Hated By All, Loved By Four

•❅✧❅✦The Fated Bond✦❅✧❅•

⊰⋅⋅•⋅⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽MALCOLM'S P.O.V.☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰

The blonde girl with tomato soup splattered all over her uniform is mentally unwell. Yes, applaud me for that deduction, I am smarter than Einstein. No, but on a serious note, her eyes tell me everything. She shifts through emotions, I swear I saw happiness up until she realized the person who was likely going to take her out of this world.

I’m guessing she was okay dying, but definitely not the Kaito way. Which is painful, and extra painful. I can hear the King vampires being called from miles away. They’re the only people who can handle... to some degree...my best friend.

I lay a hand on Kai’s shoulders, and turn my gaze to Sebastian. Bastian sighs and then hugs our friend. He’s got a natural suppressant his body releases that force threats to become docile. It works like magic for Kaito, the doctors here use something similar on the patches they attached to Kai’s head to keep him from spiraling.

Sebastian’s scent works better than those patches, and Kai releases a breath. Then he turns to me and narrows his eyes. He doesn’t say anything, Kaito’s not a big speaker because when he talks it’s to swear, and.... do so many violent things.

He wants us to leave, he’s lost his appetite-- that's the translation.

“Bastian will go with you.”

Neither of them questioned me. Sebastian merely releases his hold on Kai, and they walk out of the empty cafeteria. I turn my attention to the blonde girl. She’s pretty cute. Her scent too.... it’s odd. It’s enticing, my alpha beast is drawn to it. It hasn’t been this drawn to another person’s scent since I bonded with Sebastian, so how can this be? Sebastian and I have a soul bond, this smells like a fated mate bond. Is it possible to possess two types of bonds?

Damn, I think I just found my mate. And I can take a guess that she's likely fated to Sebastian and Kaito as well. We share almost everything. Kaito doesn’t share the soul bond, that's only because he was born a year later than us, but we’ve shared everything else all our lives. No secrets, so there’s a likely chance they’re bonded to her too. f**k, that’s so messed up. What kind of god is playing with our lives?

I took in her form as I picked up the napkins that had fallen from her tray. She stands at 5'10", her honey-blonde hair falling in gentle waves, grazing just below her shoulders. Her eyes are mesmerizing, cloudy silver—like stormy skies before rainfall—contrasting beautifully against her fair skin with its cool undertones. Her figure is soft and curvaceous, with a plush, full chest and a stomach that adds to her gentle warmth. Those pants cling perfectly to her, sculpting curves that seem almost artfully designed, her hips flowing into a shapely waist. Her rosy pink lips draw attention naturally, and her lashes, golden like her hair, frame those silver eyes, giving her an almost ethereal beauty. She's stunning, truly breathtaking. I’m starting to think I might have a thing for blondes.

When she speaks, I notice the hint of an accent.

“I’m really sorry about your mate’s clothes. It was an accident. I’m not a tosser, I swear.”

I smirk at her, and her cheeks pinken. “It’s okay. Just breathing can set Kaito off.”

“Uh, oh then I’m extra sorry.”

She doesn’t have a wolf. I can’t feel the connection to any. Is she a beta? An alpha? An omega? Can she hide her wolf?

“Tell you what, why don’t you make it up to me? You seem new, I wouldn’t mind showing you around.”

Her eyebrow raises as she collects the napkins to wipe herself off. “How does that help you?”

“I’m an extrovert, I like to make new friends. Do you have a phone?”

She nods and reaches into her bag. “I haven’t activated it. I think I’m gonna be spied on.”

“Yeah, gimme the phone.”

She handed it over, and I stepped into her space to get more of that good scent. Her breath quickens, her lips part. Such a pretty thing. How did she end up in this hell hole?

Her eyes dart to my wrist and they widen.

“You’re a level one?” She sounds shocked.

“Yeah, I’m no threat. I’m here to accompany my buddy and boyfriend.”

Her eyes widened even more. “You... are you dating that angry guy?”

I snort and tap the settings on her phone. I know how to disconnect the software that allows them to check messages so I do just that. “No, Kai’s my best friend.”

“Oi, I see. So the other cute one.”

“You think Bastian is cute?”

I didn’t think a person could turn this shade of red but boy does she do it.

“uh, I’m not coming on to your ... uh, I didn’t mean to say the bloke’s cute, but-”

I laugh out loud. “It’s okay, geez. Bastian is cute.” I tapped my number into her phone, and then I called mine. “Here. I’ve turned off the software. They can’t spy on you.”

“Thanks, mate. Isn’t that illegal?”

“No. They don’t care about that. They’ll get you with the ankle bracelet, the drugs, and therapy.”

She shudders.

“So don’t be a stranger, I’d like to be your friend.”

“You would? People have been avoiding me. The lack of a... wolf is freakish.”

“It is but have you seen my friend? Freaky is alright with me.”

She giggles, then stops herself. “um, okay. I’ll contact you, I should go wash this out.”

I watch her leave, her face burning red up to the tips of her ears. I know what you’re thinking, what am I going to do with a soul-bonded mate and a fated mate? Well, we’ll see.

Soul-bonded mates, connect from birth. Seb and I share a birthday. It’s the equivalent of the platonic blood mate bond vampires share but more intimate. A fated mate bond is set by the gods, that’s the difference.

I walk out of the cafeteria and spot one of the King vampires. The red-headed one. I snarl, and he winks at me. f*****g bastard.

What is he doing here anyway? The King family aren’t teachers, they take the doctor and therapy route. So they can get into the minds of students. But this soul-sucking, blood-leeching piece of crap is the only one with a class here.

That's beyond odd. Not to mention what he did to Bastian last year. What a prick.

I shuffle down the hall to one of the empty classes where I find Kaito growling answers to Bastian questions.

Let me introduce my found family. Sebastian Valentine/Whitlock, and Kaito Asher. Our families run the three largest wolf packs in the whole world. Yes, you heard that right. The whole world. We have the three biggest, most functioning packs. Our parents are best friends, so we grew up together.

Sebastian and I formed a soul bond that no one even batted an eye at, and Kaito is still our person.

Bastian is striking with his unusual looks. His hair, a unique blend of white with dark undertones, gives him an almost otherworldly appearance. Though not exactly blonde, the lighter strands catch the light, contrasting with his sharp, icy-blue eye—the one that works, at least. The other eye, clouded and blind from a freak accident someone cough caused during his childhood, only adds to his enigmatic presence. Standing at six foot three, his lean yet muscular frame is all defined strength—firm pecs, a taut stomach, and strong thighs. His light beige skin enhances his quiet, reserved demeanor. Though introverted, he opens up around me and Kaito, the only people who see him for more than his stoic exterior.

Kaito, just a month younger than us at twenty, is the tallest of our trio, towering at six foot five. His long, flowing ebony hair contrasts with his piercing teal eyes, a gaze that feels as intense as the scars crisscrossing his body. Tattoos snake across his skin, telling stories of his battles and secrets. Despite his quiet nature, Kaito’s silence isn’t like Bastian’s introversion—it’s more like the calm before a storm. He’s quiet because the world seems to constantly piss him off, and his restrained demeanor only makes his intensity more palpable. His light tan skin, broad but not bulky build, and the matching earring we share complete his tough, intimidating presence. At six foot four and a half, I might be close in height, but Kaito’s sheer force of personality makes him stand tallest.

He doesn’t get angry at us, but he can’t be around other people and he’s set to take over from his father. He can’t do that if he’s... the person he is right now. Hence why he’s here. Sebastian is too quiet to be an alpha, and after his mother’s death, he hasn’t been able to look at his father the same way. He’s at a risk of harming himself, so he’s here. I think we’re the only three whose families haven’t given up on them. They just didn’t know what else to do.

Me? I’m fine. I’ve got literally no problems. Oh, and we’re all alphas if that wasn’t clear. My family and Bastian’s are planning to merge our packs once we get out, it would form one major unity. So I don’t think my father will respond well to the wolfless mate situation. There are many issues here with this f****d up mating bond that just popped up.

Not to mention that without a wolf we can't even seal the bond, or reject it.

I pulled a chair next to Bastian, facing Kaito.

“So, are we going to discuss it?”

They both eye me strangely.

“Did you people not notice that girl’s scent?”

Kaito pauses, then frowns. “She smelled sweet, really sweet.”

Kai’s wolf is repulsed by scents, amongst other things. Sebastian can suppress his so Kaito doesn’t mind, and as for me, I’m one of his childhood friends, he’s grown to live with mine. But because of this disgust towards scents, Kaito takes heavy suppressants to block out scents. The thing Sebastian did in the cafeteria, Kaito takes meds to do that. So he can smell just a little, but not enough for him to worry about it, or remember it. Or for it to anger him. But he picked her scent well.

“Yeah, check with your beast. Listen to what it's telling you.”

They shut their eyes, I wait and wait. Sebastian is the first to react.

“Was that a mating scent? She smelled like she was... you picked the same scent?” he had the same look I had for a split second when it occurred to me. “That can’t be right. That’s.. isn’t that weird?”

Kaito growls. “I’m going to reject it. I don’t do mates, bonds, or anything with human contact.”

I flicked his forehead, and he cackled as though it was a friendly tap. You’ll only see him smile with us. “Be real. I’m not saying we have to do anything. She doesn’t have a wolf, she can’t feel the bond, so you can’t reject it.”

He curses.

“I say we just get to know this girl. I mean think about it. The goddess obviously knows I’m paired with Sebastian, she knows you’re batshit crazy and she sends this wolfless woman our way? We gotta see it through.”

Kaito rolls his eyes. “Why would you even want another mate? Is Bastian not enough?”

Sebastian was the one to flick his forehead this time. “Firstly, don't ever say that. Secondly, Malcolm has a point. I feel the mating bond and you’re involved this time. Something’s up.”

“Yeah, the goddess is playing roulette. But alright, I’ll see this through. All I know is, gods are bullshit and they never do anything good for me.”

I eye him and say nothing. Neither does Sebastian. There is one thing Kaito doesn’t tell us.... and that’s why he suddenly shifted this way. Why his alpha refuse comfort. Kaito’s last straw was when he attacked his sister for trying to comfort him when he was having one of his depressive episodes.... let’s just say his father had had enough, and Kaito had to be tranquilized to even get him to stop.

Something changed and that’s the only secret he’s keeping to himself. Seeming to notice where our thoughts were headed, Kai sighed.

“Look, I’ll tell you when I’m ready and maybe.... maybe this mate thing is what I need to put my alpha to rest okay? I promise nothing, but I’m not going to attack the girl.”

I pat him on the shoulder for that.

“How about we go get something to eat? I’m starving.”

“I have a class,” Sebastian says, though he doesn’t make a motion to move. Then all three of us take a sniff and turn our eyes to the door. There’s that redheaded d**k for brains again.

He c***s his eyebrows at us, not even pretending like he wasn’t eavesdropping. He just walks off after a few minutes.

“I hate that guy,” Kai growls.

“Me too, but relax. What’s he going to do with information about us having a mate bond?” Bastian says.

It’s not like he’s mated to her too. Now that would be a sick joke.

Maddox King is the devil, and I wouldn’t wish him on anyone. Especially not a cutesy blonde with a nice rack.