Chapter 4

Ariella's POV

Walking down the halls of the academy, as students passed my invisible self by, I fingered the necklace on my neck subconsciously. My mind was all over the place and it was obvious from the eye bags under my eyes that I didn't get enough sleep.

All through the day, I couldn't bring myself to focus in classes which in turn got me scolded a lot.

I guess zoning out after what I experienced was way better than freaking out totally.

Touching the moon shaped pendant on my necklace, I couldn't help but recall Ethan and our last meeting.

The memory made my bite my lips so hard it bled.

Even though two days had passed since then, it didn't make everything any less suffocating.

********

Ethan had suddenly announced that he was the school councilor but before I could digest that info, he had confirmed that he knew of our mate bond and also called himself “my guide”.

Just like I had suspected, he had told me explicitly that he didn't care for it and of not because a guide needed the bond, he would have rejected me outright.

Hearing that, my heart had squeezed in pain and I didn't know if it was because of the bond or not because no one would like hearing such a thing.

He told me that I shouldn't fear him as he would have hurt me while I was asleep if he wanted to. That coupled with his disinterest towards me had made me drop my guard towards him partly. Plus, I need answers and if I kept acting like a scared mouse in front of him, I wouldn't get them.

With that, I buckled up and tried to ask him about everything.

Sadly, all that was for naught as I was still as clueless as before. He refused to answer my questions because “he wouldn't be upfront with someone who was also keeping secrets.”

Hearing his words, my heart skipped a beat and I wondered if he knew.

I immediately dismissed that thought though because there was no way he would know.

Not even Kiara knew and she was the one who raised me - at least she claimed she did.

I asked him what he meant but he just looked at me with a knowing gaze that unnerved me.

Eventually, he dismissed me but not before giving me this pendant that could hide my hair, silver eyes and everything that came with my newfound ability.

Normally, given his unreasonable attitude, I would have refused but I didn't as I sincerely didn't want to be a show monkey for the people at the academy.

Another memory wormed itself into my head and I felt my face heat up involuntary.

Before I stepped out of Ethan's room, he stopped me and said with a voice I could only describe as swoon worthy.

“Ariella. Don't worry. I won't hurt you. Instead, I'll protect you with my life. No one would be able to touch you. After all, I'm your mate.”

I recalled how hard my heart had been beating back then. Flustered, I ran from his room to my dormitory where my obnoxious roommate barely spared me a glance to which I was grateful for.

*******

It's been two arduous days since then and I barely got any sleep without seeing Raymond's dead body staring wide eyed at me.

Everything was a mess.

I considered leaving campus grounds and going home. No. Going to Kiara's place. No sooner had I thought about it did I kill that thought.

At least in the academy dorms, I would be left to my thoughts in peace but if I went back….

I shivered as I imagined how my stepmother would come at me with her shrill sounding voice.

No.

It was better to stay here.

At least, there hasn't been anyone bothering me since the incident in the woods.

“Have you heard?” The voice of one student who was gossiping with another near the stairwell flavored towards me.

“What? Don't tell me it's about Quince and her shagging those two Alphas. That's old news. I heard that since a millennium ago.” The second student answered back.

“Of course not. Everyone already knows how that disgusting Omega slutted around. This one is new news.”

I couldn't help but strain my ears as I slowed my steps slightly.

This was not the first time. Ever since what happened in the woods, I've been on tenterhooks as the thought of being called out for Raymond's death scared me and even with Ethan's assurance, I still listened in to people conversation with my heart in my throat.

I hoped to not hear about them but I also wanted to hear it first hand.

Goddess!

“Apparently, Raymond and his lackeys all committed suicide.”

What?

“Woah? Really? How? Why?”

“That was my reaction too when I heard it but apparently, they did it in front of some students and faculty member out practicing in the woods. It was the most bizarre thing. They just jumped off a steep cliff one by one and no amount of words the teacher said stopped them. Even their bodies were not retrieved as it seemed to disappear into the air.”

I and the second student shivered at the same time.

“The fuck? What could have gotten into them?”

“Don't know. They had it coming. They messed with way too many females in the academy without punishment. I'm happy that they offed themselves. It's retribution, I tell you. Anyways, I'm heading to my next class, you coming?”

“Oh. Yeah. Let's go. Professor sternwell would not allow us in if we're late.”

Both of them hurried off while I stared into the distance in a daze.

I wasn't bothered by the way they just dismissed multiple students dying like it was not alarming after all, this was a school for wolves. No matter how much the council tried to control things, students died every now and then for one reason or the other.

What shocked me was the news itself.

Raymond and his lackeys committed suicide? How can that be? The last I recalled, Raymond was dead so how…

An image appeared in my head making my eyes widen.

Could it have been Ethan? No. It can't be. Maybe there was something wrong with them…. Maybe..

I tried my hardest to rationalize it but I knew deep down that this had something to do with Ethan. I just didn't want to admit it as it scared me shitless.

Suddenly, I let out a groan as I smacked straight into a hard wall. I shifted backwards, my hand going up to massage my now sore head.

“The fuck is wrong with you bitch?” a roar rang out from somewhere above me making me jump in fright.

I looked up slowly only to see that it wasn't a hard wall I had smacked into but the hard back of Diaz, a student in the academy built like a giant.

He was not one to seek out people to bully but he was very moody so people made sure to steer clear of him.

What bad luck!!!

I gulped and then I tried to write on my notepad to tell him that I was sorry but I gasped when he smacked it out of my hand.

I gasped and backed away further.

“Why the hell are you ignoring me bitch? Are you looking down on me?”

I shook my head trying to gesture to him that I couldn't talk but he didn't seem to understand. Instead, my gestures seemed like provocation to him as he growled and then grabbed me by the collar of my shirt.

My heart dropped to my feey and I held his wrist with one hand as I tried desperately to tell him that I was mute.

“Bitch. I'll show you that I don't take shit.” He raised his hand, probably intending to smack the daylights out of me and my lips parted.

Just then, both I and Diaz froze in our track.

He froze, probably because of the firm hand clasped around his raised fist as well as the thick Alpha aura that was wafting all over the place. Diaz groaned in pain and the hand squeezed tightly on his. It looked quite small compared to Diaz's giant hand but the strength it exuded was enough to make Diaz break out into a sweat as he released my collar.

I though froze because my body began to stir. A feeling that I immediately recognized appeared within me making my head shoot to the side.

My eyes landed on the owner of the hand and I gasped in disbelief.

A ridiculously handsome face that was staring back at me coupled with hazel eyes that was dark with desire, lust and possessiveness that made me shudder.

This was my mate.

That was not what suprised me.

The fact that he wasn't Ethan wasn't what made me suprised either.

What made me so shocked I was on the verge of losing my mind was the fact that this face, those eyes, was not new to me.

I knew him.

No. It was more than that.

Why?

He was the h

eir apparent to the Alpha of the largest pack in the werewolf world.

And worse still, he was none other than my own stepbrother.

Well, I'll be damned.