Classes passed slowly. Studying was not a problem for me. I loved spending my afternoons studying. My grades were the best in the whole institute and that made me proud. I always sought Alpha's approval and knew that my grades and demeanor were impeccable.
Mathematics was my favorite subject but at the time, I was in no mood for numbers. My body still felt a little heavy from the disease and my head was throbbing. I wanted to go home, kidnap Adrien, and hog him for a bit.
Maybe watch a couple of movies lying on the couch. Yes, that would suit me perfectly.
"Have you seen the new physics teacher?" Ainsley whispered from the position she was, right in front of me. "They say he is a beauty."
I had heard some whispers about it, but it was a bit off, so I didn't pay much attention to them. However, if she had already managed to get the attention of Ainsley, who usually ignored any kind of gossip, then it meant that the whispers were starting to increase.
A new teacher at the end of the year? I frowned at the thought.
"According to them." I nodded to the class in general. "Any decent man is a beauty."
Ainsley laughed as the math teacher turned his bitter gaze on us. He was an older man who should have retired by now, but here he was, throwing imaginary daggers with his look.
It seemed that he needed a good romp to see if he managed to release that bitterness.
Of course, I didn't tell him. I wasn't looking for punishment just for wanting to be funny. I just wanted to go home and snuggle up with my best friend.
Physics was the last thing I had to do that day, but I still couldn't leave. Adrien was playing basketball so I had no means of transportation. He was the captain of the team and the sexiest of them all. He would have to stay until the practice was over. Of course, humans and werewolves had different outfits. Team A and Team B. They weren't related; at least, that was always the intention.
However, some days they trained together. Wolves were forbidden to bring out their full potential, so they got bored. The workouts were after school so I used to head to the gym to see them.
It didn't bother me at all. I enjoyed watching every game and every training session.
"Finally!" Ainsley yelled enthusiastically, regardless of whether the professor was watching her. We are just one step away from freedom.
"Miss Hernaez, I can still send you to detention," the professor pointed out with a half-smile.
Wow! It was quite a surprise that he could make a gesture in addition to that bitter one that characterized him. Too bad he was only able to smile with the suffering of his students.
Ainsley made an innocent gesture, flopping back into the seat until the professor let us out. A student passed me by, pushing me. I almost fell to the ground with a bit of graceful movement, but someone was there to stop me.
I felt strong arms wrap around me as my feet stopped touching the ground. I would recognize its scent anywhere.
"You stink!" I yelled in the middle of the hall. Some students stared at us: disgust.
"Adrien. At least take a shower before you go out."
"Nah, I prefer to hug my bunny with the still fresh sweat," he replied, smiling, not letting go of me.
I blushed slightly at his words. Adrien would have to learn to moderate his comments if he didn't want me to die of a heart attack. Ainsley turned away from us, laughing. She headed off to our last class accompanied by Miguel.
Adrien had already finished his classes, so the coach was already torturing him.
"What are you doing here?" I questioned as soon as he put me down.
"The coach asked me to find the medical kit," he explained. "Cody didn't calculate his strength with a human and snapped his nose with an elbow."
A horrified gasp escaped me. He knew firsthand the strength that werewolves had—poor humans.
"Is he okay?"
"Yeah, it wasn't a big problem," he minimized with a wave of his hand.
My few spare minutes were running out, but I loved talking to Adrien. I didn't want to go to a boring physics class with a new teacher who would just make us introduce ourselves as if we didn't already know each other.
"I'll see you later," I said goodbye with a smile after minutes of assessing whether I should attend the class or just go with Adrien.
Just in time, I thought, relieved. The professor had not yet arrived. I sat next to Ainsley, who looked anxious. Beside her was Miguel, frowning. I had never seen him with such a moody pout, but there he was. Had they argued with each other?
"Something wrong?"
"I'm looking forward to meeting the new professor," she murmured, nibbling on her fingernail.
"Stay calm. Surely the others are exaggerating."
They did not.
I opened my mouth in shock just seeing him. He was indeed an impressive man. He had white hair, but not gray. In fact, he was an albino
His gesture was a bit serious, but he seemed to smile at the reaction he had caused. His eyes were blue, cold. His features were sharp, while his gesture was impassive.
A sorcerer.
I heard the voice in my head. I didn't know why sometimes, very rarely, I could listen to a small, faint voice in my head. He used to tell me some facts, like that one. Sometimes I thought I was crazy, but the truth is that I appreciated the information that was being released to me.
I looked at Ainsley, whose eyes shone brightly at the sight of him.
"Good afternoon," he said in a husky, captivating voice. "I am Professor Heath Dominique Ortega. You can call me Heath if you prefer."
He looked around the room, lingering longer than necessary on none other than my great friend Ainsley.
I did not know how the other species functioned, but the connection I witnessed was very similar to the mate's connection.
Interesting.
Miguel didn't miss that interaction, either. Oh, so that's why he was angry. Ainsley's interest in the new teacher made her jealous. Poor thing. I felt sorry for him even though I was in the same situation.
I cleared my throat loudly, trying to get their attention. We were in a room full of humans who had no idea what was happening, and they couldn't afford to stare into each other's eyes for hours.
The professor blinked, coming out of the trance in which he was a victim. He tried to continue with the class normally, but I noticed that he was super attentive to each of my friend's gestures.
He started with the introductions, although something told me that this was not exactly what he had planned. I knew he did it just for Ainsley. He wanted to learn more about her. Frowning, I analyzed his every move. Something about him didn't please me, not at all. Why would a sorcerer be connected to a human? It did not make sense!
When it was my turn, I got up from the seat with a sarcastic smile.
"I'm Estelle, I'm 17 years old, and I'm not the target of his attention so please continue."
My classmates laughed while the professor's pale cheeks began to turn a deep red. I had embarrassed him a bit, but I wasn't lying.
"My name is Ainsley Matilde Hernaez. I am 17 years old. I like to paint and draw, I hate tuna, and I would like to become a professional artist," she blurted out all at once, then covered her mouth, embarrassed.
The bloody witcher had made her speak with a spell. He pissed me off. He shouldn't be using his powers just like that with my friend. I would have a long and interesting conversation with him.
No one else noticed the smile of satisfaction that that witcher had released, proud of knowing more than what seemed to be his mate. No one, except perhaps for Miguel, who seemed to have trouble controlling himself. Has he also noticed his magic? It seemed.
That witcher had no idea who he was messing with. Ainsley was my friend, and I wasn't going to let a witcher play with her.
Ainsley spent the rest of the class with flushed cheeks. I would make fun of that later. Now the important thing was to make the limits clear. When classes ended, she ran off without looking back. Miguel followed her, giving me nothing but a bleak look.
He would surely accompany her to her house. Miguel and Ainsley were close friends, regardless of Miguel's unrequited feelings. He took care of her almost as much as Adrien used to take care of me.
Now I'd be left alone while I waited for Adrien to be free, I thought with a pout.
Better this way, now it was my turn to act. Yes, I was only human, but that wouldn't stop me from caring for my best friend. If he was causing her to be drawn to him with magic, or if he only intended to use her powers on her, then I would be there to protect her.
"Teacher!" I yelled since he was walking away pretty fast.
He stopped after my scream, waiting for me in the hallway. Her blue shirt fitted his muscles. His eyebrows and her lashes were that incredible white color, impressive. Even for me, who had seen a thousand mythological things, it surprised me.
"Miss Estrella," he greeted politely. "How can I help you?"
"Estelle," I growled, a nasty trick I'd borrowed from the wolves.
"Pardon?"
"My name is Estelle."
The witcher waved his hand to dismiss it. I had just told him my name during the class. She couldn't just ignore me as if I hadn't said anything.
Bastard.
"How can I help you?" he repeated.
"I saw your interest in Ainsley, witcher," I spat, to his surprise. "I won't tell you to stay away from her, but I won't allow you to use your powers on her again."
"And who do you think you are?" he asked with a threatening smile. "A human girl who thinks she is a great thing."
He took my arm tightly, bringing his face close to mine. I was not afraid. I should be terrified, shaking with terror. However, I faced it without hesitation, raising my head towards him. He looked surprised at not being able to intimidate me.
He could destroy me in seconds if the witcher wanted, but I was not afraid. I had met a few witches in my time in the pack. They were all arrogant. They thought they were wiser and more intelligent than anyone.
And the Alpha, as cunning as ever, taught me never to look down at anyone other than my Alpha. Even if I wasn't part of the pack, he had to show me as if I was.
"That human girl is mine, so get your dirty hands off her, little witch," I heard Adrien's voice behind me.
"Wolf," he whispered palely as he approached. I don't want trouble.
"Then heed his demand," I replied, to my surprise. "Stop using your powers on humans, and there will be no retaliation."
I felt Adrien's arms wrap around me gently, positioning me behind him. Possessive, beautifully possessive. Had he been listening to the conversation? How come I hadn't noticed him?
"It's my mate. I can do whatever I want with it."
"No!" I exclaimed in a threatening voice. "Ainsley is under my protection, and you're not going to do anything about her. If you want to be with her, go ahead, but use your power."
"Your protection?" He laughed wryly. "You're nobody, brat."
"I am the future Alpha of the Wyrfell pack, and the brat that you're talking to is mine, so if you don't want trouble with my whole pack, you will stay out of her demands. Understood?"
Adrien used his Alpha voice, making everything in my body vibrate. It wasn't that I liked it when he wore it, but my body always reacted to his tone. God, he was so sexy when he said I was his.
And it wasn't a lie. I was totally and deeply his. Just as he was mine and he always would be. Regardless of our love interests, we would always be best friends. And I would always be there for him, as I knew he would be for me. This is how true love works.
The witcher raised his hands in innocence, although he seemed angry at our intervention.
"Okay, not magic for humans."
He withdrew without adding anything else. I liked to think that I would comply with his words in the same way I would take care of having an eye on him. I would watch his every move and have a long talk with Ainsley about it. Maybe Miguel would like to help me a little too. After all, he loved her.
"Thanks, Adrien." I grinned at him. "So am I yours?"
Adrien blushed slightly in embarrassment, looking uncomfortable. He looked away, concentrating on the almost abandoned high school. It was time to go home, and he hadn't even noticed. Adrien had even taken off his captain's uniform.
"You are my best friend, Elle. Of course, you're mine"
Disappointment overcame me, his words hurt me.
Damn friendzone.
At that moment, I just wanted to find the idiot who had invented it and give him a good slap for all the fallen soldiers and for failing.
I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face. He didn't love me the way I loved him. And that hurt.
It hurt a lot.
"Has training finished?" I radically changed the subject.
"Yes, after the incident with the human, the practice was suspended. I was waiting for you to leave."
"And Astrid?"
"What about her?" he asked, confused.
"Won't you wait for her?" I asked with the obvious, sometimes Adrien would drive her in his car.
After all, she claimed to be his mate, the future moon of the pack. He had to give her her place and respect her.
But I knew she was lying.
I was her true mate, her moon. And I couldn't tell because no one would believe a mere human. Besides that, I couldn't confirm it on my own either. I just had to wait and watch. Stay as her best friend and settle for it.
"She can come on her own. I'd rather spend time with you. I propose an afternoon of movies and video games, as in the old days," he invited me with a nostalgic smile.
He knew he had already accepted, and there was no way I would refuse something like that.
"What about your responsibilities?"
"It's my day off," he murmured, starting toward his car.
Adrien had no days off, but I would let him pass. Surely the Alpha would be angry, but he was angry only with my existence.
In his own words, I was born to make him angry.
It wasn't my fault. I was raised as a complete savage, just running away. The Alpha always tried to turn me into a young lady while I was always playing with mud and making mischief. So every time he tried to educate me, I ended up distracting myself with anything and driving him crazy.
The Alpha was fond of me, but I was certainly not one of his favorite people.
"What are we waiting for?" I smiled.
"Move those precious asses up here and get in the car," he replied.
He always made jokes like that, managing to make me blush and uncomfortable. He was a damn seducer, but I loved him that way.
I got in the passenger seat, turned on the radio, and turned the volume up to the maximum. That's how it was always when we were alone, scandalous friends.
Although I wanted to be more than just a friend.
"Ha!" I exclaimed, victorious. "I have won against you again.""It's not fair, Elle," Adrien grumbled, pouting and flinging the console control to the other end of the couch. "I'm sure you cheated.""Cheated?" I asked with mock anger. "I don't believe that it's my fault you suck at this game.""That character cheats! You always beat me when you wear it.""It's girl power, honey," I summed up, tousling his hair.We had been on the couch for hours. We went from watching a couple of movies, a romantic one for me and a horror one for him, to playing video games. After spending a lot of time playing with Adrien, I had become quite the expert at fighting games.Which embarrassed him, of course. I would never beat him in a melee fight. I was a weak human, and he was not a typical werewolf. He was the future Alpha, the strongest of all
Adrien.Where the hell had she been? I was going to kill her as soon as I found her.I was well aware that it was a lie on my part, I would never lay a finger on Estelle but I couldn't help feeling annoyed and frustrated as the days went by and not finding traces of Elle.Sure, it had been my mistake to teach her to leave and erase her trace. When we were sixteen, I thought it would be very clever of me to teach her how to hide from werewolves. By that time, I was thinking that Cody was freaking out day after day and that he might become obsessed with Estelle. The frustration of not being able to communicate with his wolf began to pay off with the friend he grew up with.So I showed her, very carefully, how to leave without leaving a trace. I also knew that she had money at her disposal as if unconsciously she was always ready to flee. I knew that her childhood was spent
Wake up.Who's speaking?Wake up, Estelle!There was nothing I could do but obey that insistent voice in my head. I opened my eyes suddenly, feeling a headache that left me disoriented for a few moments. I closed them again because of the light, hissing under my breath. Why did my whole body ache?Someone was hugging me. Who was it? Why was he hugging me so tightly and desperately? He was crying? Why would anyone cry so hard over me?Something was happening.Get up, girl.I heard that voice again, although I had no idea where it was coming from. I blinked a few times, before taking in what was happening."Adrien? What's the matter?" I asked with concern.How did I know it was him? Easy enough. I can recognize his presence anywhere and anytime. It was inevitable for me to recognize hi
What's going on?Relax, I'll take care of it.I veered around in Adrien's arms, even though it caused me pain. I heard him hiss when I butted him right in the jaw. He didn't let go of me, which made me groan under my breath. I didn't want to fight him but I would if it guaranteed my freedom.If he didn't let go of me, I was going to send him to the ground."Stop," the Alpha ordered again, making me stop instantly.Not out of respect, but because he surprised me that he suddenly spoke. Usually, the Alpha was ignorant of everything he did. Although after all, we were talking about his son. Would he believe that I would hurt him? I wouldn't. It was Adrien we were talking about."We don't want to hurt you," he said apologetically, still not letting go."Then why don't you let me go, and we talk like normal people?" I asked wryly
Neither of us spoke for a long time. Adrien amused himself playing with my brown hair, taking it between his fingers and stroking me. He didn't try to stop my crying, and he didn't complain for a second. He just stayed by my side.He was cute.Now that I knew about my past, I understood that that little whispering voice was my wolf trying to guide me on the path. When she took control of my body, we were one. I could see those memories that she was in charge of repressing so as not to harm me. I knew everything.She also explained how I learned that the new teacher was a witch. Among sorcerers, the hierarchy worked differently. As I saw the image of my mother, a beautiful woman with curly chocolate-colored hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen.The last name and the blood was the only thing that mattered between witches. I was not a witch. I had no powers. Now that my wolf had
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Adrien demanded just as everyone left the place quite confusedThe wolves kept giving me curious looks. Of course, it wasn't easy to process the fact that the human who wasn't supposed to be in the pack in the first place was now the one responsible for a deal with the vampires. They are having a hard time understanding it."No," he roared. "You put yourself in danger, again. Did you lose your mind? You found out that you are a wolf and that is great, bunny, but you are not immortal.""I never thought it was.""Well, that's not what you show."He was as serious as ever in his life. I didn't like him to blame me, especially because thanks to me the conflict had been resolved without casualties. No one had died thanks to me and I expected at least a little recognition, not screams and complaints."I did what I had to do," I retorted, helping a girl up. She had fallen with the blankets which she
"Take your hands off her," ordered the stern voice of my mate and best friend.The stranger seemed to notice where we were. He pulled away slightly, allowing me to look into his beautiful honey-colored eyes. His features were soft, his nose was small and upturned, he had a tender look as if he was seeing the most beautiful thing in the whole universe.Why was he refusing to let me go and how could he ignore Adrien with such confidence?The stranger looked only at me, ignoring everyone else. Including Adrien. That didn't make him happy. He ended up approaching with a deadly serious face."Didn't you hear me?" he insisted."I heard you, but I don't care what you say," he replied without turning to see him.He was brave, I had to accept that.I noticed Adrien's impatient gesture, so I decided to intervene. The stranger was a st
"Come with me. Don't talk if you don't have to and please don't let Adrien drive you crazy," I implored, staring into his eyes.We were in the pack after spending the entire afternoon talking in Maggie's office. Talking to Gabriel about everything and nothing was very liberating, as if I needed it all my life. Liberating, unique and magical. We fit right in like we've never parted.My wolf was happy, I could hear her ask my twin some questions, not caring if she wasn't supposed to be able to intervene so much. The vampires were still looking for me despite the agreement. They wouldn't rest until they made me pay in blood even if I didn't know why. Yes, they had had an affair with my parents, but it was hard for me to believe that for that alone they should be looking for me for more than ten years."It mustn't be that bad," he replied. He had an easy smile and a pleasant character, but when he got angry ...