Ever since that day after the mating ceremony, Demetri has been trying harder and harder to force himself into my life.

Every football game that I have, he's there.

Every Cheerleading match that I assist in, he's there.

Every outing that I have with my friends, he's there.

Every night I go to sleep, he's there.

And every morning I wake up, he's there.

Much to my dismay, he's also being caring and considerate of my feelings which makes it harder to hate him.

Its been four months since the ceremony and the press is dying to know when we're going to get married.

King Alexander inquired once when we were having supper one night and I had simply excused myself from the table and went to bed.

I don't know what Demetri told him and frankly, I don't care.

Today, the day before graduation and all everyone can talk about is prom.

Sadly, I have decided not to go and although I haven't told them yet, I know the majority of my friends will be disappointed. We had all planned to roll together as a group with our dates, but Demetri insisted that if I'm going to prom then he's going to be my date and I'm not going with him so I'm not going to prom at all.

Thank him for robbing me of all epic teenage memories. The bastard.

Its lunchtime and while everyone is at lunch, I'm sitting in a classroom by myself listening to music and trying to finish the latest homework that Miss Collinsworth had given me on the prehistoric forms of punishment for wolves who committed severe crimes.

I am almost finished with it but the short answer section of the worksheet isn't completed.

The essay is done and so is the multiple-choice section so the bulk of work is off my shoulders.

A text message appeared on my phone and as I picked it up to see who it is I noticed ten missed calls and five text messages from Demetri.

I quickly cleared those and found the newest message from Freya asking where I am.

With a quick reply telling her my location, I skipped the song and went back to my school work.

Ever since I learn how to control the mental block, I've kept it up all day, eyery day so that Demetri can't get to me. So he has to call me like everyone else.

The classroom door banged open and I pulled out my earphones as I looked up at Freya.

"Hey," I said with a smile.

"Where the hell have you been?" She inquired walking over to me with Dallas, Kevin, Irene, Kaitlyn, Monique, Rick, Derek, Todd, Emelia, Collin and Natalia in tow.

"I've been here all the while," I stated as everyone took their seats and started asking me about prom and who I'm going with.

The girls had planned to go dress shopping this afternoon and I had planned to accompany them before I decided that I wasn't going even though my dress was already made and so was Monique's and Freya's.

"Oh, didn't I tell you guys?" I began casually, "I'm not coming."

Everyone fell silent and looked at me as though I had grown two heads.

"What do you mean you're not coming?" Emelia asked, tears forming in her eyes.

Oh man, she's been super emotional for the last three months. She's five months pregnant and she's very tearful.

A bee flew into the house the other day while we were all at Derek's, so Todd killed it before it stung someone and she burst into tears at the injustice of the human race who takes the bees' honey and kill them whenever they fly out of their hives.

It was really hard not to laugh but when we did laugh, she cried even harder and Derek had a hard time quieting her down as he shot us disgruntled, hateful looks.

That was funny too.

"I'm not coming," I said watching as Derek wrapped his arm around Em to comfort her and stop another crying spree. "I'll still come and help you choose your gowns this afternoon if you want, but I have to leave by six-thirty."

"Why aren't you coming?" Kaitlyn asked hopping up on my desk, nearly sitting on my book and papers of notes.

"Is it because you don't have a date?" That was Irene

"Why do I feel like I have my brother to blame for this?" Freya asked

"You have to come, Jess, how are we gonna take the football team prom pic if you're not there?" Rick complained.

"Who's gonna take me home when I get ridiculously drunk?" Collin pouted making me laugh.

"Emelia can take you, she's not allowed to drink," I told him winking at Em who blushed.

I looked up and Dallas was standing by the table with his arms folded across his chest but he was very quiet as he stared at me with assessing eyes.

Oh, he knows what's going on. I know that look, he's gonna question me later.

"I'll come pick out dresses with you guys later. Kait, you can have my dress, just come pick it up after school yeah?"

"No, I want you to come." She rebutted "As awesome as your dress is, I don't wanna wear it unless you're coming too."

"I'm going to class in the evening with Ms. Collinsworth." I lied, I had already asked her for the day off for graduation and the Thursday and Friday before prom and either way, Prom is on a Saturday and I don't have classes on Saturday.

"Like, Can't she give you the day off?" Natalia asked while Freya looked confused.

"But wait, you-" Freya began.

"I have a lot of work to catch up on," I said cutting her off before she betrayed my lie.

She looked at me intently with an expression that screamed .

Before anyone else could say anything, the bell rang.

"This ain't over," Freya promised exiting the room with the others while Dallas took his seat beside me.

"Don't start," I told him with a glare as our homeroom teacher came in and began speaking to us about our futures and career options and yada yada ya.

"Start what?" He inquired innocently.

"You were awfully quiet during the little discussion. I just assumed that you would have something to say now."

"You know me so well." He smirked at me before it fell, "It's him, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I sighed, "He said if he's not going to be my date then I won't be going at all so I choose not to go. I don't want him there."

"Jess you can't let him-"

"Its done Dallas. Leave it alone please." I snapped at him and he glared at me so I flashed him a smile.

While our teacher gave us the last day speech I continued with my short answer questions until I was finished.

When class ended, she reminded us to pick up our gowns and caps and get a good night's rest for the graduation ceremony tomorrow.

Kaitlyn, Monique, Collin and I were in line for our gowns and they were all trying to convince me to change my mind.

"Just think about it!" Kait exclaimed, "You'll always regret not going to prom, Jess, its a milestone."

"Yeah, its a right of passage that every teenager needs to achieve." Monique backed her up.

"Jess, you have to come! Please, please, please." Collin whined.

"Keep that up and I won't even come shopping with you." I snapped at collin with a smile to remove the sting of my tone.

"Jess, Please, it won't be the same without you," Monique said.

It's not gonna be the same with me either because Demetri would never allow me to strip dance on top of a table, he probably won't even allow me to get drunk either. But I'm obviously not going to tell them that.

I pulled out my phone and pretended to be engrossed in the game that I'm playing until it was my turn to collect the gown.

I took it and walked outside with them to see the black Escalade waiting for me in its usual spot at the gate.

"I'll see you guys later," I told them with a wave as I made my way to the vehicle as Allan stood by the door ready to open it for me.

"Hi." I gave him a smile as he pulled the back door open for me with a respectful nod of his head towards me.

"Princess." He addressed closing the door behind me.

"How was your day?" Demetri inquired as I settled into my seat without looking at him.

"Fine," I responded curtly and he reached over to hold my hand, lacing our fingers together.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"I'm alright too, thanks for asking." He said and I finally raised my eyes to look at him.

He was staring at me with an expression that was a cross between sadness and hurt.

"Good to know," I told him looking away again.

"Your letter came today." He told me and I froze, I hadn't told him that I applied for the scholarship or the University.

"I'm not angry." He said sensing the fear coming off me. "It's alright once you understand that you'll transfer your acceptance to a University here or you'll take online classes."

My scholarship will be invalid if I do either of those things, well, that's if I actually get the scholarship in the first place.

"Jessabell?"

"I heard you," I said fixing my gaze on the passing landscape through the window.

We spent the rest of the drive in silence and Demetri played with my fingers.

When we arrived at the castle, Allan used the rear entrance to the garage so that it would be easier to get to the house on the grounds which Demetri insisted we live so it'll be easier for me to adjust to my situation.

He's so considerate, note the sarcasm.

Demetri unlocked the doors because I was too lazy to retrieve my keys from my bag.

I kicked off my shoes in the closet by the front door and made my way down the hall towards our bedroom.

I looked at the closet door to see a gown bag hanging on the door. With a resigned sigh, I made my way over to the bag as Demetri came into the room.

"The Seamstress dropped off your gown today." He stated the obvious as I pulled it off the door dropping my backpack and the bag with my cap and graduation gown on the floor.

I unzipped the bag and pulled out the deep red dress laying it on the bed, I pulled out my phone and snapped a few pictures to send to Kaitlyn.

"What are you doing?" Demetri inquired walking up behind me.

"Sending the pictures to Kait."

"I thought you didn't want anyone to see your dress before the day." He sounded confused.

"I'm giving it to her if she says that she likes it." I told him spinning around to look at him as I send the pictures.

"What are you wearing then?" A frown creased his eyebrows as he stared at me. "Are you planning to buy a dress this afternoon?"

"No. I'm not going."

"What?" He's shocked. Very shocked. I didn't respond because he obviously heard me. "Why not?"

"I don't want to go anymore," I responded with a nonchalant shrug.

It was then I felt him trying to force himself into my brain. It felt like horrible banging was going on in my head and I fell back onto the bed grabbing my head at the excruciating pain

"Stop." I groaned squeezing my eyes shut tightly, at my plea, he redoubled his efforts and pushed harder and I couldn't hold the scream that ripped from my lips as he breached my mind.

The pain stopped immediately and I glared at him as he traversed my mind to find why I'm not going to prom.

I didn't even bother to try and fight him, I just rolled over onto my side and closed my eyes as I allowed him to read my thoughts.

I knew the instant he found the reason because he retracted himself from my mind and sat on the bed beside me.

"You're not going because of what I said."

I didn't respond, what's there to say?

"I want you to go to prom Jessabell. I don't want you to miss out on this experience, especially not because of me." He reached out and gently brushed my hair back off my forehead as he leaned in to kiss my cheek.

"I've already made up my mind. I'm not going."

"I won't come if that's what you want." He said sounding reluctant and hurt.

"I already made plans, Demetri." I looked up at him to see him staring at me with pain-filled gray eyes. "I'm going to a sleepover."

"Where?"

"At my mother's house," I stated.

My mom had the baby last month her name is Michayla and she's so little and sweet.

I can enjoy the new baby now that I'm older and have no reason to be jealous of her.

"I've planned to spend the weekend with my mother and Micky," I told him and he sighed.

"This is just one more thing for you to hate me for." He said rising from the bed and walking into the bathroom to take a shower.

I don't know why but now I just feel bad for hurting his feelings.

I shouldn't feel bad because he never actually feels bad when he hurts me, but I can't help it.

I got up off the bed and made my way into the kitchen where I made myself a chicken sandwich, got a glass of apple juice and sat down to eat.

After a while, Demetri entered the kitchen and prepared himself a sandwich as well.

"What time should I be there tomorrow?" He asked slightly hesitant.

I could understand his hesitancy because I didn't tell him when graduation would be. Freya and Violet had come by the house and Violet was asking me about graduation and Demetri heard when Freya told her what date graduation would be.

Later that night, when we were in bed, me scrolling through my messages while Demetri sat beside me on the bed using his laptop, he had turned to me and asked why I didn't tell him about graduation.

I'd simply replied that I didn't want him to come, he was so hurt that I had felt it bothering me for the entire night. I could barely sleep when we turned out the lights, I had turned my back to him and there was a throbbing pain in my chest where my heart was.

It was so horrible that I couldn't control the groan that slipped free of my mouth. Demetri had rolled over and wrapped his arms around me pushing his hand under my shirt and rubbing my chest until I fell asleep.

He didn't say anything to me about graduation until I came home with the invitations and handed him one mainly because his brother, Damien, would be the guest speaker for the day. No one knew who it would be but Damien had told Monique and she told me so I knew.

"It starts at midday." I told him sipping my juice, "There will be a seat reserved for you with the people of the board, I already informed them that you were coming."

I got up from the table and went to rinse my plate and cup.

I felt Demetri grab my upper arms and turned me around to face him.

"Jessabell, I'm trying to make this work between us." He said looking at me with wounded gray eyes. "You're not giving me a chance."

"I haven't done anything," I said narrowing my eyes at him.

"You keep pushing me away!" He snapped and I flinched, it been a while since he's shouted at me. "I didn't mean to shout at you, I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I muttered trying to shrug him away from me.

"Jessabell, I'll step away and you can go to prom with your friends but I don't want you to take a date." He told me, "I can't handle the thought of you going out with another male."

"It's okay, I already said I'm not going."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Its Freya, I'll get it," I told him and he released me so I could step past him.

"Hey." I smiled at Freya when I opened the door.

"Don't hey me." She snapped stepping past me, "Where's my brother?"

"Hi, Frey," Demetri said stepping into the hall where Freya and I were.

"What the fuck did you tell Jessabell why she isn't coming to prom?" She snapped as soon as she saw him.

"Freya!" I hissed at her, "I thought I told yo-"

"I didn't believe a damn word that came out of your mouth today." She told me, "I know it's his fault why you changed your mind." She pointed at Demetri who folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall.

"Freya, I didn't -"

"Jessabell, I know you don't have classes on Saturday. I live next door, remember?" She cut me off and I couldn't help blushing as she saw through my cover.

"I gave her permission to go alone," Demetri informed her looking completely relaxed and unbothered.

"So you're coming them?" Freya asked perking up and deflating in one go when I shook my head in the negative.

"But why?" She whined.

"I'd already made plans. Sorry." I informed her, not really sorry at all.

"You can go sleepover afterwards," Freya said pulling her pleading puppy dog eyes. "Jessa, please!" She begged

Oh man. I frowned at her while Demetri stood leaning against the door frame watching us.

"Freya I-"

"Plllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" She screeched and I winced as my eardrums rebelled.

"Fuck!" I growled, "Fine, fine, fine, I'll come! God damn it!"

"Yay!!" She squealed and I rolled my eyes. "Are you ready to go?"

"Let me change and come," I told her stepping past her and Demetri and making my way upstairs to dress in a casual pair of ripped jeans with a blue shirt with the superman logo on the chest and blue shoes, I put my hairstyle in a bun and paired the outfit with silver necklace, black earrings, and a silver bracelet.

I grabbed my phone and my keys on my way downstairs.

"Ready?" I asked Freya who was sitting on the couch with Demetri.

"Yeah." She confirmed getting up and walking towards me with Demetri behind her.

"What time will you be back?" He inquired wrapping an arm around my waist and leaning in to kiss my cheek.

"I'm not sure, whenever they're finished," I told him pulling away.

"I'll make dinner tonight." He said and I replied with an okay before leaving with Freya.

In the car, on the way to the mall, Freya attempted to strike up a conversation about my love life with her brother.

"Why are you so cold with him Jess?" She inquired about twenty minutes into the drive. "He's really trying to be good to you, you know?"

"It's complicated Frey."

"But Jess-"

"And I don't really wanna talk about it." I smiled at her sweetly and she rolled her eyes at me.

"I think you guys should talk to a counselor." She said pulling into the parking lot of the mall, "you're getting married in a few months, you need to sort out your shit before you get married."

"Nothing to sort, I just don't think I can forgive him for everything he's done to me," I told her as we got out of the car.

The shopping trip went by relatively quickly. The girls all picked lovely dresses and were excited when I told them I changed my mind and I would be coming to prom with them.

I returned a little after nine p.m to see Demetri seated on the couch in the den with his laptop and some paper.

His feet were up on the coffee table and crossed at the ankles. He was only wearing a pair of sweat pants and a cup of coffee rested on the small table by the arm or the couch.

"Hey." I acknowledged alerting him to my presence.

"You're back, your dinner is on the warmer." He said rising from his seat and making his way over to me. He wrapped his arms around me in a hug and I was unable to resist the pull of the bond so I hugged him back.

"What did you make?" I inquired genuinely curious since he was not very domesticated.

"Mac and cheese." He said smiling cheekily at me and I couldn't help the chuckle which burst from my throat.

"Sounds good."