Mated with a human

chapter 11

Third Day of School – Morning

June arrived at school early and submitted the assignment. Mr. Brown raised a brow but accepted it.

Minutes later, Molly came in with another assignment.

“This is mine… and Sofia’s,” she said.

Mr. Brown nodded. He knew Sofia always did good work.

The bell rang. Students scattered into classrooms. Lessons started.

Luke, as usual, sat straight, focused, taking notes quickly. When difficult questions came up, he answered calmly, confidently.

Sofia noticed.

Oh no. Not him again.

She raised her hand too—quickly. Competing.

Luke raised his hand again.

The teacher called Sofia.

She answered—wrong.

Luke corrected her gently, not trying to embarrass her, but Sofia felt like the whole world was laughing at her.

No one had ever corrected her.

Not like that.

Not in front of everyone.

Her blood boiled.

When the next teacher came—Mr. Brown—he made an announcement.

“Two groups already submitted their assignments. Please submit yours as soon as possible.”

The whole class froze.

Sofia blinked.

“Two groups? Who? Don’t tell me… that nerd—”

She cursed under her breath.

The lesson began, but she couldn’t focus. All she thought about was how to make Luke pay. How to win.

How to show him she wasn’t someone to challenge.

_____

Break Time – The Cafeteria Incident

When the lesson ended, the halls filled with noise as students rushed to the cafeteria. Luke walked beside June as usual. She talked nonstop—mostly about random things—and he just listened quietly. That was their dynamic. She spoke, he listened. And strangely, it worked.

They reached the serving counter, collected their trays, and headed toward an empty table.

But just as they passed one of the crowded tables—

someone hooked a foot out.

Luke’s shoe caught it.

He didn’t fall, but his entire tray flipped forward.

Food splattered all over the floor.

The cafeteria erupted into loud, cruel laughter.

June froze, eyes wide, shocked. Luke steadied himself and slowly turned his head to see who did it.

Sofia.

She sat smirking with her friends.

“Oh my gosh, I’m sooo sorry,” she said loudly, clearly mocking. “It was a mistake.”

Luke stared at her a moment, cold and unreadable.

He didn’t respond. Didn’t argue. Didn’t insult her back.

He simply bent down, picked the ruined food back into the tray, walked to the trash bin, and emptied it.

Then he turned and walked straight out of the cafeteria.

June snapped out of her frozen shock and hurried after him, still holding her own tray.

“Luke! Wait!” she called.

He stopped, turning slightly to look at her. Her face was filled with worry.

“Please don’t leave,” she said softly. “Let’s go eat mine. We can share… I don’t mind.”

Luke hesitated, then sighed.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” he said quietly. “Go back and eat.”

He turned to leave.

“Luke, don’t be like this!” June rushed out. “At least take my fries. Please. I don’t want you to starve… do it for me. Otherwise, I won’t eat either.”

Luke looked at her for a long second, expression unreadable… then he gently took the fries from her tray.

That was enough for her.

She smiled a little and went back to the cafeteria.

And he walked away.

---

Luke – The Library

Luke walked to the library, fries in hand. He sat by one of the windows and ate them quietly. No anger. No reaction. Just silence.

When he finished, he slipped between the bookshelves and stayed there reading until the bell rang.

Break was over.

---

The Swimming Contest

Luke walked back toward his locker. But something on the wall caught his eye.

A new poster.

He stepped closer.

SWIMMING CONTEST – BIG CASH PRIZE FOR THE WINNER

He read every detail carefully.

Saving money for college wasn’t easy—and this could help a lot.

I should register, he thought. After school.

He took note of the signup time, then turned back to his locker, swapping books for the next period.

Behind him, unnoticed, stood Sofia.

She saw him staring at the poster.

A slow smirk curled on her lips.

Then she turned and walked to class.

---

Far Away – Amara’s Room

Meanwhile, miles away, Amara was packing her clothes into her suitcases. She paced around her room, folding and refolding clothes, excitement glowing in her eyes.

Her mother, Cillian, walked in with a long sigh.

“I still don’t understand why your father would allow you to go there,” she said, shaking her head.

Amara didn’t stop packing.

“Mom, support me for once. This is what I’ve always wanted. Father understands that. He finally agreed—that’s all I need.”

Cillian sat on the edge of the bed. “Will you be here when your father appoints your brother as the next king?”

Amara paused mid-fold.

“Oh? Did he finally decide to crown that troublemaker?” She looked up with a raised brow. “Did you convince him?”

Cillian scoffed softly. “Convince your father? Impossible. He makes decisions alone. And… Dyran apologized. He has been forgiven.”

Amara let out a short laugh.

“He forgave him that easily? Wow. Didn’t expect that.”

Her mother’s tone sharpened.

“Why are you sounding jealous of your brother? If he doesn’t become king, then who will? You?”

Amara lifted her hands defensively.

“Mom, please. I don’t want the throne. I have my own future planned, and being queen is not on my list.”

Cillian stood and walked toward the door.

“Good. But remember—you’re still royalty. You can’t run from your roots. You are a wolf. A strong female wolf. Stop acting like a human.”

She opened the door, then added softly—

“Be careful out there. And never trust anyone.”

Then she left.

Amara looked toward the window.

Rain poured down, lightning flashing across the sky.

She stood there silently, lost in her thoughts… unaware that the dangerous game between her brother, her father, and the world she was about to enter had already begun.

_______

After School – The Rainstorm

The bell rang and students rushed out of classrooms straight into chaos.

Rain poured heavily outside, drenching the school grounds.

Some students sprinted through the rain.

Some squeezed into their friends’ cars.

Others rushed toward their parents’ vehicles waiting at the gate.

It was loud, messy, and full of shouting.

Luke ignored the noise and went straight down the hall to the designated classroom where the swimming contest registrations were being handled.

He walked in, signed his name, and stepped back out into the noisy corridor just as June called after him.

“Luke!”

He turned.

June ran toward him, holding her backpack over her head like a shield from the rain.

“I was waiting for you,” she said, a little breathless. “It’s raining… and I got a ride. Mind if I take you home?”

Luke blinked. “You have a car?”

June smiled shyly. “My mom borrowed it to me for today. Come on… before we get soaked.”

She led the way through the parking lot. Luke followed quietly.

They got into her mother’s small car, and she drove out of the school yard. The wipers swiped the windshield with slow, steady beats. For a long time, neither of them spoke.

June kept glancing at him—then looking back to the road.

Trying to break the heavy silence, she asked softly,

“So… who do you live with at home?”

Luke kept his eyes on the window, watching the raindrops race each other.

“My mom,” he said simply.

June smiled gently. “Oh… so no siblings?”

“No.”

He didn’t offer anything more.

She sensed he didn’t want to talk, so she went quiet.

Luke kept staring outside—lost in thoughts he didn’t want to explain.

June kept the speed slow, driving relaxed.