Let Me Count The Ways
“Kevin asked me out,” I announce during lunch time.
“Kevin? Kevin who?” questions Penny, her fries suspend in mid-air.
“He's the human who sat on the other side of me yesterday, and again today in English Lit?” How can she not know this? Duh!
“Well, we shouldn't discriminate. You definitely should go out with him,” Reese says encouragingly.
“But I'm not interested in him like that, I don't want to lead him on. Besides, I just smiled at him yesterday, and he's convinced that I liked him. Imagine if I agreed to go out with him...he might think we're getting married and ready to have babies by noon tomorrow or something.”
Reese, River, and Penny seem to think that's funny.
Penny starts singing. “Genesis and Kevin sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First, comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby—”
“Genesis, can I talk to you?” Logan Carrington cuts in, looking murderous.
Oh boy, it seems like he's been walking around with a frown these days.
I can feel my wolf Ezra getting excited and annoyed at the same time. That heavenly scent that only Logan Carrington carries is driving my wolf insane even when I'm still furious with him.
My three friends are staring daggers at Logan, but he returns their death glares with his own, which is quite impressive, given that he's the future alpha and all. Then he turns and walks away without a backward glance, expecting me to follow him. Wow, this seems familiar.
I reluctantly get to my feet.
“You know you don't have to go with him, right?” says River, looking miffed.
“You know if I didn't, he's just gonna get madder and comes back here and makes me go with him anyway, right?”
“I could kick him in the nuts,” mutters Reese heatedly.
Penny blows her bangs off her forehead. “I could cut off his nuts.”
“Okay, enough talking about his nuts already,” I interrupt. “See you guys soon. If I didn't make it, tell my parents I love them, and there's some money in my underwear drawer.”
River's lips twitch and look as if he has some lewd comments he wants to share, but I walk away quickly before he opens his mouth.
“Took you long enough,” snaps Logan when I reach the oak tree where he rejected me over a week ago.
“Who's Kevin?” he growls.
His sea blue eyes are just so gorgeous. Gosh, what am I thinking?
“That really is none of your business. So what's up?” I look away from his gaze.
Despite all the pain that he put me through, he still gives me butterflies when he's near me. When he looks into my eyes, I get lost in his gaze. I hate that I'm feeling this way.
“That's not the way you should be talking to me, Genesis. Everything you do is my business. So, who's Kevin?” He sounds so possessive.
“Does it matter? Like I said, none of your business.”
“Like I said, everything you do is my business. So, is he your boyfriend now?”
“Why do you care? You're not my mate. You're nothing to me.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, his lips slam on mine. I feel the roughness of the tree bark on my back as I'm being pushed against it.
It takes me a few seconds to comprehend what's happening, but my body is already responding to his kiss and his touch. Ezra is close to the surface, taking some control. I feel the delicious sparks breaking all over my body as he leans in further, pushing his body flush against mine.
Fireworks.
Our bodies fit perfectly together. This is supposed to be wrong but, damn, it feels so right. It's impossible for me not to respond to his touch. My lips are moving against his and his warm hand is touching, traveling up and down from the sides of my breasts, moving to grip my waist, down to my thighs, then up again. Another hand is in my hair, holding my head still for his onslaught.
My hands move up to his neck, then move up some more to grip his hair. He pulls back just to have his lips move across my jaw and down my neck, kissing, licking and biting.
“Goddess...you smell so good.” He groans, breathing in deeply before he latches onto the base of my neck and starts sucking. The feel of his sharp canine against my skin suddenly brings me out of my lust-filled haze. I push him roughly off me.
The pain! No!
We're staring at each other, breathing hard and raggedly. Even now, he looks so hot to me; lips red and swollen; his usually blue eyes, now dark and dangerous; golden hair in wild disarray.
“You feel that? We're mates whether we like it or not.” he barks out.
“No, you've rejected me. We're nothing. No, not mates,” I deny.
“Well, too bad if you think that...but you're still mine. You're not going to see this Kevin guy or any other guys.”
“No, you don't get to tell me what to do, and I'm not yours,” I wail at him.
“Look, here's the deal, sweetheart. I've changed my mind. I'd like to keep you...and I get to keep you since you're my true mate.” He moves dangerously close again. “You. Are. Mine.”
“I am not yours! Stay away from me,” I yell as I run back into the building.
I want to be with him, of course, I do, but I'm still very hurt by his rejection and the pain he caused me and my wolf. A big part of me and my wolf feels wary. We don't want to feel the pain that we felt that first time he rejected us. It was the most painful experience in my life.
I sit quietly in my seat and my friends look at me questioningly, but none of them say anything. I'm grateful for that. However, I've lost my appetite. I get up to throw away the half-eaten sandwich as my eyes are slowly drawn to the popular table. Mia is sitting on Logan's lap. They're eating each other's face again. All of those at the table is staring at me. Most with glee, but some with sympathy and looking a bit uneasy...like Hunter. Mia's eyes open to look at me and she smirks, taunting me, as she pulls Logan's mouth onto hers again. I feel Ezra's fury.
“Bitch!” Penny spits as she notices what I'm staring at.
Why is he doing this to me? Is it because I said no to him or has it been his plan all along?
Is it possible to break the already broken heart? The answer is yes. Not like I'm going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that. I force the tears down.
I flip my hair haughtily and sashay out of there with my three friends close behind me.
How do I reject thee? Let me count the ways.
***
Last night I felt it again. Logan was with somebody, probably Mia. They did it over and over again. My healing stomach is decorated with new bruises. I woke up tired and cranky this morning.
“Genesis!”
Oh no, I know that voice. Kevin. He's been bugging me today. He's serious when he said that he's not giving up.
“Here comes your admirer.” Penny giggles. She finds it funny. I find it very annoying, but I've been trying really hard not to be rude to him. I know too well how it feels like to be cruelly rejected.
“Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone.” She winks at me, then makes a kissy-kissy face before leaving me with Kevin in the hallway.
“So much for being a loyal best friend!” I wanted to shout after her. “What's up, Kevin?”
“What kind of flowers do you like? Do you like red roses?” He's been asking me random questions like that all day today.
“Yeah, sure. Why not?” I'm getting increasingly annoyed every time he stops me in the hallway or in a classroom to ask questions.
“Would you go out with me this Saturday?” He always ends it up by asking me out, and I'm so getting tired of it. How many times do you have to say NO?
“No. What part of the word no are you not getting, Kevin?” I finally snap at him.
The look of shock to crestfallen on his face makes me feel really bad and guilty.
“I'm sorry...I'll leave you alone now. It's just stupid of me...I just like you...I'm sorry to bother you.” He walks away with his shoulders slumped and head down. Goddess, I'm a monster!
“Kevin! Wait!” I run after him and grab his arm. “Look, I'm sorry okay?”
“No, I'm sorry. What was I thinking? You're way out of my league —”
“No, I'm not out of your league. Pssshh..that's just silly.”
“Yes, you are, but my friend Justin said if I keep asking, you'll say yes....eventually. So I kept trying. A girl like you would never go out with a guy like me.”
Oh, goddess...don't say it, don't say it. “Okay, I'll go out with you.”
Gah! I suck!
His eyes get really big. “Really?”
“Yeah...” I sigh. What did I just do?
Kevin's face split into a big smile, and then I'm engulfed in a big suffocating hug. “Thank you. You won't regret it.”
I already am.
He lets me go, and I realize that we're the only people in the hallway. I am so late for my next class. Then I smell the scent that I both crave and dread. Logan is close by.
“Gosh! I'm late for Gym,” exclaims Kevin. “I'll pick you up at six on Saturday, okay? I'll text you.”
“Yeah....okay.” How did he get my number?
“We'll have a great time together, I just know it.” He grins. His blue eyes are shining. All of a sudden he gives me a peck on the cheek, then off he goes with a big smile on his face.
“Well, well, well...for an Omega, you don't take instructions very well, do you? I told you not to do one thing. You're either too stupid or too stubborn to listen. Either way, I'll enjoy breaking you, my sweet.” I hear Logan’s voice from a corner before he comes into view.
I tear my gaze away from his golden good looks and his blazing blue eyes. His looks and his scent are messing with my senses. His words are drawing fury out of me and my wolf, Ezra. Usually, I don't mind, but this time my chest is growing hot, that's how angry Ezra is for being called an omega. It reminds me of the strong alpha blood that is coursing through me.
“I'm not yours, Logan. You don't own me. I'll go out with anyone I want when I want.”
In less than a second he's on me. He pushes me against the locker. His lips grind against mine roughly. His hand closes around my throat, holding me in place. Even like this, sparks are still flying between us. I can't stop from responding to his rough kiss, and pretty soon he moans into my lips, and his hand on my throat moves to roam my body.
His lips trail across my jaw and down my neck, sucking and biting. “I hate that you're my mate, but I want you..” he groans against my throat. That pulls me out of my lust-filled stupor.
I push him off me as hard as I can. “Leave me alone. Go have fun with Mia like you did last night!” I yell at him.
“Oh, don't worry about Mia. I've promised her she'll be my luna. She's strong. I'll mark her, and she will be luna. That'll keep her happy. While you, my little omega, I get to keep. Just keep me happy, and you will be very well taken care of.”
I feel sick. This is another form of rejection,worse actually, it's an insult, and Ezra recognizes it too as such. I'm his mate, but he's treating me like a common whore.
I attend classes with pent-up emotions. No tears. I'm not sure yet whether that's a good thing or bad.
At the end of lunchtime, somebody else approaches me.
“Genesis, I need to talk to you,” says Hunter, the future beta. Just what I need. I can't catch any break today.
“I'll catch you guys later,” I wave to my friends who watch me walk away with worried expressions.
Hunter leads me outside to an empty football field. There are five minutes left till our lunch break.
“I don't really understand what had happened, but Logan was in a very bad mood yesterday. He picked fights with everyone and now he barely talks to Zeke,” he explains. “Alpha Carrington now knows about you and Logan.”
“What do you want me to do Hunter? He rejected me,” I say dejectedly.
He sighs and runs his fingers through his brown curly hair. “I know. I'm sorry. He's being a stupid idiot. He must've put you through a lot these past few days.”
You have no idea. However, I'm surprised that he called the future Alpha a stupid idiot.
“You know that an Alpha needs his true mate to be a strong leader right? This pack needs you, Genesis. I know I'm asking a lot from you, but could you...give him another chance?”
I suddenly burst into a mirthless laugh. Once I start, I can't seem to stop. Tears falling freely down my cheeks. I wipe the endless stream of tears while still laughing uncontrollably.
Hunter stares at me, looking lost at what to do, probably disturbed by my laughing and crying like some crazy woman.
“I'm sorry.” I gasp-sob between the giggle. “Yeah, about that...umm..” I clear my throat and wipe my eyes after I manage to get it together finally. “So, yeah...Logan already had that talk with me.” I almost choke in another fit of laughter again, but I bit my lip, stopping it before it starts.
“Uh...that's good. You two have it all figured out then.” He sounds unsure.
I blow my breath out heavily. “Yeah, he wants us to be together. But he's going to mark Mia so she'll be the next luna. Logan and I...he wants us to be together, but on the side, you know...” I bit down hard on another bout of hysterical laughter about to erupt. Wow, it feels ridiculous just to say it out loud like that.
Hunter stares at me as if I've just told him that clouds are made of cotton candies and chocolate milk actually came from brown cows. Then he runs his hands through his hair and over his face, blinking hard in disbelief a few times.
“Oh goddess, Genesis...” he mutters. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Nobody deserves that from their mate. Nobody. That's...messed up...even for Logan.”
“Yeah...and to think that I've been saving myself for my mate. This is what I'm getting,” I mumble, not caring if I'm giving off too much information to a guy I barely know.
“Look, Genesis, I think Logan messed up big time,” he says. “For what it's worth, I think you're smart, kind, and beautiful, and funny, any guy would be lucky to have you as his mate. I know, I would've been very happy if you were mine. I was hoping that you were my mate before...I'm sorry, that's probably an inappropriate thing for me to say.” His cheeks tinged with pink. His liquid brown eyes fixed on his black biker boots.
“No. Thank you for saying that, Hunter, that's....the nicest thing anybody ever said to me,” I smile at him sadly.
***
“Genesis!” hisses Mia. Oh goddess, really? “You and I, we need to talk.”
I'm really starting to hate that word, talk. Nothing good happens when people tell you they want to “talk”. Especially not today. Not for me.
Her two minions grip my arm on each side and push me into an empty classroom behind me.
No, no, no...”Sure, what's up?” I flash her a big fake smile while the two bitches shove me hard against the wall.
“What's that? Well, well, well...look at here,” Mia pulls the collar of my jacket down, revealing the hickeys Logan gave me yesterday and this afternoon. “I see you've been whoring around. Not so pure after all, are we?” She smiles like a cat that just ate a canary. Then she sniffs.
“Wait, is that Logan I smell on you???” she yells. “It's Logan, isn't it? I thought I smelled you on him yesterday. You're all over him again today weren't you? You whore!”
“No, he's all over me.” I can't resist smirking.
“Aaarghhh!!!” she screams. Her palm smacks on my cheek hard. Her sharp nails graze my skin. Bitch!
“Listen, bitch.” she says as she grips my hair and pulls it back roughly. “Stay away from Logan. He's mine, you hear? Touch him again and the next time, and I won't be so forgiving.”
“Trust me, I don't want him, but...maybe you're not good enough, that's why he keeps coming back for me.” I give her another big fake smile.
Mia loses it then, she has her minions holding me still as she kneed me in the stomach several times before she leaves.
Ughh..me and my big mouth!
Oh wow! Lucky me. I feel so popular today. Everybody seems to want to “talk” with me. I'm missing one class already. I'm currently hiding out in the washroom. Cowardly, I know, but I need a minute to myself. If another person wants to talk to me today, then I’ll lose it for sure.
I examine my face by the mirror above the sink. My makeup is mostly all gone. Some stain of mascara and eyeliner smudges underneath and at the corners of my eyes. Very attractive. My left cheek is red and a bit swelled with scratches and dried blood from Mia's nails.
I lift my shirt up and softly trace the bruises already forming on the bruises I had before when Logan was having his fun.
I wash my face and fix the jacket so that nobody can see the red blotches that Logan gave me. Then the bell rings. Ughh... I need to get to class. But what I really want to do right now is go home and hide from the world.
When I walk down the hallway to my chemistry class later, I'm almost positive that I see all the three lycans, Lazarus, Caspian, and Constantine turn their heads to look at me. Only briefly. Then they're looking away again as if I didn't exist. But then, maybe I was mistaken. Maybe they were looking at something behind me.
I shrug it off as I slip into Chemistry and spend the next 40 minutes trying to understand and figure out the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.