Chapter 3 THE KISS

Dante's POV

“Oh my God, it’s him?” the boys murmured as they realized who I was. 

I panted. 

I had wanted to hide who I was at this new school. 

It was the same everywhere I went.

Once they figured out my identity, they would treat me differently. But who could blame them? They could only behave that way when the son of an all-powerful Alpha King, conqueror of seven other packs, stood before them. 

Our story was documented in history books. 

Even when people didn’t know our faces, our name...Rodriguez...struck a bell. We were the only ones who had managed to form seven different packs into one. 

“You… you are a Rodriguez?” Chase, the captain of the hockey team, said. 

I didn’t answer. My eyes went to her...Sophie. 

I couldn’t help it. Seeing her being used and hurt struck something within me: anger, fear, spite...all at once. 

I clenched my fists and tried to steady my breath. She gazed at me with a puzzled expression on her face. I could tell she had figured out who I was.  

Chase adjusted his jersey. “So what?” he spat. “You are a Rodriguez. Does that mean you can tell me how to treat my girlfriend?” 

She quickly walked to him, her footsteps light on the floor as she wrapped her arms around him. “It’s okay, Chase. Let it go.”

He shoved her off him, rolling his eyes as he spoke. “I’m not in the mood to look at you right now. Clean up and go home without me.” He spat and marched out of the place.  

The boys all scurried after him.

She watched him leave, then bowed her head. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she moved to pick up the helmets. 

“Are you still doing that?” I asked through gritted teeth. 

“Why do you care?” she sniffed.

I gazed at her in confusion. Why did I care about her tears?

I took a step forward. 

“Stop,” she halted me. 

I obeyed. 

“I’ll let you know when I’m done and we can see your old witch to revoke our bond.” My heart cracked as she looked at me with red eyes. “I want this to be over as soon as possible.” Her voice cracked. 

I watched her in silence as she began to pick up the hockey sticks as well. She stopped to fold her blonde hair into a high bun and then continued again. 

She was right. I had gotten too involved in her personal life. I shouldn’t care. She was none of my business. 

“I’ll be waiting outside in my car. It’s the black Cadillac,” I said in a cold tone and quickly walked out of the place.

I waited in the car for thirty minutes, my head against the wheel, before she finally came outside the school building. She didn’t say a word. She slid into the back seat and fastened her seatbelt. 

I instantly sped onto the road, my fingers tightly gripping the wheel. As I sped past cars, my eyes landed on the screen of her phone. She was scrolling through the internet. I looked closely and saw that she had looked up my family’s name. 

Every girl would be honored to be my mate. I was surprised when I saw the displeased look on her face.

Soon we arrived at Aunt Maggie’s home.

It was a large mansion with a huge garden on the side, most of which were herbs. We both got out of the car, our feet making gentle thuds on the ground as we walked towards the main door. 

Bert, the house butler, bowed his head as he saw us. “Master Dante,” he greeted. 

“Hey, Bert. We are here to see Maggie,” I explained. 

He stepped out of the way to let us in. Sophie clasped her hands before her as she slowly walked in behind me. She seemed to flinch easily. 

A loud gasp from the other end of the house caught my attention. My head spun to the side, a smile curling on my lips as I saw Aunt Maggie. She was dressed in a floor-length black dress, her pale skin radiating because of it. 

“You are in New Orleans?” she said as she rushed towards me for a hug. 

“Yes, Aunt Maggie.” I accepted the hug.

“You are so grown now,” she gripped my arms as she looked at me in awe. “What are you? Seventeen?”

I shook my head. “Eighteen.”

Her lips formed a circle. “Our heir is a grown man now.” Her eyes fell to Sophie, and then back at me. “Somebody found a girlfriend.”

Before I could correct her, Sophie spoke immediately. “We are not… dating.” Her tone was defensive. 

“Oh, why are you here then?”

“We are mates,” I said. 

Her eyes widened as she smiled.

“We want to revoke the bond,” I added. 

Her smile fell. “Well, do you want to get to know her first?”

“No,” Sophie quickly spoke. “I have a boyfriend.”

Maggie looked at me and nodded. “Of course. Follow me,” she said as she led us down a hall and into a room. 

“People who have royal blood find it more difficult to break a bond,” she suddenly said before she sat before a desk. On the table lay colored liquids...potions. 

Sophie and I exchanged glances.

“All they have to do is declare that they don’t want it and it’s gone. But for you, when you mate she gets a mark. It’s difficult to erase with just a few words.” She gestured at two chairs before her and we both moved to our seats. 

“Is there a solution?” Sophie asked, her tone urgent.

“Well,” Maggie clicked her tongue and reached into her drawer. She brought out a small bottle of red liquid. “This here holds the power of seven red moons, when magic is stronger. You have to drink it and revoke the bond within the first few minutes.” She placed it on the table and I grabbed it. 

“After that you have to seal it with a kiss.”

My head snapped up. “Kiss?” we asked simultaneously.

She nodded. “That’s how the spell works.” She stood as she spoke. 

Sophie sunk into her seat. I could tell she didn’t like what Maggie had said.

“Is there another way to do this?” I asked. 

She shook her head. “No. After the kiss you have to wait a year for the bond to break and the mark to remove completely.”

“A whole year?” Sophie’s voice was etched with discomfort. 

Maggie nodded. “But don’t worry, you can go about your various lives without having to worry about the bond.”

She sighed. “Okay,” she said in a calm tone. 

“I’ll give you two some privacy,” Maggie said and exited the room. 

As soon as Maggie stepped out, I held the bottle tightly and slowly stood. “Ready?”

She stood from her seat and turned to face me. “I don’t have a choice now, do I? Hurry up.”

I opened the bottle and took a sip. The liquid tasted like ashes. “I, Dante Rodriguez, hereby revoke my mating bond with Sophie,” I said.

She pressed her lips together and held her skirt tightly. I slowly walked towards her. I could hear her heart beating hard against her chest. 

I reached for her chin and tilted it up. As our eyes met, she let out a shaky breath. Her trembling hands let go of her skirt and rested on the desk beside her.

“Are you scared?” I asked in a low tone. 

She shook her head. “No.” She swallowed. “It’s just…” Her breath was hot against my face.

My eyes rested on her lips. They were soft and pink. She couldn’t stop biting them. “It’s just what?”

“I don’t know how to kiss,” her cheeks flushed red as she spoke. 

My brow raised. “But you have a boyfriend.”

She pressed her lips together until they formed a straight line. Her green eyes were fixed on mine.

Being so close to her, I realized how beautiful she was. How could he never have kissed her? 

“Close your eyes,” I said calmly. “It will be over soon.”

She obeyed.

I drew my lips to hers. Her scent was captivating. I took in a long sniff, my fingers caressing her cheeks before I pressed my lips against hers.

She instantly pulled away. “That is enough, right?” she asked. 

I squeezed the bottle in my hand. I couldn’t help it. I wanted more. I cupped her chin with one hand. “It’s not,” I growled as I locked my lips against hers again. 

I didn’t stop so soon. The kiss deepened as I pulled her against the cold wall behind her. 

She tried to kiss me back. I would have laughed...she had no idea how to kiss...but my desire for her overpowered the humor as I kissed her even deeper. 

After a few minutes she pressed her hand against my chest and pushed me off her. 

“That’s enough,” she said. 

I panted and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. 

My fists clenched as I realized.

I had fallen for her.