Reasoned
Matt POV
I stared at Tulip for a second before adding, “I can’t reject her. I am sorry, but so I have to ask you to vacate my house as soon as possible.” Saying that I turned to walk away, my heart feeling lighter. There was a bounce in my steps, and I couldn’t help chuckling at the risk of looking silly.
“This isn’t over, Matt!” Tulip shouted behind me. “I will not let you go. Reject her!”
I just walked away. Only my death would part me from my Tam. Even if I had to grovel in dirt to get her, I would. This would be my redemption. I would do everything she’s asked me to do. If she would put a leash around me, I’d happily become her mutt. My heart swelled with euphoria. All I wanted was to go to Tam, and coat myself in her
scent.
However, I was in for a shock when I went to the Shadowfang pack. Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren were shocked to know that I was their daughter’s mate. It took a day for
them to sink it in.
“But you can’t meet her,” Alpha Lucien said the next day.
“Why?” I raised my eyebrow. “Because I’m a bear shifter?”
He shook his head. “Who am I to intervene in what goddess has chosen for you and her? You can’t meet her because she is attending a human college.” After that he told me where she had gone to attend it.
Three weeks later, after taking Alpha Lucien’s help, I took admission in the same college and in the same course as hers. What could be better than being with her all the time? Wooing her was going to be a gargantuan task I was willing to undertake happily.
The shock on her face when she saw me in her class was a Kodak moment.
So, right now standing in front of her, shouting at me, knowing fully well that she had recognized me as her mate, was like nirvana. I watched her shouting at me like a lovesick fool.
“You, old geezer!” she spat. “I/don’t want you near me. Let me live my life for once! I’ve had enough of you. I want to move on.” She placed her hand on her hip and cocked her hip. “And how could a twenty–eight–year–old man join college in my year?”
I tilted my head, amused by her reaction, attracted by her insane beauty, crazed by her warm caramel and chocolate smell. “I’m not that old,” I replied to her. “Besides, all the other males in your class pale in front of me, I am the most handsome.”
Her jaw dropped. “I don’t want you anywhere near me. So stay away! You get that?”
“I can’t,” replied. “Alpha Lucien agreed that there has to be someone to protect you all the time, even in your class. The warriors he sent to guard you can’t enter the building
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without looking like they’d kill students. So I was the best choice, and since I hadn’t
had a chance to study in college, I joined yours. Basically it serves two purposes at the same time. Intelligent, isn’t it?” I grinned.
“Like you don’t look intimidating?” She said, rolling her eyes. Then she paused and shook her head. “But why?” she asked bewildered. “I mean how did you-”
stepped toward her and she stopped talking, her breath caught in her throat. I took a strand of her hair in between my thumb and forefinger. Rubbing it, I completed the sentence for her, “-know that you were my mate?” When she nodded, I leaned over her ear, and whispered, “I saw your wolf that day in the forest when you first shifted.”
She gasped, realization dawning. I could feel her trembling in her place, and all I wanted was to wrap her in my arms, but I stopped myself for the fear of her pushing me away.
“It was you…” she said, her chest rising and falling.
“Yes…” With a lot of willpower, I managed to step away from her.
She gritted her teeth and looked away. Then she breathed, “I don’t need any protection. I’m a trained warrior and can take care of myself. Most importantly, I don’t want you. After all the bad blood we have between us. “And where’s. Tulip? Aren’t you married to her?”
“No, I couldn’t marry her. She’s out of my life. Forever.”
She pursed her lips, tears welling in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. “Look, I want to fall in love with someone-” She paused when I glared at her. “I–I want to feel normal.”
I would never allow her to fall in love with anyone but me. And the only reason being that I didn’t want to kill people. She hated me for now, but that would change. “No, Tam,” I replied firmly. “There is a lot of danger that lurks around in this college.”
“What kind of danger?” she bristled.
“Boys! There are a lot of boys,” I blurted out, anger bubbling inside me. “Can’t you see how they look at you?” I grabbed her upper arms tightly. “It’s like they are lusting after you. They don’t seek your love.” I was going to gouge their eyes. “Men are like wolves and bears, stalking their next prey, itching to pounce on innocent and beautiful girls like you.”
“What the hell!” She looked confused as she stared at me.
I think I got carried away in my fury, and dropped my hands. “I’m here to protect you, Tam. From those lustful boys,” I reasoned.
“I can’t believe that my father agreed with your stupid proposal!” she hissed. “Anyway, newsflash, I don’t need your protection. I am good at protecting myself from humans. And now listen to the most important part I. don’t. Need. You. Around. Me. Capisce?” Saying that she spun on her heels and walked away, swaying her hips like a siren,
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looking so attractive that it messed my head. If she looked so attractive when angry, how would she-
I leaned on the wall behind me, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. This was our first quarrel. A smile spread on my lips. I was going to remember it forever. It was a great start. I rubbed my hand over my chest asking it to calm down. The fucker wouldn’t.
Since the herbology class was next, I rushed after Tam, but before that I walked in the history class to pick up my bag and laptop. The moment I walked in, the class went silent with everyone’s eyes on me. I snapped my gaze up only to find them looking at me suggestively. Rolling my eyes, I strode out of the class to be with Tam.
However, when I arrived there, I was in for the shock of my life.