Chapter 4

My heart dropped to my feet. He knew we were mates? That meant one thing…

Not only was it strange that I found my second chance mate in Dentville, he was also a werewolf. A freaking werewolf. 

Strange goosebumps spread across me. The room was cold, but not cold enough to send chills down my body. Realizing he was still holding me, I assumed that whatever was going on with me had to do with touch (the whole mate bond nonsense). 

Stealing my hand from his grip, I asked, “How did you know I would come here today?”

“I figured you would after realizing you were one of my students.”

“But I didn’t even mention my name to you.” The fact that he was a werewolf as well made my brows furrow. “I ran away from every nonsense of the werewolf world. I want nothing to do with werewolves.”

“Same, and that was why I came to find you.”

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" I glared.

 "That's not important." He stood up, “What is important right now is the deal I have for you.” 

“Deal?”

“Yes.” He gave a dramatic pause, dropping the keys on the table. “Be my mate and stop running. I will make life easier for you.” His tone didn’t hold the calming aura it possessed at the bar. Instead, it was rigid, and the kind that made you feel like you were stuck with no other option than the one he gave.

“No.” I started, trying to match his tone. “I never asked to be your mate and I know how much the rejection pain stings, so I won’t do that. Actually, let’s avoid the rejection words as much as possible.” My memory flashed back to how much I had burned and fallen sick from Roger’s mate rejection and that made my face contort. “We can live our separate lives and act like this never happened.”

“We’re not doing that. I want you to agree. I need a mate more than the air in my lungs.” it sounded like a plea, yet that ‘do what I say’ attitude he spoke with made my inside knot up. 

I didn’t like his tone. Who the hell did he think he was? “You can always find someone else. I will not be any man's mate.”  

Shaking his head, “It has to be you, Lyric. I’m 32 without a mate”

32? “No way.” My face scrunched up as I stared at him from head to toe in a new light.  “I’ll never date an older man. It’s just not my thing.”

“You don’t have to. I just need you to act.” With that, I drew my eyes in askance and he explained, “I need a  mate to be worthy of something in my pack.” He sat above me on the table, crossing his legs. “All you have to do is act, make them think we’re real mates, I get what needs to be done, then we can go our separate ways forever.”

My hands balled beside me, a tight line forming on my forehead. “I’m not an object for your personal use. My answer is still ‘No’.'' I retorted. I want nothing to do with wolves, nor your plan. Why would I leave my pack and start my life afresh, only to be another man’s puppet? Mr. Brian. You are being ridiculous. I’m leaving.” Jerking to my feet, I grabbed the keys from the table and stormed to the door.

He didn’t make an attempt to stop me. He let me unlock the door before he spoke, “Your scholarship.” He simply said. Shoot, I had almost  forgotten the major reason I came here. “I received all your emails and have read them. I know how much this scholarship means to your life.”

I shut my eyes, my lips pursed tightly. Turning back to him, I glared. “Can I please retake the exam?” When he didn’t say anything, I sighed. “What do you want?”

“I already mentioned it. Be my mate. Simple.” He rose up then walked up to me. Heought to stop at a distance, but when he didn't, I stepped back, my chest rising and falling evidently faster. 

My back hit the wall, then he closed the space between us, leaning his head so close our noses almost touched. Just then,he held the small of my back; his hands on my bare skin made strange tingles dance in me, like fireworks on July 4th. “I know you feel that.” His voice was low and sultry in a way; it made me want to bite my lips hard till they bled. “I want my pack to know the effect I have on you is real.” 

He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. A gasp escaped my lips, my chest racing even faster. His eyes were heated with passion, a passion that bled in anticipation of my approval. “Anything else you want?” He stared down and my lips and my breath escaped my lungs. What was that for? Was he going to kiss me? “I will let you take the exam, you’ll get good grades; I'll recommend you for top scholarships. Just say yes… you have nothing to lose, do you?” There it was again. That tone, an unspoken demand for authority. 

My scholarships and dreams were more important than my refusal and pride. I had to break free from my family's poverty, and dropping out of college wasn't a good step to achieving that. What was the point in being stubborn? I needed this more than he needed it, that was certain. It’ll just be an act. The way my body was throbbing from his touch wasn’t fake. We were actual mates!

 It only dawned  on me that I was mated to someone that probably had thousands of women falling at his feet to marry them. Yes, he was ‘that’ good-looking. Why me? Of all werewolves, why Lyric Ashton?

 It’d just be an act. I convinced myself. “Fine.”

His lips quirked upwards. “That's more like it." He let go of me, letting me unhold my breath. 

“But… you are my professor.”

“Yes. And that is why our relationship must be kept a secret. At least until you graduate.”