There was nothing more I wanted than to avoid these two people from having to stay in the same room. Michael may seem calm now, but no one knows how he may react to Nico being around. Not like who came to my party concerned him...I just wanted peace."So that is why I thought it necessary to apologise," Michael concluded.I gave a nervous laugh and nodded my head. "Are you alright?" Michael asked."Yeah.. yeah I am," I looked away from Nico."So... is my apology accepted?" There was that cheesy smile again.The air crackled with awkwardness as Nico approached us. Their mutual dislike cast a thick shadow, palpable even before a word was spoken. I was quick to pick up on the underlying tension and felt a knot form in my stomach. It was like walking a tightrope, trying to keep the peace between two storm clouds ready to unleash.Nico's arrival sent shivers down my spine. His usually easy demeanour when he was around me was shrouded by a forced smile, a thin veil barely masking his discom

The truth or dare game had been a desperate attempt to inject life into the sterile party, a last-ditch effort to feel something, anything, besides the gnawing emptiness. And when Nico, confessed what seemed to be his feelings in that hushed, unexpected moment, the dam holding back my emotions broke.Nico froze, the shock reverberating through him, a tremor that ran deeper than mere surprise. "Let's go outside," Nico blurted, his voice rough with nerves. "Just for a minute. It's getting hot in here."I stared at him long and hard, trying to read his expression. Of course I wanted to be civil, I needed to be civil, I wasn’t going to blurt my desperation. I hesitated "It's my birthday, Nico. Celebrants don't abandon the ship." But the sincerity in his voice, the desperation to escape the suffocating heat of the crowd, tugged at my heart. "I should stay," I murmured a protest that sounded more like surrender."It won't take long," Nico promised, his voice a threadbare lifeline. "Just...

“Would you stop laughing?” I was getting sick of Arianamaking gestures about my situation. We decided to spend some time out during the holidays. Claire couldn’t make it due to a certain engagement at work, so I was stuck with just Ariana who at the moment was finding complete joy in my plight.“I would continue when you are done laughing,” I glared at her.“Sorry Ella, it's just a bit funny,” she continued laughing. “Your dad saw you smooching a man, and he kept quiet all this while, only for you to come back and he dangles it at your face. Forgive me for laughing but it is hilarious.”“You don’t even know how embarrassing that was, I couldn’t even look him in the eye Ari. Aaargh!!” I buried my head on the restaurant table.“Come now, it couldn’t have been that bad...or was it?” Ariana asked when I suddenly went silent.“I don’t think I have ever felt so cringe in my entire life. The fact that he knew about it all this while, makes it more embarrassing. I admit I am not the best at t

Rain clung to my skin like the lingering warmth of Nico's touch, a reminder of the passionate whirlwind that had spun us together just hours before. Now, bathed in the crescent moonlight, we stood at the mouth of the ancient cave, Nico's hand a comforting weight on mine.It was quite a struggle to get here. I didn’t think I was ready to be introduced to Nico’s pack yet as his “mate” These were the words heused to describe me, he said it was a wolf thing. I stood still as I looked at the old hexagon cave, memories flashing back in a rush. The first time I was here, I left devastated because I found out Nico was a wolf, and now that I am here again, I am about to be introduced as his mate. My heart raced at the thought.Breathless, I clung to Nico's hand as we approached the mouth of the ancient cave. The rain stopped, replaced by a whisper of wind and moonlight. The cave loomed ahead, dark and mysterious, like a giant mouth ready to swallow me whole. My heart drummed against myribs,

Anyone could have seen the tension that rose from the middle of the dance floor, but the music and high jubilees of the clubbers shut out every distraction that Michael and the stranger currently creating. I moved closer to Michael and touched his back, signalling him to let go. But his grip grew tighter and his gaze more fierce. “Ahhh...ahhh...let go...let go,” the stranger cried. “I am sorry if she’s your girl, I was just having a little fun. Nothing personal...ahhh... I promise.”“Look at her face,” Michael commanded “I said look at her face!” the stranger raised his head to look at me, I looked away slightly, feeling embarrassed at the commotion I had caused. “Whenever you see her, never again trouble her, or else...I would come for you,” Michael sounded deadly. The stranger shivered as he nodded, and straightened his hand when Michael finally let go of him.“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said quietly as I walked to the bar. I was grateful that Michael showed up, but I just fe