ACADEMYWOLF: TRUE MATE CURSED

Oliver POV

“What do you mean, Oliver? Mate?”

Adeline shook her head. “That’s impossible. I’m not even eighteen yet, and I don't feel a thing.”

I knit my brows, scanning her from head to toe. I was absolutely certain I felt the mate bond. It was a connection that had suddenly sparked after all my searching, but a hybrid? It didn't make any sense.

“You don't feel any bond at all?”

Adeline nodded.

“How come?”

She just shrugged and shook her head again.

I could still feel it, though. This magnetic pull drew me toward her. I caught a whiff of her scent, and it was so strong it actually made my head spin.

“I reject you,” I blurted out, trying to change the subject.

“I don’t get it. How can you reject me if I don’t even feel the bond?”

“Just accept the rejection. I don’t want a hybrid for a mate.”

“Fine, reject me. I don’t want to deal with that blonde girl anyway. She’s obsessed with you, and I just want to go to school in peace.”

Without even thinking, my hand reached out and grabbed her waist. It was awkward, but I felt like I needed the contact. This mate bond was incredibly hard to fight.

“I, Oliver Ludwig, reject you as my mate. From here on out, we have no connection.”

I looked into her blue eyes. She just stood there, blinking as if nothing had happened.

“Accept my rejection!” I snapped, losing patience with her lack of reaction.

“Oh, right.” She paused for a second. “I accept your rejection, Oliver.”

I braced myself for the wave of pain other wolves always talked about when a rejection happens, but something felt off.

“What the hell?” I muttered, completely confused.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking just as lost as I was.

It failed. I didn't feel any pain at all. The whole situation was bizarre. If anything, my urge to dominate her only got stronger.

Suddenly, Adeline let out a cry, clutching the necklace she was wearing. It started glowing.

“What is that?” I reached for it.

“Don’t touch my necklace!”

I ignored her warning and snatched it right out of her hand.

“What the hell are you doing, Oliver? Give it back!”

Adeline was fuming, her face turning red, but strangely, watching her get worked up only made me more obsessed. A ridiculous idea popped into my head, and I shoved the necklace into my pocket.

“Oliver, that necklace is really important to me. Please, I’m begging you, give it back.”

There was something weirdly entertaining about seeing her this mad. What kind of bond was this?

At first, I was annoyed by her attitude, nobody talked back to me. Especially not a hybrid.

“I’m keeping this,” I said.

“Why?”

“Because I want to know why we have this bond and why my rejection didn't work.”

“I don’t give a shit, Oliver. If you don’t want me, fine. I’ll act like the bond doesn't exist, but give me my necklace back.”

“When’s your birthday?”

“Why do you even care?” she yelled, her wide eyes glaring at me.

“Because I’m going to redo the rejection. Maybe it failed because you’re not eighteen yet.”

Damn it. Her eyes were like a drug, totally addictive. But at the same time, I hated the fact that I was stuck with this weird girl, a hybrid who clearly wouldn't be accepted by the pack, especially my parents.

“Whatever.” Adeline lunged for my pocket. “I just want my necklace!”

I dodged and backed away, but she was relentless. As I was about to slip away, I didn't notice a plastic bottle behind me. I stepped on it, lost my balance, and instinctively grabbed Adeline’s hand. We went down together, and then it happened.

Her lips hit mine. For a split second, I felt a surge of energy rush through my entire body. My eyes went wide. I looked into her eyes, her body pinned right on top of mine, our lips still locked.

For a fraction of a second, I saw a vision of a breathtakingly beautiful woman, but it vanished just as quickly.

“Oliver.”

A sharp, authoritative male voice boomed, making me jump up immediately. I ended up pushing Adeline away so hard she tumbled to the ground.

Adeline let out a loud yelp.

I looked up at the man standing there, staring at me with a cold, commanding gaze. He was wearing a suit with the Red Moon Pack crest pinned to his chest.

“Dad.” I immediately lowered my head.

“Who is this girl?” His voice was enough to make anyone cower.

I glanced at Adeline as she got up. Her messy behavior was making me cringe. She should at least show some respect in front of my father.

“Dad?” Adeline processed it, and a moment later, her eyes went wide. “Alpha?” She gave a quick bow.

I closed my eyes. What planet is this girl from? How does she not know how to act around an Alpha?

“Who are you, young lady?” My dad sniffed the air, his eyes locked on her. “You aren't from my pack.”

“My dad and I just moved here three days ago, Alpha,” she answered

“Which pack were you with before?”

“I’m packless.”

Packless? I turned to her, stunned. I’d never heard of that before.

“A rogue?”

“No. My dad came from a pack that doesn't exist anymore. We’ve been moving from pack to pack until we ended up here.”

My dad’s ears perked up. His calm expression suddenly turned tense. What was going on? Was being packless that big of a deal?

“Oliver,” my dad called out. “Go home. You have training. Don’t waste your time on things that don’t matter.”

Adeline didn't say anything, but she clearly noticed my dad’s shift in mood.

“Yes, Dad.”

I couldn't defy his orders, even though I was dying of curiosity. My dad walked off without another word, which only made me more suspicious. I started to walk away while Adeline just stood there looking totally confused.

I’d just finished training with my dad. He puts me through physical drills every day to keep a close eye on my progress.

I felt something bulky in my pocket. When I pulled it out, I saw Adeline’s necklace.

“Where did you get that?” my dad asked, noticing the piece.

“It belongs to Adeline,” I answered shortly.

He sighed and snatched the necklace from me. His eyes practically lit up when he saw it.

“What’s the matter, Dad?” I asked.

“Don’t tell me she’s your mate, Oliver.”

I swallowed hard. My dad always has a crazy intuition; there was no point in lying to him.

“Dad, she’s just…”

“That girl is a curse. You are not allowed to claim her.”

“How do you know that, Dad?”

“This necklace?” My dad held it up. “This is the symbol of the Moon Goddess. It’s a necklace given to werewolf infants who carry a curse. No matter what happens, you cannot have a relationship with her.”

“I know.”

Suddenly, my dad smirked. It was a devious look that gave me the creeps he definitely had something up his sleeve.

“But, this pack might just have a use for that girl.”

“Dad,” I said, shaking my head and frowning. “What are you planning? I thought you said I couldn't be with that hybrid?”

“I’m not going to let her ruin your future, Oliver. But I know exactly what she’s hiding, and why she’s been running all the way here.”