Chapter 2

Elina

The bell rings, signaling the end of class. I grab all my books, shove them in my bag, and rush to the door.

“The last to arrive and the first to leave.” Mr. Cole Chides as I make my escape. I ignore him hurrying down the hallway, dodging students, when I hear Cassie and Iris shouting.

“Elina! wait for us.” Iris shouts

“Yeah, don’t be embarrassed you got caught drooling.” Cassie teases. I spin around at the end of the hall, waiting for them to catch up.

“I was not drooling.”

“You totally were,” Iris replies, grinning as they both approach me.

“I was not; he is intriguing. I was intrigued,” I shrug as we make our way down the hallway.

“He is hot, and I can see why you were so intrigued you started drooling.” Cassie teases; I push her playfully and laugh.

“He is hot,” I admit. Still, I do not quite understand why his presence so transfixed me.

“Mr. Cole is hotter,” Iris notes. Is she serious, that asshole? Well, I mean objectively, he isn’t bad to look at with his swoop blond hair and piercing blue eyes. However, I will not admit that out loud.

“Ewwww as if!” I reply, unable to hide my disgust.

“Come on; you have to admit he’s pretty hot. “Iris chuckles; she has always had a thing for blond guys, which is why she got caught in Chad’s weird trap of inviting girls into his house and stripping naked.

“I admit nothing of the sort, and he’s a dick.”

“A hot dick.” Iris grins; I guess she has a thing for Mr. Cole now.

“Seems like you want to ride.” Cassie wonders out loud.

“I wouldn’t mind giving him some of this witchy kitty.”

“Ewwww, please don’t scare me with images of you and Mr. Cole humping.” I groan as Iris laughs.

               “So, the new guy, huh? Cassie glances at me and smiles. I frown, confused by what she is implying.

“What about him?”

“He could be the start of your romance. You know, like all those high school movies, new guy, virgin teen.” Iris jokes. I roll my eyes, I may have been staring at him like a horny middle-aged woman, but I had no interest in pursuing anything with him or anyone else. Xavier's face flash in my mind at this though, I shake him from my mind and reply.

“I’m a witch, surrounded by supernatural beings, so I doubt my love story will be that cliche.”

“You never know.” Cassie retorts. I scoff and begin to reply when something or someone runs into my shoulder.

“Ouch….” I cry, grabbing my shoulder when I hear it.

“Mine!” His voice echoes in my head. I look up to see Xavier looking at me. My anger surge; how dare he say that to my face?

“I am not yours!” I ball my fist and scream, annoyed, but he doesn’t respond as he looks at me, confused.

“Elina, are you ok?” Cassie asks, pulling me to her side.

“Huh?”

“Yeah, why are you screaming at Xavier?” I look at them both, confused. Didn’t they hear him say Mine? Or was it just me. Of course, it was just me because I’m going crazy.

“Ah… I didn’t get any sleep last night.” I mumble, totally embarrassed. I close my eyes and groan before opening them slowly and turning to Xavier.

               “I’m sorry,” I say quickly before grabbing my friends and fleeing the scene.

I haven’t told them about the dreams hoping they would go away, but the dreams keep coming, and now I hear his voice even when I’m awake.

               “What was that about?” Cassie asks as we walk down the hallways looking over her shoulders back at Xavier.

“Nothing, let’s get to class,” I reply quicken my pace; hopefully, the rest of the day will be less eventful.

*********

After two hours of classes, the lunch bell finally rings. I gather my books quickly; I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a burger and forget this entire day. I walk out of the classroom alone; it’s AP calculus; Cassie and Iris both have study periods at this time. I should have taken the free period instead of challenging myself with advanced Math. But would I be Elina Sutherland if I didn’t make my own life difficult? Nope. I’m lost in thought, chuckling, when I smack into someone again. What the heck is this, run into Elina's day? I sigh sharply as my eyes rise to meet my third assailant for the day. My mouth goes dry as I look at his face.

“Hi…I’m sorry, I ran into you.” The new guy looks down at me; what was his name again? Oh, that’s right, Eric, Eric sure is gorgeous, I think as I watch his face intently. Every word he speaks feels like I have just taken a shot of some intoxicating drink.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“Huh?” Shit, am I staring again? I totally am. I groan before I start babbling.

“No, nope, nothing on your face…. If perfection was what you’re going for. “ If perfection is what you’re going for? I groan. I am so lame. I think as he tilts his head to the side and smile, clearly amused by my grumblings.

“Okay, I’m going to shut up now.” He chuckles before saying.

“I wasn’t quite going for perfection but thank you. “I groan again, my cheeks red hot from embarrassment; just kill me now. Or let’s just escape quickly and forget this ever happened; another thing to add to the long list of things I want to forget today.

“Ah...I’m going to lunch. Bye. “I try to hurry away, but he grabs me by my hand.

“Mine!” Xavier's voice sounds in my head, causing me to pull my hand away immediately. Did that wolf put a spell on me? I wonder as Eric looks at me curiously. He must be wondering why I am acting like has cooties.

“Sorry, my skin is really sensitive,” I mumble, hoping that is a convincing excuse. Eric chuckles, I don’t know if he bought it, but he smiles at me and replies.

“That’s ok; that may be a problem later. “I furrowed my brow confused, a problem later. He chuckles and walks past me.

“Who knows, one day you may want me to touch you. “He grins and keeps walking as I stand shocked. When I want him to touch me? He’s getting ahead himself, but then again, I’m the one who keeps staring. I groan again and make my way to the cafeteria. Iris and Cassie wave me over to the table. I walk over to them, dropping my backpack on the chair.

“Where have you been?” Cassie asks.

“Running into strangers,” I mumble; they both appear confused by my words as I take a seat and sigh.

“I ran into the new guy,” I explain as I settle in and rest my forehead on the desk.

“Sounds sexy; what happened?” I lift my head and stare at Iris. Sexy? I swear something is wrong with this girl.

“It was far from sexy, and he ran into me, apologized, I babbled about his perfect face. He grabbed my hand and then mentioned me, wanting him to touch me later.”

“Sounds sexy to me.” Iris grins as I roll my eyes. I should have known better to keep it to myself because they’ll think we have something going on.

“Yeah, but why do I feel like that’s not the full story?” Cassie asks, eyeing me suspiciously.

                “It is,” I shout. Well, except for the part when I hear Xavier's possessive voice, but I’m not ready to tell anyone about that yet.

“Right...” Iris says, her voice laced with skepticism.

“You don’t have to tell us,” Cassie says; she looks a bit hurt.

“I’m telling the truth.” I protest; why do they think I’m lying?

“If you’re telling the truth. Why is the new guy walking towards us right now? Huh, the new guy? I spin around to catch him approaching our table.

“Can I have lunch with you?” He asks once he is standing before me. As I stare at him, shocked and confused, I feel that magnetic pull towards him whenever I see him. I nod, he takes a seat.

“Mine!” Xavier's voice sounds in my head for the third time today. I jerk; my eyes find Xavier immediately as if I knew where he would be. He’s sitting on the other side of the cafeteria, and he’s glaring at me.

“I bought you lunch; I hope that’s ok,” Eric asks softly.

“Huh?” I reply, peeling my eyes away from Xavier to focus on Eric

“Lunch?”

“ Yeah, I noticed you didn’t buy lunch yet; it’s a burger and fries. “I nod as he pushes the tray towards me. Cassie, Iris, and I suspect the rest of school are watching us. Why did he buy me lunch? Does he like me? His hand brush against mine, sending shivers down my spine.

“Mine!” I groan as that annoying wolf sounds again. I get it. Don’t touch another boy; I frown as I snatch my hands to my side.

“How is it?” Eric asks as I take a bite of the burger.

“It’s good; I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself, I’m…”

“Elina, I know.”

“He knows her name.” Cassie teases, I roll my eyes.

“ I swoon; where’s my high school romance?” Iris says, feigning jealousy. I glare at them as Eric chuckles.

“You’re Eric, right?” I turn to him and ask

“ That’s right.”

“ Thanks for lunch, but I’m not looking for any high school romance.”

“Harsh,” Iris mumbles; I shoot her a warning look.

“ Brutal a public rejection.” Cassie follows up.

“ Hey commentators, can you both shut up.”They both start laughing, and Eric does not seem bothered by the rejection.

“I like a girl that plays hard to get.” He takes my hand and kisses it. What the heck?

“ Mine!”I hear growling; ugh, this is getting really old. I try to pull my hands away, but he holds on to them and smiles.

“ Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!”It echoes in my head, and I feel a headache coming on as my head begins to pulse. Xavier's voice screams mine over and over again before it all fades out to black.

I wake up, head pounding; I look around. I’m in my bedroom. How did I get there? Didn’t I pass out at school? I slip out of bed, the sound of a wolf howling echoes through the room. It’s followed by growling.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “Mom, Dad, Grandma!”I shout, but no reply comes. I look around at my darkroom then notice the is open; the hallways aren’t lit like they usually are. I walk into the dark hallway and look down the hallway.

“ Mom!”

I shout again. I start walking, I don’t know where I’m doing, but something is pulling me. Somethings calling me to it, I can’t fight the urge to go to it. I make my way downstairs, and the entire house is pitch black. I walk past the living room my grandmother is sitting in her usual chair.

“Grandma,” I shout, happy to see someone. I run over to her; she’s stoic as usual; she moves her head slightly to look at me.

“There’s a demon outside, my child!” She states flatly.

“ A demon?

Grandma, what are you talking about?” I asked, confused, but she does not respond. She turns her face straight ahead.

“Gran, what are you talking about?” I ask again, reaching out to shake her, but as soon as I begin, that feeling comes back; it’s calling me. I feel it in my bones, and I can’t ignore it; I must obey it. I stand up against my better judgment, unable to stop, and start walking towards the door. I step out of the house into the darkness and follow it. It’s calling me; why does it feel so familiar. I walk until I’m at the edge of the forest in a clearing I see red eyes, bright reds eyes. They’re calling me; they want me, I can’t stop moving. Fear creeps through my body, but I can’t turn away; my lips won’t move for me to cast a spell. My heart pounds louder in my cheek as it beckons me to it. I try to stop but can’t; I’m a couple of feet away, the eyes are moving towards me. My soul feels it’s ripped out; I scream as pain courses through my body.

“ Mine!” I hear Xavier's voice before a wolf jumps in front of me as if he’s protecting me. The connection was broken; the pain is gone. He growls at the eyes, who are locked on me; suddenly, they disappear. My eyes snap open as I gasp for air.

“ Are you ok?” I blink twice, glancing at the face above; why is Xavier here? I look around. I’m still at school; I’m in the nurse's office. So what the heck was that? I try to sit up.

“ Lie down. “ He commands, but I ignore him and sit up anyways; my brain feels like it’s slammed into my skull.

“ Don’t tell me what to do; I don’t belong to you,” I reply, stubbornly glaring at him. I am over him and those annoying dreams; he furrows his brow, confused, then rolls his eyes.

“ Fine whatever, do what you want. “He grabs his backpack and walks through the door. Cassie and Iris run in.

“Elina!” Iris shouts as she runs up to me.

“ Eli, are you ok?” Cassie asks, walking in, she seems calmer than Iris, but her eyes are filled with concern.

I nod, hoping to calm them.

“I’m fine.”

“ You are not fine. What happened?” Iris demands.

“ I don’t know; I just fainted; maybe I’m tired.”They look at me skeptically. Cassie sighs, knowing she will not get the answer she is looking for.

“That was really scary; you were just out. Nothing I would wake you.”

“How long was I out?” I ask, glancing outside; it was still daytime, so it could not have been that long/

“ An hour,” Iris replies

“ Ohh…” Was I in that dream for an hour? It felt like ten minutes.

“Xavier, why was he here?” I ask, remembering the stranger occurrence of him being here when I woke up. They both remain silent but give each other a knowing look.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“ He went crazy, nearly ripped the new guy's throat out, and grabbed you before we could get to you,” Iris replies. Huh? Why would he? Does that mean he really thinks I am his? I clench my fist.

“Yeah, is there something you want to tell us?” Cassie asks, eyeing me.

“Like what?”

“ Like you are secretly dating the future alpha,” Cassie asks? What the hell? I sigh. I guess I should tell them the truth, or they will keep getting these ridiculous ideas.

“I didn’t want to tell you guys.” I begin, but Cassie immediately interrupts me.

“ You’re dating him! That violates witch law.” I groan, feeling an oncoming headache.

“ It does not, and it’s frowned upon, not illegal, and we are not dating!”

“ Then why did he freak out?” Iris narrows her eyes at me.

“I don’t know why he freaked out but, I’ve been dreaming about him...For the last six months.”

“What?!” Iris exclaims.

“ You’re just telling us now.”

“ I didn’t know what to say; hey, I’m dreaming about Xavier, and I hear his voice randomly screaming mine at me throughout the day.”

“Is that why you snapped at him today?” Iris asks.

“Yeah, I heard his voice say mine, but you guys didn’t hear it.”

“ Oh no, are you his mate?” Cassie whispers as if she is afraid to ask out loud. I shake my head.

“ Mom says he’s promised to Keira.”

“We both know that means nothing; she turns 18 in two weeks. What if you are?’

“ I’ll reject him,” I reply with no hesitation. They look at each other.

“If you’re his mate, a witch can’t reject a wolf,” Iris responds nervously.

“ What?” My heart drops; why can’t I reject him?

“ Your mom didn’t tell you? He can reject you, but you can’t reject him. A witch cursed the wolves a couple of centuries ago, so the moon goddess retaliated with her own cure.’ Cassie explains

“ What the hell? “

“Yeah, so pray that you aren’t, or…”

“ Xavier has to reject me.