “Not anymore. Now, the only thing I want to do is reject you and stay the hell away from you,” I spit through gritted teeth.

He falls silent.

I feel Sienna's grip on my shoulders. “What are you doing, Lassa?” she murmurs, her breath warm against my ear. “I thought you liked him and if he is your mate shouldn't you be excited.”

“Didn't I tell you I don't love him anymore earlier?”

She nods. “But why the sudden change of mind?”

“I will explain to you later.”

“What are you doing, Dorian?” Reina's sharp voice cuts in. “Why are you wasting time rejecting her?”

I turn my gaze towards her to see the temptress herself. Blazing eyes rake over me, her nose flared in disgust and her lips lifted in a devilish smirk.

“Look who decides to dress up,” she sneers, her voice dripping with mockery. “You really think you will be able to attract his attention, huh?”

“Attract his attention?” I throw my hair back. “I don't f*****g care about his attention, Reina. I think you crave his attention more because without him you know you are nothing but a piece of trash. You are a w***e and no other man would ever want you if he does not want you anymore. He is practically the air you breathe in.”

“Oops,” I hear someone say. “I didn't know Thalassa is this sharp-tongued.”

Then low mocking giggles and laughter follow behind cupped lips.

Her jaw drops, blinking hard. “Are you talking to me like that?” Her eyes dart around like she expects someone behind her.

I fold my arms over my chest. “Of course, Reina.” I stare at her head-on. “What will you do?”

In the past, I dare not speak when she does. But now, I am not just speaking; I am challenging her. I do not know where I get my courage from. Maybe because I have seen worse—death—and now nothing scares me anymore.

“You b***h!” She growls, raising her hand to slap me.

I brace myself to grab her wrist, but someone I do not expect beats me to it.

Dorian.

He holds her wrist up, his fingers digging into her flesh. His eyes blaze at her, his wolf rumbling in a way that makes everyone, including me, scared.

“What are you doing, Dorian?” she asks, terrified.

“Stop humiliating yourself, Reina.” He throws her hand away and she stumbles slightly, gripping her reddened flesh. “I have had enough of you bullying others…” his gaze flicks towards me. “Bullying her.”

What?!

In the past, he never joins the bullying but he never protects me either. He always turns a blind eye to it.

Reina cannot believe her ears. She lets out a humorless laugh. “You now protect her? What the f**k is happening to you and why the hell are you not rejecting her already?”

“It's none of your damn business, Reina!”

“But I'm your girlfriend!” she snaps back.

“Ex-girlfriend!” he shoots back.

They have another breakup and it is nothing new to me. They will be back together before morning.

“Who do you f**k again this time?” I mock.

In my previous life, I had been the one who secretly told Dorian about the other guys in the football team that Reina f****d just so he would reject her and choose me, but all to no avail.

I cannot believe I stooped that low in the past.

“What?!” she is surprised I know.

I shrug. “Yes, I know. I know that you've f****d more than half the guys in Northcrest.”

She remains dumbfounded, humiliation burning into her cheeks and the mocking whispers around us grow more intense.

“Come here, Thal.” Dorian grabs my wrist again and tries to lead me out of the room. “We really need to talk.”

“There is nothing to talk about!” I yank my hand free from him immediately. “Just reject me!”

Then he looks at me. “No, I won't reject you. You are my mate whether you like it or not,” he sounds arrogant, like nothing I say will change his mind.

He should be delighted to reject me, not refusing my rejection.

Why is everything different from the previous timeline?

“Fuck..” I grip my throbbing forehead, frustration coursing through me.

It is a minute to twelve and Goddess knows I am not going to let these people ruin my new year for me and again I am beginning to get tipsy from all the shots of tequila I throw down earlier. So I eye him down, my jaw remaining tight, and without another word I turn and start walking out, eyes following me like hawks.

“Where are you going, Lassa?” Sienna calls after me.

“Outside,” I reply softly. “I need to get some fresh air.”

Once I step into the hallway, I bump into a stoic frame rounding the corner. I almost stumble back but before I can, his arms wrap around my waist tightly and heat pools beneath me from that single touch that feels like electric shockwaves over my skin. My chest presses hard against his, causing my n*****s to tighten to the extent that they press hard against the dress. His scent of cedar and forest wafts into my nostrils and I have to bite down on my lower lip to muffle the moans threatening to escape me.

What the hell is happening?

Why am I sexually, lustfully, and erotically attracted to this man?

I raise my head slowly to look at the man holding me, and the moment our eyes meet, my breath stops.

Roman Frost.

Dorian's uncle.

Coach of the Northcrest ice hockey team.

His cold gray eyes stare down at me like he can see straight through my soul, like he can see the past life I have just escaped. That I had died once.

My heart slams violently against my ribs.

Then his lips part slowly.

“Mate.”