"Mia!"
Laura's voice rang out the moment Mia stepped into their apartment. Her mom dropped the dish towel she was holding and hurried over, eyes filled with worry.
"You're pale. What happened?"
Mia shook her head quickly, forcing a smile. "It's nothing, Mom. Just a long day."
Laura frowned, searching her daughter's face. She could always tell when Mia was hiding something, but Mia slipped past her, heading straight to her room. Laura was so concerned about Mia these days. She knew being in the midst of elite wolves can be dangerous for her daughter, but there's nothing she can do. That was the only way to help Mia's future. With the way Mia returned home today, she couldn't help but feel restless. She looked disturbed and sat down thinking for a while. She later on sighed and went back to her work.
Once the door clicked shut, Mia slid down against it, clutching her knees. The memory of everything that happened that day came back flooding.
"Mine."
The word echoed in her head, pulsing in her veins. Leon's voice, clear, low and rough, kept replaying.
Why would he say that? Why would the Lycan Prince, the most powerful boy in the school, claim her, a powerless human girl, as his?
She shook her head violently, pressing her palms to her ears. No. It didn't make sense. It had to be a mistake. He can only belong to elite class wolves, like Rachel. But her, she doesn't even stand a chance. She is a Human, poor and powerless. What could he possibly do with her?
She is getting restless with each passing second, her heart wouldn't calm. All she wanted was to graduate peacefully but it's like fate has it in him to blew her cover. How is she going to face Rachel when next they meet? She felt like disappearing. What if they attack her again? It's not like he will always be there to rescue her. How did she even got herself into this mess. A lone tear escaped her eye.
At the Lycan dorms, Leon slammed the door to his room, his chest heaving. He stalked to the mirror, gripping the edges of the sink, his reflection staring back at him with wild eyes.
"Mine," he growled under his breath, the word tasting both sweet and poisonous at the same time. He didn't even know when he uttered the word.
It wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to have a mate. Not her. Not a human.
He dragged his hand down his face, trying to steady his breathing, but the bond tugged relentlessly at him. Xavier, his wolf clawed inside his chest, restless and hungry.
"She's weak," Leon whispered to himself. "She doesn't belong to my world. I won't accept this."
But even as he said it, his throat tightened. He could still smell her scent, soft and strange, lingering on his skin.
With a snarl, he punched the mirror. The Glass shattered and blood dripped from his knuckles.
"You can't deny her."
Xavier's voice rumbled in his mind.
"I can," Leon snapped back. "And I will."
But deep down, he knew denial would come at a cost, which he surely cannot afford. But he can't let the weak human girl into his dark chaotic world. She won't survive.
Rachel sat in her room, trembling with rage. Eliose hovered nervously nearby, she was scared of speaking first, but Rachel's mind was far from her friend.
"He said it," Rachel finally whispered after what felt like eternity, her hands clenched. "He said she's his. Right?"
Eliose bit her lip in nervousness. "Maybe he didn't mean it…"
Rachel's glare cut her off. "No. He meant it. Don't even try to defend him. Didn't you see how he looked at her. He looked at her like she was truly his, with care vividly in his eyes, he has never looked at me that way. Why would he be there if she didn't mean anything to him?"
Her nails dug into her palms until they bled. "I won't let some human girl take him from me. She is no match for me. What does she have that I don't ? I'll surely destroy her."
Her eyes flicked to her phone. With trembling fingers, she looked for a contact and typed a message.
"Meet me. I need your help. It's time Mia learned her place." She typed.
The next morning, Mia kept her head low as she walked into school. She prayed for her path not to cross with Rachel's and for the students to ignore her, but the whispers followed her again today.
"She's the Prince's mate."
"No way. She's human!"
"I saw him say it."
Her stomach twisted. She wanted to disappear.
At her locker, Eliose appeared, forcing a fake smile. "Mia. Rachel wants to talk."
Mia froze. Every instinct screamed no, but Eliose's tone was careful, almost pleading.
"It's important. Please… just hear her out."
Against her better judgment, Mia followed.
Rachel was waiting in the courtyard, her beauty like a blade, her eyes cold.
"So," Rachel said softly. "You've managed to tangle the Prince in your little web."
Mia shook her head quickly. "No, you are mistaken. I didn't…"
"Liar!" Rachel snapped. "He said you're his. Do you know what that means? Do you even understand?"
Mia's lips parted, but no words came.
Rachel stepped closer, her voice sounding venomous . "You're nothing but a weak poor Human. If you care about your life, stay away from him."
Her words cut deeper than any slap. But before Mia could respond, Leon's voice broke through the air.
"Rachel."
He stood behind her, his presence sharp as a blade. His eyes flicked to Mia, then hardened.
"Stay away from me," he told Mia, his voice flat.
Mia's heart cracked.
Rachel's smile returned instantly. "See? Even he doesn't want you."
Mia's vision blurred as she turned and fled, her chest aching.
That night, Mia curled in bed, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.
She replayed his words over and over. Stay away from me.
It hurt more than Rachel's cruelty. More than the bullying.
Because part of her—against her will—had started to hope.
Leon sat outside on the balcony of his dorm, staring at the moon. His hand throbbed where the glass had cut him, but he barely noticed.
"Why her?" he whispered.
His wolf stirred. Because she's ours.
Leon's jaw clenched. "She'll never survive in our world. I can't let this happen."
But the bond only pulled tighter, burning inside him. Denying it felt like tearing himself apart.
For the first time in his life, Leon felt powerless.
Meanwhile, Rachel met with a shadowed figure in the woods.
"You want her gone?" the figure asked, their voice low.
Rachel's eyes gleamed. "I want her to suffer first. I want her to beg. And then…"
Her smile was sharp as a blade. "Then she can disappear."