Falling For My Rejected Mate

Chapter 5

Carly

It has been a week since I rejected Caden, and since we are both in economics, I can’t avoid him. He sits with me at any opportunity he can get, and when I try to be rude or sarcastic, he always bites back.

I hate to admit it, but there is a flutter in my chest whenever he is around me, which is terrible. Caden doesn’t want me, and falling for him would be stupid. But I can’t deny that I’m attracted to him.

A pretty face is one thing, but a quick mind? That is what makes him damn near irresistible. I secretly like our bantering, which also makes me hate him.

But perhaps I will be left alone today?

“Did you sleep well?”

I look up from my seat in the library and see Caden grabbing a chair on the opposite side of me. He is wet, probably newly showered from football practice.

My eyes return to my laptop screen. “No, I had nightmares.”

“Nightmares?”

“About you.”

Instead of getting angry, a slow grin curls his lips. “So you were dreaming about me, huh?”

How dare he look happy right now? Irritation unfolds within me, and I grit my teeth. “I said it was a nightmare.”

“And?” he challenges with a shrug. “You were still thinking about me, so I’m definitely getting to you.”

I glare at him, but I say nothing while I’m fuming on the inside. Caden is unpacking his laptop from his bag, and I can hear Tegan whispering with her friend in the background. They are sitting a few tables away.

“Carly doesn’t have any friends, so I bet our Alpha feels bad and is sitting with her out of sympathy.”

Tegan’s words stab at my heart, but to my surprise, Caden lifts himself from his seat. Anger ticks against his jaw, and then he reverts back into his barking self.

“Are you f*****g blind?!” Caden’s hackles are raised, and he looks downright murderous right now. I sink back into my seat, staring as he turns around to face Tegan. “I’m sitting with Carly because she is my friend.”

Tegan opens her mouth. “Your friend? But she is the Omega—”

“Not anymore, she ain’t, but since I’m looking for a person to fill that position, perhaps you’re willing?”

“What?!” Tegan stands up from her seat. “But Carly is the Omega because she doesn’t have an inner wolf! You can’t just assign that title to anyone! She isn’t an Omega because you said so, but because of her nature!”

When Tegan cries, Caden’s face turns calm. The rage vanishes and is replaced with a wave of silent anger. I find it scarier than when he is barking, and a violent shudder races down my spine when he takes a seat right across from Tegan.

“Do we have a problem here?” Caden asks.

This time, Tegan hesitates. When Caden was loud and didn’t use his Alpha voice, Tegan dared to open her mouth, but now she doesn’t seem to know what to do.

“Well...uhm...”

Caden folds his hands over the table. “Even if what you say is true, Tegan, I don’t appreciate it when my pack members say whatever the hell they want. I’m your Alpha, and unless you want to be packless by the end of tonight, I recommend to shut the f**k up. Are we clear?”

Tegan’s face pales. She looks terrified, and I can smell her fear lingering in the air, yet she whispers, “B-but we used to date each other. You can’t just throw me away.”

“Is that a challenge?” Caden’s voice is low and deadly. “I can throw away anyone who disrespects me, including you.”

Tegan recoils in fear, realizing the gravity of the situation. “N-no, Alpha. I’m sorry.”

“Good. Now leave my sight.”

Tegan runs away, her tail between her legs, and I’m left with Caden. He turns to me, and his face softens.

“Are you okay?”

I nod, too stunned to speak.

Caden and Tegan were dating earlier this year before Caden found out I’m his mate. They looked good together, and I honestly thought they would last. The fact that Caden can throw her away so easily frightens me.

Doesn’t he value relationships?

I stare at Caden as he returns to the table. He doesn’t look back. His eyes are on his screen, and then he rustles in his backpack to take out a protein bar.

“Want one?”

My lips twitch. “Caught me looking, huh?”

“Spider senses.”

“I see...and umm...I guess I could eat.”

Caden picks up another protein bar and holds it out for me without a word. I take it from him, feeling a bit more at ease now that Tegan is gone. But I still can’t shake off the fear of how quickly Caden can turn into a different person. It’s like he has two sides to him, one that is charming and witty and another that is cold and ruthless.

“So, Carly,” Caden says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “What are you going to do after school today?”

“I don’t know, are you trying to invite yourself over?”

Caden’s jaw slacks to the ground. My words had been an attempt at humor, but apparently, he hadn’t expected such a sassy response. His expression is priceless, and I laugh out loud, unable to keep it in.

“You should have seen your face!” My lips won’t stop twitching.

This time, Caden doesn’t calmly reply. There is actually a grumpy pout on his lips. “Most girls are actually serious when they invite me over...”

“Not me. I’m not stupid enough.”

“Wow,” Caden whistles. “You’re really calling all the girls I’ve hooked up with stupid?”

“If they are looking for love, then yes.”

At this, he actually laughs. “I suppose that’s true,” I will not admit I find his smile charming. “I don’t think romance exists. Only in movies.”

“What?!” I exclaim. “But then, why are you so adamant about winning me over, huh?”

He snorts. “That got your attention. I see how it is,” he grins at me, showing me a glimpse of white teeth. “And who knows? Maybe I want you to prove me wrong.”

I can feel my cheeks heating up at his words and quickly look down at my laptop screen. Caden is always quick with his words and has a way of making me feel flustered.

Prove him wrong? I don’t even know how I feel about him! How could the moon goddess ever pick him as my fated mate? She must have been drunk! We have nothing in common: he is a popular linebacker and an Alpha, while I’m a Pokémon nerd that bought both Scarlet and Violet versions of the game—someone like me could never make Caden happy.

Or could I?

Nah, I should drop that thought. The big, hulking jock belongs to someone else, someone similar to him. I mean, even if I would date Caden, I would mess it up five minutes later because I have no dating experience.

“Gah, these aren’t enough...” Caden complains once his protein bar is gone. “I’m still hungry,” he looks at me expectantly. “You don’t happen to have any snacks?”

“Pfft, as if I would feed you.”

Caden pats his stomach and groans. “Stop being mean and feed me. What do you have in that bag?”

“The Swedish Fika that I didn’t eat.”

“Seriously?” His eyes turn huge. “You have actual food in there? Or are you messing with me?”

I don’t know why, if it’s his tone or the “a kid on Christmas’s day” look in his eyes, but I reach for my bag. There is a Tupperware box with various desserts. My family is from Sweden, and not packing a little Fika would be a crime. I slide the box over to Caden, who opens it as if it’s a treasure.

“Oh wow...” he picks up a muffin. “Have you made these yourself?” He smells it. “It has that ‘homemade’ scent on it. You didn’t make these hoping I would somehow get my hands on them, did you? This isn’t a trick to fool me into loving you by giving me treats?”

“What? No!”

Caden laughs, and that’s when I realize he was messing with me all along. He knows I didn’t bring the Swedish Fika for his sake, but damn, that smile on his face is adorable.

I watch as he takes a big bite of the muffin, closing his eyes as if he is savoring the taste. “Mmm, these muffins are amazing,” he says with a mouthful.

“Oh my god, you’re already eating another?!”

“They are so good that I couldn’t help myself!”

I roll my eyes. “Glad you like it,” I say sarcastically.

Caden opens his eyes and grins at me. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed.”

I feel my cheeks flush. “I am not cute.”

“You’re totally cute,” he says, taking another bite of the muffin. “And sweet, too. Food is the way inside a man’s heart, and these are so damn delicious.”

“Thanks, I made them myself.”

“I can’t believe it!” Caden laughs. “So she DOES have a sense of humor!”

I shake my head, but I can’t help but smile at how silly he is. Maybe Caden isn’t so bad after all? I mean, he still scares me, and part of me suspects he is fake nice to me.

“Hey, Carly,” Caden says, interrupting my thoughts. “Do you want to hang out after school?”

I pause, unsure of what to say. On one hand, I’m curious about Caden and want to get to know him better. On the other hand, I’m still hesitant about his intentions.

“What do you have in mind?”

Caden shrugs. “I don’t know. I should probably do some weight lifting and work on the arms a bit, but... we could watch a movie while I’m doing that? Don’t worry. My intentions are purely friendly. I won’t touch you.”

“Oh...” I mull it over. It’s not like I have any other friends, and what the heck? I’m curious. “Where do you live?”

“Not at the frat house,” he grimaces. “Too much noise and partying twenty-four-seven. I live in my adoptive parent’s summerhouse alone.”

I blink. “You’re...adopted?”

Caden nods. “Yeah, you didn’t know?”

“No.”

That easy grin returns. “Now you do, which means that you have to tell me something about yourself in return.”

“Well,” I begin, “I’m an only child. My parents work for a tech company and are always traveling for work. So, I spend a lot of time alone at home.”

Caden nods, listening intently. “That sucks. Don’t you get lonely?”

I shrug. “Not really. I have my books and games to keep me company.”

Caden looks at me skeptically. “But don’t you ever want to have human interaction?”

I roll my eyes. “I have human interaction. I’m not a complete hermit.”

Caden chuckles. “I didn’t say you were. I just meant that it’s nice to have friends to hang out with.”

“I have friends,” I protest weakly. “They are just...online.”

Caden falls silent, and my heart hurts. I’m afraid he is going to judge me, laugh, or say something along the terms that online friends don’t count. I’m used to that. I also don’t think Caden is going to see me as an equal after this. He put me on the spot, and now he has found something else to bully me about: my lack of friends.

“Online friends might actually be better.”

My eyes widen. “Come again?”

I look at Caden, who is staring at the floor. “Online friends don’t expect you to do things for them; that’s why they might be better,” he glances back at me, smiling faintly. “All my real-life friends expect things out of me.”

“That might also be because you’re the Alpha.”

He breathes a laugh. “Perhaps, but that’s not important. Are you ready to leave yet?”

I get the feeling there is more to this subject than Caden is telling me, but we aren’t close enough friends for me to ask him directly what is bothering him. So, I let it slide by giving him a bright smile.

“Sure.”