The Alpha Rejected Me Again

CHAPTER 7

Vittoria's POV

"Vi, you should prepare for school. We can handle this." I heard my mom call me.

It is just another ordinary morning so I can't really tell if this has happened before. I haven't talked to my parents or the elders about what happened to me. I wouldn't want to cause so much ruckus. I think the bigger question will be, would they even believe me?

Who would think that someone who lived her life before and actually died can go back in time? Isn't that just ridiculous? I don't think even my Nana will believe me.

And even if they believe me, can I really take it to share my pain with them? I can just imagine how they would feel if ever I told them everything that I have been through. It will shatter their hearts...

"It's still early mother," I forced myself to smile.

I'm helping them to water the plants. I usually do this every day. That's why it didn't prove anything. But as far as I can remember, there is one thing that happened this morning in my past life. That is the day that I met my mate's wolf. He was in beast form when I saw him not too far from our land. I wasn't even aware that that was him. I only realized it after I saw him shift in front of me after he rejected me on the night of my eighteenth birthday.

But I am sure that I will see his wolf this morning. It's the morning after my first day at the university.

I froze when my senses caught on to something. I heaved a deep breath just to make sure that my mind wasn't playing with me.

I think I know that light sandalwood scent pretty well. How could I not when it belongs to my mate? I know that at this age, I still wasn't supposed to pick up his scent but it happened. I also noticed it yesterday. Perhaps because I was already aware of his existence? I don't know.

But wait. How come I can smell him here? Is there anyone with the same scent as him?

"No." I thought as a realization dawned on me. I gasped. He's here?!

Did he really come to see me? Is that why I saw him nearby when I was already on my way to school?

I shook my head. That's impossible. He didn't want me. Why would he even waste his time coming here? My heart started beating rapidly inside my chest.

I looked around, trying to look for him, but I couldn't see him anywhere.

I dashed inside our humble abode! I quickly clutched my chest with my hands. I was secretly hoping that I could hold my heart and just stop it from beating erratically. I don't want him to hear any of it. But images of how Alpha Benedict crushed my heart flashed inside my head.

I grabbed my hair and pulled it until my scalp hurt. I locked myself inside my bedroom. Everything is still so fresh and clear in my memories. How could I even forget about that night?!

Without thinking, I quickly ran into the shower. I let the cold water stream down my body and drown all my thoughts. After that, I changed into decent clothes. I grabbed my bag and walked out of the door.

"Mother! I'm going now." I shouted at her.

"Take care sweetheart," she smiled.

"Thank you, mother." I kissed her cheek before leaving. I sniffed the air but I couldn't get a whiff of his scent anymore. He must have gone to school already. But was he really here? Or was it all in my head?

Athena... I called inside my head, hoping that she would answer this time. Did you sense him too?

Just like yesterday, there was no response from her. Not even the slightest hint of her existence...

I bit my lip while walking. I couldn't help but reminisce about what happened before, now that I am walking the same path to go to Imperial University.

Something caught my attention. How can I not notice it? With all its black fur and huge size, it looked scary, especially for a tiny one like me.

But surprisingly, I wasn't a bit scared. Instead, I looked at it quizzically until it noticed my presence. It slowly turned around while I held my breath. I tilted my head a little while looking at the huge wolf in front of me. He looked magnificent in his shiny coat.

Athena would be almost a foot shorter if I was in wolf form.

"Hi!" I waved my hand at him and smiled.

A low growl erupted from his throat. I guess it was a warning, but my wolf and I didn't seem to mind it. Instead of scurrying away, I even took a couple of steps forward. I don't know why I found him fascinating.

"It's my first time seeing you here. Are you from the Blood Moon Pack?" I asked, referring to the nearest pack territory in that place.

It didn't say anything.

"Tsk. How can he possibly talk to you?" Athena hissed sarcastically.

I scratched my head when I realized that he was in wolf form and couldn't talk to me. We weren't from the same pack, so we also couldn't mind link each other.

I reached out to touch its fur that glistened under the sun's rays. I was surprised when he just let me do it. I even ruffled it with my palms and fingers. His fur is almost silky smooth. I bet Athena would die of envy. We had our bad hair days but this wolf doesn't seem to have one.

"I know right!" she mumbled inside my head. I chuckled. I can almost see her rolling her eyes.

"Do you know him?" I asked her. It took a while before she answered no. I looked at the wolf again.

His blue eyes fluttered closed when I reached out and patted his head.

"Why do I feel like you're familiar?" I whispered, mostly asking myself, knowing that he wouldn't respond. And it would be just awkward if he would turn human just to answer me. I will see him in all his naked glory for sure. It's almost normal for us werewolves, but it could still be embarrassing...

"Have we met before?" I asked, but he didn't even budge. Not a single nod or shake of his head.

"My name is Vittoria." I pursed my lips while looking at him.

"Why don't you talk to me?" my younger self asked like a fool.

"Oh gosh. I will be late," I gasped when I realized what time it was. "I need to go now. Bye," I whispered before turning around reluctantly. A certain kind of force seemed to be pulling me back toward him...

At that time, I didn't know what it was. But now I am fully aware that it was the mate bond.

I took a few steps before finally running away from him...

Should I go on the same route? Do I want to meet him now?

I don't think so...

So instead of walking down the route to school, I chose another path. It would take a little longer, but that's okay. I'm not yet ready to come face-to-face with Logan. That is his beast's name.

The thought of his beast suddenly reminded me of my own.

"Athena..." I whispered while walking.

I still couldn't feel her. Did she leave me for good?

I felt a huge hole inside my chest. Suddenly, I just wanted to cry my heart out. I never thought that the day would come when Athena would leave me. If I were to be asked, this is even worse than death. Because half of me died while the other half is still living to bear the pain of the loss.

Is this the price that I had to pay for having another shot at life? I have nothing against the moon goddess, but I don't think it's worth it. I wasn't even given the choice of whether I would be willing to give her up just to be brought back here. Perhaps she already knew what I would choose...

I treaded the path dumbfoundedly when a man suddenly jumped in front of me. I gasped and stumbled backward because of shock. My heart started picking up its pace.

What on earth is happening? Why do things only end up worse than before whenever I try to change the course of my life? What's the point of being reborn if everything just gets worse this time around?! I should be changing it for the better! Not like this!

I turned to walk back home but I bumped into the hard chest of someone standing behind me.

I gulped. How come I didn't notice him?

I took a step back while eyeing him warily. Oh no.

Now there are two of them. I can't even take one down, even if Athena is with me. What can I do against the two of them now?!

I tried to avoid him and walk the other way but another werewolf appeared in front of me.

Three. My gaze shifted to each of them. What do they want? Fear started to creep throughout my whole being when another wolf came up from behind the thick bushes.

Four!

Goddess... Help me, please.

I jumped and started sprinting away from them. Right now, I have no other choice but to run.

"Do you think you can really run away from us?" one of them taunted before laughing his ass off. It made me run even faster. What the hell am I supposed to do? Can't they at least give me a break?!

I couldn't even bring myself to fight against five she-wolves. What more if I had to fight four werewolves who were almost twice my size?!

"Athena?! I need you now! Please?!" I yelled inside my head, but there was no response.

I scurried faster. I can't feel the ground beneath my feet anymore, but I feel like it still wasn't fast enough. In spite of that, I just kept running until I bumped forcefully into something. I was thrown back by the sudden impact. My butt landed flat on the ground. I scraped my palm when I used them to brace myself from the impact.

"Ugh." I groaned. I looked up and saw one of them in front of me. He's looking down at me like I am helpless prey.

"What do you want from me?" I asked him, trying to hide the fear in my voice after I quickly stood back to my feet, but he didn't answer. He just looked at me with indifference.

Who is he again? He looks familiar but I don't remember his name.

"I need to go to school now." I tried to speak despite my growing fear. As much as I wanted to be strong, I couldn't do that knowing that they could easily throw me off a nearby cliff and that's it. No one would know what happened. It could even take years before they find my remains or, worse, not at all.

"You will. But not after we are done with you," a cold voice came up from behind me. He's undeniable of Alpha blood with the kind of aura that he had. He's almost as tall as Zander, but my mate's body looked more ripped than his.

"Why? What will you do to me?" I asked, my voice quivering.

"Take a guess," he sneered.

"Please just let me go. I haven't done anything to you," I almost pleaded.

"Are you sure?" he c****d his head to the side while eyeing me. I fisted my hands to stop them from shaking.

"What did I do to you?" I asked in a pained voice.

"You were messing with my sister," he snapped.

Sister? Who's his sister? I wasn't messing with anyone.

I gasped when I suddenly remembered the she-wolf from the cafeteria yesterday! Could that be her? Or maybe one of the she-wolves whom I met yesterday afternoon? But on both occasions, they were the ones messing with me. Not the other way around...

"I wasn't..." I blurted out, but before I could even finish, the back of his hand already landed on my cheek!

My eyes widened. I was too stunned to speak or even react. I just looked at him while he held back my gaze with fury.

"I didn't do anything to her!" I yelled. I held my cheek with my palm. I can taste the metallic taste of blood seeping into my tongue. I think my lips busted when he slapped me. That's not surprising looking at how huge his hands are.

I took a step back but then I felt someone hit me on my back, causing me to fall forward. I jumped back up quickly to get away from them. With their strength, I know that they can end my life so easily.

I ran but I was greeted by a flying kick from another man. The soles of his boots hit me on the chest. I grunted in pain.

Shit! I staggered back and hit my back on a tree trunk. I coughed. Blood splattered from my lips as I cried, silently praying for the moon goddess to save me. Two of them pulled my arms to make me stand on my feet. They made me face their leader.

"It doesn't matter whether you did something or not," he growled. He looked at me with fury. "She wants to make you suffer. That's all I know."

"You're doing this because she said so? What are you? His puppet?!" I hissed, but it turned out to be a huge mistake because it only angered him even more.

He punched me in the gut without a word. My vision seemed to black out for a few seconds from the immense pain that shot through my whole being.

Is this going to be the end of my agony? The end of my second life? No. I won't let them. I won't let them put my wolf's sacrifice to waste!

He grabbed my jaw with his sturdy fingers, then tilted my head up to meet his scorching gaze.

"I didn't know you looked good," he muttered mostly to himself, but I clearly heard it since our faces are just a couple of centimeters away from each other. "Maybe we can have some fun first." he grinned evilly.

I struggled to make myself free from their grasp when he started to inch closer. I can smell his minty breath fanning my face, but all I feel is disgust. My body shivered in a bad way when he caressed my whole body with a malicious gaze.

There is no way I am letting him touch me without a fight!

He was about to kiss me when I spit out at him! It made him stagger a few steps back, alright. But I immediately regretted it when I saw the furious look on his face after he wiped it off! I felt fear creep down to my toes when he started walking back in front of me!

"Let me go!" I screamed while trying to pull my arms away from those who were grabbing them.

It was futile though. They didn't even budge. Instead, they gripped me harder to the point that I could feel my bones would snap any moment now.

He's already back in front of me with a feral look on his face. But I didn't give up. I jerked my right knee upwards and hit him between his thighs.

"b***h!" he yelled and slapped me once more. This time it was stronger. My head turned sideways at the impact. My vision spun from the force. Flashes of white appeared behind my lids and I thought I would lose consciousness if not for the loud voice that made my assailants stop.

"What the hell is going on here?!" the voice was husky but pleasant to the ears.

It's a voice that I know very well.

I forced myself to look up in the direction where his voice came from, only to be met by the most beautiful pair of blue eyes that I have ever seen...