Unseen Bond
A joke.
I had seen something play out like this before, although I had no idea what he was talking about. The taunting, the condescension from Higan and his minions. Higan must have recruited him the minute he got here to taunt me. Well, too bad. Whoever this new student was, I wouldn’t let him have his way with me. Never.
His cold and unnerving eyes bore into mine. Even his ridiculously perfect face wasn’t going to disarm me. “You can start by apologizing, you know?” I demanded, my voice laced with defiance. “You ran into me.”
He blinked slowly as disbelief washed over his features. He furrowed his brows as if he were trying to collect his thoughts. He most likely assumed I wouldn't be amused by his pranks. "Oh, I apologise.” He said flatly, confirming my suspicion that this was some sick prank. "I didn't see you there."
“Sure you didn’t,” I spat.
He recoiled slightly. “No, I—”
“And just so you know,” I interrupted, cutting him off, “I don’t care who you are or who you’re affiliated with. Whether it’s Higan or whoever. I won’t let a new kid walk over me.”
He tilted his head. “Who is Higan?” His face held no hint of recognition of the name.
"I do not have time for this," I bellowed, ignoring his question. I pushed past him just for good measure and made my way to the teacher's staff room. heart still pounding from the encounter.
I got to the staff room and luckily enough for me, Mr. Donald bought my lie, but I think the major reason for the pardon was because I never defaulted in handing in my homework. The encounter in the hallway crossed my mind as I headed to my next class. His apology was oddly hollow, almost like he wasn’t used to saying ‘sorry.’ And that question about Higan... it had been so out of place. How could anyone in Springville not know who Higan Sinclair was? Even the previous new student who arrived three years ago, knew about Higan the second he got to Springville.
I shook my head, pushing the dreadful thoughts away. There were more pressing concerns, like surviving the rest of the day without running into Higan’s lackeys. I stopped in my tracks when I spotted Aiko, a Beta of the Crescent Moon pack. She was in a quiet conversation with a group of familiar girls at the far end of the hall. I wondered what the conversation was all about. Probably my humiliating rejection at the Mating Ritual. I thought.
My brows drew together as I strained to listen. Their voices were like a distant hum.
With growing frustration, I tucked my hair behind my ear, hoping to catch a few words. My sensitive ears picked up snippets—“moonlight”… “ritual”… “Higan”… “rejected.” I caught on immediately. They burst out in laughter as if they just shared an inside joke. They had every reason to because I was a joke. I sighed, doing my best not to let it bother me. I turned on my heels, not wanting to listen to any more of the occurrence of my shameful night. A name I heard from one of them stopped me in my tracks. I swiveled and took a step closer. My eyes remained fixed on the group, willing them to speak clearly. They didn’t glance my way. I was thankful for that. I was invisible to them anyway.
“Ethan Starrk,” Aiko whispered to them in a serious tone.
“I heard he’s here with his pack. This is our territory. What business does he have in Springville?” Another girl chimed in. A shiver went down when I studied the look on their faces. I was acting too composed for my own good if a fresh student could make a group of Betas look like this.
He was definitely trouble. I knew there was something off about him. From what I could get from the gist, he was an Alpha. But of which pack? The other ones I’ve heard of apart from ours weren’t led by a high schooler. I mentally face-palmed at how badly behaved I was towards him and the baseless assumption I made of him being affiliated with Higan. I pursed my lips as I scanned the hallway. There were barely any students around as most had already cleared out for their next period. I prayed silently so as not to see him. I was going to avoid him as much as possible.
The rest of the day flew by. I had managed to avoid any more confrontations with Higan’s minion. And I was also certain that he wasn’t busy doing his dirty deeds with Tess, because there was no heart-wrenching pain. However, I had this lingering feeling in my mind, that I had crossed the wrong person. I was more than ready to go when the last bell rang.
I rushed to drop off some of my things in my locker. I sensed an airy presence behind me just as I was about to shut it. My heart jumped into my throat as I turned, expecting to see Higan or one of his thugs, but that was not the case.
“You,” I blurted absentmindedly. Ethan remained several feet distant. I couldn't make sense of his expression. Those peculiar eyes locked onto me once more. Those strange eyes fixed on me again. Sht! Sht! Sh*t! “Do you need anything?” I asked, my voice quivering.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took a step closer with his gaze searching.
“You were upset,” he said quietly, his voice still sounding strange. “I’m sorry.” An awkward silence lengthened between us while his eyes locked on mine. I raised my brows, unsure of what to say. Who knows what he might do to me if I said the wrong thing. might just say the wrong thing. For Moonsake I was just an Omega.
“Where are you from?” he demanded, his voice carrying an authority I couldn’t resist. I pondered on why he would ask me such. Shouldn’t the question be directed to him? He was the new guy in town. I reason.
I didn’t give him a reply.
“There’s something different about you.” He continued.
I narrowed my eyes. “Different?” I repeated, reminiscing the moment he first mentioned the word. “W-what are you talking about?”
He hesitated for a beat, searching for the right words. “What bloodline are you from?” he probed. Bloodline? What’s with the strange questions? Is he trying to end my generation? I’d be open to seeing his displeasure when he finds out I’m nothing but an omega. “Are you from the Moon Stone Pack?”
I stared at him, trying to process what he had just asked me and it took everything in me not to laugh, considering I was in a dire situation I wanted to get out of. Did he seriously just ask me if I was from the Moon Stone Pack? The Moon Stone Pack was ancient and was one of the first bloodlines of werewolves. They harnessed unimaginable powers from the moonstone, making them, unbelievably powerful and indestructible. However, according to legend, they vanished into myth when the stone was lost.
I shook my head vigorously as I answered. “No, I am not.” Maybe that would make him stop. I thought. “Hopefully that answers all your questions.” He reached out just as I was about to leave and touched my arm gently. The electrifying sensation from the contact froze me on the spot. I peeped at him underneath my lashes, expecting him to do the unknown. He reluctantly let go og my hand after a long while. I didn’t dare meet his eyes as I walked off, holding my arm as if it were on fire.
My thoughts were still drifting when I arrived at the school parking lot
“Harlyn,” Higan’s voice cut through my daze. I turned around and almost collided with his chest. His face was contorted into a mask of fury, or maybe it was something else. I couldn’t tell. The expression on his face now was one I’d never seen before.
“Higan” I exclaimed, gaping in disbelief. Why does he have to be so close? How the hell is he here alone with me? The moon be damned if Higan was seen alone with me in such proximity. Yet here he was. My inner wolf stirred, sensing him near. She was restless, whining softly in the depths of my mind. I couldn’t control it. Was this one of his tactics to taunt me? Because it was working. “What do you think you are doing?”
His dark brown eyes were like two flaming coals as he gradually came close to me. My heart raced radically. “I should be asking you that question, Harlyn,” he replied coolly, his voice dangerously low. “What do you think you are doing?”
My brows pulled together. “What?” I asked as if I hadn't heard what he said. Higan wasn’t one to repeat himself. So I was hoping for some sort of clarity in the question he would ask next.
“What games are you playing with Ethan Starrk?” he growled.
The realization dawned on me. He must have seen me with Ethan at some point. His hostile demeanour overwhelmed me, notwithstanding my efforts to remain calm. I almost sank to my knees at the thought of giving in and allowing him to control me. I forced my voice steady as I muttered. "You are mistaken," though it came out weaker than I wanted. “We were just—”
Higan’s hand shot out and clamped down on my chin. Although his touch was forceful, it didn’t hurt. He forced me to meet his gaze by tilting my head up. I could see the storm brewing in his eyes.
Anger, jealousy, something else… It was hard to tell. “Don’t ever talk to him again,” he snarled in a gravely voice. His breath fanned against my skin. “Am I clear?”
I nodded, finding no strength to dispute.. My wolf could not resist his Alpha presence, not even if she could fight his orders. The connection I shared with Higan wasn't as I hoped, yet it was real. I couldn’t escape such a bond even if I tried.
He looked at me like he wanted to say more. And just when I thought things couldn’t get any more complicated...
Higan slammed his lips on mine.