I snuck out of the house at 7:00 AM, careful not to make any noise that might alert my stepmother or father to my escape.
Being grounded didn't mean I'd let my part-time job at the bookstore slip away. I needed the little money it brought in, especially now that I'd been expelled from school. The morning air was crisp and cool as I walked the 20-minute distance to the bookstore. The sun was just starting to rise, casting a warm glow over the quiet streets. I enjoyed the peacefulness of the morning, a stark contrast to the chaos that had been my life lately. As I turned the corner onto the street where the bookstore was located, I saw the familiar sign creaking in the gentle breeze. "Akua's Pages" read the letters, painted in a colorful font. I pushed open the door, and the bell above it rang out, announcing my arrival. Mrs. Akua, the owner, looked up from behind the counter, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Ah, Nana, dear!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with welcome. Mrs. Akua was used to calling me Nana instead of my real name. "What brings you here so early? Your shift doesn't start for a few hours yet." I smiled sheepishly, taking a seat on the stool beside the counter. "I know, Mrs. Akua. I just...I needed to get out of the house. You know how it is." I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal about my current situation. Mrs. Akua's expression softened, and she patted my hand. "I do indeed, child. Well, you're here now. Why don't you help me with some inventory before your shift starts? We need to restock the shelves, and it would be a big help." I nodded, grateful for the distraction. As the day wore on, the bookstore bustled with customers. I was busy restocking shelves, lost in thought, when the door swung open and a group of girls from my school walked in. My heart sank as I recognized them - classmates who would surely recognize me. I quickly ducked behind a stack of books, holding my breath as they began to browse. "I heard it was a huge scandal," one of them said, her voice loud enough to carry across the store. "The affair was all over social media. I'm surprised she had the nerve to show her face anywhere." "I'm just glad she didn't come back to school," another girl chimed in. "Can you imagine the embarrassment? I don't think I could handle it if I were her." "I heard she got expelled," a third girl exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "What? Yeah, I heard the principal had no choice but to kick her out. I mean, who gets caught having an affair with their sister's boyfriend?" They giggled and whispered, their words cutting deep. I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened, my eyes stinging with tears. Why did they have to come here? Why did they have to talk about it? I thought I'd escaped the drama for a few hours, but it seemed it was always going to follow me. Mrs. Akua, sensing my distress, shot me a sympathetic glance from across the room. She subtly nodded towards the back of the store, indicating I should stay hidden. I nodded, grateful for her understanding. The girls continued to gossip, their voices growing louder as they neared the checkout counter. "I don't know how she doesn't have any shame," one of them said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, she'd be better off just staying home and hiding under a rock." I bit my lip, fighting back tears. How could they be so cruel? Did they know the real truth? I wanted to stand up and defend myself, but what would be the point? They wouldn't believe me anyway. As they finally left the store, I let out a sigh of relief. Mrs. Akua came over and put a comforting arm around my shoulders. "Why were you hiding from them?” Mrs. Akua ask but I cannot reply. How can I tell her about the scandal? I remained silent and my face flushed with embarrassment. It seemed Mrs. Akua sensed my shame because she later said. “It’s okay," she said softly. "I don’t know what’s going on with you, but whatever it is, I know you’d have it sorted out and that's all that matters." I nodded, feeling a small sense of comfort. But the pain lingered, a reminder that the gossip and rumors would continue, and I'd have to find a way to face them head-on. Later that night, I trudged through the front door, exhausted from a long day at the bookstore. The encounter with my classmates had left me drained, and all I wanted to do was collapse onto my bed. I dropped my bag onto the floor and made my way to my room, flipping on the dim bedside lamp. As I changed into comfortable clothes, my cracked phone screen flickered to life on my nightstand, alerting me to a new email. I picked it up, expecting spam or perhaps a message from Mrs. Akua about tomorrow’s work schedule or another hate comment. But what I saw made my heart skip a beat. The email read: "You've been selected. Moonridge Academy welcomes you. Your place is waiting." I stared at the screen my heart racing with excitement. Maybe this was the escape I needed. Maybe it was fate.I felt tears streaming down my face as I kept looking at the picture. My wolf, Elara, was howling in my head, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and longing. "Mate, mate," she whispered, her voice barely audible.I was confused. "What do you mean?" I asked my wolf, my voice shaking. "Is Lucian my mate too?"Elara's response was immediate. "Mate, mate, yes," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "Let him claim you."I felt a surge of surprise. Earlier, my wolf had been warning me to be careful around Lucian, and now she was telling me to let him claim me?"But why?" I asked my wolf, my mind racing with questions. "You were just telling me to be careful around him."Elara's response was hesitant at first, but then she spoke with conviction. "I just remembered something," she said. "A flash of memory, of us together. My gut tells me he's a good guy."I looked at Lucian who was now in the room with a towel, and my heart skipped a beat as our eyes met. He was watching me with a
As we broke through the surface, Lucian's strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close as he walked out of the water. "Isla, Isla," he called, his voice low and husky.I clung to his body, my arms wrapping around his neck as I buried my face in his shoulder. His skin was warm and smooth, and I could feel the muscles in his chest and biceps flexing as he moved.His chest was broad and well-defined, with a light smattering of hair that tickled my skin. I could feel the ridges of his muscles, the definition of his pectorals and the curve of his shoulders. His biceps were thick and strong, with a subtle definition that spoke to his athleticism.As he held me close, I felt a sense of safety and security that I hadn't felt in a long time. His body was warm and comforting, and I felt like I could trust him with my life.Lucian's hands were gentle as he held me, one hand supporting my back and the other cradling my head. His fingers were strong and sure, and I felt like I was in good hand
The sound of my own voice echoed back at me, and I paused, realizing what I had just admitted.Alexandria's eyes lit up with amusement, the girls stopping midway, and she took a step closer to me. "I didn’t quite hear you. What did you say?" she asked, her voice low and teasing.I felt a wave of panic wash over me, and I covered my eyes in embarrassment. "I...I can't swim," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.The girls holding me burst out laughing, and Alexandria joined in, her eyes glinting with amusement. I felt like I was going to die from embarrassment.Just when I thought they were about to let go of me, the two girls released me, and I stumbled backwards, gasping for breath. Alexandria's smile grew wider. "We don't want to drown you since you can't swim," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We can't afford to be punished by the school if one of their student died by drowning."As she was talking, Lucian walked into the scene, his eyes scanning the area. "Wha
I begged, trying to appeal to whatever humanity was left in Alexandria. "Please, I'm really not in the mood for this. Just leave me alone."But Alexandria just laughed, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think you're in the perfect mood for a swim," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.The girls holding me snickered, and one of them chimed in, "Yeah, and what happens if we throw you into the water? Will you turn into a mermaid?"The laughter and mocking looks were like a slap in the face, and I felt my anger and humiliation rise to the surface. I struggled against the girls' grip, but they held me firm.I felt like a trapped animal, desperate to escape. I looked at Eya, who was standing frozen in fear, her eyes wide with worry. She was an Alpha wolf, strong and powerful, but she just stood there, doing nothing to save me.I wondered what they really wanted from me. Was it just to humiliate me, or was there something more sinister at play? I felt a surge of desperation, kno
I stood up for myself, my voice firm. "No, Alexandria. I don't think we're interested in whatever game you're playing. Why don't you just leave?"The air was silent for a moment, and I could feel the shock and surprise emanating from Eya and the others. But then, Alexandria's face broke out into a laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement.The two girls behind her joined in, their laughter echoing through the night air. The sound sent a chill down my spine, and I felt a sense of unease wash over me.As Alexandria's laughter grew louder, I felt a creeping sense of fear. It was like a cold dread that seeped into my bones, making my skin crawl. My heart began to pound in my chest, and my senses went on high alert.The laughter seemed to reverberate through my entire body, making my teeth chatter and my skin prickle with goosebumps. I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up.Eya's eyes flicked to me, concern etched on her face. But Alexandria's laughter was the only
Lucian stood beside the bucket, a mischievous glint in his eye. As the ball fell to the ground, he said, "Oops, my bad." I couldn't help but chuckle at Lucian's antics. He was always so serious, but now he seemed to be enjoying the chaos he had caused. Caelan's face turned red with rage as he stormed over to stand in front of Lucian. "What was that for?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing. Lucian smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Just making sure the game stays interesting," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Caelan's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to Lucian. "You think you're funny, don't you?" he sneered. Lucian's smile grew wider. "I'm hilarious," he said, his voice dripping with confidence. "And you're just a sore loser." Caelan's face turned even redder, and he spat at Lucian's feet. "Oh, you think I’m a sore loser? Wanna fight me? You think you’re all powerful, huh? You get to do whatever you want?" he snarled. The crowd gasped in sho