Principal Thomas watched the figure of Nora walking away into the distance with a look of trepidation, knowing full well the storm that was about to rain due to her anger. He knew Nora far too well; the confidence and bravery were not solely because of her nature but also because of their hidden connection. She called him godfather because he and her dad were close friends, almost family. Where Ariana was concerned, he knew Nora wouldn't have one doubt of her loyalty. She would not rest until she found precisely what was happening."Nora, she just doesn't understand," he muttered to himself. Yet, deep down, he knew it was no good. Her temper had flared, and by the look in her eyes, she wasn't going to stop until she had her way. She was already set on calling Ariana's grandmother, much more complicated than he had expected.Not seeing much of an alternative, Thomas hastily pulled out his phone and dialled Liam's number.Meanwhile, Liam sat in Mabel's home and didn't tear his gaze from
Liam stood inside the campus hospital, his patience dwindling with each second. Ariana lay still in her bed, pale and fragile. The pull within his chest kept him on edge at all times, a constant reminder that she needed him more than ever. He didn't have time for anyone to question him, not the doctor, not this teacher."Get out of my way!," he snarled at Mrs Whitman, cold and cutting.The teacher swayed but stood between them, quivering slightly, her voice firm though shaking. "I can't just let you take her. She's my student, and I don't even know who you really are.".Liam clenched his teeth and tried to keep the rise of anger from going out of proportion. Patience was definitely wearing thin, but Liam did admire Mrs. Whitman's guts, even if it was proving to be a hurdle in his way."If you don't leave her with me," she continued, hanging her head but clearly gathering her courage, "I'll have to call her family and friends to confirm everything."Something in her eyes, right that i
Ariana had lain unconscious upon the floor of the art studio, her classmates surrounding her, calling her name in concerned voices. When she didn't respond, their concern turned to alarm and one of her male classmates, a boy named David, delicately lifted her into his arms."We need to get her to the campus hospital now!!," he said resolutely yet with a hint of concern.Mrs. Whitman, their teacher of the arts class, immediately took charge. "Everybody else, stay in the class and continue your test. I am going with her," she instructed in a firm but soft tone as she guided David towards the door, closely following him.David whisked Ariana across campus in a flurry as students glanced at them and whispered to one another. Some sounded disquieted, but for others, it was a juicy piece of news to be murmuring over. In a few minutes, they were at the campus hospital. The nurse at the front desk practically ushered them into a small room. Mrs Whitman stuck close, her eyes shadowed by worry
Days passed in a rather routine manner, but Ariana's head remained a mess. She tried burying herself in her schoolwork, putting extra hours into her art projects and studying for her upcoming test. However, the more the hours she spent at the studio or her head in the textbooks, the further her mind wandered to Liam. She hadn't seen him since he stormed out that night, the black of emotion in his eyes, the words unspoken. She had waited, hoping he would return, if nothing else, explain why he was angry or at least bid a proper goodbye. Yet, each passing day without his presence was another pain in her chest.Her grandmother must have seen it, seen every step she'd taken, and she'd asked if she was all right. Ariana had shaken her head, offered a smile she hoped at least looked real to the woman. She wasn't ready to talk about Liam, not yet, when she didn't quite understand exactly what he was to her, and why his absence should leave her with this hollow, gnawing ache.The day finally
The night wore on, the soft hum of the pack grounds outside sounding like the stillness in Liam's interior. He paced his room restlessly, the weight of his discovery of his mate pressing on him. Derek's words sounded in his head, yet they felt like something from another world. They should have brought him comfort, yet underlined this gnawing doubt that seemed to take root in his insides.Ariana was his mate, his supposed-to-be, the one the Moon Goddess had chosen for him. Yet she didn't feel it yet, and she didn't even have any idea about the bond binding them, a thing he just couldn't tell her, not while she still tried to find a direction in life. The circles running in his mind were torn by the need for protection, afraid of scaring her away.Her reflected face, the innocent laugh, and the way she turned away from him today all gnawed at him. Each word of some other man's name bursting from her lips twisted something deeply inside of him. He could not bear losing her, not when she
Liam sighed heavily as he trudged his way back home, the night weighing heavily upon him as he trekked down into the mountainside. The path is one he is accustomed to, but tonight it has felt different. Soon enough, the scenery broke way to the entrance of his pack's territory-a wide range of mountains draped in mist that stood immense and dauntless. This was a place apart from the rest of the world, where outsiders feared to tread. The mountain stood to its heights of broken rocks and deep gorges-ancient, yet alive in this contemporary world. It stood intimidatingly, yet for those who belonged to it, it was an omen of pride and strength.The headquarters itself was a curious marriage of old-world architecture and modern refinement. Towering, stone structures stretched toward the sky, each one proud, as if carved from the very mountainside. Glass walls and steel beams gave an air of elegance to the pack's fortress, an intimidating yet strangely inviting place. Here, ancient ways and m