I am the Unwanted Mate

After lying there in shock for a few more moments, I mustered the strength to get up and hurried to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it, sliding down to the floor.

As the reality of the situation began to sink in, a strange pain in my chest intensified.

Soon, it became unbearable.

It felt as if someone was relentlessly stabbing my chest while I screamed at them to stop.

I tightly shut my eyes, threw my head back, and let out a scream.

Tears welled up and streamed down my face, one after another, until my visage was a complete mess of water and salt.

Suddenly, my entire body grew heavy and weary.

My heart ached to the point where I thought stabbing it would be less painful. I sniffled and whimpered, slumping further onto the floor.

I lay there with my head resting on the cool marble for a considerable while, contemplating the events of the day.

So much for wishing for a mate, right? So much for daring to hope?

I suppose that's how fate operates, then.

Happy birthday to me.

...

The next day was school. Of course.

It feels like this world has some sort of grudge against me.

First, my mate rejects me.

Second, I can't feel my wolf, which makes me question whether I'll even shift in a fortnight or not.

And third, my best friend isn't at school.

Julie Paxton, also known as the energy ball of the school and my closest friend, wasn't going to be here today. She texted me this morning, saying she had to urgently leave for Mexico to visit her grandma. Honestly, the fact that she isn't here is really getting on my nerves.

Yeah, she's Latina. Another reason why she's as energetic as HELL. And absolutely feisty.

Unlike me, she's gorgeous, and her accent is everything!

Her mate will be so lucky to have her. Well, unlike mine...

I shook my head, trying to shake off those thoughts.

I still haven't told her about what happened on my birthday.

And this damn pain in my chest just won't go away.

Letting out a sigh, I slammed my locker shut.

I refuse to think about him. He clearly doesn't care about me, so why should I care about him?

Hugging my books to my chest, I walked with my gaze fixed on the floor.

I didn't want to look up. If I do, I might catch a glimpse of him, and I don't want to see him.

I don't want to see him because I know if I do, I'll break down in tears.

Ugh, why am I so weak? I thought to myself when suddenly someone's arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me into yet another embrace.

Damn, so many unexpected hugs.

I turned around to find my other best friend, Jaxson Hastings, standing there with a grin on his face.

Jaxson, also known as... Wait, he's not known as anything. He's just ordinary like me.

Yay for us!

"Jax!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly.

"Whoa!" He whispered, but he hugged me back nonetheless.

"Where were you this morning? I checked your locker, but you weren't there," I muttered, my voice muffled by his shirt.

He began to respond, but his words were interrupted by a loud growl that emanated from behind me.

Fear sent shivers down my spine. The growl carried authority.

I immediately turned around to see Nicholas, looking furious with his black eyes and clenched fists, watching us.

His gaze focused on Jax's arm around my waist, and he growled again when Jax pulled me closer, as if protecting me.

At his second growl, I quickly untangled myself from Jax's embrace and stood there awkwardly. I didn't want to cause a scene.

Nicholas's expression shifted into one of satisfaction as he noticed the distance between me and Jax. Soon, his eyes returned to their normal color.

With one last menacing glare in our direction, he walked away as if nothing had happened.

My jaw dropped at his behavior, and I gasped.

Okay, what the hell just happened?