To say Karen was surprised to see Aiden showing up at her school would be the understatement of the year – scratch that, of the century.
Although her high school wasn’t small enough that she’d know everybody, she was fairly sure, she would have noticed a senior who looked so good. Because let’s admit it, he looked dashing, panty-droppingly gorgeous… and she wasn’t blind enough or stupid enough to think otherwise.
The problem was he was taking interest in her. And she didn’t do relationships – or flings for that matter. She was set on graduating with high colors and getting the hell out of this hellish town. That was her goal.
Her goal wasn’t to fall for some random guy’s charms just because he lusted after her somehow. It also wasn’t to suck faces with anyone in the hallways of the school – like the couple to her right was doing – and then be given a detention for it.
She wasn’t just a too goody two shoes. She was genuinely uninterested in getting tied down to anyone.
She’d just have to resist the urge that overcame her each time he was near, and not lead him on.
Nobody liked being led on.
“Mason, I gotta go to class. See you at lunch?” She said, snapping out of her reveries at long last when her best friend nudged her discreetly.
“Sounds good,” he said, all smiles.
“What class do you have now?” Aiden who was still standing near them asked.
“Calculus,” she said, worrying her lip, afraid he would say he had the same.
“Oh? We’re in the same boat,” he flashed her a roguish smile that revealed pearly white teeth, and she almost swooned.
Then, getting her hormones back under control, she sighed and said sheepishly, “I’ll lead the way.”
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Karen couldn’t believe her luck – or was it Aiden’s? They had shared all classes together. He had even made it his mission to be protective and downright meddlesome each time a boy approached her.
She didn’t know what was wrong with him and didn’t bother to ask either. She did glare at him each time she could though.
“Falling for me already?” He teased her, the hint of a smirk on his face.
They had a free period seeing as the teacher didn’t show up for some unfathomable reason.
“You wish,” she said in return as she rolled her eyes at him.
“Don’t worry. You’ll come around,” he said rather confidently, eyes twinkling with mirth and something akin to mischief.
“I beg your pardon?” She let out, partly outraged at his cockiness, partly flattered he intended to pursue her.
He just winked at her and then asked matter-of-factly, “You’re into older men?”
“No,” she said, puzzled.
“Younger?” He probed.
“No,” she said on a tired sigh. “Well, I don’t know. I have never dated anyone.”
“Good to know,” he beamed at her.
She didn’t know why but his smile brought warmth to her insides like nothing ever did before.
*** *** *** ***
Karen hurried to the convenience store, knowing she badly needed a few grocery items. And then she was on her way home.
When she got to her childhood home, she released a deep sigh upon seeing an ostentatious blue car parked in the open garage.
She fished out her keys from her jeans and opened the front door. She was not surprised to hear the loud sound of the TV from the living room.
She discreetly went to the kitchen and started to arrange what she had bought into the fridge. She didn’t have to check to know there was nothing to eat for dinner. She needed to make something quick before heading upstairs to study.
She decided on making spaghetti since it was the easiest option for her, and started bringing out what she needed.
“Why are you home late?” Her dad asked in a drunken voice from the threshold of the kitchen.
She startled at the sound of his voice, and held at her shirt above where her heart was beating wildly.
“Sorry dad,” she said simply. She had learnt not to argue with him, not to explain either.
Karen’s mom had died four eyes ago in a car accident. And her father had never been the same anymore. He became an alcoholic, a violent man at times too. And that was her hell, the one she wanted to get away from so badly.
Sorry for the delay everyone... I wasn't in the best place lately to write or do anything writing related to be honest. I hope you're enjoying the read. Much love, Larose Semsem
Aiden had to make Karen his. He didn’t know how to go about it, but he just had to.A few days into the new school, he was patiently waiting for her to arrive, so that she would light up his whole world as per usual… and was harshly disappointed when came noon and she had yet to make an appearance.What was going on? Could it be her schedule was changed drastically for some reason – like his stalking her?Easy, boy, he told himself after a while. Think rationally.Could it be possible she had just skipped?That seemed more logical. He inwardly face-palmed at his stupidity and his eagerness to make assumptions.Only one day since he last saw her, and already he felt like he was suffering from withdrawal. What was she doing to him?“You’ve become a sap,” his wolf sing-sang in his head.“As if you’re any better,” he scoffed at him, inwardly rolling his eyes.
Aiden was devastated and all kinds of enraged when he saw the bruises on Karen’s face. When he remembered images of his smiling mate, he couldn’t fathom how someone could be so cruel as to hit her. He couldn’t control the tone of his voice when he had asked her what the hell had happened. And it seemed like his sweet mate wasn’t in the least bit scared by the shift in his eyes color – maybe she simply hadn’t noticed? – for she spat out with venom, “What the hell brought you here?” “Do not speak to me that way,” his wolf had taken over and hissed at her, and she flinched, almost as if she had been slapped. He tried to get some self-control back, by closing his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, and inhaling and exhaling loudly. “Why are you so pissed anyways? You shouldn’t have sought me out,” she carried on in a rather sad almost resigned voice. “Because I care a great deal about you! Can’t you see that?” He retorted in a strong voice, ope
“Where are we going?” Karen asked him as she got in the car rather obediently. “To Jacksonville,” Aiden told her, a fond smirk stretching his lips. He had good memories there. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Anastasia – The Troublemaker’s daughter – was good company… when she wasn’t mourning the absence of her mate, that was. He briefly wondered how she was faring in the vampire academy, and made a note to himself to call her or Ace later on. Karen kept quiet the entire ride to Jacksonville, and although Aiden wasn’t particularly affected by the silence, he preferred when she was arguing with him than her distracted state of mind. “I need to be back home before 5 pm,” she announced just as he parked the car in front of a big house. His bodyguards were naturally in another car, following closely behind, not knowing what to expect, but probably reporting everything to his mom… yes, his mom, not his dad. She was overprotective and
It was in a werewolf’s genes to hunt. The urge was even more intense if they needed to give chase to their mate.And although Aiden, next in line to be the alpha ultra, was usually a composed teenager who knew how to control himself, he had trouble handling his wolf at the moment.Run, little girl. Run, his wolf basically sang.Aiden could picture the wolfish grin all too well.Don’t, he tried to fight him. She’s scared.Even as he told him that mentally, his wolf started taking control of his body. His eyes stung as they went black and his fingernails elongated into claws.“I’m giving you a head start,” he sing-sang before chuckling, “make good use of it, little mate.”The next thing Aiden knew, he lost the fight, and he was hurrying down the white hallways of the pack’s clinic. He could hear her screaming for help. He then saw her almost begging, reaching out for someone at the door of another room… But what werewolf would dare touch what was his?H
Aiden didn't know what to say. He was flabbergasted. How could Karen even think he had messed with her head?But then again, he did intend to do just that. She wasn't ready. She wasn't ready for him, or his world. And although he wanted to take the time to explain everything to her, he knew they were running out of it. Aiden looked at his wrist watch and sighed. Where was the eraser? "What are you sighing about?" Karen asked Had he had the luxury of time, he would have taken things slowly. As it was, she needed to be back at her home by night time. "It's nothing," he drawled. "Then when are you going to answer me?" She carried on. "Have you or have you not messed with my head?" "I have never," he said truthfully, his eyes boring into hers despite the distance. "Then what is the erasor for?" She asked in a strong voice. "You have to understand," he began. "It's not that I want it. It's what's n
As Karen pleaded with Aiden to let her keep her memories again, and as the witch whose name he didn’t even know approached her, he started to second guess himself and doubt gnawed at his insides.“Stop,” he commanded all of a sudden.The hope he saw shining in her eyes would have been enough to make ice melt, and yet his resolve to have her memories erased still peaked its head.The eraser turned his head his way, and looked at him with his eyebrow raised.“How about you cast a silencing spell or something?” He offered.Fear came back full force in her eyes.“And what is that?” She all but shrieked at him.“What do you want exactly?” The witch asked, his interest seemingly piqued, ignoring Karen's shriek completely.“I just don’t want her to reveal my secret to any human being. She’s welcome to say whatever the hell she wants with supernaturals.”She flashed a tentative smile at him. “Can’t you just trust me?”“I cannot,” he answered simply, shaking his
When Karen got home at around 7 pm, her dad was waiting for her in the living room – sober for once. His eyes narrowed at Aiden’s figure trailing behind her, hands lazily tucked into his hoodie’s pockets. Indeed, Aiden had insisted on going in with her. And she hadn’t had the courage to argue with him. Even though her dad wouldn’t appreciate his presence, she was much too scared of getting a beating worse than that of the previous night for going home late.“The school called to tell me you skipped, Karen,” he iced out as soon as she was within sight.She grimaced, remembering school all of a sudden. How could she have forgotten? She truly needed to do her best at school if she wanted to have a shot at leaving this town from hell.Okay, the town hadn’t done much to her in all fairness. It was her dad she was running away from… and admittedly the painful memories as well.“I wasn’t feeling well,&rd
Karen was quiet – too quiet – during the car ride. And Aiden didn’t like that. But no matter how much he tried to get her to talk to him, she didn’t open up. He could almost sense her sorrow and confusion. And he could damn well understand where her feelings came from. Thus, after a while, he stopped all attempts to lighten up the atmosphere, and opted for silence instead.He hurt for her.His heart ached for her.“You should just take me to Mason’s,” were the first words she uttered as she straightened up in her seat.Aiden hit the brakes so hard, she was propelled forward. His hand shot out to steady her, and he could thank both his werewolf reflexes and the seatbelt for his mate’s safety.“Mason’s?” He all but growled out the name.Should have ripped the boy to shreds the moment I saw him, his wolf said angrily.“Yeah, I’ll give you the directions,” she said off-