CHAPTER THREE.

FEBRUARY, 25, 2018.

(ORLA'S POV)

I placed my clenched fists on my lap and looked through the window yet again. I had called the driver to come to pick me up since I wasn't sure if I could walk back to the pack in my current state of mind.

My mind wandered to the discussion I had with Ella earlier on. Was it even a discussion? To think that I had called her my friend in the past. True friends supported each other, didn't they?

Just at that moment, the car braked so hard, that I tumbled forward, bumping my head on the back of the driver's seat. Wincing, I forced myself back.

"What was that?" I whispered, a sudden anger rearing itself in my head.

"A car bumped into ours, Luna." The driver reported.

I didn't wait for him to confront them, opting to do so myself. Perhaps I hadn't noticed, but I was looking for an outlet to let my anger loose. I walked towards the sleek-looking car.

"Are you blind?!" I yelled, hitting the car's tinted window.

The driver, a middle-aged man stepped down from the car and hurried over to me. "Pardon me, miss. It was a mistake, I swear it." He apologized.

But I was having none of it. At that moment, I was seeing red. "Pardon you? The likes of you don't deserve to be pardoned." I knew my words were harsh, but I couldn't help it.

The driver's countenance changed, but he didn't stop apologizing. "I'm sorry, miss. Please, pardon me." He begged.

"And who's going to pay for the damage done?" I gestured towards my head. By then, I could feel the small bump that had formed.

So engrossed was I in ranting, that I didn't notice the car open, and someone getting down. It wasn't till I perceived a pleasant cologne, did I turn back.

"You?!" I growled lowly. Okay Orla, worse luck.

Staring back at me, with a look that I couldn't tell apart from worry or mockery, was the last person I was expecting to see. Scratch that, he was the last person I wanted to see.

"Are you hurt?" He drew closer, making me retreat.

Just great. Not only was Maverick, the Alpha king acting so weird, but he was concerned about me.

I spotted the driver looking at us with a surprised look. Well.

Amongst the three top-tier packs in the werewolf race, Maverick's pack was the most powerful. He was known as the Alpha King. However...I wasn't moved by it.

Until a few years back, he had been my classmate at high school, and his actions toward me were nothing short of a nightmare.

Fatso, was his nickname for me, making me wonder if I was fat. I hated him with every single drop of blood in my body. Years later now, standing in front of him, the hatred hadn't diminished at all.

"Why do you care?" I hissed.

"Start the car." Ignoring my question, he issued an order to the driver. And before I could say another word, he gripped my wrist and pulled me towards his car. My lips parted, but no word came out.

It wasn't till we were in the car, did I turn to him with blazing eyes, my chest heaving.

"What the heck do you think you're doing, Maverick?" It was all I could do to keep back from hitting him.

However, he didn't respond, instead, he kept his gaze straight.

"Drive."

...

The hospital was a big one, the walls painted white, and it looked every inch sophisticated. I was taken to a ward, and a doctor hurried over. Courtesy of Maverick. An Alpha king.

Thirty minutes later, the doctor was giving his report. "It's just a minor bump, she'd be fine after some rest...." He said.

"Thank you," Maverick said in that deep gruff voice of his, and my heart skipped a beat. I chided myself. I hated him, and the feeling was mutual. It made no sense that my heart would tingle for him.

I wrinkled my nostrils and turned to the side of the bed. I always hated the smell of hospitals. The disinfectant always ignited the urge to retch in me.

I was on the verge of throwing up, when I heard his low voice say, "Let's go."

Not in the mood to cause a tantrum, I trodded behind him.

"What are you playing at?" I ventured to ask once we were outside the hospital walls.

He shook his head, not saying a word. I took in the view of his body. He had become more muscular, and more alluring than I remembered him.

"A new way of saying thank you?" He finally said, making me scoff.

"Thank you for what, Maverick?" I retorted, feeling that familiar surge of anger. "Your car hit mine, and caused..." I gestured towards my forehead, "...this. Shouldn't you be apologizing instead?"

"Let me take you home." Maverick offered, and I laughed cynically.

"Stop acting gentlemanly. It doesn't look good on you at all." I said and made to leave. I had barely taken a few steps when I felt his grip on my wrist.

I whirled my head back, with a furious expression plastered on my face. "What?" I hissed.

Staring into his eyes turned out to be a mistake. Beautiful they were, and more mesmerizing than anything I've ever seen.

"I heard the news," he relaxed his hold, and I pulled my hand away, with an "Oh."

"My condolences, I hope they rest well in the Moon goddess's realm." He continued.

I stared at him blankly, ignoring the way my heart was thudding so hard against my chest. When did I start behaving that way towards him?

"May I leave now?" I asked, without acknowledging his words.

"I can still take you home, you know." He offered yet again.

I took a glance at his car. It wouldn't hurt to let him drive me back, besides my car wasn't close by.

"Let's go." I nodded, taking the lead.