After submitting our last few assignments for the semester, we all took a moment to sigh out of relief—one thing was over.

"See you girls next semester!" Professor Johnathan said, smiling at us and warning that he was going to suck the lives out of us in the next semester which was going to be in September, we were still a few months away from it.

"I might just die, Professor so there are very few chances I'll show up for next semester," I said to him in a jokingly manner.

He turned concerned. "Why is that, Lilliana?"

Cora leaned closer to him and whispered, "She found her mate and it's someone no one wants to know about."

"Oh, that's great! Congratulations!" Johnathan said, believing my mate was a Prince Charming. "Is he from the pack?" He began questioning.

"No. He's from a nearby pack," I wasn't supposed to tell anyone but obeying the beast was getting so difficult when I hadn't seen him in the past four days.

"Oh, well, I hope everything goes well."

I gave him a nod and then dragged Cora and Ann out of the university. We left the campus and drove back to Far Waters. Elk Creek University was just a twenty-minute drive away and I loved it especially since it was so near to the town. We were jumping into our third year next semester.

I drove Dad's car back to the town while Ann and Cora danced on a song that played on the radio. When it finished, we were back into being bored.

"Still no response from your Daddy?" Cora teased, pushing a finger in my stomach.

I choked on my breath but still managed to drive, "Daddy?"

"I mean your mate,"

"Nope, nothing yet. Been waiting for four days but it seems like he has disappeared," I shrugged, and then took a breath to calm my nerves. I wasn't going to panic until there was something to be worried for.

"Oh, it seems like he doesn't want you. Did you tell him something last time? When are we going to meet him?" She asked, curiosity in her tone.

"Cora, I have met him only twice, all right?"

"Still, you're the first one to find a mate among us. Look at us, still waiting for someone to come and mark us." Cora grunted, leaning against the car seat.

"Right!"

As we entered Far Waters, I stopped the car in front of a restaurant so we could treat ourselves with something nice after slamming our heads into the walls to complete the last few assignments we had.

"Beef burger, God, I love that shit!" Ann said, looking at the menu and then glancing back at the server who noted our orders down.

Once we were done with ordering, we waited, for a very long time.

"So, you're coming for the training on Friday?" Ann asked me as she folded her hands across her chest.

Aah, training!

"Yeah, I'm going to start training. Alpha Richard told me I could start from this week so expect me there on Friday," I winked at them both.

Cora's gaze ran over my face. "What if your mate comes and takes you away?" She asked out of nowhere, leaving everyone at the table surprised.

I had never thought about that.

"I'm not going to go," I replied, my lips barely moving. I wasn't going to just leave everything and go with him if he ever came to take me—which I doubted he would since he hadn't shown up in four days.

"And, what if he forces you, since he was an Alpha before and Alpha's are known for having their mates beside them." She spilled facts.

A shudder ran down my spine. "I'm not. I won't leave until I'm ready, like at least a few months or maybe a year." I sucked in a breath and clenched my hands together. No one was going to take me.

"All right. Let's hope that doesn't happen. When are you planning on telling Alpha Richard?" Ann asked, switching the subject but still keeping it on my mate.

"Soon. When he tells me too,"

Cora let out a low rumble of laughter before poking her elbow on my stomach. "Already obeying him, huh?"

"It's the least I can do since he asked me too." I blushed hard when I thought about him, his voice, his eyes, his mouth. Ugh.

I wanted it.

I desired it.

After having our lunches, I dropped off Ann and Cora to their houses before going back to mine. My parents were at the garage, working on some new cars that had arrived so I was home alone, reading a book.

Keeping my self distracted was my only way out of this all. My parents agreed on supporting me and not telling anyone until I told them too. Apart from them, Cora and Ann only knew that I was mated to the beast, and of course, Mrs. Pitts.

No one else was doubtful and everything was going all right.

Occasionally, I peeked out of the window, looking for any sign of him. I had waited for days now and still, he hadn't contacted me.

I was already yearning for his touch.

Taking a walk outside, I decided to take the trail to the forest in Far Waters where most of our pack members ran. Releasing my wolf was a way to get rid of the naughty thoughts I had inside of me.

"Lilliana," Evan called out my name. It was evening and the moon was full above us. "I wanted to talk to you," he said, coming in closer and showing his face.

I gasped, noticing his bloodshot eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just want to talk to you. I've been thinking about you," He wrapped a hand around my arm tightly, almost bruising me.

"Evan, I don't feel like talking right now."

"Please, Lily." He begged for me to stay. "I heard you at the restaurant. Is it true?"

No.

"What?" I acted dumbfounded, hoping he hadn't heard everything. What was he even doing at the restaurant and why didn't I notice him?

"That you're mated to the beast in the forest?" He arched a brow and it was then I realized that he had been drinking and was drunk.

Pulling my self away from his grasp, I replied, "Yes, but you can't tell anyone."

Evan marched towards me with every step I took back from him. "I want you, Lily, I don't want to be with anyone else. I don't want to be with Jennie. I want to be with you," He said, his nostrils flaring and his pupils growing large with desire.

"I can't. I have a mate."

"It's okay. You can reject him and we can be together. I'll reject Jennie and you can reject whoever that beast is." He suggested. "We were so good together,"

Evan wasn't lying. He was a great boyfriend up until the end when he cheated on me with Jennie even after knowing how much it would've hurt me and it did.

I had been sobbing about it until I met my mate and forgot about Evan.

"We can't be together," I whispered to him softly. "I have a mate and so do you. I have been marked already."

Evan's face morphed into a scowl and he growled at me, his wolf taking control of him. "I'll mark you and it will be over. We will be together!" He grasped my shoulders, pulling me closer.

My stomach tightened and my heart started hammering inside my chest out of fear. I had never seen Evan so enraged and angry.

"Evan, please, let me go. You're hurting me," I pleaded and withered under his hold, trying to free my self. "Please,"

"No, Lily, we have to be together. And, I love you." He pushed down to the ground and got over me. "Let me mark you,"

"No!" I screamed, thrashing my fists at his chest. "Get the fuck off me! I don't want to be marked by you,"

"You'll say that now but later on, you'll be happy I did it." He flashed a smile at me before grabbing my wrists.

His head went down my neck, and I felt his canines emerge out ever so slightly, preparing to plunge into my flesh and settle his wolf's claim over me. We weren't mates. I was mated to someone else and so was he.

This meant death.

"Evan, please!" I cried, throwing my head back.