Se connecterBy the time Daniela finished showering, she found a towel, a shirt, and a pair of shorts waiting just outside the bathroom door. She wrapped the towel around her wet hair and quickly changed.As expected, Nico’s clothes were far too big for her. The shirt hung loosely around her body, and the shorts were nearly as bad, although at least they stayed in place this time.“Nico?” She called softly as she stepped outside and looked around.There was no answer.She checked the small living room before moving toward the porch. When she stepped outside, she immediately spotted him.Nico was sitting beside the stream, close to the bank, with both legs dangling into the cool flowing water. His attention was fixed somewhere ahead, and the peaceful sound of the stream filled the silence around him.Daniela walked toward him and lowered herself onto the ground beside him.For a while, neither of them spoke.The quiet was surprisingly comforting, but Daniela still had the apology sitting in her che
They arrived at a small cottage beside a narrow stream in the early evening. As soon as Daniela climbed off the motorcycle, she turned slowly to take in her surroundings.The cottage stood in the middle of a beautiful green field, with a wide stretch of land extending far behind it. The breeze was cool and fresh against her skin, carrying the clean scent of grass and flowing water. Everything about the place felt peaceful. It was simple, quiet, and somehow perfect.She had expected Nico to live in some enormous mansion, especially after everything she had learned about him. Instead, this was nothing like what she had imagined.“This is where you live?” She asked as she got down from the bike, gazing in awe.“Yeah,” He replied, watching her stare around.“This is so serene,” She said softly, “It’s wonderful,”A small smile appeared on his face before he led her toward the cottage and opened the door.The inside was just as modest as the outside, but there was something warm and comfort
“This is so fun,” She laughed a little too loudly before quickly covering her mouth when several people turned toward her.She lowered her hand and giggled instead.Daniela focused on the movie, reaching into the popcorn bucket every few seconds. The comedy was surprisingly good, and she laughed so much that she nearly choked on popcorn more than once.She had never been to a cinema before.She had never known something this simple could be so enjoyable.Nico barely paid attention to the movie.His eyes kept returning to her.He loved the way her eyes brightened whenever something funny happened. He loved the sound of her laughter and how easily it seemed to push every unpleasant thought from his mind.And then there was her beauty.He had noticed it before, but seeing Hellcat like this made him see her differently.Relaxed.Happy.Free.There was something strangely feminine about her that he had never paid attention to before.Maybe it was the way she giggled.Maybe it was her energ
The woman drove away in horror, and Daniela continued glaring after her until the car disappeared down the road.When she finally turned around, Nico had finished pumping the gas. He stood beside the motorcycle with his arms crossed, wearing the most irritatingly satisfied smile she had ever seen.Daniela’s angry expression immediately melted into embarrassment.She lowered her face.“You’re jealous,” Nico stated.She refused to look at him.That lasted until he stepped closer, gently lifted her chin, and made her meet his eyes. He looked far too pleased with himself, and there was a strange sparkle in his eyes that she had never seen before.“You don’t have to be,” He continued softly, “I’m with you, and no one else, remember?”Heat spread across Daniela’s face.She gave a small nod.For one dangerous second, she wanted to lean forward and kiss him right there. She wanted everyone who had been staring at him to know that he was with her.She almost did.Perhaps Nico somehow knew exac
Daniela stood in the courtyard, watching the students gradually make their way through the gates. It was that time of the month when Westmoore granted its students their monthly leave, and she still could not believe how much had happened in the short time since she arrived.It had only been a month.Yet somehow, it felt like a lifetime.Not long ago, she had stood in this same courtyard and watched Alpha Ashbourne leave with an unconscious Liam. The Commandant had escorted him out, but every few seconds, Ashbourne kept turning his head as though he were searching the crowd for someone.It was not her.Daniela knew that because he had already seen her.He had been looking for someone else.As more students passed through the massive gates, Daniela slowly looked around the courtyard. Weeks ago, she had entered Westmoore alongside Frank.Now she would be leaving alone.She had made up her mind.She knew leaving would hurt people, especially the ones who had started to care about her, bu
There had always been something strange about the feelings that came over Nico whenever Hellcat was around. He could trace the beginning back to the moment she had walked into the Greenhouse and hidden behind the overturned desk.Someone had disturbed his peace.At first, he had no idea what was happening to him. He only knew that every encounter with her seemed to leave something behind. Every argument, every irritating exchange, every morning when he woke up and found her looking back at him, his heart would give an unexpected leap.It had been easy to ignore at first.Then it became impossible.He had tried to push the feelings aside. He had tried to build more walls around himself, convince himself that Hellcat was nothing more than an annoying roommate, and get her out of his thoughts. Somehow, the more he tried, the more curious he became.Where was she?Who was she with?What was she doing?He wanted to know things he had never cared about before.Then came the night of the Ash







