Chapter 3

The rest of the day’s classes pass without any other embarrassing situations. I say goodbye to Cassie and Iris and stand outside by my bike, waiting for Xavier. After waiting for ten minutes, he finally appears with his signature scowl on his face.

“Xavier,” I shout; it feels so weird calling his name. Although we grew up around each other, we have never had a reason to speak more than twice and that was about class each time. He is as shocked as I would expect him to be when he hears me calling his name.

“Xavier.” he furrows his brown as he approaches me slowly.

“We need to talk,” he frowns.

“I have somewhere I need to be.”

“You run after school every day, to the spring on old man James property. His eyes open wide.” I stumbled there one day. I’m not stalking you.” I say quickly; he already hates me, so I should avoid giving him more reasons to detest me.

“Never said you were, so what do you want to talk about? “His response surprises me. I thought I would have t strap him to my bike with a spell or something more dramatic. Maybe he isn’t bad as I think he is.

“Hurry and say what you want to. I’m busy.” He growls. I roll my eyes, and I was starting to think he was a decent person.

“Hop on; we can go have a chat.”

“You expect me to ride that.”

“What? Are you scared?” I tease. “It’s surprising the big bad wolf is afraid of a little bike. “He frowns and swings his foot over the bike and settles in behind me and wraps his hands around me. My body goes stiff; he’s really close, probably too close.

“Get going. What are you waiting for?  His voice pulls me from my thoughts; right, this is just Xavier. We do not like each other it should not matter how close he is. I shake off my nerves and kick up the kickstand and start the bike.

“What?”

“Nothing.” I zoom down the road, still very conscious of his hands touching me. I stop some distance away from the creek because it would be dangerous to ride it on the rest of the way. Xavier slide from my waist down my back, sending shivers down my spine as he climbs off the bike. What the heck is wrong with me? This is Xavier Ivanov, a wolf you are not interested in, sure he shows up in your dreams, but that doesn’t mean anything.

“Are you coming?” He growls, snapping me from my wandering mind for the second time today. I hop off the bike and run to catch him, but he doesn’t wait on me. He turns and starts walking; ugh, he is such an asshole. A couple of minutes later, we arrive at the creek. I plop down by the water expecting him to join me. I turn my head as he is removing his pants.

“Woah, Woah. I’m here to talk.” I turn my face away; if my skin weren’t dark, I would be beet red right now. I bite my lips as my memory flashes his naked body in my mind. Was he always so chiseled and hot?  He laughs; I cover my eyes and turn to face him, frowning.

“This isn’t funny.”

“Calm down witch I need to run; I’ll be back.” I uncover my eyes, his back his facing me. My eyes take in the sight of his chiseled back and scroll down to as. I avert my eyes quickly.

“What am I supposed to do while you run?”

“You seem to be enjoying my ass; maybe you can think of it.” He says before he runs off into the woods. Ugh, he is such an asshole! I growl, clenching my fist as he disappears behind the trees. I sigh as I lie back in the grass. Why do I have to deal with this crap? All I wanted was a normal senior year, and then I would be off to college. Instead, I’m dreaming of demons and hot wolves, wait. Did I call him hot? His naked image pops in my head again; ok, he is hot. I cannot deny that. However, not in an, I want to date you, hot, more like I admire you from a distance, you hot bastard. I chuckle as I close my eyes to rest. He may take some time to come back. However, about fifteen minutes later, a wolf growl. I open my eyes and sit up immediately; the wolf appears before me in the woods. He looks familiar; I remember the wolf from my dream earlier; he saved me. He approaches me slowly. He’s staring at me, but I’m not afraid, slowly he begins to shift.

“Xavier?” Xavier was the wolf in my dream; I did hear his voice before it attacked, but what does this all mean? He notices my staring and smirks. I realize I’m staring at his very naked body. I quickly avert my eyes.” Will you put some clothes on?”

“Stop pretending you don’t like what you see. He chuckles as my face flushes red.

“Whatever.” I frown as I fold my arms. My cheeks are red from the embarrassment he totally saw me checking him out earlier. I groan, eyes still closed.  

“Okay, I’m dressed. “I open my eyes; he’s still shirtless.

“Liar.”

“Does my chest get you excited?”

“As if,” I mumble. He plops down beside me, making the hair on my arms stand up as heat run through my body. I seriously need to get a hold of myself. I shift a little to the side.

“You wanted to talk. So, talk.”

“Ahh yes, have you been dreaming about me?”

“Aren’t you a bit too conceited, witch?”

“Why do I have to talk to this idiot! I groan, I’m going to get a headache after this conversation.

“Hey, you can be nicer, you know.”

“Says the idiot who’s always glaring at me.”

“Whatever, why are you asking about my dreams? Just so we’re clear, you aren’t in them.”

“Aren’t you lucky” I frown; of course, I would be the only one suffering. He furrows his brows.

“I keep dreaming about you.” I sigh after explaining. He looks shocked for a moment, then snickers.

“ Even witches find me irresistible.” I roll my eyes; this asshole thinks my pain is funny.

“ Can you grow up and be serious?”

" Fine, what do you dream about?”I sigh.

“ It’s always the same dream; we’re both 11, we show up to your house. My mother and grandma leave me in the car. You come, then you grab me and scream mine. I have been dreaming about the same thing every night for six months. Do you know anything about it?”

“No... Mine? Why would I say that to you of all people?”

“I don’t know…. hey, what’s wrong with me?” I* ask, picking up on his subtle insult. It’s not like I like him, but why couldn’t he want me to be his? I blush as the thought crosses my mind.

“Well, you’re a witch for one.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that.

“And you’re ugly.” Ugly? Me? If he said I was too skinny, that would be fine. But ugly? I have never been ugly. I frown; no wonder he is with that slut; he is clearly blind.

“Eric doesn’t think I’m ugly,” I say proudly. I don’t know why I said, but he immediately jumps to his feet and screams.

“ Stay away from him!” He follows it with a growl, which makes me jump back a little. What the hell was that? Is he jealous? Well, if he is, he is more surprised than me by the look of confusion on his face.

“What was that?

“I…I don’t know, I have to go.” He turns and starts walking away. I hurry to my feet and chase after him.

“We’re not done talking.”

“I’m done.” He replies as he picks up his pace.

“ Xavier!”He doesn’t stop.

“Xavier, am I your mate?” I shout. He stops dead in his tracks, swings around, and stares at me.

“ Every time I touch Eric, you scream mine. Do you not feel it? Our connection?” I ask, approaching him slowly. I feel a magnetic pull towards him that I’ve been ignoring.

“I’m promised to Kiera; this is nothing. It’s probably a spell by your kind.”

“Why would I want to be attached to you?” I frown.

“ I’m destined to be the Alpha; the power that comes with that is indisputable.” I roll my eyes.

“I have no interest in your Alpha status or your power. Lest you forget, I’m from one of the most powerful witch families in history.”

“Your kind always wants power. Even when you’re powerful, it’s never enough. You always want more.”

“What do you know about my kind? What you hear in old wolf’s tales about big bad witches. I’ve heard the same about you wolves. We aren’t all bad…”

“ I’m not listening to this.”

“ You don’t have to; just ensure you reject me if I’m your mate.”

“What? “He growls as if he is insulted by my suggestion.

“ You don’t want me. I don’t want you, but fate may choose to do what it likes; promise me, you’ll reject me. You said it yourself you already have Kiera.”

“ An alpha that rejects his mate loses one-fifth of his power.”

“ What? Why are there all these damn rules? Look, one-fifth isn’t bad; you still have four-fifths of it left.“

“ No!” he shouts, baring his teeth.

“Who’s power-hungry now?” I frown.

“ I have to go.”He turns to leave.

“ Whatever, just do it when the time comes.” He stops but doesn’t look back.

“ That time will never come because my mate isn’t a witch. “ He snarls. Then without another word, he takes off in the opposite direction. Ugh, why is he so damn frustrating? He’s acting like I want this to happen. I frown as I make my way to my bike.