Having ice cream with Ken while he walks me home from work on a mild night has been my best treat, but I don’t feel the happiness I had felt those other times today.
Ken notices my moodiness while we gulp our ice cream and make our way back home. He allows me to maintain silence even though I can tell he wants to say something.
I can read him well and he’s pretty good at seeing through me.
How we became best of friends was fated. We entered the academy on the same day; we sat on the same roll during class and lunch break and as school ended; I made my way home, and he rode his bicycle. He could have ridden past and no one would have held it against him, but he didn’t. When he rode to where I was, he introduced himself to me and I did the same.
He told me he didn’t believe it was a coincidence that we resumed school the same day and shared the same seats and went home the same way. He believed fate wanted us to be friends, and I didn’t argu
“Jaclyn! You need to come downstairs or the soup will get cold!” mama’s tiny voice penetrates my almost unconscious mind.My eyes snap open and I find myself alone, with no trace of Dane anywhere in the shower or bathroom. I look down at my hands, that had blood all over it earlier and the floor, but I see no stain trail anywhere.I gasp for air and slump against the bathroom wall. I drop on the cold wet floor, terrified to death and trembling uncontrollably.Was it a dream? Because I’m here in the shower unharmed.It felt so real.I’ve had nightmares of Dane before, but none of them felt this real and affected me this way.He meant it. He hasn’t finished with me yet.Gaining a little control over my trembling body, I reach for my towel hanging on the wall and wrap it around my body before stepping out.I sit in the dining chair six minutes later, and mama passes
A week later, I open the door to leave for school and Ken stood before me. Startled, I frown at him. He had not informed me about his coming, so it indeed surprised me to see him.“What are you doing here?”“I came so we can walk to school together,” he beamed at me.“You could have waited at your place. I always walk by every morning.” I point out.He stuffs his hands into his pocket and stretches a little. “You’ve walked past without me noticing this past week. So I thought it best to come to your place instead.”I would say I am avoiding him, more of trying to help him move on so that if anything happened to me, he would not be so broken-hearted about it.The attack I faced in the bathroom was the first, but not the last. Every day in the last week, Dane has attacked me. In the bath
“Why is my name on the list? Isn’t Dane satisfied with the torture I’ve already been through this past week?” I demand, storming away from the notice board and brushing past a few students in the process.What is his plan?What else does he hope to gain?My life is already hell!My head race with so many thoughts.“You need to calm down and also please slow down. The students are going to think something is wrong with you.”“That’s it, Ken, something is wrong with me. My life is literally falling apart and any day might just be my last day on earth and it’s all thanks to alpha Dane Vixon, so why on earth am I on his list?” tears well up in my eyes, but I blink it back while ignoring the students that give me a funny look.“This isn’t his list, JT. This is the list of the most outstanding students in this school chosen to be part of the project an
"That's enough! Let her go!" comes the commanding voice of Dane and my eyes flies open and my shaking body stills.Spencer does not let me go as Dane command him to. Instead, his eyes leave mine and flies over to Dane, who probably stood not so far away.He scoffs, "Why should I? You do not know what she has done?" he demands, his grip on my hair tightening. "And this isn't any of your business, so for your own safety, I advise you stay out of it!"The arrogance in Spencer's voice tells me he has no clue who he speaks to. Perhaps because he hasn't been around Dane long enough to denote his voice, and he assumes he was just a nosy passerby he can rudely speak to. The street lights in this area are faulty and the light they produced barely illuminates the street and made it hard to see, which must be why Spencer and his minions picked this spot to attack me."I don't care what she has done, I care that you're hurting her so I'm going to ask you
One hour thirty minutes later, I relax on the pharmacy bed while the young doctor places the bandage in her hand on the wounded spot on my head after examining me. My broken left arm already has a cast on it and my head is currently being examined."How long will but take to heal now?" I ask curiously.She smiles a little, "Well, depends on the type of body you have, two weeks to one month.""Oh, that's a very long time." I mentally calculate the number of days in two weeks and a month.She notices and chuckles, "Don't worry, the days will pass by faster than you expect."Not when your name is Jaclyn Tarr, it doesn't."Do you feel pain in other parts of your body as well?" She asks, her eyes already scanning what she can see on my body."My arm and head, that's all.""Okay, then you will be fine, with proper medication and attention.""How's the payment done here?" I ask curiously. The money I had in my bag w
Mama asked Lorenzo for another favour today, and he accepted and drove me to school.She told me to stay safe and call her if anything happened. Her eyes revealed that she didn't want to leave me, but she had no other choice. I informed her I could take care of myself. I also told her I felt fine, better than yesterday, which she knew was a lie, but she understood I wanted her to worry less. She nodded and waved me off.All eyes stay on me as I walk into the school premises. They gawk at me like an alien with wings and tails, and I will not say I'm surprised. Most of them already experienced their premier shifting and got blessed with the ability to heal. Even Dane looked astounded when he noticed I wasn't healing last night.Way to stand out, Jaclyn! I high five myself mentally.Knowing I can't go back home, I inform myself that the student stared because I look stare-able, which has to be a good thing.I am in school because I h
“It’s lunch break time, Jaclyn. Go now so you wouldn’t say I didn’t inform you!” Anthony yells from across his desk and I flinch a little, looking around and making sure he startled no one else studying at the library. Just like I hoped, everyone has their concentration fixed on the books before them.“Sometimes I wonder how you got this job!” I hiss under my breath. Anthony has a good heart, but sometimes he lets his asshole think for him.He rolls his eyes, “I told you, Mr Andrew owed my father a favour, and he called it in after I graduated.”I asterisk the part of the novel I currently read before rising to my feet. “Keep startling me and I’m going to make sure Mr Andrew changes his mind about that favour.”“Hahaha,” he laughs dramatically, “You can try, babe.”I scrunch my face at him before making my way out of the library.
“Where are my manners?” I sigh, realising I haven’t invited him to join me, “I know this might not be what you normally eat—”“What do you think I normally eat?” he asks, a bit of humour in his deep voice.‘Honestly, human flesh.’ I don’t dare say it out loud.My shoulder lifts in a mild shrug. “Something fancier and richer, filled with fattened meat you'd consider most important. I know this isn’t any of that, but care to join me?” I stretch the fork in my hand over to him.I studied at the Unique Academy for six years and I saw how the rich kids behaved; they carried themselves with pride and grace and did not mingle with just anyone there. The poor, like myself, kept company with those in their social status, and the rich did likewise. There has always been a bridge between us and I have expected Dane to maintain, but he hasn’t done that ye
Jaclyn entered the room where they laid the body of Ken and approached the bed. Silas sits beside Ken with his hand by his side him and when he senses Jaclyn's presence in the room, he rises to his feet and nods his head at his daughter before taking his leave. Her eyes well up with unshed tears, now being alone with Ken’s dead body. She tries to control herself and her emotions, but she can’t help it. So many times, Ken had told her to let the past go. He told her revenge will not bring her happiness, but sadness and pain. She never understood, but after the unfortunate event of the night, she knows he was right all along. His blood was on her hands and she would never forgive herself. She takes his chilly hands into hers, rubbing small circles all over them. “You were right. We should have stayed in that cottage. We were free to be ourselves, free to laugh, free to live, free to love each other. We shouldn’t have left. Everything was perfect there.” Her tears ran d
Jaclyn rose to her feet, her eyes glowing yellow just like her skin. She storms through the fighting crowd like a whirlwind, heading to where Allen is.“I see you found out the truth already!” he says, acknowledging her fury.“And you die now.” she seethes.She reached for him but felt a block around him, although not seeing it.“I came with my fortification in case things turned sour, little fire wolf.” he informs her as if reading into her mind and seeing her dilemma.He grabbed her by the hair and threw her onto the ground. She lands hard and her hand cracks.“I taught you all the tricks you know, and you really think you can use them on me?” his leg swings forward and he kicks her in the face as she falls to the ground again, groaning.He reaches out and grabs her by the hair, pulling her onto her feet and delivering punches after
Ace lay spread out on his gigantic bed with his eyes closed. Two women are resting beside him. He had brought them along to celebrate his victory over his brother and claiming the rogue pack. Now, as midnight passed, they needed rest. However, Ian stepped into the room to interrupt his much-needed rest.“Someone is here to see you.”“Who is he?” Ace moans, his lashes cracking open. The girls beside him wake as well.“His name is Kenneth Miller. He once trained with the rogue pack alongside the fire wolf and Caroline Matters. He’s like me, a witch.” Ian answers.Ace doesn’t need all the information. He knows who the kid was. He had faced him about a year ago when he came to the safe house. “What did he say?” he asks, helping himself up with his elbows on the bed.“He said he needed an audience with you. He believes what he has to say is important.”“Let him speak to you, then.” Ace
“Alpha, there is an attack on the entrance of the pack house. I think the alpha of the fury park is leading the raid.” Liam announces, stepping into the room where Dane lay, trying to regain his strength. After the fight with his brother a few hours ago, Dane felt his strength leave him and it’s still yet to return.“How did they know we would be in fewer numbers today?” Dane asks, his tone dominated by confusion as he properly sits up.“Could this be Ace’s doing?” Liam asks, his voice rising curiously.“Ace is a lot of things, but he will never betray his own. If he wanted me dead, he wouldn’t do it through anyone. He’d challenge me up front.” he ran a hand through his hair. “How many of us are left?”“We are twelve, alpha. Yourself included.”“And them?”“They were over a hundre
“Your brother believes I have an ulterior motive for coming back to you, doesn’t he?” Jaclyn asks, leaning against the door while Dane puts on his shirt. He had brushed over everything that had happened at the party, including his brother’s challenge to Jaclyn after they left the party yesterday. He promised he will handle everything today and when Jaclyn asked to come see him before the face off; he didn’t object. Dane sighs, adjusting his shirt. “Ace has had a hard time trusting anyone but himself for the longest of time.” She turns to stare him straight in the eyes. “What about you then? Do you think I have an ulterior motive for coming back?” He doesn’t hesitate, “At first I did, but you had the chance to kill me months ago at the boxing ring and you chose not to, I’ve never been good at gambling, but I’d bet my life that you don’t want me dead. And if you do, it will be because I deserve it. It’s hard for people to see the truth
Ken stands before the white wooden door and knocks on it. After about a minute, it opens and Silas stands before him in black trousers and grey polo. The man looks surprised to see Ken, however, the look on his face remains welcoming. “Ken.” “Silas.” “Hey,” he says. “We need to talk.” Ken interrupts and pushes past him further into the room even without being invited in. If Silas took offence at this, he says nothing as he closes the door and follows Ken further into the house. “How did you find me?” he asks once they reach the living room. Ken scoffs, “I’m a witch, Silas. I know where you and ten others I passed by while coming here live.” “Fine. Why are you here?” “To ask you what it takes to be a spineless father.” Ken shoots immediately. This time, his words strikes Silas, and a frown forms on his face. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It
Jaclyn was still working on the broadsheets on her desk before her when she sensed Dane’s presence at the door of her office. Last month, Dane had helped set her back into the Northrich university she left a year ago. The plan was to work while schooling and she told him she could take on both responsibilities. Dane saw to it to assign her the minimum work while paying her the salary as if she was a full-time employee. He also stayed off her way, only seeing her a few times a week, giving her time to adjust to the working routine.She didn’t bother to lift her head from the files she worked on. He hadn’t lurked around in the last three weeks and so she knows something is up today. But knowing Dane, she doubts he’d go straight to the point. Well, he stands in her office and she can’t ignore the hell out of him like she wants.“Hey.” He speaks, and her head slowly lifts to see him with a wide smile on his face.“Hello.
Cathy brings over the second round of the shot of vodka Jaclyn ordered. Franklin, the bartender, went on leave to see his sick mother last week and Cathy here has covered for him since. She smiles at her before bringing the glass to her mouth when she feels someone sit beside her and, without turning to see who it is, she knew it was Ken. Her mood changes slightly. These past months she’d missed him so much, but she didn’t want him here. Not now. “Hello, Jaclyn.” “Ken,” she nods in acknowledgement, rounding her finger over the mouth of the small cup she just placed down. “It’s been a while, Jaclyn. I’m left to believe you forgot about me at this point.” She didn’t, but she can’t tell him that. “I’ve been quite busy.” Pain flashes in his eyes and he clears his throat. “Caroline told me you accepted the job at the Vixon’s industry four weeks ago.” “I did.” “You didn’t tell me.” “I didn’t think I had to, besides I kn
Flashback Eight months ago, a month after Jaclyn woke. “People say the moon goddess loves all his children equally. Well, they lied because the moon goddess loves the fire wolf more.” Ken read aloud as he came to take his seat on the couch next to Jaclyn, holding two small textbooks in his hands. “How do you mean?” she asked from beside him, her legs folded in a yoga style and her hands rubbing her knee. “Remember when I told you fire wolves can never be mated or marked, but they can choose their mate and mark them?” when she nodded he continued, “This book confirms it.” “That, never having a mate sounds like a bad thing instead of good,” she said with a displeased scowl. “It’s not. The purpose of a fire wolf is more than finding a mate. The goddess, knowing this, made them unmarkable at least to an extent.” he closed the book and opened the other one, having a brown hardcover back. He did a dramatic throat-clearing before read