Chapter Two

Scarlet's POV

I staggered back from him, my lips quivering as I burst into tears. He scooped me into his arms and I buried my face in his chest, ashamed to let him see how broken I was.

I cried for minutes, pouring my heartache out. I didn't think a rejection would hurt so much but it felt like a knife was stuck in my chest. My wolf’s pain as she cried with me was so devastating. It was a soul crushing anguish that gnawed at my heart intensely.

"Listen, I've got class to attend. I’m sorry to disappoint you but we can talk about this later." He whispered, stroking my hair and cradling my trembling body. My sob quieted as I gathered myself and pulled away from him.

"Please don't reject me, Brad." I begged, as I clung to him. "If you reject me, I will be a rogue wolf. Don't you at least care about me? Do you really want the pack to banish me forever?”

There were a lot of things accepted in our pack but a rogue wolf wasn't one. A rejection like mine, especially from the Alpha's son would be made public and I would be banished from the pack. That was the fate of every rejected wolf. That would be my fate if Brad pronounced his rejection completely.

Brad was silent for a while, contemplating if I was worth it. I knew that I was nothing compared to his girlfriend, Valerie, who was perfect in every way. And it hurt so bad. All I wanted was a way out of my heartache, a way to avoid the painful reality that I was rejected.

"Our rejection has to be sealed, Scarlet. Don't you know the consequences of not doing that?" He touched my arm and I felt ripples of electricity on my skin.

"No but–"

"There you are!" I turned sharply to see Valerie sashaying toward us with a sneer smile on her face. I quickly withdrew and took steps back from Brad. When she got to him, she wrapped her arms around him. "I've been looking for you everywhere. What's going on?"

"It's nothing important." Brad avoided my gaze as he answered. Nothing important? Really? A part of me wanted to scream as I heard those words but I remained mute.

"Then what's she doing here?" Valerie glared at me with disdain. "I didn't know you're hanging out with freaks now."

Unlike me, she was an epitome of perfection. With her shiny blonde hair, perfect sculptured nose and hips, she was considered the most beautiful she-wolf in the entire pack. Her dad was also the beta of the pack, earning her respect and great recognition. I was nothing compared to her, absolutely nothing.

"It's not a big deal sweetheart." Brad planted a kiss on her lips and my stomach twisted into a knot. It was nauseating to watch him kiss the girl he rejected me for. "Let's get to class."

"I'll be right behind you." Valerie said and waited till he disappeared into the hallway. On her signal, three of her friends, Tricia, Zoey and Mia, came up behind me. They worshiped her like a goddess and seeing them rounding me up, I knew I was in trouble.

My heart was hammering in my chest as Valerie took steps closer to me. Her eyes glimmered with hatred and disgust as she pinched the tip of my hair. "A little birdie saw you wrapped up in Brad's arms. You must feel very lucky to have him as your mate, don't you?"

I contemplated lying, but there was no point. I had no explanation for being with Brad alone at the back of the cafeteria especially on my eighteenth birthday. She would still hurt me whether I had good reasons or not. To her, Brad was off limits.

"You don't have to feel threatened. He doesn't –"

Valerie erupted into a maniacal laughter, her voice tiny and fake as always. "Me? What makes you think I would ever feel threatened by you? That is the most absurd thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Isn't that why you're here?" I swallowed. "If you don't feel threatened by me, then you should let me go. It doesn't matter because Brad already–"

"Rejected you." A cold grin settled across her face. "He doesn't want you because you're nothing important. It hurts, doesn't it?" I fought back the tears that threatened to fall freely from my eyes.

"I need to go to class." I didn't want to be reminded of how pathetic I was. I tried to walk past her but Valerie was ready to make my day hell. She grabbed my hair and pulled me back while her friend, Tricia, tripped me.

I landed on my back and my head hit the ground. I cried out in pain, my vision turning blurry. Valerie bent toward me, grabbed my hair and lifted my head up to face her. "Nobody walks away from me, you red haired freak. And now, I'm going to teach you a lesson for attempting to steal Brad from me."

Before I could beg, she slapped my face and pushed me back to the ground. Despite the array of stars dancing around my eyes, I tried to scramble to my feet but Zoey's foot collided with my waist, sending me back to the dirt.

"You little whore!" Valerie screamed before stamping my head with her boots. I choked as blood seeped from my mouth and a deep cut on my head. I couldn't fight them, especially Valerie who was very strong and angry.

In tears, I curled up on the ground, my hands shielding my head from more blows. There was nothing I could do but endure the torment and insults from them. In my pain, I cried to the moon goddess to help me.

"Hey!" In the midst of the commotion, I heard a deep voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing to her?"

The torment stopped and I could sense the presence of an unfamiliar being. A wolf too but he was different. His aura washed over me and I could feel his power settle in my vein, stirring my wolf into silence.

Valerie motioned to her friends. "Let's go. She has learnt her lesson." I could hear their quick steps as they dashed away in fright. Still curled in my position, I wondered who my savior was.

Then I heard him draw closer, his footsteps heavy against the earth. The nearer he got, the more his scent enveloped me like an umbrella. His scent washed over me like a strong wave, it was a combination of rosewood and musky leather. I stiffened, my heart thumping at my sudden ability to feel his every move.

When he reached me, he lowered himself and rolled me slightly to face him. I slowly opened my eyes, squinting from the scratches and pain all over my face.

Deep blue eyes cut straight to mine as I stared at the boy squatting beside me. He was different from other boys in every way. He was majestic, and superior. But it wasn't just his chiseled jawline or golden hair that made him breathtaking. It wasn't just his height or his broad shoulders.

It was the ruthless intensity of his blue eyes. It was the curve of his sensual lips and his hawkish nose. A shiver went through me as he touched my face.

"Help..." I whispered, blood dripping from my bursted lips.

"Hang on." He scooped me into his arms, my body pressing against his broadened chest. I winced at every step he took, the pain from my aching ribs and joints jolting through me. "I need you to keep your eyes open." I vaguely heard him say as I blacked out.