Ball Of Confidence...

Anaya's POV

I tried to calm down and ease myself from this tortuous anxiety. Me? He thinks about...me??

Before I could say a word, I heard an argument break from behind. This prompted me to move far away from Duke, so no one could see us together.

"...home because I don't want to!" Darius was getting all heated up with Dean, who still managed to remain so composed.

Duke glanced at them and shook his head. I realized he still needed to take care of the wound on his lips. Although he probably wouldn't feel that in the next couple minutes due to Alpha's ability to heal faster, still...a part of me wanted to take care of me.

No. Snap out of it, Ana!

I frowned, seeing all eyes staring at me. "Wait, did I say that out loud??" I blinked, waiting for a reply from any of them.

"You, I heard what you did. Are you crazy, Ana?? Wanna put us all in trouble, huh!" Darius spat out, as usual. I wasn't even surprised.

This was my chance. Whatever the hell it was that was going on, I could be in control now. "Neither of you actually apologized to me for the nonsense you spewed in the morning."

Darius actually laughed out loud, cutting whatever Dean had to say off. "You think you have any right to tell us this right now?"

"I can reject you boys, and as a matter of fact, I should." I thought I saw Duke flinched, or maybe it was just my imagination.

"Don't do that." Dean said.

"You think she can do that?" Darius scoffed. "So what are you proposing right now? That we kneel and cower at your feet??"

"Could you shut the fuck up for once, Darius!" Dean's voice was like thunder. Then he turned to me again and tuned down the volume of his voice. "I, Dean Cavannagh, am really sorry for all the bad things I've done to you."

I felt elated hearing that apology from him, now whether it was sincere or not, I couldn't tell. Duke and Darius were still stubborn and said nothing. I knew I might not be getting any apologies from them sooner, so I moved on.

"Once I've gotten a genuine apology from you all, I will agree to be your mates. In public, just for show at least. I'll agree to your proposal only then." My heart skipped a bit as my eyes stopped on Duke's lips and I quickly averted my gaze. It still felt like a dream that we'd just kissed!--well, if you called our lips just brushing against each other, a kiss...

My first kiss. My actual fucking first kiss!--

"Who's driving then? Let's get out of here. Dean, text mom that we've left already." Duke said nonchalantly and was the first to head into the car.

"What about the car? How are they going to come back home?" Dean asked but Duke had disappeared already without even stopping.

"I'll come back. The party is not over for me. Come on, let's go." Darius replied.

After that night, two days have passed and I had not even bumped into Duke, not even once! He claimed he was not feeling too well, so Freya always gave him his food in his room. Even his study room was shut close when I tried to snoop around sometimes.

Weren't we supposed to talk about it? He was supposed to be my friend...I think? We can't just kiss, and then he says something about not being able to take his mind off me, then ghost me like that!??

The next morning we all got ready for school. I knew he would join us for breakfast that morning, only except if he was trying to miss school. After enjoying a little dish of pancakes and some omelet with fresh orange juice, I realized Duke might have actually decided to skip school that morning because he didn't join us.

I got up from my seat and said my goodbyes to Freya before turning to leave.

"You're not going with us?" Dean called.

"It's fine. I need a walk." I said to him with a half smile. He didn't seem to understand why but he didn't ask any further question. Freya knew I wasn't on good terms with her sons, so she didn't question me when I wanted to be away from them that morning.

The air was cold and relaxing, making my nerves cool. The academy wasn't too far as I'd thought, so I made a mental note to take walks every morning now. For my sanity...

After the third period, I was so eager to head out and take fresh air. The class we'd just had was frustrating with hard topics I would have to calm down and learn! I made my way to my locker to see if my favorite candy was still left (I used to store it everywhere I could! My bags, my locker in school, under my pillows...) and was glad to find two in there.

Someone stopped me before I could open the locker, however. "Hey princess, I didn't know you were such a slut! Haha!"

I rolled my eyes hearing the idiot's voice. His name was Hank, a cousin of Sarah. Hank always looked down on everyone, he was such a mean jerk. Not one I was afraid of though, I just disliked his ass!

Laila howled and I had to control my temper so I didn't do something outrageous. I could probably give him a heavy punch that could knock out a few of his teeth! But then, what would I tell Freya and Alpha Donald when I got into trouble? I had just a few while left till I graduated.

So I ignored him and yanked my hand from him, continuing to my locker. Hank's voice was loud now, creating awareness because some students began to laugh now, some recording.

"Come on, baby. I hear you got yourself into an 18 plus mess at the Beta's party last Saturday. Did you sleep with all of them? Donovan and the triplets? I didn't know you had it in you!" His eyes glowed like the psychopath that he was.

"Excuse me, Hank." I frowned, ignoring him. It always got so frustrating that none of the teachers walked by when the students decided to become demons!

Something hard hit my head, then a 'squash' sound was heard. The stench hit my nose hard and I saw someone had thrown a rotten egg at me. I turned to the crowd and saw nothing suspicious, which annoyed me more. This was my moment to stop being a coward. The roar of laughter filled my ears and I shivered as a trickle of tears dropped down my eyes.

Then out of the blue, I caught an image of Darius in the crowd, and my heart sank. But...no. Anger. Anger was what I felt now.