Aiden’s pov
I let my words sink into her with a deed of fear. That was how my dad taught to me control respect by fear. I went back to hanging out with the boys. My eyes were still fixed on the hallway if she will still walk in. It took a while until I saw her walk inside in slow steps. All eyes turned to her.
“Is that…is he a new student?” Mathew asked me knowing I had all the answers but I acted not to hear what he said.
“I thought it was a girl?” He added.
Oscar sniffed “he smells…. Human…. Smells like a girl” Oscar seconded but I just ignored them.
“Your nose is off…” Mathew teased Oscar, “that’s a fuming dude right there” he pointed to her.
Everyone watched her as she walked to the principal’s office. I’m sure they were all having the same conversation just as we did.
Mathew grabs me by the shoulder.
“f**k that dude.. Last night was lit!!!”
Mathew was my closest friend, but he was also the son of Alpha Rufus Blackwood my father’s right hand man and a prominent billionaire.
Because of his family status, Mathew spent his days flaunting his exorbitant lifestyle and good looks, surrounded by a trail of girls who threw themselves at his feet.
“How’s it gonna be tonight…” he asked me as we got to class.
I wasn’t ready to talk about that…tonight was the mating ceremony, many wolves had found their mate but I was still looking. My dad had chosen Rayna, Alpha Bath, the third alpha’s daughter as my mate but I wanted someone else for myself. I didn’t dare defy him but I needed someone that understood the needs of my heart, someone I could connect to. Everyone was expecting me to choose Rayna to be my Luna. Her family connection, status and strength was encouraging enough. Some said we were meant to be but it didn’t feel that way to me.
Once class finally ended, we headed down to the cafeteria.
We grabbed our lunches and chatted at our usual table, until my eyes caught a figure during at the back, a lonely corner. There she was, sitting entirely alone. I couldn't understand her dress sense, why on earth a girl would choose to look like a boy? To me, the whole dressing just made her look ridiculous.
Mathew caught me staring. “Do you know him?”
I shook my head quickly. Part of me wanted to correct his and tell him that "he" was actually a "she." and Oscar was right But I knew he would demand to know how I figured that out, and I couldn't risk revealing the humiliating events of last night.
“You know him?” He asked again.
“Why don’t we say hello?” He suggested. With a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Never mind” I ended the talk and focused on my food. A second later, the loud clatter of a tray echoed across the cafeteria, followed by the sound of someone tripping and hitting the floor hard.
I turned to see her on the floor and Mathew’s leg out being the cause of her fall. He deliberately tripped her. They all erupted into laughter and I got pissed.
I rushed to help her get up, she was a girl, she didn’t deserve such harsh treatment. Until she pushed me away with force and her hoodie fell off.
I moved back by her hard push and everyone startled. That push was stronger than the night before. The whole room erupted in surprise and I looked back at her with every rage boiling in my body.
“Get away from me you monster!!” She yelled at me and walked away.
“Wait…it’s a girl?” Oscar said as Mathew looked at her as she walked away in surprise, he looked at me even more surprised and they laughed mockingly.
I’ve never been this humiliated all my life. I got back to my seat and acted like all is fine.
“That girl is stubborn” one commented.
“She is never gonna listen to Aiden like the other girls.. that is a dude over there” Mathew laughed harder pointing at her “I bet you she might fight you one day… looks like the future alpha just got himself a contender”. They laughed harder.
I was boiling in rage, never had anyone made me look weak, least of all…a girl.
I am the alpha’s son, not just any Alpha but the strongest and leader of all in stray town. My presence commands authority. I am the strongest amongst my peers and every girl loved me, especially Rayna.
“I can make her bend and be like a puppet to me….” I tried to boast.
“Nah…she’s not like other girls, I can tell, that’s a bro living in a girls body” he commented, they laughed even harder.
I felt my ego get hurt. my toxic pride taking the wheel.
“Let’s make it a bet, then!!” I snapped, slamming my hand down on the table.
Mathew paused, his eyes lighting up with genuine interest. “Oh yeah? What kind of bet?”
“I’ll make her completely fall for me,” I declared boldly, staring him dead in the eye.
“And if you fail?” Mathew asked, a wicked, smirk spreading across his face.
My ego, my pride, and my entire social reputation were firmly on the line. I couldn't back down now.
“If I lose… Ill gladly accept Rayna to be my Luna.”
The entire table instantly fell dead silent. The boys stared at each other, their jaws dropping at my terms. Mathew’s smirk widened as he locked eyes with me.
“Is it possible…we all know how much you detest her”. He asked me.
“I’ll make it happen, I swear on my life”.
Then he said with a deep smile.
“You're on,” he whispered. “Let’s do it.”
Mathew stood up with that glint in his eyes, he turned to walk away with the other boys.
“See ya later” he tried to leave but stopped two steps away.
What could he possibly be forgetting.
“There’s just one more thing you need to do to make this even more ….exciting, a cherry on the top”. He said with that mischief look in his eyes.
“What’s that..” I asked with suspicion in voice. He leaned in to whisper more daring words to me.