Chapter 4

"Please stop it!" I stepped between them. "This is a school, students are watching both of you. Don't set a poor example for them."

Lucas chuckled dismissively, shaking his head. "I'm aware you won't act here; there are too many witnesses. I'll leave now, but if you have any issues, come talk to me. Just remember, I don't respond well to threats. My reactions are usually more intense than expected. So, be careful with your actions against me."

Lucas reached out and gently took my hand, prompting my cheeks to flush and my heart to race. He started walking away, but noticing I wasn't following, he glanced back at me and asked, "Are you coming with me?"

"I have to talk with Nathan. Please go on," I responded, apologizing, "Sorry."

"Fine," Lucas agreed and let go of my hand before departing.

After he left, Nathan turned to me, "Aurora, that man is a walking problem. His body carries the smell of many kinds of blood, seeping out from his body. It seems like he has killed many people before. He's a dangerous individual."

"My grandmother did mention something along those lines," I acknowledged.

Nathan's expression showed both displeasure and concern. "Why are you getting involved with him?"

With a deep sigh, I glanced at the distant commotion of students in the schoolyard, happily living without adult hardship. "It's a bit complex. My grandmother promised to look after Lucas's grandfather. In return, Lucas has agreed to be my protector. After what happened during my recent hospital stay, I couldn't say no."

Nathan's face grew more earnest. "Is this related to the Bianca incident? I'm aware of the terrible things she did to you. We've addressed that issue, but is she still causing you trouble?"

"Ever since the incident, I haven't seen her, and I'm hoping it stays that way. I want nothing to do with her." My face turned pale as I recalled Bianca's treatment that caused me a few broken bones.

Nathan offered softly, "I could have a talk with her."

"No, please don't do that. It might just worsen the situation," I quickly replied, wanting to steer away from the topic. "But what about that student? You seem quite worried about him."

Nathan looked on with a concerned expression. "The issue with those bullies is tricky. Two of them have ties to influential families in town. They're framing this as a matter of defending their honor against Lucas, an outsider. My worry is that things could spiral out of control if we don't handle this with care. How do you think Lucas would react if we attempted to push him out of town?"

‘Pushing away someone who hasn't pushed me down? Absolutely not!’

I, looking somewhat uneasy, glanced around. "Honestly, I'm not the best with these complex issues. I'm just a music teacher. Maybe Mr. Xander could offer you some insights. He's quite intelligent."

"Mr. Xander?" Nathan mused for a moment. "He's the one outsider I don't have a problem with."

"Do you think it's his non-aggressive nature or his financial contributions to our community that make him acceptable?" I was aware of Xander's unassuming and down-to-earth demeanor, which had helped him blend seamlessly with the locals, despite being an outsider.

Nathan responded, "It's more about him keeping to himself, mostly confined to his lab."

"Alright, Nathan. I'll have a word with Mr. Xander and send you his input. I need to get going now," I concluded, ready to make my way inside.

Suddenly, Nathan reached out and gently grabbed my hand. This unexpected touch sent a flutter through my stomach. Nathan was admired in the community: the Alpha, incredibly handsome, and kind. But the myriad of rumors about him always gave me pause.

‘But, why is he touching my hand? It is the first time.’

Nathan pleaded, "Please consider helping our community, Aurora. With your big city experience, you could teach the children a lot about the wider world."

"Sure," I responded timidly, my hand felt powerless in his grasp.

"I'm serious about wanting to build something with you. Please, think about it," Nathan implored earnestly.

I exhaled quietly, my thoughts swirling. 'Nathan and his romantic escapades. In a town with hardly thirty eligible women, he's managed to have fleeting romances with twenty-nine. Looks like I'm next on his list, the last of the thirty.'

Feeling uneasy as students began to notice and gossip, I tried to withdraw my hand. "Nathan, please, let go of my hand."

"I mean it, Aurora. I'm serious about this." But Nathan's grip remained firm. “I still keep your love letter from many years ago.”

I rolled my eyes. 'Such foolish behavior, driven by youthful hormones and libido, leading to these unstoppable, crazy desires, and he didn't even reply. Why is he choosing to pursue this now, many years after high school? Sure, everyone adored the Alpha back then, but that's all in the past now!'

‘I even wrote that I was willing to sleep with him. Unbelievable.'

My frustration grew. "What's happening between you and Ethan? It's like both of you have suddenly transformed. Neither of you ever showed any interest in me before, and now you're both pursuing me aggressively. Is this some kind of game for you? Are you both just toying with me, creating some YouTube video about a single, unattractive girl like me suddenly getting all the attention?"

‘Please, say it's all real.’

"Ethan approached you?" Nathan released her hand, surprised.

"I'll give it some thought, Nathan," I replied. "I loved you once, a long time ago, but after what Bianca did last time, and her feelings for you, I need to think this through."

Nathan nodded in understanding. "Okay."

As I made my way to the teachers' office, navigating through the school hallway, three high school girls approached and walked alongside me. "Miss Aurora," one of the girls, quite pretty, inquired, "We saw you chatting with Alpha Nathan. Are you guys an item?"

"No, young ladies," I replied.

"Can we get his contact? He's so hot. Please, Miss Aurora?" they pleaded.

‘You girls would probably just text him for giving your body, stupid.’

"Nope, he's definitely not suitable for girls your age. But how about Mr. Xander's number instead?" I offered playfully.

"Yikes, gross!" the high school girls reacted in unison.

"I'll be sure to mention your reaction to Mr. Xander," I teased.

Hearing this, the high school girls hurried away.

***

“What about my feelings?” Xander, the science teacher, asked me.

Xander, with his glasses and hair that never seemed washed and tidy, was mostly hidden in the school laboratory, eating anything that could be delivered online, sometimes, or more often, sleeping in the laboratory. A total eccentric, with a body odor that was masked with a lot of cheap perfume. Underneath it all, his physique was actually quite impressive; it was just that he didn't seem to put much effort into his appearance. With a bit of self-care, he could actually be quite handsome.

But sadly, he was a normal human. Having a relationship with him might mean a stable and boring life, but I was different. So, unless all the guys in the world were gone, leaving only this science teacher, Mr. Xander, only then would I say, “Still, No.”

"That's a dead end for a relationship, Mr. Xander," I responded politely. "But you’re a good friend, and I'd hate to lose someone like you. It's hard to find an open-minded friend like you in this small town. Remember, we are best friends forever.”

“Forever… Best Friend.”

“So please, stay my best friend and don't venture down a path that leads nowhere. It's a painful journey."

"Why is it a definitive no for me, but there's a possibility with others?" Xander asked, feeling slighted.

I lowered my voice, mindful of our proximity to the other teachers. "Lucas, the guy from the city, might be a hidden CEO. He wears the most expensive clothes, perfume, and drives the town's finest car. Nathan was a sexy alpha, the leader of our community, and a former special agent who has traveled the world. Who knows what secrets he holds. Ethan, the bad boy, could rise to be a significant Mafia figure. But you, my dear Xander, as much as I adore you, are wonderfully, yet regrettably, just an ordinary human."

"I could be a billionaire in disguise," Xander said, his voice tinged with hurt.

“Wow, Xander, you’re the most frugal person I know.”

“Yeah, you still owe me $200, and I'm not even counting the many secret stashes that you’ve taken from my lab.”

“See... what I mean?” I rolled my eyes.

"But I'm a billionaire at heart. I have a billion kinds of love for you, Aurora! Come on," Xander said earnestly.

“Sorry, Xander, love has no monetary value.”

“Damn you, Aurora, you force me to make this move,” Xander looked at me seriously. “You know I just sold my house, I'm loaded now. How much for tonight? Just like usual.”

I smiled sweetly at Xander; this was why I couldn't lose him, my money maker. Even though it pained me a bit, it would still make me earn a good amount of money in one go.

"$5,000, Xander. Are you up for it tonight? I promise, it'll be the best experience you've ever had."

***

In the grand Château de Rochefort in France.

A handsome man in his early 30s sat in a luxurious bedroom, gazing at the new girl who was naked and sleeping peacefully on the bed. He had met and taken her home from the VVIP club party the previous night.

She was a famous model and actress from... which country, he couldn't quite remember. What mattered most to him was that she was still a virgin, and he had paid $500,000 for a one-night stand with her.

The man, with a perfect body, walked out and entered his living room, where he looked out at the sea in the distance through the window. It was already afternoon, and his butler was waiting for him.

"Prince Nicolas, we've identified your ‘another’ destined Luna," the butler announced, placing an iPad on the prince's table along with his brunch.

Prince Nicolas, strikingly handsome and undeniably wealthy, a real billionaire, gazed at the image displayed. "Aurora, from the small town of Oakhaven. Are we certain there's no error?"

"We've invested a million dollars in reliable sorcerers, and they've confirmed its authenticity. However, her powers will only aid in your quest for world domination if she remains a virgin."

"Are you positive about her purity?" Prince Nicholas inquired, his desire from the previous night starting to burn again. He required a virgin every day and was willing to pay for it.

"Our sources are thorough and offer a money-back guarantee on their information," the butler assured.

"Then it's settled. I shall prepare to meet her," Prince Nicholas declared, beginning to walk out of the castle. "Draft a marriage contract, or ask how much for one-night stands, offer her any price she demands, and even buy the whole village if necessary. We must have her at any cost. If she refuses, just burn the whole village."