Page 5 of Two Years Gone

I let out a breath before turning to Mariah.

“Eh,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

“I’m not a big fan of sloppy seconds. You can keep him.”

There were audible gasps from the onlookers, and fury flashed through Mariah’s eyes.

“Who do you think you’re talking to like that,Omega?”

I realized what I had just done and lowered my head.

“I’m sorry. I am nothing. That’s why I was rejected.” I turned and walked to class, angry that I wasn’t even allowed to stand up for myself.

I turned the corner, fighting back tears when I crashed into someone. Cinnamon and pine.

I knew exactly who it was without even having to look up.

“Excuse me…,” I whispered.

He towered over me for a moment before stepping aside and letting me pass.

“Jerk…,” I whispered in my own little act of defiance as I quickly walked away.

When I returned home from school, I collapsed on my bed, mentally exhausted from the horrible day.

The entire day was spent keeping my head down and hoping nobody spoke to me. Nobody did, but it didn’t keep me from hearing the whispers.

“Rough day?” My mom walked in and sat on the bed, rubbing my back.

“Literally the worst,” I managed to choke out.

“Well, hun, why don’t you stay home? We have dinner covered. You sit and eat junk food and feel a little bad for yourself. Then tomorrow we’ll start fresh.”

My mom pushed some stray hairs from my face before giving me a warm smile.

“Okay…,” I mumbled.

Mom left for the pack house, and I changed into my comfiest PJs. I sat on the bed watching chick flicks and gorging myself on chocolate and ice cream and hot Cheetos.

I looked like a hot mess, but I didn’t even care. I only had one more week of school. Then most of these people will have gone to college, training, or new packs with their mates.

I cried at that thought, knowing that they’d all be moving on, and I would still be here, rejected and working in the kitchen for the rest of my life.

Chapter 4

ELLA

Finally, it was graduation day. It came after what felt like the longest week and a half of my life.

After Zane had rejected me, I had become secluded, keeping to myself so nobody would bother me. My hurt and sadness had become anger.

Not that I could do anything about it. He was an alpha and I was an omega. I would never be able to speak my mind to him. I would never be able to tell him how much I hated him.

When I pictured graduating high school, I always imagined my family being together. My father died two years ago, and I missed him so much.

It hurt knowing he wouldn’t be there to see me graduate. Thankfully, Mom, my biggest fan, was there for me.

After the ceremony, my mom was a blubbery mess.