3/4
Chapter Twelve
Lunch came too quickly, and with it, the unbearable noise of the cafeteria. I lingered by the doorway for a moment, clutching my tray and surveying the sea of faces. They weren’t staring at me yet, but I could feel it coming. The moment I walked in, the whispers would start again.
Nope. Not happening.
I turned on my heel and headed in the opposite direction, ditching the cafeteria entirely. My stomach growled in protest, but I ignored it. I’d lost my appetite anyway. My plan was to find somewhere quiet, somewhere they wouldn’t think to look for me.
The benches by the sports field had been my sanctuary last week, but I knew better now. They’d found me there before, and they’d find me there again. This time, I needed a spot they’d never think to check.
The library.
The library was mostly empty, save for a few students scattered at tables with their noses buried in books. It was quiet, and peaceful -a stark contrast to the chaos outside.
I walked quickly, slipping past rows of bookshelves until I reached the far wing of the library. This section was older and less frequented. The shelves here were lined with dusty tomes and records of pack history, their spines faded with age.
Perfect.
I glanced around to make sure no one was following me before ducking into a secluded corner. The sunlight streamed through a nearby window, casting a warm glow on the table where I liked to sit. The spot had always been my favorite, hidden and quiet, a place where I could think without interruption.
But as I turned the corner, my breath caught in my throat.
Elijah was there, sitting at my table.
He looked almost serene, his head bent over a book as the sunlight bathed him in a golden glow. For a moment, I just stared, frozen in place. He didn’t belong here, in this quiet sanctuary. Yet somehow he fit perfectly, like he’d always been meant to sit there.
I took a step back, hoping to retreat before he noticed me, but I bumped into something solid.
No, not something–someone.
“Going somewhere, little mate?”
Isaiah’s voice was low and teasing, his breath warm against my ear as his hands gripped my shoulders.
Panic surged through me, and I tried to twist away, but he was too strong. Before I could process what was happening, he lifted me off the ground as if I weighed nothing.
“Let me go!” I yelled, my voice echoing through the quiet library.
Elijah’s head snapped up at the sound, his golden eyes locking onto mine.
“Isaiah,” he said, his tone sharp but calm. “Put her down.”
Isaiah ignored him, his grip firm as he turned to carry me toward the table.
“I’m rejecting all of you!” I shouted, my voice trembling with anger and desperation.
1/3
Chapter Twelve
Isaiah’s grip tightened, but if was Elijah who responded.
“No, you’re not.”
His voice was quiet but firm, the words carrying a weight that made my chest tighten.
“You’re our mate, Stormi,” he added, standing and moving to block the way.
“Mate?” I spat, twisting in Isaiah’s grip. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Let me go!”
Isaiah sighed but finally set me down, though he kept a firm hold on my wrist.
“Why do you always run from us?” he asked, his tone softer now, almost pleading.
“Because I don’t want anything to do with you!” I snapped, yanking my arm free. “You bullied me for years, and now I’m just supposed to forgive you because some mystical bond says we’re mates? No thanks.”
Elijah stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine.
“We were wrong, Stormi,” he said, his voice steady. “I’m not going to make excuses for what we did. But this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about what we are to each other.”
“What you are to me is a reminder of every miserable day I spent being humiliated,” I shot back. “This bond doesn’t change anything.”
“You’re wrong,” Isaiah said, moving to stand beside Elijah. “It changes everything.”
I backed away, my chest heaving as I tried to keep my composure. Their words, their presence–it was too much.
“Stay away from me,” I said, my voice trembling.
“We can’t,” Elijah said simply.
I glared at him, my fists clenching at my sides. “Then I’ll make you.”
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “How?”
“I’ll reject you,” I said, my voice firm despite the chaos swirling inside me. “All of you.”
Isaiah smirked. “You’ve been saying that for a week now, but you haven’t done it.”
“Because you won’t leave me alone long enough to do it!” I snapped.
“Do it now, then,” Elijah said, stepping even closer.
I blinked, taken aback. “What?”
“Reject us,” he said, his golden eyes piercing mine. “If you really want to, do it now.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out. I’d been so sure of what wanted, so certain that rejecting them was the only way to regain control of my life. But now, with them standing so close, their presence overwhelming, I hesitated.
My wolf stirred inside me, her voice a soft whisper in the back of my mind.
Don’t do it.
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Chapter Twelve
“Stormi?” Elijah prompted, his tone gentle but insistent.
“1…”
I couldn’t.
Frustrated and overwhelmed, I turned on my heel and stormed toward the nearest exit.
“Stormi, wait-”
“No!” I yelled over my shoulder. “Just leave me alone!”
I pushed the library doors open and fled down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t stop until I was outside, the cool air hitting my face like a splash of water.
I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions–anger, confusion, fear.
Why couldn’t they just let me be?
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