Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

There was a moment of absolute silence.

The entire clearing was frozen.

And then it was broken by a subtle movement, so subtle yet the power, the horror that followed was heart stopping.

Benedict’s pack moved like predators, their strides lithe and soundless. They’re on Andrew before I can blink ready to defend their Beta from the illegal attack but

Benedict stops them with one sharp look.

With his hand down, I can see the gashes on his face. It’s deep but already healing. Five long slashes ran from his eye down to his jaw.

Any other werewolf hit by that and they might have been unconscious by now or worse… dead.

“Let him live with his embarrassment.” Benedict loudly orders, standing up to his full height as he roughly wiped his cheek off with his hand. Blood smeared all over his beautiful face. He doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t show any kind of weakness. He only smiles down at Andrew and I hate how attractive it all looked. “And you call yourself a

Beta.”

His words hurt even for me.

His pack disperses, shooting death like stares towards Andrew before flanking their Beta back to the crowd who have now started cheering Benedict’s name. He did not accept the praises or wallow too much in his victory. Instead his eyes searched for something… for me.

I know it’s me because his fingers are running through the fabric on his wrist, my identifier, he’s looking and just as I’m about to call for him…

“Vareesa, come with me.” It’s Jeff. Breathless and red in the face.

“What is it?” I asked, surprised to see him and momentarily forgetting how he left me for another.

He takes me to the woods, far enough that we can’t hear the noise from the clearing. I follow him purely for our friendship but also to finally get it over with. He doesn’t have to say it. I know he will say he made a hasty decision before we left for the School of Love and now that he’s here, he’s seen better and knows better than to settle.

It’s okay. I try to convince myself. He was always going to leave me for someone better and that’s not his fault. It’s okay…

“What do you think you’re doing, Vareesa?” He says sharply. “Who are these guys and why are you entertaining them?”

Chapter 14

For a moment I think I heard wrong.

For a moment I thought… that can’t be right.

Surely he didn’t just say what I think he just said.

But his sour and accusatory expression doesn’t change and I just know he means it.

“Excuse me?” I managed, wide eyed. “What are you on about?”

Impatient and childishly angry, he stomps towards me. “You’re promised to me, remember? We spoke about it only yesterday and now you’re off selling yourself to Betas you don’t even know.”

“Exactly. We only spoke about it yesterday.” I repeated his words. “And yet you were eating the face of the first girl that spoke to you.”

Jeff had the audacity to blush. “That’s different.”

“How is that different?” I argued, losing patience. I didn’t understand this Jeff. He was always so nice and sweet. Playful but never hurtful.

He shrugs, looking proud of himself. “I’m a man.”

“A man keeps his word.” I shoot back. It’s true what they say about the School of Love. It changes people.

Jeff rolls his eyes at me. He’s acting like I was being dramatic and nothing more. “I’m still claiming you. I was only tasting the other products. Don’t you know the School of Love is about a little fun before settling down in a boring life?”

I laughed, very bitterly. “I do now.”

He gives me a pointed look, staring at me up and down. “You’re acting like a slut, Vareesa.”

“Fuck you, Jeff.” I snapped hatefully, hugging myself tight. I suddenly felt dirty all over.

“What?” Another roll of his eyes. “Everyone’s saying it. Sad little farm girl looking for the biggest fish to catch. Two Betas, huh? You wanna taste them both? Do you want to taste them all?”

I shuddered at the insinuation. “Stop it.”

“You’re hurt because it’s true?” He challenged. There was a flash of jealousy in his eyes, his face red and angry. “What did you even do to get them to notice you? You’re not pretty. Everyone says so. I say so. That’s a common fact. You’re like a pug; ugly and pathetic. You’re always sad and have this stupid abandonment issue.”

Of all the things I could have said, I wasn’t expecting to say: “Pugs are cute! Everyone loves their pugs!”

“Shut up, Vareesa.” He says, poking his finger on my forehead and pushing me back a step. “I was claiming you because I felt sorry for you and I knew you’d be obsessed

Chapter 14

about me enough, not to mention desperate enough, to do whatever I wanted once mated.”

“Enough.” I nearly begged, having enough of this conversation. “Just stop it, Jeff.”

“It hurts, huh?” He pushed, smiling at me proudly. “You think these Betas will claim you at the end of the week? They only want to pick on the weakest girl in the bunch. It’s not for love. Don’t be fooled by the name. You’re merely their little play thing until they finally choose one of the rich pack girls to mate. After all, you’re worth nothing and will continue to be nothing.”

I turn my back to him and start to walk away, unable to hear more. Jeff is my oldest friend and for a while, he was my only hope. We’ve spent countless nights staring out into the woods, wondering what our life would be like, what the future would hold. We were pals, we were as close as friends could get.

And we promised.

It was hard to hear from him.

It was harder to accept that he had turned on me and was acting like I was the one at the wrong.

I begin to doubt myself… that maybe I was wrong.

That maybe he is right.

Because he is.

“Go on. Run away but you know it’s true. By the end of the weekend, you’ll only have me.” He shouted after me. “Do you hear me? No one else is going to choose you!”

Thankfully, he didn’t follow me as I hurried back to the mansion but his last words still echoed in my head. It poisoned the last of my hopefulness.

I know I won’t be chosen.

I know these two Betas won’t be choosing me and that this is just some game they’re playing. I’m not expecting to be made a Beta’s mate or anyone’s mate.

I know this better than anyone.

I’ve learned that I am easy to leave and easy to forget.

I know this. I know this.

So why did it still hurt when I arrived back at the beautiful white stone mansion and the attendees all turned to glare? Why did it hurt when they looked me up and down, disgusted and unimpressed? Why did I feel even worse when they whispered what I already knew they would say?

“Whore.”

“Trash.”

Chapter 14

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