Chapter 4

Theodore

Five years after being expelled from Silverwood Academy, I thought I had completely forgotten everything about Irene Ashclaw until she walked through the door. Turns out that I still remember the very number of freckles on her cheeks; her curly red hair still sets my heart on fire. I haven’t lost track of the number of beats her erratic heart makes whenever she sees me as well. Or how her breaths lose rhythm, and those brows of hers scrunch in nothing but pure hate for me. But most of all…her ever tantalizing scent that reminds me of cherry blossom.

I wish that was the only thing I remember. But unfortunately, with Irene, my insides always become as chaotic as a storm. An angstiness that used to plague my wolf, the mild burn I used to feel in my chest- they had all returned like a fresh wound.

I got expelled from Silverwood Academy because of her. I didn’t blame her, but I sure hated myself for it. I lost the chance to finish at the most prestigious wolf academy because of someone so insignificant like her. Now…she’s back as the winner of my competition, and I can’t help but be tortured by the same level of agony I felt from the first day we met at the academy.

Why? 

That’s because Irene is bang average at everything! Since I’ve known her, there’s nothing she didn’t struggle with at the academy. She had no feature that made her stand out. And that’s what happens when you go to a place you don’t belong. She’s powerless, small, and has no wolf. She’s the ideal definition of weakness that every Pack frowns against, yet what kills me the most is that…for someone like her who should know her lowly place in the world, she dreams big. She doesn’t know how or when to give up.

It vexes me…I know better how people like Irene always end up. Like my mother. Despair and death.

I can’t help but writhe in my seat as Irene glared me to death with those evergreen eyes before appending her signature on the contract Anna placed in front of her. If it was any other person signing that contract, joy would be an understatement of how I’d feel because in all my years of being the CEO, I have never come across such a killer interior design. I was expecting to meet a young talent, a professional, not Irene.

She’s not capable of making something this flawless, and this one-month contract is going to prove me right: That she either stole or hired somebody all for my cash prize.

“Happy now?!” Irene blurted, voice full of venom as she slammed her pen on the paper and slid it towards my end. 

I rose from my chair, and I thoroughly loved it, how my height made her eyes blink from intimidation. Anna was intently watching me as well, perplexed. I walked to Irene’s side, and she veered back as if breathing in my cologne would be the death of her. 

I hate to admit this, but I still love those emerald green eyes. Perhaps it’s the rays from my windows that are overestimating their beauty, but is it still the same rays that are making me crave to feel her freckles? 

My molars smashed together so hard that they could crack. I shouldn’t be drawn to her; I know what it cost me the last time. So instead of listening to my wolf’s stupid impulses, I held my hand out for a handshake.

“Welcome to Sterling and Co. Interiors, Miss Ashclaw,” I said. 

Her heartbeat spiked again, nearly drumming my ears to deafness. She peered at my hand like it was a Viking sword aimed at her throat, then back at me. 

“Thank you, Mr. Sterling,” she replied in the driest voice before shaking my hand. Our handshake didn’t even last up to a second. It was abrupt, as if any longer and the world would end. The world would indeed end, because tell me why I felt a torrent of energy shoot up my arm?

“And I hope this will be the start of a blossoming relationship between you two,” Anna chipped in with a big smile. I grunted while Irene huffed. The only thing that will blossom between us is more hate.

Typical Anna, though- my sweet childhood friend with a big heart. She and Irene have only just met, yet somehow she likes Irene. Whatever sorcery Irene pulled on my friend, it’s certainly not going to work on me. 

“Anna, please do the needful, and show Miss Irene out of my office,” I muttered as I returned to my swivel.

“Of course.” She beamed at me before directing the same shine to Irene. “Please, follow me. There’s plenty to discuss.” 

Irene didn’t even bother to cast another gaze in my direction. She couldn’t wait to leave my office with how fast she walked out through the door with Anna by her side. 

“You owe me a proper explanation!” Anna whisper-yelled at me before shutting the door behind her. Although Anna comes from one of the powerful families in my Pack, she didn’t attend Silverwood Academy as she wasn’t in the country at that time. I never told her about Irene and Dylan. 

Speaking of Dylan, I hope Irene is not with that serial cheat anymore? She deserves better.

Actually, why should I even care? She was so blinded by her love for him that she couldn’t see the glaring truth. A truth I had to pay dearly for. I’m sure that she’s still head over heels for that nutjob.

I picked up the contract and stared at her signature for what looked like an eternity. Slowly, memories of our past crept back in, and before I got lost in them, I picked up my iPad and opened Irene’s design. It was a masterclass in modern rustic design—warm wood tones seamlessly blended with glass and brushed gold, breathing life into the room.

I shook my head and dropped my iPad. No way…there’s no way she made this.

The rest of my day was a blur thanks to my wolf who wouldn’t stop bickering about Irene. I could barely concentrate throughout my meetings. I didn’t even know I spaced out occasionally until Anna's taps brought me back to reality. This is only day one of meeting her, and I’m losing control. 

There’s only one way to reclaim my sanity: avoid her as much as possible.

“So…it was because of Irene you got expelled at the academy,” Anna chirped beside me. I didn’t need to look at her to know she was wearing a concerned look. We were both in the backseat of my Maybach on the way to my house.

“Yeah…” I sighed, unable to take out the ugly memory of that night out of my head. The night I got expelled. “She was Dylan’s mate. Both of them were the star couple of the academy.”

“What happened?” She asked after minutes of silence from me. My fist clenched, and my teeth gritted, all of which she saw. I don’t want Anna to think that the event still rattles me, but I can barely hide it.

“I caught Dylan cheating with another woman. I confronted him; obviously, he didn’t care. I should have left it at that. But…I couldn’t take it, the way he disrespected Irene.” 

She took my hand and stroked the back of my skin with her thumb softly. 

“So I hit him. Beat each other up. And because he was the star of the academy…the principal kicked me out.”

She heaved a sigh. “Did Irene know? About Dylan’s affair.”

I shook my head, and then I peered at my window, rewarding me with the view of tall buildings. 

“I couldn’t tell her. I tried, but…would you ever listen to the words of your enemy after he just beat down your mate?”

“Do you think they’re still together?” She asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t care.” I replied, yet my words failed to sound convincing to my ears.