the rejected luna/cursed mate

CHAPTER TWO

Students mingled in the grass in front of Wolf Creed Community College when I arrived. I glare at the building which was right next to the Wolf Creed High School sometimes when I was a small kid, they’d expanded the school requirement to make at least one of us take one semester of college while waiting for our first full moon.

Most kid who grew up here dropped out as soon as they had their first shift and settled into some mundane job in town, few left because we all knew being a wolf without a pack is challenging. I wouldn’t ever turn into a wolf so I wasn’t worried, being alone would be better than being here.

It was the twenty-fourth of June and there were only a couple of weeks left before summer break for school. But I wouldn’t be here to finish the year. My birthday was last week which meant the full moon in six days was my ticket out. I was so close I could taste it.

As I neared the entry I realized a small group of guys was waiting by the front doors. My heart pounded and I froze. Ethan and his crew were gathered there despite the fact that most of them had already had their full moon. Ethan was one of the few wolves who stayed enrolled in school after his first shift last month. I figured for sure he’d be out of here since his future was set. As the next alpha, it didn’t matter if he had any actual skills aside from being able to throw people around. He could do whatever he wanted and nobody would bat an eye.

Quickly I changed the direction and started walking towards the side of the building. There were other doors I could use and I wasn’t in the mood to get the s**t beaten out of me today. It was like I was a push over but there was nothing fair about 3 dudes against one non-shifted chick.

I slipped into the sliding door and walked down the hallway. Kids I’d known my whole life glanced at me and quickly looked away. That was how it was for me. When I was younger it hurt that I was so alone. Now I was grateful for their indifference. Ignoring me was better than the alternative. When I finally took my seat in my calculus class, I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d made it in without sporting a new black eye with six more days to go.

Professor Carter started writing on the whiteboard and the other four people in the class were already taking notes. I had no deep love for math, but I was good at it and Ethan wasn’t.

Another not-as-proud moment. My schedule was based on things Ethan hated most. I reminded myself that it wasn’t like I’d even get the credit for the class since I’d be out before the terms were over. It was pure survival at this point.

Soon enough, I was sucked into class, too focused on the numbers to worry about anything else. Okay so maybe I liked that about math. It forced me to shut out my other worries. I went through the motions for the next two classes, doing enough to keep the professor from noticing me and not engaging enough to draw attention to.

It was a balancing act I’d perfected over the years keeping to myself and making myself nearly invincible were the only ways I’d made it this far.

The hallway was packed. There were only hundreds of us in the school, but since we all had the same lunch, it got busy when it was time for a break. I walked into the crowd keeping my gaze down to avoid confrontation. It was especially important this close to a full moon.

Someone ran into me, their shoulder slammed into mine, shoving me aside. I looked up ready to find a way out, but my eyes met Ethan’s and I knew I was f****d.

Where have you been hiding little wolf? He stared at me with his amber eyes a vicious smile on his lips. His finger dug into my bicep as he held me tight. I waited for you at the front door but you didn’t come. I thought maybe you were playing hooky.

Wait and give someone else the chance to beat the s**t out of me? You were exclusively missing school I was worse than attending. Ethan and his friend’s night use me as a punching bag but the torture that came with being truant was far worse. I’d tried a few times in high school, but it wasn’t worth the pain.

He pushed me forward to the women’s bathroom. The door swung open and two girls standing by the sinks. Screamed.

Out now. Ethan growled.

I don’t know why you waste your time with her, ivy, a tall blonde who was a few months older than me said she has always had her eye on Ethan.

Every female at school wanted Ethan. He was going to be the next alpha, after all. Even without the promise of power, his look would buy him a lot of attention. He was over six feet of solid muscle with wavy black hair piercing amber eyes, and a strong masculine jaw, he was like a walking wet dream.

Thankfully his good looks were wasted on me. He’d be an awkward kid by the time he resembles a f*****g Greek god, I knew what kind of person he was.

Ditch the loser, Ethan. Ivy said in what was probably supposed to be a seductive tone. We haven’t had a tumble in my back seat in a while.

I said out, Ethan repeated.

She probably doesn’t even know what you like or how to make you feel good Ivy whined.

What exactly do you think he is doing with me? I asked. Because I promise you if he put his d**k anywhere near me, I’d bite it off.