CHAPTER 13
944 Words
MABEL’S POV
I must be damaged.
Ever since Zach left my room, I’ve been ridiculously turned on by him. That had never happened in all the years I dated Nike. So there were only two explanations: either the mating bond was screwing with my head, or I’d finally reached my breaking point after years of shoving down every s****l desire I had.
I slapped both hands over my burning cheeks, trying to scrub the image of his bloodstained face from my mind. When he’d slammed me against the wall, I’d been terrified.
Now?
Now I kept catching myself wishing he’d do it again—his hard body pinning me, his hand wrapped around my throat, those dangerous eyes burning into mine.
God, what is wrong with me?
Maybe this was how Eve felt in the Garden of Eden. It wasn’t just the danger. It was the temptation of the forbidden fruit—the way you could almost taste its sweetness before you even took the bite.
I’d spent most of the vacation locked in my room, m**********g to thoughts of him. Just admitting that to myself made me feel filthy.
How could I hate him and still want him this badly?
I’d thought about bringing it up in therapy, but the idea of my therapist judging me was unbearable, so I buried it like everything else.
The vacation was finally over, and nursing classes had resumed. I welcomed the exhaustion. Anything was better than obsessing over my mate.
Did I hate him?
Love him?
I honestly didn’t know anymore.
The only thing I was sure of was that I never wanted to see Zach again.
I had just stepped out of class when someone called my name.
“Hey, Mabel!”
I turned. One of the sorority girls was standing under a tree with my stepsister, Layla. They both waved me over like we were old friends.
That alone was weird. Layla and I had perfected the art of pretending the other didn’t exist on campus for years.
I should have ignored them.
Instead, my feet moved before my brain could stop them.
As soon as I got close, the blonde tilted her head with a fake-sweet smile. “Layla told us you were dating Alpha Zach.” Her eyes sparkled with malice. “Did you, like… throw yourself at him?”
Ten seconds in and I already regretted this.
“Actually,” I said, forcing a polite smile, “he was the one chasing me.”
The group burst into laughter like I’d told the funniest joke they’d ever heard. Abbey—the one with the sharp black bob—wiped fake tears from her eyes.
“Please,” she said, looking me up and down. “Alphas like Zach have standards. And you’re… definitely not his type. Besides, Zach doesn’t do girlfriends.”
She folded her arms.
“So tell us. What did you actually do?”
Every set of eyes drilled into me. I felt them cataloging every flaw.
Layla sighed dramatically before I could respond. “Girls, don’t embarrass my sister.” She gave me that saccharine smile she had perfected over the years. “She only brought him on our family vacation because she was lonely. No guy would actually choose her.”
The snickers grew louder.
“I’m sure Zach only went out of pity,” Layla continued. “She was practically reeking of desperation. But even pity has its limits—he couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”
More laughter.
I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. “Why are you doing this?”
Layla blinked at me with wide, innocent eyes. “Doing what?”
“Acting like we’re still in high school,” I snapped. “We’re in university. Grow up.”
The girls exchanged glances.
I kept going, voice steady even though my heart was pounding. “Nursing already eats up all my time. I don’t have the energy to sit around wondering whether some guy finds me attractive. Maybe if you had half a brain, you’d get that.”
Layla’s smile faltered.
“I know you love competing with me,” I said, lifting my chin. “But there are two things you’ll never take from me.” I held up two fingers. “My grades… and Zach.”
I smiled.
“Because you’re definitely not his type.”
Layla rolled her eyes. “Girl, please. I could have him if I wanted him. The only reason I don’t is because I’m married.” She flicked an invisible speck off her designer jacket. “Unlike you, I actually care about how I look instead of burying myself in textbooks just to feel superior.”
I looked past her at the other girls.
“Would you like me to tell them how Dad had to pay for your admission because your grades weren’t good enough?”
Layla froze. Her smile turned brittle.
“Girls,” she said quickly, forcing a laugh, “let’s go. My baby doesn’t need this negative energy.”
The sorority girls looked disappointed the show was over, but they trailed after her anyway.
Once they were gone, I let out a shaky breath. The encounter had rattled me more than I wanted to admit.
I checked the time and my stomach dropped. My lecture had already started.
Normally, I would’ve sprinted across campus without hesitation. Missing class wasn’t an option.
But instead of heading toward the lecture hall, I found myself walking toward the parking lot.
I got in my car, started the engine, and drove toward the one place I hoped he’d be.
- Writer
