Chapter 1
"Wow, this soup is horrible."
"Just eat." I groaned.
Rhue shoot me a look of disbelief. "No, really. This is like a hospital food where you can't even taste shit. It taste like pure water with slight spices."
I put my spoon down. Hearing how perfect the description of the soup, it makes me lose my appetite. But I'm still hungry. Brainstorming during the earlier morning quizzes had left me in empty stomach.
One more test and I would die in a not so peaceful way.
"Listen, let's skip the next class and buy ourselves some crusty pizza with extra pepperoni. Doesn't that sounds good? It's way better than measly made soup right?"
"It's Prof. Gerry class. I don't want to miss any."
Rhue rolled her eyes. She begin packed her things in a bag. "I can't survive another boring classes with no food. It's not my thing."
"You're gonna leave?" I ask.
"Well, yeah? See you later." The girl immediately dash out from the lunch room, going to who knows where. I sighed, continue to eat and pretend it was a pasta with extra cheese.
"Belle," greeted a male voice above me.
"Jay!"
"Ugh, don't call me that." Jayden, my best friend swung his long leg over the seat and sat in front of me with a playful smirk adorned his lips. "What's with that ugly face? You're supposed to greet me in all smiles."
"Don't make me stab you with this spoon."
The smirk still has not wear off his lips. "You can do that when you have a fork." He grimaced seeing the contents in my bowl. "Is that a vomit or something?"
This time, I push my tray away from sight. "Seriously, I lose my appetite before and now you completely ruin it."
Jayden is my best friend since our first year off to college. I met him when we accidentally crash onto each other and we gradually became friends. He is in computer engineering major and currently on a dean list. Bastard, he nailed all exams even when he's on a night out, dicking around with girls. He got all those girls flocking him because of his goofy, handsome kind of look, and the obvious shaggy blond hair accompanied with round glasses, tall frame and incredibly good fashion sense.
Unlike his best friend which is me. Ah, the contradiction is so ironic.
"I got you buns, Belle." He unwrap a packet of fluffy chocolate bun and hand me one.
"You love me." He winked.
"Thanks."
"So, tonight we got a drive in theater on the college field. The football club held it. Wanna come?" He ask with a suggestive eyebrows.
"I'll pass." I said.
"But we never had night out together!" He whined. "Please Belle, it's a Friday night and you need to loosen up a little. The theater also got a lot of street food." He coerced. Damn, this guy seriously never stop.
"We had, but you also had the audacity to bring some weird ass chick with us and she drenched me with water because she thinks I'm trying to flirt with you." I finished.
Jayden pouts. "I thought all is forgotten and forgiven." Then his face suddenly brights up as if the sun has pass its light to him. "But this time, there's no chick! Only us besties!"
"And many more ladies you will met." I sighed. "What if you meet your mate, don't you feel guilty?"
I try to use the mate card on him to probably stop his player attitude of having different girlfriends every week. His frown spread over the ball of fists I just realized.
"I'm a rogue, remember?" He asked quietly.
"And I'm your wingman." His expression did not change. "Look, why do you think your mate won't accept you just because you're a rogue?"
"I was kicked out."
"You were wronged." I corrected. "You're not a criminal. You even whined when you see blood." I was quiet for a moment before continue, "Look, I can ask my dad to ask our Alpha if you could join our pack. It'll be cool and--"
"You know why I can't." His teeth now gritted in annoyance. I knew I must struck a nerve somewhere and cross the line. Our table filled with sudden tense and awkwardness. It's always been like that whenever the topic was brought up.
Jayden was framed because his idiot of an Alpha thought he sold information to a rival pack and he was only seventeen. The accusation lead to no trial because they could only blame him and Jayden cannot afford to get the right justice. He struggled to live before he met me and I knew he was depressed and all sad because he cannot see his parents anymore.
I sighed and look down to my fingers. "Does the offer for the night's out still up?"
His eyes changed. It brights up a little before he nodded. He must be grateful since I change the topic.
"I'll come if Rhue does." I concluded.
He frowned. "Who's Rhue? Wait, are you cheating on me? Is that the reason you had been quiet all this time? I have done everything and this is how you pay me back?" His hands begin to fan his face to stop the tears from falling.
Drama queen. I still smile at that. "Rhue is my roommate. She gotta come as my safety pin. We don't know if you will not bring some girls with you."
Jayden was all silent before cheering, "Deal!"
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"A drive in theater? I'm in," Rhue decided in just a second.
I groaned. "I thought you would say you're not coming cause I certainly don't wanna." Now I had to get up and change since the deal with Jayden goes if only Rhue tag along.
"When?"
"At eight." I answered halfheartedly as I paired my shirts with jeans. It does look good. Rhue also got up to change, preferably into a casual Bohemian long dress with a grey cardigan. Her dark chestnut hair was up in a ponytail. Her hearty face with slight makeup really fits the night.
I just threw a pair of long sleeve sweater on, ripped jeans along with pair of worn out sneakers. And boom, I'm done.
"So this friend of yours who I didn't know of invite you. But not me."
I snorted. "You're my guest."
Rhue shake her head slowly. "Let's go, we might be late."
The ride to our college wasn't really far, since Rhue was driving and she took a couple of shortcuts to get there. Upon our arrival, the theater was still on the making yet already crowded with students. On another side, there were trucks with lots of food being sell. My mouth waters at blackpaper hamburger grilled on the stove.
"Ugh, my shoes got wet. I just bought it," Rhue was annoyed and try to shake the water off her black flats. Poor kid, she must step on a puddle.
"Yeah, it was raining earlier. That's why they had to start late." I reply. "Why're you stepping on it anyways?"
"I couldn't see, duh." We both snicker for some reason. " So, where's the guy? Is he-- what the fuck."
Her body stiffened. She gulped unintentionally and took a step back.
"Rhue? What's wrong?" I ask in concern. She did not reply so I decided to follow her gaze and it land on a tall guy with polo tshirt, brown khaki shorts, familiar blond hair, and round glasses putting his arm on a girl that was sitting on his lap. They literally make out in the group of friends, oblivious to the outside world.
"Why are you looking at him?" I asked. Rhue shook her head breathlessly.
"I don't know... Is that your friend?"
I nods and call out to him. "Jayden!"
The said man paused and look up. His lips spread wide into a kid grin. He immediately push the girl off him and literally dash toward us. It will look hilarious if not--
Now what the hell is wrong with this kid?
Jayden halted in the middle of crowds, staring at both of us with wide eyes. His nose up, as he sniffs the air. I was about to call him an idiot if not for the word he just mouth out.
I maybe insensitive, but I knew what he said under his breath.
'Mate.'
I look at both of them many times. To Jayden, to Rhue, to Jayden and back to Rhue.
They're mates! Like fucking mates! They were mated to each other. Jayden is mated to Rhue! I could feel that I was invisible in their world. As when their souls met, it was inseparable. No one in between could stop them.
Jayden now walk toward us with determination, his gaze darken with desire as his fists all ball up.
