Chapter 4

• Rose Greyson
• I was only staring at the professor, but my mind was completely off my body. I couldn't get the events that transpired yesterday out of my head. I'm still in shock and disbelief.
• Meet your mate, Rose.
• The words lingered in my brain. I wasn't able to focus on anything. I was glad when Mom came back from work; she went straight to her room as she was exhausted. My mom works at the cosmetic company as the brand manager. Before we moved, she was the sales assistant at the other branch, but because of my mother's diligence at her work, she was promoted when we moved back to New York. My mother is my role model. I look up to her in so many aspects.
• When I blacked out from shock, I woke up on the infirmary bed. Alone. If not for the door that was half-broken, there wasn't a sign that something had transpired. It took me some minutes to get myself together. I left the infirmary without a second glance. Who knows, they might be hiding somewhere. I can't afford to get into another trouble. I was a few miles away from the infirmary when I sighted Nora. She looked at me with a suspicious gaze. I knew I looked out of place. Yet, I forced out a smile and used style to take her away with me. To go grab the coffee I planned to take before I decided to change direction to the infirmary.
• "Hey, Rose. Whatcha thinking about?" Nora snapped her fingers over my face, snapping me out of the trance I ventured into. The class was almost empty. The professor had left already.
• "You've been zoning out in every class. Hope everything is okay? I hope no one is troubling you in this school. Because I—" Her fists were clenched together when I held them.
• "It's nothing like that. I'm fine. I'm starving. Let's go eat." Before she could have a chance to say anything, I sauntered for the door. The moment I was out, I bumped into Mrs. Elizabeth.
• "Good afternoon, ma'am," I greeted her.
• "Good afternoon, Rose. I was actually coming to your class to see you." My brows raised at her statement. To see me?
• "Okay, ma'am. I—"
• She cut me off before I could finish my statement. "I see you're going for lunch. Meet me at my office when you're back," she ushered with a smile.
• "Alright, ma'am, will do." She nodded her head and then walked away.
• "What was the devil saying?" Nora hushed beside me.
• "Devil?" I asked. I don't see any fault in the woman. The very first day I walked into her office with Mom, I admired the woman at first sight. She's always keeping a cheerful face.
• "That woman is fierce. You may see her smiling, but then when she's angry, she turns to a devil. By the way, I hope she didn't call you to her office?" Nora asked as we made our way to the school cafeteria.
• "She was actually on her way to meet me in class, but then she said I should meet her in her office when I'm back from lunch."
• Nora came to a halt. "What happened?" I asked, seeing the nervous expression on her face.
• "Hope it's not about what happened in Mr. Hunter's class?"
• "I don't know. We'll find out when I meet her. Enough of all that, my stomach is about to lose its shit."
• I can't forget those enchanting eyes. How he stared me down. Does the school know he's not a normal person? And Rob? Is he a wolf too? What is between the two? And why am I someone's mate? How? All these are questions I need answers to.
• I tried to get my mind off things for some time and focus on my lunch. My stomach was already at war, and I didn't want to zone out in front of Nora. She would suspect something. Talking of that, maybe Nora might know something.
• I cleared my throat. "Um, Nora, is English Literature the only class Mr. Hunter is taking?" I asked, pretending not to sound curious.
• "Before, he was taking History classes, but then after three weeks of doing that, he suddenly stopped. I don't know the reason, though. However..." She trailed off, a smirk appearing at the corner of her lips, making me more interested in her story.
• "However..." I also trailed off, leaning over. My lunch was long forgotten.
• "I found out something about him," she whispered.
• "Spill," I whispered back, eager to hear.
• She spared the surrounding a glance. There were literally a few people minding their own business. "He has some shares invested in this school. His family or grandfather was among the people who established the college."
• "Wow. That's why he screams premium. He must be filthy rich." I didn't realize I said that aloud, almost getting people's attention.
• Nora passed me a glare. "Keep it low, babe. I'm telling this to you alone. I have a crush on Mr. Hunter." I didn't miss the tinge of blush that appeared on her cheeks.
• Only if she knew the real him. I bet she'd stop the crush the day she found out he's not a normal person.
• It wasn't what I wanted to hear from her, though. I wonder how he's hiding it without people getting suspicious.
• "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," I giggled out. The rest of our lunch was in silence. After we were done, Nora left for the next class while I went to Mrs. Elizabeth's office. Normally, I don't like Mr. Andrew's class. It's boring and you get tired easily.
• As I stopped in front of her office, I took in a sharp breath before fisting a knock on the door. "Come in," came her voice. I heaved out yet another sharp breath before pushing the door open.
• "Oh, it's you, Rose," she proclaimed, letting out a smile. "Have a seat," she added, and I did as told, gently squatting on the visitor's chair, resting both my palms on my lap.
• "I hope you're enjoying the school so far?" she asked after a moment of silence befell us.
• "Yes, ma'am. So far, I would say it's not bad."
• Not bad, Rose! When nothing has been going right ever since you came to the school.
• I can't tell that to her, can I?
• "That's nice to hear. Feel free to come meet me whenever you have a complaint or need help. Your mother is a good friend of mine." I nodded in answer. She finished what she was doing on her laptop before closing the lid and focusing her attention on me.
• "Rose, it came to my notice this morning about what happened yesterday." As the words slipped out of her mouth, I felt my heart escalate. Could it be about the infirmary? Does she know about it too?
• "About what happened in Mr. Hunter's class."
• Him again.
• I tried to show calmness as the woman stared me down while explaining. "I bet you didn't know about his class rules. That was why. Mr. Hunter's class is very important in your course. I wouldn't want you to miss any of his classes because his assessment is what will determine whether you will be able to write the semester exams or not."
• He must be an important person in the college.
• "Hmm?" she said, noticing my attention was getting diverted.
• "Yes, ma'am. I understand," I said when deep down it was not the case.
• "Okay, good. There's only one thing for you to do. I will talk to Mr. Hunter on your behalf too. But then, I will have to see how it will go at your end. Because Mr. Hunter isn't a forgiving person. We'll have to try our chance."
• How can someone not be forgiving? Everybody makes mistakes. Nobody is perfect. He isn't perfect.
• "What do I have to do, ma'am?" I asked.
• "You should apologize to him."
• I looked at her, confused. "I thought you said he isn't a forgiving person."
• "I know. But no matter how hard a person is, if the person who wronged you initiates an apology, even if you won't accept the apology, at least you will feel something deep down."
• I know I have not wronged him in any way. I didn't laugh intentionally. And besides, he should know I'm someone he hasn't seen before. At least he could turn a blind eye.
• How can he turn a blind eye to his mate? a voice at the back of my head whispered to me.
• "Don't worry. Try it. I'm sure he will lessen the punishment," Mrs. Elizabeth said.
• Lessen the punishment? I'm already under the punishment of being his mate.
• Oh, now you're accepting the fact that you're his mate?
• No! No way! I'm nobody's mate and I will not be.
• Maybe I should have a one-on-one talk with him. I heaved out a short breath. "Okay, ma'am. I will try."
• "But Mr. Hunter normally comes to school every Tuesday for classes. Maybe you should send him an email. Because I don't think waiting till next week Tuesday will work." I managed to nod because I know I'm not going to do what she said.
• "Thank you, Mrs. Elizabeth. I will do that. I will be on my way now."
• "I trust you. My regards to your mother."
• I left her office and went straight to where I knew Nora would pass by. The class was still on, so I decided to clear my head while waiting for her.
• "Ditching class?" I turned towards the familiar voice.
• Rob.
• My mood immediately changed at the sight of him. "Sorry to say, but I'm not in the mood for any talks." He made himself comfortable beside me, and I shifted. I didn't want my body anywhere near his.
• "Easy, dear. I like your confidence. I knew you were a tough one the very first day I met you." I didn't look his way or even try to answer him. Talking to him would only piss me off if I'm not already pissed.
• Seeing that allowing myself to hold in the patience of sitting close to him, I stood up to leave the place. I didn't take more than three steps when his words stopped me.
• "Aren't you curious to know why you were chosen to be Hunter's mate?" My heart skipped at the mention of his name.
• "Or why you're involved in the werewolf world. All of a sudden. As a human."
• I know I'm curious about everything. Why me? That word is hooked in my head. I turned around. His legs were crossed over the other. "I'm not curious to know about whatever you're saying. And if I'm to know, my said mate should be the one to explain things to me. Not you. I don't know what's between you and him, but I don't want to get myself involved. So, if you will excuse me." I could see the surprise on his face. I bet he thought I was desperate.
• The person I need an explanation from is Hunter himself.
• I decided to go home. I will call Nora to text me his email address. Rob has already pissed me off. I hailed a taxi back home. I was surprised to see the door unlocked, which means Mom came back from work early. As I held the doorknob, the beating of my heart began escalating faster.
• Rose.
• I heard Hunter's voice calling me to him. And I opened the door and walked in. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets seeing the figure staring back at me. "Welcome home, Mì Rose," he hushed out in his kind of voice that almost spun my head around.
• "What are you doing in my house?" was what I said straightforwardly. How did he even get in?
• "I'm here to take what's mine," he said, taking slow steps toward me.