Alpha Prince and His Replacement Bride

#8 Perfect Kiss

Flashback From Mia's POV

It was the first day of my senior year. Like any weird rich girl with attitude issues, I wore a white t-shirt flashing an overt message that read Rebel Nerd. I had it customized for this day. I paired it with a leather jacket and black jeans, and a scarf around my neck. I tied my hair to a high bun to go with my geek chic look and wore my high strappy boots. When I was happy about how I looked, I was ready for school. 

Emma, Jared, Isabella, and Ivan were watching some serial downstairs while having their breakfast. Their college was going to start next week. So the royal children were spending their vacation at our house, like always. I ignored their existence, except for flashing a small smile towards Emma. But the girl was energetic as always. She had to jump from her seat and run towards me, and in the process, making me the center of attention. 

Emma hugged me tightly, telling me a long list of things that I would never do. So, I perpetually ignored her. I saw Isabella Black roll her eyes and leave while Jared, my cousin, followed her like a fanboy. But Ivan sat there, glaring at me. Unbeknownst to Emma, my full attention was on glowering back at Ivan. We were in some sort of staring contest without even realizing it. 

"Ivan!" Samantha screamed, breaking my concentration while Ivan was still glaring at me. I felt flustered, but I tried not to show it. Ivan smirked before waving at Samantha.

"Emma, it is not like I am leaving home. I will be back in the evening." I said, breaking the hug. Emma pouted a bit, but Samantha embraced her immediately, garnering her attention, much to my relief.

I again looked at Ivan. But he wasn't in the lounge area anymore. I tried to find him when our eyes met again. He was talking with Keira. He smirked. God knows if it was a reaction to Keira's silly joke or me, but I felt flustered. 

Not long after, Samantha, me, and Keira left for school. I don't know why my mother thought it was a good idea for me to go with those over-talkative, presumptuous, shallow girls. But I had to. The entire time, those two were busy talking about Ivan and trying to figure out who had secured more attention from Ivan. 

The school that day was like any other school day of my life. Everyone ignored me, and I overlooked them with equal ferocity. No one was happy to see me. And I had no one to hug back or tell them about my vacation. I did not exchange gifts like most kids in my school. I was a perfect example of a misfit who cannot make friends from ranks below a beta and disliked the kids from higher families because of their superiority complex. I am pretty much sure the omega wolves would also bully me if I had not been a Hemming. But my rank worked as a shield for me. But it also refrained me from slapping, biting, disfiguring, kicking their butts, and punching them. 

I was glad that the day was mundane. I was already having thoughts about leaving the place for my college. I did not have friends. It was not because of my arrogance. As a child, I was amiable. But, as I grew up, people started putting me into blocks. I could not connect with the wolves I was supposed to. They were mean to others, my previous friends. But I was forced not to stand for them. Because every time I did, they would end up being banished or going to far-away schools. So everyone started to avoid me. The kids from higher rank families were too busy bullying others. They started treating everything as their personal property. I repudiated that. I did not want to be someone who would find happiness or a sense of authority by forcing others. 

The packhouse would be full of kids of the same age. But the lower the rank gets, the more abused or sad life they had. I wanted to help the helpless. But I knew that if I did that to help them, they would end up getting punished even more. So, I drew myself into a shell, building a guard, blocking everyone. I had found hope in Ivan. But he, too, ended up being one of them. So now, I only have myself in this autocratic situation where I like nothing. 

While returning from school, I wanted to walk to clear my head. I was feeling heavy. I still had to figure out how to tell my parents that I wanted to move to a distant place after this year. Also, seeing Ivan every day was taking a toll. He would put me in weird situations where I will have to talk or do something reckless, and then I will end up being a laughingstock. 

In my trance, I forgot I had wandered too much, taking longer routes. It was already dark. But being a wolf had its perks. I could still see things clearly. When I reached home, it was late. I was expecting tantrums from my cousins and guests and long speeches from my father. But the house was surprisingly quiet. I looked for the butler only to learn that everyone had left for dinner. They waited for me a while, but since I was taking forever, they went out without me since the royal family was there, too. 

I asked the butler where they were. But he asked me not to join them as my father had lied to them that I would be late because I had some plans with my friends. I scoffed at that excuse. Who was that fool to believe in that lie? But then I sighed. Perhaps, it was best. It was better to eat alone than go to a party where the adults would talk more business, and the kids would try to impress the royal family. 

The butler made me a sandwich. I grabbed it, walking outside to eat. I like how quiet and peaceful the house was that night. However, eating alone while gazing at the stars brought back terrible memories that I had to deal with because I was too humane. Without even realizing it, I had broken down into tears. I wanted someone to comfort me and tell me that they are there for me. I wished for one friend to be the moon goddess. 

My grief had immersed me when I had the rustling sound of leaves from one side. My wolf was immediately alert. But then, a tall, dark silhouette appeared from behind the bushes. My heart thumped for a moment, wondering if we were under attack. But before I could scream to alert everyone, a firm hand pressed around my mouth as two familiar pairs of eyes bore into mine. 

"It's me! Ivan." He said as if I could not recognize him. He took out his hand from my mouth. But why did it feel like I lost something precious when it made it much easier to breathe and talk?

"Why are you here? What were you even doing behind those bushes!" I scowled. Why didn't he join the others for dinner? Was he sick or something? They would never leave him alone if that were the case. 

"I had gone for a run. So, I was wearing my clothes there." Ivan smirked. I don't know what he thought to smirk like that. But I gulped down my saliva. The most famous, popular Ivan Black was naked a few meters away from me all this while. 

"Why do you look like you are picking up ideas?" Ivan chuckled, grabbing the other pair of the sandwich I had forgotten to eat. 

"You are delusional. Do you think the entire world revolves around you?" I scoffed, trying to get up to leave. But Ivan grabbed my wrist and forced me down. It startled me that he wanted to talk with me. I mean, when do we even speak in the presence of everyone that Ivan got this wrong impression that we can have a conversation now. Or was he here to torment me? Maybe he was planning to throw me into the pool this time?

"Why do you hate me so much?" Ivan asked me out of the blue.

"Isn't it mutual? Do you really have to ask me this?" I grunted. Why was he making things difficult for me? And why my heart is fluttering like that! He sure is handsome, but he is a bully and perfidious. I needed to get hold of me. 

"Right! I hate you so much!" He scoffed, shaking his head and chuckling as if I said something funny or stupid.

I let out a deep breath to get hold of my situation. "Ivan, it is still not late. You can join others for dinner. They would love to have you, unlike me." 

"I said to them I don't want to so that I can have a little me time before I start college and they should go without me. It would be too much if I showed up now." Ivan replied, gazing at the stars. He looked like something troubled him. I wondered if it was me? Right! He wanted me-time, and I was infringing on his privacy. He must have thought I was busy with my non-existent friends. 

"I should leave then," I replied, again trying to get up. But this time, Ivan forced me down, making me lose my balance. I fell on him awkwardly while he grabbed my waist to support my body. Our faces were inches apart as his hot breath fanned my face. My heart boomed out of my chest. 

I wanted to run. I craved to put some distance between Ivan Black and me. I wanted to be anywhere but here. But my body had its own mind. I stayed in his embrace, staring at him shamelessly. I wanted to taste those full lips. I had never cared about kissing before. But at that moment, my entire body pushed me to claim his lips. I swallowed hard, fighting this intense situation.

"Are you that naive to understand that I stayed back for you, Mia" He whispered seductively. At least, it sounded like that to my ears. When his tongue rolled out my name, my heart fluttered, and butterflies rampaged my stomach. When I heard him saying he was here for me, my heart raced, and my need for him only increased. I wanted Ivan Black. 

While I kept debating and pining for him, Ivan closed the distance between us, wrapping his lips around mine. Fireworks erupted inside me as goosebumps washed over my body. It was my first kiss, and it felt perfect. He bit my lips out of the blue. I moaned because it sent a chill down my spine as pleasure washed over my body. I parted my lips as a reaction. But it gave Ivan enough space to plunge his tongue inside me, opening the door to a whole new world for me. 

Ivan invaded my mouth like it was his territory to explore. His tongue swirled around, ravishing every corner. Sparks exploded inside me as I quivered. My whole body was on fire as I could feel tiny butterflies inside. I was glad we were sitting because I was jelly below my knees. 

We parted for a brief second, panting for air. But the need had not surpassed. I looked up to meet Ivan's eyes and found him already staring at me with various emotions. I had never imagined this to happen. But here I was, in Ivan's embrace, experiencing my first kiss. And it felt perfect. 

'A perfect first kiss,' my heart whispered as I grabbed his collar to kiss him back this time. My heart jumped in happiness when he responded with equal desire and passion.