CHAPTER ONE: MY MATE IS BACK!

ANNA

The stairs to my classroom seemed so long today that I'm late. And I'm never late. I hurrily ascend the stairs, panting and running to reach the class. I know the teacher will already be in class, and teachers at Mooncrust High can be very mean; a minute late and you will stand outside still the class is over.

 

My leg hurts from running the long mile from the packhouse to school. My aunt rode only her daughters to school because she's not my mom; she has never failed in reminding me that my mom was a whore who abandoned me, and if not for the incident that took place that night in Bloodmoon pack, I would have never returned home to Mooncrust Pack; she hates me for it.

 

Her daughters hate me because I'm privilege to attend Mooncrust High and they are not; nobody in school likes me, especially because I'm not in their class, but I'm used to it. Even my own mom birthed and abandoned me for death in the Bloodmoon pack before the Alpha took me into his home and...

The Alpha of the Bloodmoon pack is dead now, so I don't want to talk about him.

 

My legs lift higher on the stairs, the smell of polished wood and expensive paint filling my nose as I breathlessly ascend the stairs. I can't afford to taint my reputation if I want to make it to a prestigious alpha college, and since my aunt can't afford it because of our poor state, she has told me I shouldn't even dream of it because I'm an omega, but wait, what's the point of dreaming? if I have to dream within my abilities.

My best bet is acing all my papers and getting the attention of the pack education boards once again because if I don't make it to college, I won't amount to anything. I will have to marry an old werewolf in a rural pack. It's my senior year; my aunt believes I'm not good enough to get in; she's already ringing the wedding bell, and yes, it's actually tougher to get into a college specially designed for alpha's when you're a weak omega.

 

A few students glance in my direction, probably thinking I'm a nerd for running to class.

 

"Who runs to class; that's so junior year?" A gorgeous cheerleader resting on the railings mind links her click of friends 

 

"Definitely omegas." Another student response: she's probably the daughter of an alpha.

 

Every student in Mooncrust High is either the child of a wealthy alpha or beta, but me, I'm an omega, and the only reason I attend a prestigious school like this is because I'm under a scholarship fund and my best friend is the daughter of the principal. We are the only two non-alpha children in the school, and everyone hates us for it. 

 

"Look at her; she's so ugly." 

 

I'm not ugly. I can't mind link them because my wolf is too weak. 

 

"The youngest alpha will resume at our school today for senior year." 

 

"Oh, alpha Jace is so hot." One of the girls drool.

 

My running comes to a halt, and my feet refuse to move again. Jace is coming to our school? Why? After everything that happened, I taught I would never see him again. I never wanted to see him again. Why will he return? I know Jace will hate me now; no doubt everyone from my former pack hates me now. Should I run away from school, how long will I hide from him? I will just try to avoid him and stay as far away from him as possible. It's been two years since I ran away from his home. He's nineteen now, and I'm eighteen. I hope he will forget everything.

 

Couple crowd the stairwell, making out. I gag it's still early in the morning, but that's typical at mooncrust high. My skirt clings around my leg, and my tight shirt clings to my upper body. I'm out of breath when I reach my classroom and the teacher is already in.

 

"Sir, please, may I come in?" I lower my head.

 

"You're late; remain outside." The teacher barks at me and the whole school erupts in laughter.

 

What are they laughing at with their ugly dentation? 

 

I grudgingly remove my pen and note from my bag to jot down, and just then someone pushes me from behind, hitting strong shoulders at me, then another and another. Not one but five people. I turn around angrily to watch three boys and two girls enter the class without permission while I'm still standing. Why? Because they are alpha's children.

 

"Sir, I was here before them, and you let them in.

 

"Who are you?" A deep baritone snatched my attention.

 

My eyes move from the teacher's and lock on the most charming gray eyes I've ever seen, perfectly set beneath arch brows and long lashes. His eyes are so deep they see beyond me, and now I feel naked. Neither of us moving; there's something magnetic in his gaze that I just can't look away from. The energy suddenly charged up; I feel it, and I know he feels it too. His eyes look so dark and devoid of emotion. 

 

I want to kiss his perfect cupid lips until I get a reaction from those eyes. His jawline is more angular than I remembered, giving him more of a youthful appearance than a boy. His silver hair falls at his nape and neck, which is so perfect you could hold on to during an orgasm. And his shoulders and biceps are just as devasting as his face. Jace. My childhood friend. My childhood crush is now Alpha Jace Chambers.

 

My heart is suddenly beating so fast, and my entire body heats up from his gaze. "Jace." I whisper.

 

"It's alpha Jace." 

 

He doesn't remember me?

 

"Bro, she's an omega. She's not worth your response."

 

I finally yearn my gaze from Jace to manage a look at his companions, Caleb, Dash, Madison, and Taylar, the popular circle, wealthiest, hottest, arrogant, and treating everyone else like trash. Jace isn't really their type or anyone on this school type; no matter how prestigious this school rank, the Chambers family ranks higher. Their money is old; there are billionaires; they own and control all the businesses and packs in the west.

 

His father died the same night I ran away from their home; the same night Jace and I were supposed to mate; the same night Jace was forced to take over the responsibility of more than a hundred packs; the same night I tasted real freedom. 

 

"Come with me." Jace pulls at my arm and drags me out of the class.

 

"Let me go, Jace. What's wrong with you?"

 

"Shutup. You taught I would never find you, huh?" He pulls me towards a dark closet and locks the door.

 

I never knew him to be this angry. And why did nobody stop him from dragging me out of the class, not even the teacher? Is he scared of Jace too? How could two years change someone so much? We are locked alone in a small closet, and I'm suddenly reminded of how large and male he is. His male scent fills my nostrils. My eyes greedily take in his strong arms that are hidden beneath a contraband jacket.

 

"You're checking me out, traitor? You're lusting after me?" He grabs my chin and presses himself on me. I can feel muscles everywhere. "After everything you did, Anna?" His eyes are so dark. "You killed my father."

 

"I didn't." I jump up, my eyes shining in desperation as I look around for escape. Why is Alex trying to open old wounds?

 

"Shutup. You killed him and ran away. My mom died a few days later." His knees pressed between my center.

 

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I gasp. My traitorous wolf is melting into his touch.

 

He lowers his head, and I can feel his lips move against mine as he speaks. "I don't need your pity. You made me become Alpha at the age of seventeen without a mate because you abandoned me in the Blood Moon Pack. You ruined my life, and now here you are living a perfect little life in the Mooncrust Pack, which you don't even deserve." 

 

"I didn't." I didn't plan to. I didn't do anything.

 

He imprisons my both wrists in one big palm and pins it above my head. "Don't talk. My parents took you because you were a rogue; we uplifted you to an omega; I was meant to mark you." His fingers stroke my neck before his tongue sucks on the sensitive skin, making me gasp. "You could have become Luna, but you turned against us. I will make your life so miserable." His lips trace a line from my neck to my ears; his hot breath fans my ear. "So miserable, that you will beg me to end it, Anna." His voice is so low and seductive, as if we are committing a sin.

 

"What will you do?" My voice is husky. What is Jace doing to me? Why am I asking what he wants to do?