Zoe’s Pov

I could feel everyone eyes on me as I hopped off the bus last, my wolf humming near the surface encase there was any sign of a threat. I loved being a wolf, having your inner animal constantly humming inside of you making it near impossible to ever feel lonely or unwanted completely. Not to mention the feeling you get when you shift, the feeling of your paws as they thump against the ground with your pace as the wind whips through your wolves coat. It’s exhilarating!

Shaking my head I ignored the shocked and disgusted stares as I headed to the front desk, very aware of a few of the pack members following me carefully. They were trying to be subtle, they were doing a terrible job of it. 

As the soft breeze blew my thick locks I felt the wind suddenly drop as I entered the building, running a hand through my windswept hair as I stood in front of the woman who looked to be in her late 20’s as she concentrated on typing away on her computer.

“Excuse me” I said after a few minutes of not getting her attention, her body jumping slightly as she let out a yelp of surprize. I rolled my eyes at her unawareness, fighting a smirk when I felt the two pack mates that were following me move closer but staying out of sight.

“Oh, you scared me” she gasped holding her chest, my wolf-hearing picking up the quick stuttering of her heart as she did so. I smiled, immediately sensing her relaxing. I had to stifle a scoff which wanted to rise from my chest, it was amusing how she felt relaxed in my presence yet I believed I was one of the most deadliest wolves here. I had seen and been involved in so much pain and suffering then should have been possible, it was odd that I wasn’t more messed up.

“Sorry, could I have my schedule please?” I asked, seemingly shocking her that I was a rouge with the rest. I didn’t sense any fear coming off her and it was clear that she thought she was extremely protected with the rest around. I doubt she realised that it would take me seconds to reach out, grab her by the neck and twist my wrist to break her throat before anyone would know what was going on. I cringed at myself, what a depressing thought!

“Name?”

“Zoe Greenwoods” I stated, my expression blank as I heard the nosey students near gasp as they heard it. I rolled my eyes, my father wasn’t the most important alpha out there or even here with the Midnight pack, yet I hated it whenever someone associated me with my so-called family.

“Are you Stacy’s…?” she started to ask before I snapped, cringing when I realised that my father and my so-called family were here as well. It didn’t take a genius to work out that they had somehow formed an alliance with the Midnight pack who owned this territory, and I knew if it wasn’t for the law they would have tried to slaughter every rouge that step foot in this school. It was horrific how quickly packs seemed to judge rouges, thinking of them all as enemies and not just children who hadn’t had as good of a upbringing as they obviously had.

“No, I am not related to that whore” I spat out causing her to cringe away in fear. I quickly shut my eyes, cursing when I realised she must have seen my eyes flash yellow as my wolf rose to the surface. Luckily she would think she imagined it, I mean a female shifter who was a nomad, who would believe such a thing. It was simply seen as impossible due to the female shifters being normally destined to be mated to an alpha or a power wolf, meaning families and packs wanted to keep them around.

“Careful rouge” Ah the followers have made an appearance, lovely. I bit my tongue to hold in a comment, my wolf not liking to be spoken to with such disgust meaning she was dying to get out and teach some respect! Instead I continued to bite my tongue and ignore them completely.

“Are you sure, I mean you have the same last name…” she continued confidently, obviously thinking that with the two powerful pack-members behind me she was safe. I wouldn’t hurt her though, I could smell that her scent was overcome with a males meaning she was mated. I wouldn’t take that from someone, it was just plan cruel to take away somebodies soul-mate and the thought alone made me sick.

“I said no ok, now please may I have my schedule?” I repeated, my voice strained with the effort it was taking me not to lash out before attacking the two boys behind me for invading my personal space. My wolf strangely though didn’t think they were a threat, she was just plain pissed that they spoke to us with such…disgust and disrespect that she wanted to teach them some manners!

“Sure, I would watch your mouth though sweetheart. Remember the law doesn’t state that the pack have to allow you on their territory if you become violent” the woman stated matter-of-factly, her eyes filled with warning causing me to have to again bite my tongue. My wolf couldn’t do threats, the woman was lucky to be alive I thought bitterly as I took subtle but calming breaths to prevent me from phrasing in front of everyone here. I did not need the questions and hassle that it would bring me in the long run.

Opening my eyes having closed them to control the yellow tinge I knew had been visible I took the folder before flicking through it, taking note that none of my classes had anything to do with phasing since no-one knew I was actually capable. I wanted to keep it that was for as long as possible.

Quickly making my way to my first class which happened to be wolf history believe it or not I entered the room only to find it empty, well other than the rouge at the front who didn’t bother to look up as I came in. Deciding to take a seat at the back left hand corner next to the large open window I took a seat, my music still playing just softly enough for me to hear as I took out my books. Once I did so I slumped back into my chair, gazing out the window I blanked everything out while watching the small birdbath in the gardens outside, a number of small birds bathing in the water as it stood in the sun.

It wasn’t long until I felt my wolf stirring, knowing others were entering the class. It was when I felt a pull in my chest I started to pay attention, me being a female meant I would feel the mating pull before my mate did. I smiled softly, finally realising that my mate was in the same room with me and I couldn’t wait to meet him. That was my first thought anyway until my heart started to painfully break when I heard him talk with his mates, it clearly being about me as I sat slumped and huddled on my own in the corner.

“Uh what is that smell guys?” one of them started, obviously looking in my direction as I kept my gaze focused on the few birds which had decided to bathe today under the rays of the sun.

“Probably that rouge, filthy things”

“She looks hot though, for a nomad” ah, that was my soul-mate, my imprint, my mate as he talked about me unaware that I could hear every word that passed his lips. While they would be less than hushed whispers to any other female in the room including the teacher, with me being a female shifter and such I could hear just as clearly as a male would. 

“Dude I can’t believe you said that, you would seriously bang a rouge?” another one of his friends asked, his tone holding a whole new level of disgust. I suddenly found myself listening, knowing whatever he said was going to break my heart but needing to hear the husky tone of his voice again, even if it would be causing me pain.

“Don’t make me sick, though can you smell that guys?” he asked, the pure revulsion in his voice at the thought of touching me making me bit my lip to keep in a sob. I never cried, but then again I had never been rejected so quickly and easily by my apparent soul-mate either.

“What? The rouge?”

“No, I don’t think so” Uh…god his voice! It was a shame he was so repulsed by my mere presence, my eyes misting over as I realised along with my wolf that I was in fact going to be tossed aside by the person who was meant to love me completely and unconditionally.

“Want to upset the rouge, you know see what it takes to make her snap?” god, I was really beginning to hate this guy. Why couldn’t they pick on the one sitting in front? I snorted internally, knowing why since if they provoked a shifter and they retaliated it could cause a lot of problems at the school and for the pack. I doubted they realised it was just what they were doing to me, though if they bit I was going to bite back and I would start with this idiot.

“Sure” oh he sounded incredible, my wolf purring and howling as his smell intensified as they moved over a table so they were nearer to me.

My inner melt down though was interrupted when a number of paper balls were thrown in my direction, the teacher letting it occur making me come to the conclusion that one of them was the alpha of the pack…just great! Just what I needed it thought bitterly.

I ignored them, I ignored the curses they sent my way. I didn’t react when they insulted me, trying to pick a weak stop with their comments as they continued to throw things my way without a second thought to how I might be taking it. I blacked it out, much like how I dealt with most of my feelings that weren’t anger.

“Why won’t she do anything?” his husky voice stated, my wolf purring as I heard it. If it wasn’t for the fact he was blatantly breaking both our hearts I would have probably jumped him already, his smell….his voice, just yum! But no, it didn’t bother me what his pack mates threw my way, I could deal with that. But every insult, every dig at my apparent faults felt like a knife ripping through my heart each time the hurtful words fell out of his mouth.

I never knew whether I had wanted a mate or not, but the thought that someone was out there that would love you, protect you and adore you with everything they had made me melt inside and crave for it. But now I knew he was so close, of how similar he seemed to be with my disowned parents I couldn’t help but feel as if I had lost my happily-ever-after since it was now the last thing I wanted.

I inhaled sharply and quickly threw my teeth as I felt a bucket of water suddenly chucked over my head, the freezing water running down my hair and face as it soaked my clothes making me relieved that I had chosen dark clothes to wear today.

The class laughed which didn’t surprize me, the rouge upfront had apparently got in good with a few people so didn’t seem offended with their words as they threw them at me. The teacher again ignored everything, my teeth gritting when I heard her laughing at my expense. What sort of person does that? 

I could feel the little make-up I had worn running down my face as I closed my eyes to take deep breaths to control my wolf. I bit my tongue hard enough to cause it to bleed, hearing my so-called mate breath in sharply as I did so. I knew he could sense my blood, his wolf raging since he had already seen his mate in me. He ignored it though, continuing to laugh at my expense though it seemed less real and more forced as he did so. It was his next comment though that would stick with me, the one which caused the vicious wolf in me to whimper back as his voice sliced straight through my heart causing me to grip the table as I tried to get over the pain until I blocked it out, completely leaving me feeling dead inside.

“Aw, is the little rouge wet? Why don’t you just go bitch, no-one is ever going to want you, I mean who would? Look at you! I pity the fool who gets a skank with a face and body like yours as a mate, imagine waking up to that every day of your life?” he laughed with the class, though I could tell it was missing any emotion, like he had forced himself to do so. That didn’t resister to me though, I had to get out of there!

I sighed getting up, quickly putting my damp books in my bag as my chair scrapped back with the force of my move. I let my damp and now matted hair hang down my cheeks as I headed towards the door, aware that the room had gone silent as I did so.

I put my hands in my pockets, walking towards the exit of the room as I did so. I paused though, letting my watery eyes meet the deep hazel coloured ones of my mates as I felt him tense as he started at me, his wolf rising with the urge not to mark and claim his mate as his eyes tinted yellow.

“Where’s the fun in that?” I asked bitterly, letting all the heartbreak and pain he had caused me leak into my words. I could tell it hit home, his face crumbling in a painful expression as he flinched away from my gaze, his pack-mate still looking at him curiously as I walked out the room. As if I wanted a mate anyway…

You would have jumped him the second you realised if he hadn’t basically just ripped your heart out my wolf commented causing my to laugh bitterly.

Don’t forget he rejected you to darling I stated with a sob, effectively shutting her up as I did so.

And that people was how I ended up leaving my first day of school, both pissed and completely and utterly heartbroken. It was decided, I would stay away and lick my wounds for a few days before returning, damn him if he can scare me away so easily!