Forbidden Love

Chapter 20

{Emily}

I was back from my seven-day break but biology was currently killing me. It was a class full of tension, dominance, and power. Honestly, I pitied the innocent students who were breaking into a cold sweat. Why? Because this was the only class where the four Alpha-Females, their mates, Orion, and I were put together in.

“Class has never been more fun,” Jasmine drawled, crumpling a piece of looseleaf paper into a ball.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, biting on my pencil.

“Let’s see…” Jasmine studied the group. “Which guy would be the best one to pick on.”

“None?” I offered- a smile toying with my lips. “The testosterone level will rise up if you do.”

“How about Ivan?”

“Excellent. I’ll get Caleb.”

Mrs. Danavage cleared her throat. “It’s time to give out the scores for last week’s exam.”

She circled around the area where Jasmine and I were seated, drawing eyes to us. Jasmine created a tiny flame on her finger and then tossed the flame to me. The warmth enveloped my palm as the flame enlarged.

“Miss Emily, please put out the fire,” Mrs. Danavage smiled, patting my shoulder.

“Killjoy,” Jasmine coughed. She ignored her comment and placed our exams in front of us.

“Both of you have been selected to represent our school in an IQ exam the district is holding for each High School.”

We locked eyes quickly and stared at our papers. I looked at my teacher skeptically. “You mean, this paper got me into another test?”

“You’ll be representing the intelligence of this school. It’s an honor to be chosen.” She smiled, placing her hands on our shoulders confidently.

“Where will we be taking this so-called IQ test?” Jasmine asked, her eyes turning sharp. This was something to worry about. Our pureblood coven wasn’t exactly on good terms with most of the coven’s in the area.

“What do you mean, Jasmine?”

“Do we take this test at our school or somewhere else?”

“In Northwood Community College.”

Jasmine and I flinched. When we were ten our coven got into a war with the Silver Fangs coven up in Northwood. It was a bloody one and the reason for the war wasn’t clear. One day, they launched an attack on our coven house. They killed all the newborns.

“We won’t be going,” I stated, flipping open my textbook while Jasmine stared at the floor.

“Why won’t-”

“Mrs. Danavage...unless you want to start another war then I suggest that you don’t insist,” I hissed and shoved my completed exam into my folder.

“I see…” she murmured. “In that case, we’ll be sending Vanessa and Danielle.”

I scoffed. The Dawn Howler’s and the Silver Fangs get along swell. I bet they don’t know that the Silver Fangs killed innocent baby’s.

The class phone began ringing a desperate call. Mrs. Danavage set down her marker with annoyed click-clack of her heels as she reached for the phone. She detested interruptions.

“Hello?” With one glance, she gave away the topic of the call. Jasmine and I exchanged nervous looks. “I see...No worries. I don’t mind.”

Her long strides toward us threw my mindset off balance. She was walking with a purpose but her knees were trembling. “Girls, do you have anything you need to retrieve from your lockers?”

“No,” we replied.

“Very well, then, please, pack all your materials from this class in your bags and wait patiently for your escorts.”

“Escorts,” Jasmine echoed, wasting no time in shoving everything in her bag. This must be serious if we are being escorted out of school. Jasmine’s father is one of my father’s closest friend and advisor so whatever happens to me- happens to her.

We haven’t any use for escorts since we were strong enough to defend ourselves. The last time we used escort was in eighth grade. Unless there was a serious threat or import occasion we’d receive escorts.

I pulled my varsity jacket on my shoulders and tried my best to avoid Orion’s peeling gaze. Everyone stared.

The escorts didn’t bother to knock but barged in, standing before Jasmine and me. They gave a slight bow and an urging nod. In rapid movement they already flanked us.

As we walked out of the room and down the hall, Jasmine moved closer to me. “What gives?”

“I don’t know.”

“I was in braces the last time these old guys appeared.”

“I still have the pictures,” I said with a smile.

She gaped at me. “You said you deleted them.”

“I have polaroids. They can’t be deleted.”

“But they can be burned,” she added a determined ring in her voice.

“That’s if you can find them.”

“I plan to.”

***

My father’s office was a scary place to be. It had no light except for a few candles that illuminate the vials of venom on his shelves. The perfect setting for nightmares.

“I understand you are confused as to why you were summoned,” Jasmine’s father, Lucian, spoke up from a dark corner of the room. My father’s chair was turned away from us.

“Of course, Lucian. We haven’t seen those escorts up until now,” I nodded.

“As you know...both of you will be turning eighteen soon.”

We remained silent.

“Marriageable age,” My father finally speaks up, his chair squeaking quietly as he turns to face us. “Two marriages can benefit this coven depending on which pair you choose. The other coven will benefit as well so there was no doubt everyone will be pushing suitors toward us.”

“But we carefully picked out the best and today you shall choose one,” Lucian spoke with anxiousness. He wanted the power and alliances that will come out of two marriages. “You’ll be married after you complete this year of school. But you’ll need to be officially engaged after a week of selecting a pair.”

“Consider the seven day period as your ‘dating period’.” Father directed the guard to open the door. It couldn’t be helped. I knew this moment would come. If I were to tell my father ‘no’ then I’d have to endure the punishment.

The youngsters in my coven aren’t given a say to whom they marry. It doesn’t matter if they have a mate.

Seven young men walked in. About three of them were puffing out their chests, hoping to be picked. The rest remained calm but I could see the eagerness in their eyes. It was a sickening sight. I could feel my soul plummeting.

“Choose,” Father urged, his voice commanded. I took a step first, noticing Jasmine’s quivering lip. Most looked like actual men and others looked like boys. But there was one person that caught my attention.

I glanced at his insignia. Levi Scholte of the Heaven’s Descent Clan. He was visibly bored and glared at me as if saying: Don’t f*****g choose me. He wasn’t interested and his clan would be the most beneficial to mine. 

***