ZAC'S POV

I slammed the door of the taxi shut and got my luggage out. Hillary joined me, standing to look at the house. It was a storey building, the walls a sky blue and the window panes white. It looked like one of those houses you would see in the movies with happy families.

"We must be at the correct address, right?" Hillary asked, voicing my thoughts. He checked his phone and confirmed it.

"It's...," I searched for the right word. "Small."

That was the nicest thing I could say about it. It was smaller than our own place in my father's estate. My mother could afford something better. I'm not sure how to explain her choices.

"It's like a matchbox," Hillary added. We could agree on this.

"Boys!" my mother squealed, rushing out of the house to hug us. She pressed kisses into our cheeks. "My newest Student President is finally here."

"Mom, what is this? What did you see here?" Hillary said after hugging her.

"Well, for one, I can tell that it is a sorry ass of a town," I said, shaking off the snow on my boots and looking around the neighbourhood.

"Zac, always so mean. It's not that bad," my mother said, coming to stand between us to look at the house.

"If beneath your standard, in the middle of nowhere and quiet and sad is the vibe that you're going for then yes, it's not that bad,"

"I wanted something that feels warm and like a home. This town," she sighed, standing between Hillary and I, and giving our arms a squeeze, "it just feels like Christmas. Something magical is going to happen."

"Yeah, like me leaving," I turned, walking down the sidewalk.

"Where are you going?" mom asked in that voice I hated. Whenever she saw me, she liked to baby me. She felt guilty that my father pushed me hard and there was nothing she could do about it. I had a feeling that this move was about Hillary and I.

Still, I wasn't kind enough to make her feel good about her choices.

"To see if he can find someone new to torment probably," Hillary replied. I heard him wheel our luggage towards the house.

I flipped him the finger, grateful that I had a coat on. It was colder than I expected. Hillary was right though. I was walking around to see who I could torment. But the truth was, I wanted to see if I could notice the power play here. Someone always made the rules, even in small towns like this. I wanted to be able to control it.

I must have walked for twenty minutes, passing my many diners and a sheriff's office. I wondered how long it would take me to spot other wolves.

"Thank you. Enjoy your movie," a lady said.

I stopped in my tracks, looking around. The voice sounded very familiar. I don't hear it often but I could recognize it. My eyes found the theatre across the road. There was a short line of people at the ticket booth. I couldn't see anyone I knew but my body started to move before I realized.

I joined the line, sticking my hands into the pocket of my coat and regretting that I didn't put gloves on. When it was my turn, I stepped forward, fishing a note from my pocket to hand it to the person there.

"That would be five ninety-nine," she said, absent mindedly.

I froze for a moment as the voice washed over me. It was her – Daphne Curtis. She sat behind a glass, those curly brown hair tucked behind her ears and a red scarf around her neck. It made her eyes look larger and prettier than it usually was.

I shook my head. What the hell? Did I just think the plus size omega was pretty?

I quickly gave her the note and as she handed me the change, she looked up. "Thank you. Enjoy-"

She froze, whatever she wanted to say dying in her mouth. Her hands began to shake, holding onto the change and ticket. I didn't know what to say to her because she suddenly looked trapped. She looked like she would run if I uttered one wrong word.

I reached forward and took the ticket. "Thank you," I turned quickly and walked towards the entrance.

I didn't know what I was thinking when I walked up to that ticket booth. I didn't come there to bother her or to remind her of her place. I just heard her voice from across the road and came there with zero thoughts.

My heart was racing uncontrollably. I made a mental note to visit the doctor. Something was undeniably wrong with me.

The doorman checked my ticket and smiled kindly at me, letting me in. I didn't know what I was doing but, for some reason, I didn't just want to leave. I felt the need to apologize. I was Student President, why should I care if the omega was scared to see me?

As I took a seat one row from the exit, I wondered what she was doing in Lousieville. Was she visiting family? Was this where she lived? And why was she working in the ticketing booth?

I was so curious and it irked me. A few minutes later, the lights went out and the movie came up on screen. I had no idea what was showing but it didn't look that bad. It was a romantic comedy, the usual where the girl or the guy returned to their hometown and reunited with an ex or best friend and fell in love.

Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I caught myself laughing more times than I expected.

When I looked back, I noticed two people standing at the back, whispering to themselves. I would have ignored it but then, I noticed that red scarf around her neck when the screen turned brighter.

Daphne. And she was with a guy.

I watched her carefully, realizing just how different things were now. This was Christmas. I was in a new place, in a new house and in a theatre: three things I rarely ever did. I guess I could do things differently. And surprisingly, what I wanted to change had something to do with the brown head, plump sized, beautiful Daphne Curtis.

DAPHNE'S POV

The moment I was done with the line, I closed the blinds and left the booth, running to the film room. There were rolls and boxes of movies. I found a corner and sat there, bringing my knees to my chest and begging myself to relax.

"This has to be a mistake," I told myself, burying my hands in my head.

There was no way that Zachary Ackerman was here in Louiseville and in my parent's theatre. I would know his face even in my dreams, I was sure he was the one. I thought that Eleanor bullying me that final day was all I had to go through. I thought that I would be able to find peace during Christmas.

Why was he here? How did he find me? Wasn't I already miserable enough?

"Oh, goddess," I began to gasp, feeling like I was trapped. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see.

"Daphne?" a voice called.

I looked up to see Kane West. I knew him from high school. We weren't really close but we weren't really strangers either. Still, I didn't want him seeing me like this.

I ducked my head, wiping at my tears. "Hi, Kane."

"It's actually you. I saw you come in and I had to confirm that it was really you," Kane smiled, that smile that used to sweep me off my feet. He pushed his blond hair away from his face. It had grown longer since the last time I'd seen him. He settled down on the floor next to me, our knees touching.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

I shrugged, not trusting myself enough to answer without crying.

Kane nodded. "Do you want me to ask why you're crying or pretend I didn't see you?"

"Pretend," I choked out finally.

"Daphne Curtis back in Louiseville. You went to that big shot academy and forgot all about us here in the small town. You're a bad girl now," he bumped into my shoulders playfully.

The truth was I had cut off all my friends from my old school. I didn't want them to know about the bullying. I only posted pictures once in a while because I was scared of people from Bateview finding my account and trolling it.

I had to delete the last one when things started to get out of hand.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"So-so, high school is still the same shitty place if that's what you're wondering. We don't go on cool school trips in other continents like you guys but it's still home. Still nice, I guess," Kane replied. There was a brief sadness in his eyes and I wondered if, maybe just if, he was having a hard time too.

Kane didn't quite fit in. He had a few friends but he wasn't always hanging out with them. He was a bright student but on the surface, he seemed like such a bad boy.

But, thanks to him, I felt like I could finally breath.

He must have noticed because he stood to his feet and held out his hand. "Come on. The great Daphne shouldn't be hiding around in a corner at a time like this. Let's go peek at the movie that's showing on screen."

I looked at his hand and then his face. He sensed my hesitation. "I promise, I don't bite."

I took his hand and let him help me up. He pulled me with a little too much force and I ended up falling into his arms. "Sorry," I apologized, blushing red.

"Don't be," he said, "It's my fault."

Together, we walked to the first screening room. We quietly snuck in. It was packed. We couldn't even find seats at the back. Kane asked if I was okay standing. We talked for a while, laughing over things that happened in Louiseville while I was away.

That's when I noticed the eyes staring at me.

Even in the dark, I could recognize him. I could almost see that blue glow he had used to intimidate me months ago and force my submission to him.

I felt weak again, a feeling I never felt being back home. I turned to Kane, "you mentioned something about getting away."

Kane smiled. "There's a little festival happening in the square right now. It's supposed to be a little gathering but you can trust the teens to turn it into a party."

I could run into friends from my old school. Mom may still need me in the ticket booth. But right now, Zachary Ackerman was in the theatre and for the first time, I didn't want to stay. "We should check it out."

Kane and I left the theatre. I grabbed my coat and told Daisy I won't be gone for long. I followed Kane to the square, remembering how nice it was to have someone to talk to without being scared of repercussions.

The first friend I made in Bateview Academy sold me to the wolves, literally. She invited me for a party, told me that it was a costume party. When I showed up, she was standing with Eleanor and her friends.

It had been a pool party and she convinced me to show  rrrrrrtgup as a sexy bunny. It was embarrassing and my pictures circulated BA app for days. I was a literal meme. After that, everything went to hell. I became bait for everyone, simply because Zachary believed an omega like me had no place at the academy. I was never going to forgive him.

The square was full of people socializing and dancing. Lights were strung up high above us and there was a giant Christmas tree in the middle, giving the square some sort of homely warmth. Kane led me a little into the gathering and stopped us by a pole.

"Wait here, I'll get you something to drink," he said and began to walk.

I nodded and looked around for something to entertain myself while I waited.

I felt it then; a pull deep in my soul and felt like I was flying and drowning at the same time. It knocked the air out of my lungs. I turned, feeling my wolf stir slightly. I had to find here this was coming from.

I came face to face with the last person I wanted to see. I flinched, not because he was standing in front of me but because what I was feeling multiplied until it was almost unbearable.

I flinched, taking a step back as he came to stand in front of me. "Zachary..."

His brows furrowed and I knew he felt the same thing. "No way..."

He was my mate.

ZAC'S POV

I saw the moment she realized the same thing as I did: she was my mate. Her brows pulled together and her lips tugged into a straight line.

"Daphne," I called, carefully. I still couldn't understand this. It had to be some sort of mistake.

Her eyes looked glassy as she looked up at me to confirm what she was feeling. She staggered back and I reached out instinctively to grab her elbow to stable her. Violently, she ripped her arm from my grip, stepping back and glaring at me.

"Don't touch me," Daphne spat with so much venom, her hands shaking with the effort.

I folded my hand into a fist and watched as she struggled with herself. She looked like she was in disbelief, exactly how I felt. "This can't be happening," she muttered.

That was one thing we were on the same side about. "Tell me about it," I agreed, "I just found out that an omega is my mate."

She looked up at me, her eyes full of hatred. "This is your fault. You just appeared out of nowhere. You should have stayed where you belong instead of coming into my town and ruining my life," she said, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

Her anger unnerved me. She'd never shown this side of herself, not even when she was knocked down and bullied. She was always quiet. She was feisty. Still, I was annoyed as she was. But, I was more annoyed that she had the guts to be angry that I was her mate. I was Zachary Ackerman – everyone wanted a piece of me.

"I suggest you don't talk to me like that," I said, narrowing my gaze at her. I knew that she could feel the tug of attraction between us but we were both visibly fighting it.

"This is a trick. You're trying to trick me and turn this into some kind of prank that the whole school is going to be in on," Daphne replied, her eyes hard as she looked at me. Laughter travelled in the air around us and she glanced briefly, almost believing that she was being laughed at.

I realized just how deeply rooted her mistrust was. Bateview Academy was a mine field for people like her, and it was because of me. A feeling like guilt sank like stone into my stomach. It filled my mouth with regret.

Children run past us, holding paper windmills. I don't know what to say, I don't know how to explain. It's not a game. I'm not trying to trick her. Despite myself, I took a step forward, the mate bond pulling me to her. She shifted her stance to block me.

"I said, don't touch me," she gritted out lowly, not wanting to garner attention from the people at the gathering.

"I wasn't trying," I replied, softly.

Something flashed behind her eyes before a guy appeared at her side, holding two solo cups. He looked me up and down and asked her, "Is he bothering you?"

I realized that he was the guy she'd been talking to at the back of the Cinema.

She took one of the cups from him. Her hands tightened around the cup briefly before she turned, "No, he's nobody. Let's go." The guy hesitated for a moment but followed after her, his body blocking me from seeing her leave.

Nobody?

I scoffed, turning to walk in the other direction. I couldn't believe that she'd just called me a nobody. I had followed Daphne out of curiosity.

This bond was more of a curse than a blessing. It was a burden. Was this what people called karma? I was the one who made her hate Bateview Academy and the moon goddess decided that I was her mate.

Was I dreaming? What kind of a cruel joke was this?

Coming to this town was a mistake. If I had never caught that plane to come here, I wouldn't have met her and none of this would have happened. I needed to get out of this place now.

I pulled out my phone to call Hillary. He needed to meet me at the airport.

"Yo, are you lost now?" Hillary asked the moment he answered.

"I need to get out of here," I told him.

"Where are you?"

"No, like I mean, out of this town," I corrected, "I'm getting a ticket and leaving."

"Dude, you just got here. Mom's not going to like that."

"I actually don't care what our parents think," I stopped in my tracks.

I can't just let her go. I have to make sure she doesn't tell anyone about it, that she keeps it a secret. What would my father say if he found out? What would happen at school if anyone found out?

I turned, searching for Daphne. I found her, in conversation with the guy. "I need to talk to you," I began.

"There's nothing to talk about," she said the moment she turned to look at me.

"What's up with you? Can you leave?" the guy with her asked, trying to shield her with his body. He looked like he was ready to push me.

"It's fine, Kane," she said with a sigh, splaying her fingers on his chest to stop him. I looked down at it, a feeling rising up in me in waves. Was that jealousy?

"Mind your business. This is between me and Daphne," I retorted, the bite back in my voice. No one disrespects me and gets away with it.

"Well, Daphne is my business and if you're making her uncomfortable..." Kane replied.

I scoffed, looking between them. "Is this the reason?" I asked.

Daphne had the audacity to look confused. "What are you on about now?" she asked.

"This is why you walked away. He's your boyfriend. You're in love with him and you think I'm going to ruin it," I chuckled drily. It finally made sense. There was no reason for her to react that badly to finding out that we were mates.

"No, that isn't...," she groaned at the same time Kane said, "And what if she was, what's your deal if we're dating?"

Daphne said nothing, her attention on me. I didn't think she even heard Kane. "You know what, I don't have to have this conversation with you."

"Oh?" I smirked, "Does your little boyfriend know what happens in Bateview? Does he know how you get down on your knees-"

Before I realized what was happening, she lifted her hand and struck me on the face. The shock on her face was nothing compared to the one I just felt.

"Did you just slap me?"