Chapter 7 CHAPTER 7

STEPHAN'S POV

“Can you stop tapping your leg, man? I can't concentrate,” Jason grumbled next to me, fixated on the math problem he was trying to solve.

“Sorry,” I whispered immediately, my wolf guffawing in my head at being caught.

“What even has you so nervous?”

“What makes you think I'm nervous? I'm not,” I shrugged, trying really hard to seem nonchalant.

“I hear you, whatever you say,” he mumbled, writing down figures.

Jason was the most playful person in our group, that was something passed down through generations of Betas but he is super intelligent and focused.

So I knew my fidgeting and nervous tapping was disturbing him.

I just couldn't stop.

If anyone asked me what the entire three classes we'd attended were about, I wouldn't even be able to tell you the name of the subject.

I'd wrongly followed Jason for his Music classes when I was supposed to be in Chemistry.

It was the loud trombone that snapped me back to the present and I walked out, a burning feeling of shame in my chest.

I just couldn't shake the feeling of an incoming rejection off.

The way she looked at me like I was some horrible guy the next and then wanting to melt into me the next made me know something was incredibly wrong.

I just didn't know what it was and I didn't know how to get through to her to make sure she doesn't reject me.

She's so beautiful, her eyes, her red hair and the way she looked at me for those few seconds before running off, I was already drowning.

My wolf was screaming about marking her just from a half hug.

I didn't know how to go about it without chasing her away.

If I go too slowly, she might have enough time to let her fears swallow her and she'll disappear and if I go too hard, she'll definitely be overwhelmed and run.

“Come on Stephan,” Jason groaned again, and I realized I was grabbing the table so tightly there was a tiny crack. “Look, you're either going to tell me what's happening or I'll tell everyone you had a crush on Sailor Moon.”

“Jason! I was literally a toddler!”

“I don't think anyone would allow you to explain the difference between an excitement or a crush. Or ask for the time frame. Or be able to separate your hot boy image from the –”

“Fine! Shut up, I'll tell you!” I groaned.

“Both of you,” the teacher called from the front, pointing at us.

Shit. I was supposed to be on my best behaviour.

“We're sorry Mrs. McCain,” I said immediately, flashing her a smile.

“If I hear one more word from you that's not a question directed at me, you'll leave my class.”

That paused the conversation immediately.

By the time lunch time rolled around, my stomach was fisted in knots; I'd not come up with a plan.

But I'd promised to go get her for lunch time and I decided to start from there.

I was out of my seat before the rest of the class, tracking her by the scent that had me antsy all day.

It felt so far away all the time and all I wanted to do was go closer to her.

‘I wonder if I can merge my classes with hers,’ I thought as I turned towards the left corner, walking down the hallway that led to her class.

Before I could get there, I was already hearing voices.

Penelope's voice and from the vile things she was saying, I knew what exactly was happening.

I was as angry as my wolf, human or not, she had no right to talk to anyone like, especially my mate.

“Don't you dare go anywhere Stephan again you low life, orphaned bitch!”

“Don't you dare speak to my girlfriend like that again!” I snarled, powering through the circle of bullies till I got to her.

She looked so frightened as Penelope and her crew gathered around where she sat.

“Oh Stephan! I didn't know you were… um.. did you say girlfriend? I mean, you must be mistaken, she's a nobody!”

“No, you're a nobody!” I spat at her, “you look down on anyone that's not as shallow and empty headed as you are and just because she doesn't fight back, you take advantage of that to give yourself an ego boost. But you're just a jealous, tiny minded bitch and if I ever see you near her again, I'll –”

“Stephan?” I heard my mate's gentle voice call my name and I snapped my attention to her instantly. “We should go for lunch, wasn't that why you came? We shouldn't waste our time with her.”

“You know what? You're right, come on,” I smiled, giving her my hand to take.

She grabbed her bag, placed her hand on mine and walked through the crowd as they parted for her.

I could feel her visibly shaking so I inched closer, wrapping my hand around her waist.

I smiled when she sighed, and the bond between us crackled like embers, and even though the entire school was staring at us, it was just the two of us.

No one else mattered.

It seemed like I'd been worried about nothing.

When we got to the cafeteria, I took her to where my pack members were already waiting for me.

“Hey guys,” I greeted and everyone’s eyes moved from staring hard at her to me, “meet Cassandra. She's my –”

“We're just friends,” she cut me off, laughing nervously.

My heart sank.

“Bro, if this is who I think she is” he said in my head, “you should probably take her somewhere less… populated. Everyone is going to stare her to death out here.”

“You're right, thank you.”

I turned to her as her eyes stared at her shoes as though they were the most interesting thing in the world and I tugged her slightly towards me.

“I’ll introduce you to the gang later, but I want to show you something, is that okay?”

The relief on her face was palpable and I sent another thank you to Henry for being so observant.

I'd always noticed her before I went off to the Training Camp, hiding in the shadows, covering herself from head to toe even though girls her age were looking for creative ways to break the school's dress code.

So I should have figured out how much she didn't like public attention.

As I walked with her out of the cafeteria and into an abandoned classroom with our lunch, something told me she'd not always been like this.

And I hoped to be worthy of her trust so she could tell me what changed.

And if I have to, I'll send back to the goddess, whoever dared to mess with my mate.