There is a certain guy – he’s Cole. We briefly introduced ourselves yesterday but now, I can hear footsteps thudding towards here.
“Run, Sophia, Run!” He puts me on the alert as I rub my eyes, walking towards the window, raising the curtains.. I can see bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. Does he love me enough to save me from any trouble he foresees – love at first sight?
“Run!” He hollers once more, trying to push the door open. I fidget, hesitant to open the door for him – what if it’s a set-up and he intends to run away with me?
Suddenly, the door splinters piece by piece as I hear the fading thud of kicks against it. It falls to the ground after the last attempt as I am face to face with a paranormal being. My instinct tells me that it is the same Cole screaming to me to escape.
“Who are you?” I ask, while my heart throbs with fear. It moves closer to me, slowly but in a quick way to me. I scream, running towards the kitchen but it soon reaches me and pulls me by the neck, throttling me. My lips shiver as I glare at his bloodshot eyes.
He reveals who he is quickly – snarling and revealing his fangs, elongated, sharp, and pointed canine teeth. He growls, endearing to suck the blood in the nape of my neck. My body shudders as I can’t think of anything – not even now that Alpha Ben has gone to accomplish some tasks in the outermost part of the pack.
He slowly snarls once more as his eyes become normal again – I guess vampires undergo tough times trying to control themselves from sucking people’s blood. He is human again now but he can’t apologize to me, so he storms out of the room. If I ever leave this Ben’s pack, I’ll never return.
In the twinkling of an eye, he returns to the room, sniffling intensely while maintaining silence.
He finally breaks the silence after he clears his throat, “Go take your shower, it’s time to go to school.”
“Ben?” I ask and he nods his head, widening his smile.
I shrug my shoulders, wanting him to utter better and the expected statements. Since he doesn’t, I don’t want more of his display.
“Where are your fierce warriors?” I ask.
“Back at work. They didn’t come here to hurt you as you assumed.” He retorts.
“Where do… I take my shower?” I gently ask, looking into his eyes.
He gestures toward the restroom, prompting me to hurriedly take a quick bath. I return after a few minutes, say ten. I put on the school’s uniform and knot my tie.
“Done?” He asks as he takes off from bed. I nod my head instinctively.
“Get in the car. Your piece of luggage is in the boot already. But, do you not think you should take a few more clothes with you?” He suggests.
I walk out of the room, “my school uniform with my piece of luggage is enough for me.” He also leaves the room and we both get into the car.
He drives crazily till we get inside the school’s premises. He drops me in the park after putting the car to a stop. Quickly, a man approaches me, directing me to where I will go but Ben stops him.
“Good morning. It’s…” Ben greets the man but he interrupts.
“Alpha Ben, I’m aware. You’re here with your mate, you can drive down there before you get to the hostel. It’s not really in the school’s premises.” The man says as my lips move but don’t say a word.
Why would he refer to me as his mate? I quickly get back to the car. I see Ben in already and I gasp.
“One of the big reasons why it’s improper to have you as my mate.” I boldly accuse. He scoffs.
“Doesn’t matter. What matters is that you safely reach your hostel.” And he turns the key, igniting the engine as he steers towards the hostel.
We soon get to the hostel. We get down from the car in a jiffy. It’s a gargantuan building with different designs that beautify it. It looks more like an hotel. He moves the car to the park and stop it. He picks up his phone and dials another number. I thought he’d help me with my piece of luggage once more but maybe he doesn’t want to get into a room where an underage wolf like me will live in. I soon see the reason he doesn’t – a middle-aged guy runs towards our side. He rather helps with my piece of luggage as Ben pulls me in for a hug. I decline the hug, opting instead for a handshake as he departs, and he warmly reciprocates.
“I will visit you here whenever I’m not busy.” He promises as he gets into the car and drives it away. I look at it till it’s out of sight. How do people act this way? I’m just getting to know you and you’ve left me in another person’s hands.
I follow the guy to my personal room, holding firm the word dad told me – about being sure that I’ll survive. He stops at the front of a room and lowers the piece of luggage.
“This is your room.” He says and I let out a brief smile, until I realize that the ‘your’ is plural.
“Your room mates are receiving lectures in school at the moment. They will join you as soon as they have the break for today.” He plainly adds. He arranges my piece of luggage in a corner of the room as I sit on the tiled floor, not wanting to meddle with other students’ beds.
“Thank you.” I simply appreciate.
“Didn’t you come with your student bed?” He asks, scanning all the pieces of luggage I have.
“Oh! I think I forgot.” I try to show surprise at it. He sighs awkwardly, ruminating over the next step or action to take.
“Should I come for you tomorrow?” He suddenly asks.
“Come for me? I don’t know you. No, thank you.” I object.
“I didn’t ask you to come over to my place but it’s fine. I’ll come this evening when all your friends are back.” He mentions.
“Are they that many?” I retort.
“No, not so many. They are just four.”
“Just? Four?” I scream in astonishment.
The room is spacious enough to accommodate seven students conveniently but I don’t like to live with people – even if I must do, it must not exceed one person.
“Damn it!” I cuss but he only shrugs.
“You won’t be bored.” He tells me after he chuckles. I feign a delightful facial expression.
“Thank you. You can now go.” I shut my eyes while commanding.
“You could have been more polite to know my name. Anyway, I am Maxwell – Max for short. It’s nice to meet you.” He mentions and requests an handshake. I accept it, and we both smile though it looks awkward to me.
“Sophia. It’s good to meet you.” I respond. “You helped with my piece of luggage – I won’t forget that.”
“It’s my job, Sophia.” He responds excitedly, smiling infectiously.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” I curiously ask.
“Oh, well, that’s a good question. I’m done with high school, planning to resume in a college.”
“Oh!” I exclaim. Well, I have only a year to spend here.
“How about yourself?” He intentionally asks as he sits closer to me. His cologne envelops my senses, and I’m almost succumbing to its allure.
“I feel a bit uncomfortable if someone sits too close to me. Would you mind if there’s a gap between us?” I boldly ask. He approves my request but guffaws.
He softly chuckles, “sure.”
“Good one, Max.” I wink at him. He flushes with a rosy glow in response to the compliment.
“What’s wrong with him?” I mumble.
“Nothing is actually wrong with me.” He responds and I can’t deny that I said it.
I just nod my head, hoping he will take his leave immediately.
“Sophia, how long are you going to be here?” He asks.
“Just a year.” I respond.
“That’s great. How old…” He clears his throat. “… are you?”
“Somehow confidential. I’m afraid I can’t answer that question.”
“But you told me how long you’d spend here.” He retorts, waiting for a right response. I load it and fire back at him.
“I can tell anyone that.” I say.
“Sure.” He says, rising to his feet. “If you need any help, reach out to me.” And he flings his business card at me.
I pick it up and watch him leave. Rolling my eyes at him, I hurry to shut the door.