Chapter 6 — Rejection

Cassia:

I feel as if I can’t breathe. Mathias rejected our mating without a thought. Am I that forgettable and easily dismissed that he didn’t care how it would make me feel? Of course, Mathias isn’t the first man to reject me. The first man to ever make me feel worthless was my father. Lukan never cared much for me and viewed me as an intruder in his life. I clutch my chest as the pain threatens to burst through my body.

I’m so distracted by my pain that I don’t see the form in front of him until I run into him. Crying out in surprise, I pull back and prepare to apologize.

The man before me peruses my body then gives me a wicked smile. He is incredibly beautiful with dark as sin hair and icy silver eyes. He’s what my friend Kendra would call rugged with high cheekbones and sexy five o’clock stubble. His six-foot-five body is massive. He has large shoulders and a tapered waist. Feeling uncomfortable, I bite my lip and blink my eyes.

“Well, hello, there, angel.” He says in a husky voice.

Pushing my hair from my face, I swallow hard and compose myself. “I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy.”

His smile instantly turns predatory. “It’s okay. I don’t mind getting run down by such a stunning woman. In fact, I would call this my lucky day.”

Somehow his admiration lightens my broken heart. “Thank you. Um… can I help you find something?”

He looks around the campus then looks back at me. “Actually, I think you helped me find something.” My earlier agony temporarily abating, I give him a puzzled frown. He places his hand over his heart and says. “I think I lost my heart, and you found it.”

My lip incredulously, but I still feel charmed by his openness. “That was really cheesy coming from a man whose name I don’t even know.”

He stretches his hand out for a handshake. “Conlan Frasier at your service, my angel.”

I wrap my hand around his and smile when he kisses my hand. That’s when I notice the mark. Supernatural beings are usually identified in several ways. Demons, werewolves, vampires, and other underworld creatures usually have a tattoo of some kind. Angels do not. I mean, we can have tattoos, but we’re not born with them, and they certainly don’t look like they can come out of your body.

He has one over his collarbone. It’s a black wolf with silver, glowing eyes. I look back up and say. “You’re a wolf?” He raises his eyebrow and looks down at his collar. “Yes, I am, and you’re an angel?” I nod my head. “Yes. I’m Cassia. Cassia Garron.” He nods and smiles. “Well, it’s a pleasure, Cassia.”

I move a step back and look around. “Are you a student here?”

He shakes his head. “No, Angel. I’m here with my younger brother. He’s interested in attending next year, and I have to say, I hope he gets in because I really want to see you again.” I give him a wide smile and nearly choke with disbelief when he reaches into his pocket, takes out his phone, and hands it to me. I smile at his daring, enter my number, and hand him back to him.

“It was nice meeting you, Conlan. I hope your brother gets accepted.” I mutter before I walk away. As I make my way through the grounds, I can feel his eyes on me, soothing the sting of Mathias’ rejection.

I meet Kendra in the house as soon as I get in. Unfortunately, Kendra is human, and it’s a no-no to tell humans about us unless they’re our mates. It has always been disastrous when students would find out. That’s when the questions come in. My favorite question is, “Is there a God?” When I answer, they regale me with more questions. The truth is that angels were cast out of heaven centuries ago. The big man wanted us to gain free will, so he released us to live with humans. The only difference is that we are immortal, have wings, glowing eyes, and mate for life. Other supernatural beings have lived here for almost as long. We have pretty much coexisted with humans for thousands of years without their knowledge.

I tell Kendra about Mathias, but Kendra is human, so I keep the mating thing under wraps. Like a true friend, she holds me and tells me that it is his loss. I also tell her about my run-in with Conlan. “Girl, the guy sounds hot.” I nod my head. “Yeah, he was.” Too bad that he’s not my mate.