Chapter Four - Elijah

Sarina Hazel Moon

After talking about a lot of things with my friends, we decided to attend our next class and it was finally lunchtime after the bell rang.

When I got out of my class, I was greeted by Ethan with his warm, tight hug as if we hadn’t seen each other a while ago.

His warmth made my wolf whimpered in excitement and desire. I could tell that he was pleased with my reaction to his gesture.

“Damn, those classes took a while baby, I have missed you.” He whispered behind my back before breaking his hug, “Come, let’s eat!”

I smiled before nodding, allowing his hands to slip and intertwine with mine, “I do feel hungry.” 

“Good! We are ordering the whole menu there so eat a lot! It’s your birthday!” He beamed before kissing my cheeks.

My eyes widened in disbelief with his statement, “Please don’t do that, let’s not waste food, okay?” 

“I will eat everything that you can’t finish, don’t worry baby.” He playfully winked, making me smile because my wolf knew that he would do that just for me.

“The ants are biting the hell out of me.” Oliver bitterly commented from behind, I forgot that I went out of class with them.

“Oh, you’re just jealous that you haven't found your mate yet.” Alison scoffed, making him stop before averting his gaze at us.

I narrowed my gaze towards him, it was a perplexing mix of concern and irritation, a look I'd never seen on him before.

Could it be that he already met his mate? I dismissed the thought with a gentle shake of my head. I am sure he would not miss telling us all the details about it when he found him/her. He has been waiting for a long time now.

Just as I was lost in my musings, a playful nudge at my side snapped me out of it. I raised my head towards Ethan.

“Everything alright?” He looked like he had felt my uneasiness, but I decided to shrug it off before giving him a small smile.

“Nothing, let’s eat lunch?” I invited everyone and they all agreed as we walked towards the cafeteria. There are still no signs of Elijah, my wolf wants to see him.

“Where’s your older brother, Ethan?” Alison asked as if she had read my mind. We both looked at him before sitting on the table we found in the center of the cafeteria.

How can they all be so comfortable with all those prying eyes looking at us as if we were celebrities that visited the university?!

Well, I am a bit surprised that a lot of students still came to class after that huge party last night. I guess they released drinks that were not strong.

“I don’t know, he disappeared after we arrived here yesterday.” He shrugged his shoulders before looking at me, “I am sure he will be so thrilled after seeing you. He missed you more than me.”

“He never missed mentioning your name on the trip, it almost annoyed me.” Ethan playfully chuckled, “Now I get why!”

Elijah did? I bit my lower lip to contain my happiness. My wolf was really pleased to hear that and to think, Elijah and I were really close back then when we were pups.

I was about to say something when I felt someone’s piercing gaze locked on me. I looked around the room and saw Paul again with his mate.

Their table was just right next to ours. Of all places, and they decided to choose to sit right there? I wanted to roll my eyes but kept my face emotionless for them.

“H-Hey, Sarina!” Some of his friends greeted me, I only gave them a nod and gasped when Ethan suddenly grabbed my waist, forcing me to sit on his lap.

All of them bit their lower lip before averting their gazes. I am sure I am bright red right now because of what he has done.

“E-Ethan, we’re in public,” I whispered calmly. I was sure he had heard loud and clear but we remained in that position.

“My wolf can’t help it, we don’t want to see you looking at that guy.” He muttered deeply. I then realized they knew about me and Paul back then.

“We need to talk later.” He added before deciding to let me go. I thought he did until he dragged me towards the counter to buy our meals.

I was having a hard time choosing some lunch until we heard numerous cheers at the main entrance of the cafeteria. It seemed like all of the she-wolf wanted to run there just to look at that student who arrived.

“Brother.” I heard Ethan mutter, making my wolf jump in excitement, Elijah’s finally here! “What the hell is he doing with that woman?”

My heart sank after hearing him say those words. I shouldn’t have looked but when I turned my head, his silver eyes were already locked on mine.

“Mate,” I mumbled beneath my breath. I could almost feel my knees wobble because he had changed a lot from head to toe.

Ethan and he looked identical, but there was a difference that only a few people could know and notice if they paid more attention to them.

Elijah's chestnut locks flowed like a sunlit waterfall, framing his handsome face. He is obviously much taller than his younger brother. 

Muscles subtly hinted at his physical frame, a quiet testament to his strength. And I know all about this small mole hidden at the back of his ear back when we were kids.

Did their behaviors change? Elijah seemed more approachable and friendlier compared to Ethan back then, right now, I think they have switched.

My inner wolf couldn't remain silent. A growl rose within me, a silent cry of anguish as I witnessed Elijah holding hands with someone. The pain it stirred wasn't just about my feelings but something primal within me.

Elijah seemed to sense my turmoil for a fleeting moment, a flicker of concern in his eyes. But then, he quickly diverted his gaze, focusing intently on the woman beside him, leaving me to grapple with my emotions in silence.

“What the hell is he doing?” Ethan looked furious before looking at me, “I will talk to him about this, don’t worry baby.”

I shook my head before helping him carry the meals he bought for everyone, “There is no need, if he wants to talk, he will approach us.”

Ethan looked confused but sighed deeply because he probably understood that is how I perceived Elijah. I bit my lower lip because, to be honest, I don’t know if he was still the same.

It has been a while since we spent a lot of time together, I am sure that a lot of things have changed between us three.

Lunch suddenly became awkward as the students were confused with what was going on between me and the Alphas. My friends didn’t pry, I think they’re going to wait for me to open up about this matter.

We all decided to go back to class when I felt that I needed to pee in the middle of the discussion, this is probably because I drank a lot of water just to calm my nerves a while ago. 

I excused myself from class and went to the restroom. It is also an excuse to give myself a break from all the thoughts bothering me.

I went past this abandoned stockroom when someone harshly grabbed me inside that dark room, my heart leaped into my throat and I gasped in sheer shock.

“W-What the? Who—” I was cut off when someone started kissing me passionately on my lips as if he had missed me. His tongue immediately slipped into mine, it was obvious that he knew what he was doing.

He was towering over my well-being when he suddenly hoisted me up, his rash hands sliding to every part of my body. Every nerve in my body tingled as his aggressive gestures and caresses erased all my previous thoughts.

I don’t know what was going on but my inner wolf was pleased. She knew who this was. He then pushed himself towards my delicate frame as he wrapped my legs gently behind his back, giving him and me more access to one another.

His hardness was poking me in my core, sending a whole new level of sensation to the point I think I’m about to explode. This is insane.

I gently pushed him away, trying to catch the air that I had lost from that intense make-out session that just happened.

“E-Eli?” I called out his old nickname, making his whole body stiff as he harshly put me down. I almost whimpered in pain as I felt a metal hitting the side of my waist.

“Fuck! This damn connection.” His tone hinted with worry as he helped me up, “You better stay away from me outside, this…is an accident.”

“Accident?” I gritted my teeth because of anger, and my eyes finally adjusted to the abandoned stockroom.

His silver eyes looked shocked at my furious and pained expression. Eli looked like he wanted to do something but all he did was crouch before me.

What happened next surprised me when he raised my shirt. I was about to scream when he suddenly licked the side of my waist.

I almost moaned with what he did, his tongue felt too comfortably warm. I cupped my mouth because he might have misunderstood why I was making those muffled expressions.

The pain I felt slowly subsided and when he was sure it was gone, he gently pulled my shirt down before standing up.

“Stay away from me, this happened because I…I just smelled it.” He muttered deeply, forcing me to clench my fists.

He did not just smell me, he was here as if he was expecting me to get out of the class. What is wrong with him?

“Eli, I have not seen you for a long time and this is how you will greet me? I-It’s my birthday too…” I mumbled. 

He averted his gaze and walked away, “I meant what I said, okay? Plus you don’t need us, you have a boyfriend anyway, celebrate your day with him.” 

That bitterness in his tone. I didn’t know he could speak like this to me. Eli has always been gentle with me, right now, I don’t get it.

Why is he being like this? Did I do something wrong or is he jealous about me having Paul as my boyfriend before?

“No Eli—stop it, I don’t want to hear anything. I am leaving.” He coldly cut me off and swiftly left the abandoned stockroom.

I couldn’t believe what just happened. I massaged my forehead and went out of there to cool my head. I don’t know what the hell is going on with my life but it’s starting to get into my nerves.

When I got back to class, everyone stopped and looked at me giggling annoyingly. They probably smelled their Alpha on me.

I groaned in annoyance and decided to pretend to focus on class even though on the inside, my thoughts were eating me up.

When class ended, I bid my friends goodbye. They both looked worried about me but I knew they are giving me the space that I needed.

I was about to go back to my dorm when I felt that someone hugged me from behind, it was Ethan. My wolf whimpered before he forced me to look at him.

“Hey, are you alright? Did you meet him?” Ethan asked, which made me nod before sighing deeply. He must’ve smelled his brother's scent all over me.

“Did I do anything that made him upset?” I almost teared up because it pained me deeply for some reason, more than the breakup that I experienced previously.

Eli has never treated me that way. He also confused me with his actions and words, none of them connected one bit.

Ethan worriedly looked at me before shrugging, “No, we just got here, so it’s impossible you did something wrong. I am also not sure why is he with the sister of your boyfriend.” 

“W-What? That’s Tina Bailey?” I bit my lower lip. I have heard a lot of bad things about her from Paul before.

She had been in trouble for seducing a lot of single and mated werewolves last year and was suspended. My wolf growled at my thoughts. 

I tried to calm her down but she is going crazy to the point that she wants to go and see Eli, which is not going to happen.

After the conversation, we had a while ago? There is no way I am talking to him again unless he apologizes. It was also part of our rule back then.

“Are you still with him? This is what I want to talk to you about.” I flinched when Ethan gently held onto my hands. I cautiously raised my gaze, his silver eyes held worry.

“We broke up.” I gently patted his head, “He cheated on me recently. There’s nothing you have to worry about because there is no way I’d get back to him.”

Ethan exhaled a lungful of air, it looked like he was relieved to hear that, “Good, I don’t think we can accept your rejection.”

“Hey, that’s not—” I stopped at his statement. If I were still with Paul, would I have the guts to reject them? I shook my head.

I could never hurt them like that. I clenched my fists before looking at him, he had this sinister look on his face.

“No offense baby, I am happy you guys broke up because I know we can treat you better than he did.” He playfully winked, making me smile.

I have no doubts they would treat me better than Paul did. They proved that even if we were not yet at the right age.

To be continued…