9

Sarah POV

“Why were you following me around like a lost puppy”

My breath hitched. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I was meant to approach him… not get caught by him.

I turned back, my breath caught in my throat. He was close… way too close, that I could almost feel his breath. He smelled nice, a mixture of wood and cherry flavor. But I had no time to admire that. His dark eyes locked onto me, watching my every move. I gulped and I swore I saw his eyes, something strange flashes through his eyes in a spark something called desire.

“H-hello, I felt we were on a bad foot yesterday, my name is Sarah Cole” I stretch my hand out, for a hand shake. If I want to get close to him, at least I have to be in his good book.

He stared at me, his eyes never leaving me. My hand is still out, stretched. Waiting for him.

“What do you want?” Those were the four words he responded to. Nothing more, his eyes locked waiting to catch any flaw in me.

“I just want…”

“What do you want?” He asked again. This time he gave me no room. He wants answers, his eyes dares me to lie. I was going to go all out now.

I swallowed, gathering courage.

He

“Adrian… I think we’re—”

“Don’t.”His voice sliced through mine. Making me freeze. His eyes still lock on mine,cold, empty, and unreadable.“Whatever fantasy you’ve built in that head of yours,” he stepped closer, his presence suffocating, “erase it.”

My chest tightened. “It’s not a fantasy. I can feel__”

“I don’t care what you feel.”

There was Silence,my heart beating frantically

“You’re nothing to me.” These words shattered something within me. My heart felt heavy, my body was light. He moved his eyes away from me “don't have any weird idea there” he moved to go, and I just stood clumsy

“You said, you will remember” He stopped in his tracks. Not looking back I continued “ When I saved you, you said you will remember. What did you mean?”

“As long as you are in this school. You are under my protection, no ones dare lay a finger on you” He answered

“Then can I stay beside you, under your protection?”

Adrian tilted his head to the other side, but didn't utter any word, and left like he never came. The hallway suddenly became too quiet.

I forced a smile, a fake one. The kind that stretches your lips but never reaches your eyes.

“I’m fine,” I whispered to myself. Even though I wasn’t. My chest hurts. Why did it hurt so much? I barely knew him. So why did it feel like I had lost something important? Something I never even had? I exhaled shakily and forced my feet to move. One step. Then another.

If I stopped… I might break for real.

Adrian POV

I swiftly jumped into the woods, shading my skin, I transformed into my wolf, one big black wolf. I ran through the woods,plants smashing upon my claws. I raced towards the end of the woods. But was there an end?

My heart was in turmoil. I hated the fact that I felt this way. I hated the fact that she stirred something within me. What came over me when I promised to protect her?

My large black wolf tore through the forest, faster, stronger, free. But not free enough. Because she was still there. In my head. In my senses. In my blood. My claws dug into the earth as I pushed harder, faster, like I could outrun it. Outrun her. Outrun the truth.

Mate.

The word echoed in my mind. Low and Certain and Possessive.

My wolf.

I snarled, stopping to a halt.

“No.”

She’s not. She can’t be. Out of everyone—

It had to be me? My chest heaved as I paced, restless energy surging through me. The way she looked at me… The way she said she could feel it… My claws dug deeper into the ground.

If I accept this— Everything changes, everything that I have grown up believing changes Everything will fall apart. And I don’t get that luxury.

I don’t need a mate. Not her. Not anyone.

My wolf growled in disagreement.

Mine.

“Shut up.”

I snapped back, baring my teeth at nothing. Because that’s what this was.

But then—

Her voice echoed again. “Then can I stay beside you… under your protection?”

My body went still.

Danger.

That’s what she was.

Not to others.

To me.

Because if she stayed close— If she kept looking at me like that— I might not be able to push her away again. And if that happens…

My eyes darkened, I bared my teeth. She won’t survive what comes next.