Chapter 2

Aria.

I didn't wait for school to end, I just ran back home.

My mom called after me when I ran into my room but I wasn't in a state to respond. It was hurting me that Hunter had been showing hate to me all these years and now he was touching me that way....the way his lips touched my skin was still creating a tingling sensation in those certain places.

My heart ached to remember how we used to be so close to each other and I gradually lost my best friend without even knowing where I had gone wrong.

My life seemed like a mess to me.

I cried and cried and cried, burying my face in the pillow.

Hunter will always have a place in my heart, no matter how much he hurt me but the thing was...he was slowly shattering me into pieces.

I just hope he won't shatter me so much that I can't even be myself again.

Soon my eyes felt heavy and I fell into a deep slumber.

*****

Unlike yesterday, today I had really managed to escape Hunter's eyes or maybe not-- Hunter simply wasn't in school today probably because he was too busy with the pack meetings. So, his one day of disappearance was a blessing for me since I still needed time to recover from yesterday's event.

I entered the third class, I had let my hair down and my hoodie off my head. It was of no work, if Hunter wanted he could know about me just by asking anyone in the school. He was popular plus every female wolf wanted to get into the pants of the Alpha plus I wasn't unaware that Hunter had already slept with countless girls.

He was handsome, and all the girls he had dated were pretty. A thousand percent better than me, I don't even know why I kept comparing myself to his girlfriends--I couldn't even match their toes. Even when

Sighing I wrote down my notes, the classes could feel pretty boring—Especially when you have no one to talk to, and more when everybody ignores you.

A bitter chuckle slipped past my lips, the truth really stung. Everyone around the school ignored me, so did the few friends I had before Hunter and my friendship started to go downhill.

Just after my thoughts were complete I saw Hunter's girlfriend, Ashley walking inside the class. So the upcoming insults were no longer far.

And as I had expected, I heard Ashley's nasal voice, "So the shitface is here.."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my calm, I didn't hate Ashley but I hated the way she behaved with me without any reason. Hunter had been for quite a while, Hunter shifted two years ago and Ashley, well...She and I shared the same birthday, so she and I both were going to shift the day after tomorrow.

Ashley strongly believed that she would be the luna and that's the reason she pursued a relationship with Hunter, even though Hunter still sleeps around with different female wolves. Even before coming to school, I had caught the sight of him making out with Savanna; The girl had almost slept with every male of the pack.

"Why aren't you covering your nasty face? You ugly-looking bitch!" She walked closer.

"It's my face so I think I know better what to do," I replied without looking at her.

I might be weakling but that's only when it came to Hunter, I wasn't going to tolerate anyone else. Even if it was the girlfriend of the person who was the first person I have ever...forget it! There was no use in repeating the same story; Once I find my mate, my feelings for Hunter would be put to an end,

"You really started talking too much, I think you need a lesson." She abruptly kicked at the foot of the chair and unfortunately, the sudden imbalance caused it to fall.

A small hiss tore from my mouth when I felt my head hit the floor, and a stinging sensation burned through my forehead I could already realize that my ankle got twisted very badly and the state of the corner of my forehead also wasn't the best.

I raised myself off the floor using my hands putting myself in a sitting

Position, the metallic smell of blood hit my nose and I touched the side of my forehead and my hand felt the blood.

"This place suits you, dirt should be on the ground."

Multiple laughter echoed throughout the class.

She crouched down and grabbed my face harshly, her nails dug into my cheeks as she did so, I closed my eyes to give myself one last second before I really punch her. My hand had already made a fist, ready to make an impact with her face at any moment.

"I don't care if you're back or not, all I want you to do is to stay away from my boyfriend. Don't get near Hunter at any cost, understand?"

Yes, it was the perfect time to punch her.

I took a deep breath but before I could do it a sudden voice spoke, "How many times do I have to tell you Ashely that don't interfere in my personal matters?"

My gaze moved to the door and I saw Hunter standing at the entrance, he threw away the cigarette in his and marched in our direction, his jaw was clenched and his hands fisted to his besides.

Ashley stood up and looked at Hunter, fear was all I could see in her.

"Alpha, I-I.."

"Don't fucking talk.. Don't you dare to say a word!" His dangerous glare made her cower away.

He walked toward me, his hard glare started dissipating when he looked at the cut on my forehead.

I was so shocked to even react, it was as if I was dreaming and everything happening in front of my eyes was not even real. I had never expected him to take any such step for me, not after his terrible treatment towards me over the past few years.

Hunter slowly picked me up into his arms, his unanticipated movement caused a squeak to escape my mouth and my arms went to wrap themselves around his neck. The unexpected gentleness from the touch left me flabbergasted.

He exited the room with me in his arms without giving a glance back at his girlfriend.

As I started to get out of the daze I realized where he was exactly going, he was taking me to his car. Panic instantly rushed through me.

"Where are you taking me?" I stuttered.

No reply came from him.

"Alpha, please..put me down."

He moved closer to his car.

"Put me down!"

"Can you shut the fuck up?" Hunter's shout cut me off guard, my body reacted automatically to his sudden reaction and I found myself hiding my face in his chest only to shield myself but my conscience couldn't realize that I was trying to find protection in the chest of the same person who had left no limits to hurt me.

His body stiffened for a second and his heavy breathing started getting normal, on the other hand, the realization of what I had done hit me when his manly Cologne floated inside my nostrils.

I immediately pulled away and muttered a quick apology to which I again received no reply.

Without a word, Hunter put me inside the car and shut the door before he also got inside the car and soon started driving and I didn't know where the hell he was taking me.

A few minutes passed in the awkward silence until I decided to break It, "Where are taking me." My voice was a mere whisper.

"The pack hospital."

"W-Why?"

"Haven't you noticed that you have twisted your ankle?" His tone was harsh and suppressed with anger that seemed not exactly directed to me.

"I-I..." I couldn't find anything so I kept my head hanging low and stared at my hands.

Tears started blurring my vision not exactly giving me a reason why—His cold behavior hadn't gotten me this way the sudden nice gesture of him had. It was strange.

I wasn't close to Hunter in any way, in fact, I was just the victim who has to face his wrath every other day depending on his mood.

Suddenly I felt a light touch on my cheek, I looked to my right and saw Hunter's gaze fixed on me, "Is it hurting too bad?" His eyes were void of any harshness or the usual coldness. 

The softness in the gaze caught me off guard, "Uh-- I-I, no. it's not."

"Oh...we have arrived," Hunter spoke and parked the car.

He got out of the car, came to my side, and picked me up in bridal style just like before. The tiredness of my body started taking over leaving me with no strength to fight or insist to put me down.

He took me to the packed hospital and gently made me sit down on the bed, my heartbeat took a pace when his cheek lightly brushed mine. The feel of his breath warm against my skin.

"Lisa," He called out, and soon after I saw a brunette coming our way--Certainly I hadn't come to the pack hospital before, so I didn't really know the name of the Doctor but surely Hunter did.

"Yes, Alpha." She immediately bowed to him, judging by her appearance I could tell she was elder than me and similar to Hunter's age--He was nearly two years elder than me.

"Check her Ankle, and yes treat the cut on her forehead" He curtly jerked his head toward me and the doctor instantly got to work. Meanwhile, he sat beside me eyeing every single movement of the nurse very skeptically.

"I'm going move your feet, you'll be fine just bear with me." The doctor smiled at me and I managed to nod and then I heard the crack,  the pain that shot through left me clutch the nearest object--And of course, my poor luck made me grab none other than my tormentor's hand.

"It'll go away, calm down." To my surprise, He pulled me closer to his body and gently placed his hand around my waist--The touch sent sparks throughout my body.

Something wasn't usual, neither his behavior nor the sensations his touch was sending.

Before I could figure anything out, the doctor's voice saying that we could go surprised me. I subconsciously touched my forehead, it was treated--I hadn't even felt her treating the cut on my forehead.

"Okay, thanks, Lisa." Hunter scooped me in his arms like before and then headed to his car again.

No, I'm not going to go with him. I knew even though he was acting nice to me, he'd treat me like shit tomorrow.

"I can go home alone, Alpha," I spoke.

He didn't reply, instead, he kept walking towards his car.

"Alpha, I can go home on my own!" I added again, this time louder.

Again, no reply.

"Alpha, I can.."

"I've heard you, Damn it!" He spoke, but not with a shout--Only the irritation in his voice visible.

I decided to keep my mouth shut, I couldn't just win--Not in this state with my twisted ankle, and a ride to home would be much safer.

Hunter put me inside the car, and soon after he got inside he began driving toward my home's direction. Only the beta and Alpha were to have separated buildings, other than that everyone lived in the packhouse, and since my dad was the Beta before Hunter and others took over the positions I got the facility.

"Listen to me, kitten.."

Great! His usual tone was back.

"Yes?"

"Today, all of these favors I have done for you was just because I'm the Alpha and it was my duty to keep you unharmed. So, don't try to get any meaning out of it, neither I care for you nor do I like your presence. You are the last person I would like to help, next time be aware of it. " He spoke, his time void of emotions. 

"I'm aware of it." I nodded, but damn his words hurt so much!

"Good." He nodded and drove me to my home.