4. Wild Dream or Someone's Reality

“Huh,” I averted my gaze, breaking our eye contact, and shifted my focus to Isabella.

“Are you fine?” she asked.

I nodded and gazed once more at the person embracing me. His eyes had reverted to their normal black color.

“Thank you,” I uttered, trying to stand. However, he wasn’t leaving me. His grip on my waist was so tight that I couldn’t move at all.

Isabella noticed me struggling, so she stepped ahead.

“Raymond,” she patted his arm. He looked at Isabella and left me.

“Thank...,” Before I could finish my sentence, he stormed away.

“Strange man,” I remarked.

“Yeah, he’s Raymond, who broke Liam’s nose today. He’s nice, but sometimes very aggressive.”

“From which department? Is he our senior? I mean, he looks older.” I didn’t know why I asked, but that intense gaze made me shiver all over my body.

“He’s not our senior, but the trainer. I heard Professor Marcus hired him seven years ago as a trainer for the shift and combat class. I’ve also heard he’s somehow related to Professor.”

“Do you know him? I mean, you’re also a professor’s relative,” she added.

I shook my head.

“I don’t know,” I replied, moving ahead. I was reluctant to discuss my past and feared being questioned about my association with Alpha Marcus.

“Anyhow, leave him and tell me are you alright?” she asked, moving along.

I nodded.

“I don’t think so,” she handed the tissue paper.

I frowned.

“Your lip has a cut. I thought your wolf would heal you, but it’s still there.” She spoke reluctantly.

“Oh,” I took the tissue paper and cleaned the blood drops.

“Your wolf? Is she injured?” she inquired. I could sense her concern for me, but delving into the topic of my wolf pained me deeply.

“I don’t have a wolf,” I responded, then she went silent.

“Oh, it’s okay. You’ve got me. I’m your best friend from now on, and you can rely on me just like you’d rely on your wolf.” She hugged me and I felt so overwhelmed. Nobody cared about me like that and her words were pure, just like her soul.

The tissue paper slipped from my hand as I wrapped my arms around her. I felt tears forming in my eyes, and inexplicably, I started to cry.

“No, Diana, don’t cry. I’m here for you.” She broke the hug and wiped the tears from my cheeks. The students started to stop to look at what was happening. However, Isabella stood there with me. She turned her back on them and didn’t let them see my worst state. They could hear me but not see my face, and I tried to suppress my voice.

“You can cry over my shoulder. I’m here for you.” She assured me. I looked at her face.

“Remember this, you got me in every situation.” I nodded with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. She hugged me again and comforted me till I felt peace in my mind and heart.

“Thank you,” I broke the hug.

“Anything for you, my dear,” she pinched my nose, and I laughed.

“Let’s go to the class,”

I nodded and took a step to go, but halted when I saw him again in the corner of the corridor. He was staring at me intensely with his dark black eyes. I was certain that his wolf was trying to dominate him because later, when Isabella arrived, his eyes returned to normal. This behavior must be from his wolf. A shiver crawled down my spine.

“What happened?” Isabella caught my eye and followed my gaze. However, he quickly hid.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing, let’s go,” and we left for the class.

After my accounting class, I said goodbye to Isabella and headed to a cottage with Alpha Marcus.

“How was your day? Did you make friends?” He asked on our way to the cottage.

“Isabella, she’s kind,” I replied.

“Yeah, she’s a nice girl. You should try to get along with her. I’m sure you’ll enjoy her company. She’s the daughter of the shadow moon pack’s Alpha. Like her parents, she is kind and generous, standing with the right and having the courage to stop wrong.”

I was surprised.

“She didn’t make me feel low. I thought she was a common girl.”

“That’s nice of her. Don’t you think?” He asked, looking at my face, and I nodded.

Indeed, she was kind and generous.

“There are so many good people on the campus. I’m sure you’ll feel good there.”

I said nothing and looked outside the window. The trees and bushes of the forest were everywhere. The cottage was in the middle of the forest, so our way was from the forest. I liked it here, away from people and reality. I lowered the window glass and closed my eyes to feel the fresh air on my face. However, his intense gaze flashed before my eyes.

**************

In the evening,

I was resting on my bed. I didn’t know when I fell asleep and I was sleeping peacefully when I heard his voice. His compelling voice invited me into the oceans of deep love, sorrow, and hatred.

“Anna, you’ll be fine.” He caressed my hair. Instantly, I opened my eyes, and he was there before me.

“R-Ren,” I stuttered. I felt I had lost my voice. Darren was there, and he caressed my hair again, nodding his head. I cried out, grasping him in my hold. I hugged him tightly. I experienced an overwhelming rush of emotions as I touched him.

“Ren, I know you’ll come for me. I know you love me. How can you leave your mate, your childhood friend, all alone? You’re mine. How can you leave me? I know you’ll come. You can’t leave me alone. I know you can’t.” I cried, hugging him close to my heart. He caressed my hair and back. Tears continuously flowed down my cheeks and wet his shirt, but I didn’t stop until my tears dried and my heart set at ease. He comforted me with his silence and spoke only when I stopped crying.

“Shush, I’m here for you, but you must be strong.”

I felt relieved in his arms because his arms were my home from the start.

“Anna, you can’t be weak anymore. You need to be strong for yourself and the surrounding people.” I broke the hug and gazed into his eyes. After a long time, he called me Anna. I felt satisfied. He was my Ren because his eyes showed love and care for me. His eyes reflected me.

“I’m your mate, right?” I asked while tears were ready to stream down my cheeks again. I just wanted to be sure. I wanted him to admit that he was mine, and I was his.

He smiled at me and kissed my forehead.

“Yes, you’re. Only you can be my mate, only you.”

I closed my eyes and hid my face in his chest while tears cascaded down my cheeks again. I felt all the misery I bore those three years ended today. My Darren was only mine. He belonged to me only.

“Don’t leave me again,” I whispered, snuggling into him. I forgot everything; my sufferings of the last three years, his rejection, and these two weeks. How much I suffered to calm my heart and now when he was in front of me. I wanted nothing more. I wanted him to stay with me for all my life. I wanted this moment to stop here for a lifetime. However, he broke the hug.

“You can’t rely on me anymore. Anna, you need to wake up and get strong. You need to fight for yourself.” I ignored his words and hugged him again.

“Anna, listen to me.” he caressed my hair.

“I don’t want to fight or get strong. I only need you.” I poured my heart out, but what he said next broke me.

“If you’re weak, you can’t be with me.” I broke the hug and looked into his eyes. He was severe, and it broke me more.

“Ren.” I shook my head as he tried to remove my grip on him.

“Please, no.” Tears filled my eyes, and the next moment, my vision got blurred.

“Darren,” I shouted to stop him, but the next moment my eyes opened, and I was alone. I instantly looked around the room, but there was no one. My eyes were still wet, but there was no trace of Darren. I instantly stepped out of the bed and looked into the washroom. My head was spinning, and I was feeling dizzy. However, I checked the window and balcony. He wasn’t there. I was confused. It was my dream, or he was there. No, it couldn’t be a dream I felt him so close to me. I had to find him. He’d be still around the cottage.

Hurriedly, I wore slippers and ran out of the room. On my way to the main door, I saw Clara in the kitchen.

“Dinner is ready,” She saw me coming downstairs and called out to me, but I didn’t stop and strode out the main door. However, I halted in my tracks when I saw Alpha Marcus with someone.

“Diana,” he spoke.

The person turned around and he was Raymond. His eyes shone for a second but soon returned to normal.

“I’m sorry, I,” I didn’t know what to say.

“What happened? Are you alright? What are you doing outside?” Alpha Marcus asked, moving towards me.

“I just came for a fresh air. I didn’t know you were here with someone,” I looked at him. He was still staring at me, making me uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry,” I said and turned to leave but stopped when Alpha Marcus said.

“No, it’s okay. You can stay here.”

I turned around.

“Raymond, she’s Diana. Just like my daughter.” He introduced me to him and my heart was overwhelmed with this introduction. However, before I could show gratitude for his introduction, I saw him moving towards me.

“Hello, Diana, I’m Raymond, Raymond Brown.” He extended his hand to me.

“Hey,” I nervously took his hand. However, the moment we shook hands, his eyes glazed over, turning a dark black color.

I got uncomfortable and tried to remove my hand, but he didn’t let me.

“Raymond,” Alpha Marcus called him, and to my relief, he let go of my hand, and his eyes returned to normal.

“Yes, Alpha,”

He turned to him.

“She got admission today, and I want you to take care of her, especially in your class. I’ll come for supervision like I used to come. However, you’ll be training her with others, so pay special attention and care to her.”

I knew his concerns.

“Don’t worry, Alpha. She’s precious to you. I’ll take care of her with my life.” He said, looking at me. His eyes were intense and cold. I couldn’t guess the emotion.

“Diana, he’s your trainer for your shift and combat class. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from him.”

I nodded, and meanwhile, Clara came.

“Alpha, Dinner is ready.”

“Raymond, come, have dinner with us.” He patted his shoulder.

Raymond nodded, and Alpha Marcus left with Clara. I followed him. Raymond was behind me. For a second, I felt him near me, so I stopped and turned around only to collide with his firm chest.

“I’m sorry,” I spoke, trying to step away, but he held me by my arms and inhaled.

“Delicious,” his voice was heavy.

“Huh,” I frowned.

“What did you say?”

“Clara, your cooking skills are impressive.” He left me confused because I was certain he wasn’t talking about food, but it turned out he was, and I misunderstood.

“Whatever,” I jerked my thoughts and followed them to the dining table.

“I missed your dishes in the hostel.” He said, putting a piece of steak on his plate.

“Who told you to move there? I forbade you many times, but you insisted on staying there.” Clara replied.

“Don’t you miss me anymore?”

“No, I’ve Diana with me, so I don’t need to miss you,” Clara said to tease him, however, what he said next forced me to look at his face.

“Yeah, when she’s with you, why would you need to miss others.” His voice held something that I couldn’t quite understand.