Rumors

Cole's POV

The next morning, everything in the Blackthorne Academy felt different or maybe I was the one who changed.

Students stared at me everywhere, in the hallway, inside classrooms and even during breakfast.

Their whispers followed me like shadows “That’s him.”

One person said “The one from initiation.”

Another person said “I heard he collapsed during the ritual.”

Another person murmured “No way.”

Someone said “What if he’s cursed?”

Hearing it, I tightened my grip around my coffee cup but kept walking without giving them any reaction. 

I hated attention, especially this kind of attention.

The bruise-like mark on my throat burned slightly under my collar. I could still feel Aiden’s fingers brushing against it last night.

Remembering that, my jaw tightened immediately. That jerk did that purposely.

I entered my classroom quietly and sat near the back like always.

Most students avoided sitting beside me now. Well, it's not like they always wanted to approach me but now they act like I did something horrible. They all avoid me but still gossip about me infront of me. At least if you want to gossip about me, then do that behind my back. No need to discuss about me infront of me.

I ignored them and pulled out my notebook but before class could start, someone suddenly dropped into the chair beside me.

The familiar scent hit me instantly and I knew who the person beside me was without looking at him.

My arch nemesis, the untouchable and arrogant Aiden Cross.

 I muttered without looking at him “You’re in the wrong seat.”

Aiden leaned back lazily in the chair and asked with a teasing voice “Am I?”

I frown slightly and reply “Yes.”

He said with a casual tone “Looks right to me.”

I finally turned toward him with annoyance and my blood boiled seeing his infuriating smirk. 

Girls near the windows were already staring at him. Some whispered excitedly while others glared at me with jealousy.

Wth! Why did they look like I was their love rival? 

Aiden ignored all of them. His attention stayed completely on me which somehow made it worse.

I frowned and asked with a mocking tone “Don’t you have people to worship you somewhere else?”

Hearing it, a slow smile appeared on his face and he said with a teasing tone “Are you jealous, little wolf?”

I rolled my eyes and murmured “I’d rather die.”

He chuckled softly. Hearing his husky chuckle, I felt goosebumps on my body. God, I hated that sound.

Before I could continue arguing with him, the professor entered the room.

Everyone immediately quieted down.

Well, everyone except Aiden. Throughout the entire lecture, I could feel his eyes on me. 

He was not looking at me normally but he watched me like a predator watches prey, as if he was trying to memorize my every reaction.

It became unbearable and I couldn't focus on the lecture, it's really irritating.

Finally, I slammed my pen down, looked at him sharply and asked “What?”

Several students turned toward us immediately.

Aiden rested his chin against his hand lazily and said “You’re distracting.”

I stared at him in disbelief. What's wrong with this guy? Was he mentally unstable?

I said with gritted teeth “You’re the one staring at me.”

He asked lazily “And?”

The professor cleared his throat awkwardly and asked “Mr. Cross, Mr. Black, is there a problem?”

I answered instantly “Yes.” 

Aiden said at the same time “No.”

The class laughed quietly. I glared at him while Aiden looked completely unbothered.

The professor sighed tiredly and said “Focus on the lecture.”

I looked away but even after that, I could still feel Aiden's eyes on me.

……………………...........................

By lunchtime, my patience was already gone. I grabbed my tray and headed toward the farthest empty table in the cafeteria.

I just want to eat peacefully. Unfortunately, my luck hated giving me any peaceful moment.

Before I could even sit down, someone kicked the chair away.

I looked up slowly and saw three hockey players standing there, smirking at me.

I knew who they were. They were Crimson Claw, team members.

I sighed, they were from Aiden’s team.

One of them crossed his arms and asked mockingly “You think you belong here now?”

I stayed silent. I just wanted to eat without any ruckus but I guess I underestimated my unfortunate luck.

Another laughed and said with a mocking tone “Careful, he may cry again and complain about us to his parents and teachers.”

The table behind them burst into laughter.

I clenched my jaw and said with gritted teeth “Move.”

The tallest player stepped closer instead and said “You know Cross gets bored fast, right? Whatever little obsession he has with you won’t last.”

I frowned slightly. What the hell was that supposed to mean? That Jerk’s Obsession? Who? Me? What the hell were they talking about?

 I muttered “I don’t care about your Aiden Cross.”

Another player asked with a grin “Really? Because your boyfriend seems pretty protective.”

My wolf growled instantly and I shouted “He’s not my boyfriend.”

One person said with a mocking tone “Sure.”

Then, the tallest one suddenly shoved my shoulder hard enough to make my tray fall. Food scattered across the floor and laughter exploded around the cafeteria.

My chest tightened painfully. I suffered humiliation when my fated mate rejected me in front of everyone and now I have to suffer humiliation again. And it's all because of that jerk Aiden Cross. 

The player smirked and said “Oops, my bad. I don't mean to push you.”

Something dark twisted inside me.

I stood there silently while everyone watched. They were all waiting for me to explode but before I could react, a chair scraped loudly across the floor behind us.

The entire cafeteria suddenly became quiet and I already knew who it was, Aiden.

The hockey players immediately straightened.

Aiden walked toward us slowly with his hands inside his pockets. His expression looked calm, which somehow felt more dangerous.

He stopped beside me and looked down at the food scattered near my feet, then his eyes slowly lifted toward his teammates and he asked “Who did it?”

Nobody answered.

The tallest player laughed and said “We were joking around.”

Aiden tilted his head slightly and said “And now I’m asking nicely.”

The atmosphere became silent and the pressure in the cafeteria became suffocating.

Finally, one guy pointed nervously toward the tall player and said with a shaking voice “It's him.”

The tall player looked shocked and said with disbelief “Seriously? Now you put all the blame on me?”

Aiden stepped closer to him slowly and said with a low voice “You embarrassed him in front of everyone?”

The player swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean”

Before he could complete, Aiden suddenly grabbed his collar and slammed him against the cafeteria wall.

Seeing it, my eyes widened slightly and gasps erupted everywhere.

The player winced painfully “Captain”

Aiden’s voice came out cold “Do you know what I hate most?”

Nobody moved or even breathed.

Aiden leaned closer to the terrified player and said with gritted teeth “People touching things that belong to me.”

The entire cafeteria went silent and my heart stopped. Belong to him? What the hell was wrong with this psycho?

I snapped and shouted “Aiden!”

His eyes immediately moved toward me and his cold eyes softened slightly.

It shocked me more than the violence.

I frowned harder and said with gritted teeth “Let him go.”

For a second, it looked like Aiden might refuse then slowly he released the player. The guy stumbled backward, breathing heavily.

Aiden never looked away from me and he murmured “You’re too soft.”

I scoffed “And you’re insane.”

One corner of his mouth lifted and he said “Still talking back.”

The cafeteria remained painfully silent around us but everyone stared at us now. They were all whispering.

Aiden suddenly bent down, picked up my fallen notebook from the floor, and then handed it back to me carefully. The gentleness of the movement confused me more than anything else.

I grabbed it quickly and said “Stop acting weird.”

He smirked and said with a teasing tone “You like my weirdness.”

That annoying Jerk.

I said with gritted teeth “I hate you.”

Aiden stepped closer  enough for only me to hear him and  he whispered “No, you’re just trying very hard to.”

My chest tightened. I hated how calm he looked, saying things like that, like he already knew something I didn’t.

Then, suddenly, a girl approached nervously.

She said softly “Aiden, the coach is looking for you.”

Aiden didn’t move, his eyes stayed on me and the girl glanced between us awkwardly.

I reminded him “You’ll miss practice.”

Finally, Aiden sighed softly.

Then he leaned near my ear before leaving and said with his teasing tone “Eat properly, little wolf.”

His breath touched my skin and heat rushed into my face instantly.

I really wanted to kill him.

……………………...................................................................

By evening, the entire academy was drowning in rumors again.

Some said Aiden Cross was protective of me and others said we fought underground during initiation. Some idiots even claimed we slept together.

I wanted to die. I slammed my locker shut aggressively after practice.

The locker room smelled like sweat. 

My muscles ached badly after training, especially because Lucas spent the entire practice targeting me again.

He “accidentally” slammed me into the walls three different times and the coach ignored it every single time.

I sat down heavily and started wrapping my bruised knuckles silently.

I heard a voice “You look pathetic.”

I looked up immediately and saw Lucas standing nearby smirking at me.

I ignored him and that only irritated him more.

He asked coldly “You think Cross protecting you makes you important?” 

I ignored him and kept wrapping my hand silently.

Lucas stepped closer and said “People are laughing at our family because of you.”

There it was, always the family reputation. They don't care how I feel.

I finally looked at him coldly and said “Then close your ears.”

His expression darkened instantly and he said with gritted teeth “You think you can talk to me like that now?”

I stood up slowly and said without any reaction “I think you should mind your own business.”

Lucas laughed sharply and said with disbelief “You really believe Cross cares about you?”

My jaw tightened and I said with gritted teeth “I don’t care what Cross thinks.”

Lucas murmured “That’s funny, because he looked ready to kill someone for touching you earlier.”

I stayed silent because honestly, I didn’t understand it either.

Lucas stepped closer until we stood face to face then his voice dropped lower “Be careful, Cole.”

I narrowed my eyes and asked with confusion “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Something strange flashed behind his expression and he murmured “He’s dangerous.”

Before I could answer, another voice suddenly echoed through the locker room “I know.”

Both of us turned instantly and saw Aiden leaning against the entrance casually.

He wore a black hockey jacket, silver chains and his dark eyes were fixed completely on me.

Lucas’s expression hardened immediately. The tension between them became sharp enough to cut skin.

Aiden smiled slowly but there was nothing friendly about it.

He murmured “Practice ended ten minutes ago. Why are you still bothering my little wolf?”

Hearing it, my heart nearly stopped and Lucas stared at him in disbelief.

I looked ready to commit murder and growled warningly "Aiden!"

He ignored me completely. His cold eyes stayed on Lucas.

Lucas crossed his arms and said with a mocking tone “Your obsession is getting embarrassing.”

Aiden chuckled softly and said “Maybe.”

Then his gaze slowly dragged back toward me and said “And yet I still can’t seem to stop.”

The way he looked at me was like I was something forbidden, something addictive.

It made my chest feel tight and for the first time, I started wondering if Aiden Cross was becoming my problem or if I was becoming his.