The Alpha's Broken Mate

Chapter Three

CATHERINE'S POV

The thought of going to school the next day filled me with dread. I kept my head down, knowing that, as usual, I'd be a target for the popular girls. Naturally, I was a quiet person, and for people like Stephanie and her friends, that was an invitation to make my life difficult.

It wasn’t everyone though. Most of them just ignored me. But the popular girls? They saw my silence as weakness. I'd been dealing with their attitude for years, so I knew the drill. I knew how to avoid them. Just keep my head down, ignore them, and they’d eventually get bored and leave me alone.

I wanted nothing more than to stay home, crawl under a blanket, and let the tears come. But with Ann there, I couldn’t. Just the thought of facing her today was unbearable. So, despite my pain, I was almost relieved to be at school.

When I got to my locker, I sighed as I unlocked it. I just wanted today to be one of those rare days when no one noticed me. My chest ached, and I missed my mom more than anything. I missed her hugs, her breakfast, her smile as she woke me up in the morning. Now I had to be strong—strong for myself, and strong for Mason.

I was lost in my thoughts, gathering my books, when the locker door slammed shut with a loud clang. I barely yanked my fingers out of the way in time. Startled, I turned around to find Stephanie and her stupid posse, Jasmine and Lola, standing there. They grinned evily at me.

“Hi, Cathy,” Stephanie said in a fake sweet tone “Nice sweater.”

She was looking at me with that look in her eyes that meant trouble. Stephanie was the Beta’s daughter. She was gorgeous, blond, and always dressed in the latest fashion—she was every stereotype of the popular, mean girl. And as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn’t help but wish I had her confidence and her style. She was perfect… but she knew it, and she used it against me.

I turned back to my locker, pretending to ignore them. Instead, I focused on arranging my books for class.

“Did she just ignore you?” Lola asked, feigning shock.

“I think she did,” Stephanie replied “I don’t like being ignored, Cathy. You know that, don’t you?”

With a sigh, I shut my locker and faced her. “I’m not in the mood. I’m… going through a lot right now.”

Stephanie’s hand flew to her chest in a mocking act of sympathy. “Oh, I heard. Your mom died. Sucks to be you.”

Before I could process her words, she slapped the books out of my hands, sending them scattering across the floor. She looked at me with a cruel smile on her lips. “I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let you off easy today. Next time, I won’t be so generous.”

She flipped her hair and walked away with her followers trailing behind, laughing at me.

I held in a breath until they were gone, then exhaled slowly. At least that was over, for now.

In Biology class, I settled by the window, hoping to fade into the background. But as the room filled, I felt a bit lonely. Everyone else was chatting and laughing with their friends. In that moment, it hit me how isolated I really was.

The teacher started the lesson, and as we began taking notes, I heard the door open. The entire class turned to look, including me. A tall boy stepped in. As soon as he entered, his presence commanded the whole room and everywhere went silent. He had this commanding and dominant aura without even trying. His eyes scanned the room for a moment, our eyes met.

My heart skipped, caught off guard. He had the kind of smile that felt warm and inviting. He had the most beautiful pair of brown eyes I had ever seen. His tousled dark hair fell across his forehead, and his strong jawline and athletic build only added to how gorgeous he was. He had this kind of quiet confidence that was hard to ignore.

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The girls in the room started giggling at the sight of him.

Looking at him, everything else faded. The laughter and noise around me faded. All I could see was him. Everything in the world narrowed down to this moment. For a split second, when our eyes met, it felt as if time itself had stopped.

And that’s when I felt it—a feeling of warmth and energy spreading through me. It felt like my entire soul was being pulled toward him. It was more than attraction, more than curiosity. It was something strong, something that ran deeper than skin and words. In that moment, my wolf came alive in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.

My wolf, Ruby, was alert instantly.

Every part of me recognized him, like he’d been carved from my very bones. Seeing him made me feel like there was a part of me that I hadn’t even known was missing until now. The pull was undeniable, and the intensity of it left me breathless. His mere presence seemed to awaken something dead inside. It felt like I’d been waiting my entire life just to stand in this moment with him.

“Mate,” my wolf whispered within me.

I blinked in surprise. What?

“Who are you?” the teacher asked him.

“I’m Tyler Anderson,” he replied. “I’m new here.”

Tyler Anderson. The name was familiar. We had been expecting him in school for a while now. I had heard the rumors. He was the youngest Alpha in the country. His father’s illness had forced him to take on his pack’s responsibilities early. Talk of his strength in battle had spread even here.

The teacher directed him to the only open seat—right next to me. My breath caught in my throat as she directed him to me. I watched him approach, trying to focus on the lesson, but every cell in my body was focused on his presence.

“Hi,” he said as he sat down, giving me a friendly smile.

“Um… hi?” The words came out awkwardly, almost a question. I cringed inwardly.

"Way to go, Cathy" Ruby teased from within.

"Shut up" I snapped at her.

But it was impossible to ignore him, or the way his presence affected me. Tyler’s looked at me throughout the lesson. I felt his eyes, his awareness, the pull that bound us together, even if he didn’t understand it yet.

Maybe he’s deciding if he wants to reject me. The thought of him doing that made my chest ache. I tried to keep my mind blank but I couldn't help the fear that I felt.

The bell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I grabbed my bag and walked away quickly, almost running from the room. I walked down the hallway, thinking about what happened.

Was he going to reject me?

The thought made me hurt. What if I wasn't good enough for him? He was an Alpha for crying out loud. I doubted I was good enough for someone like him.

I was so lost in my thoughts as I walked. As I turned the corner, a hand reached out and pulled me into an empty classroom.