An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Two

Walking down the packed hallways, it was like everything around me just didn't matter. I'd been so caught up with the fact that I was somehow mated to a monster - another one of his kind haven taken my family away from me. He was the reason I couldn't focus on anything as I made my way to class. I attempted to imagine why I deserved this. What had I done that was so sinful that caused something like this to occur? 

Last night, my dreams were haunted by the sparkle of his amber eyes and the ripeness of his perfectly sculpted lips. I woke up countless times, half-hoping to find him in my room wearing a lustful gaze with a lazy smirk. But then I'd bite into reality and try to hate him.

Man I tried so hard and yet I failed every time for my craving for his touch was beginning to ache more with every breath I took.

Sitting down in my seat, I kept myself occupied with reading over my physics notes. It was registration for twenty minutes - a little excessive I must admit but it allowed me to wake up for the day. A handful of people filed in slowly. I turned the page of my textbook. That's when I felt it: an excited chill against the back of my neck like individual breaths and a heated stare burning into my skin so amazingly I wanted to cry out with joy. I turned my head a fraction, wanting to be met by a pair of lips and his hands on me.

There was no one there.

Paranoia? Madness? A dark haired, amber-eyed monster? What was happening to me? Why was I suddenly feeling an attraction of all things towards my enemy?

I gulped, gripping the desk. I didn't care what it was. I was scared, for the first time in years.

The bell sounded after what took too long and I shoved my textbook into my bag and checked my phone to see a message from my colleague Eric.

Eric - Meet me at HQ when you're finished school. The boss wants a word with you. Pronto

I grunted. I hated our boss. He was much too burly to be in charge of a vampire-hunting business. Then my heart stopped. What if British Intelligence had found out I hadn't killed all forty one vampires last night?

Damn him! If he hadn't been so beautiful and fascinating and distracting and - I guess - my mate, I wouldn't be worrying so much. No doubt today would be full of stressing about the meeting with my boss.

Maybe I'd promise my boss that I'd murder my newly fledged mate? What even happened if you killed your mate? I'd heard, somewhere in my travels, that the other mate would receive a broken heart and never recover, or something like that.

I inwardly shuddered with disgust. Everything was too complex to think over at school.

Cramming the worry, nerves and curiosity to the side, I made my way to Physics - my second favourite subject - and claimed my usual seat in the back corner away from everybody except my best friend Matt who insists he sits next to me. When I say best friend, I mean the closest thing to a brother. He's been with me through everything. He even knows I hunt and slay every vampire I see, except amber-eyes of course.

    "Rose," he greeted.

Ah, speak of the devil. "Matt, please just call me Charlie," I growled, not in the mood for his teasing.

    "Nah, Rose sounds better. Plus it annoys you so to be honest it's a win-win situation," he jeered, taking his seat next to me. "What's up? Ready to confess your undying love for me?" He winked.

I glared, deciding not to answer.

He chuckled, spinning a pencil between his fingers. "Oh, if looks could kill."