Katherine. The tension was thick in the air as the silence lingered. Only the faint sound of breathing filled the air.The urge to scratch at my wrist was overwhelming, but it was hard to consider moving for a moment.More seconds passed, and I felt a tingling sensation at the back of my head.I finally broke out of my frozen state and looked away, yet I could still feel his gaze penetrating mine. ‘Ignore him,' I told myself. Clenching my jaw, I turned away, settling all the discarded jewelry in its place. One by one, I focused on my task as if it was the most important thing on earth.Anything to not face him.“Are you going to ignore me the whole time?”I stiffened at the sound of his voice for a moment, shutting my eyes tightly. I quickly regained my composure before moving again. Every second that passed felt more like torture. I could barely focus on my task anymore, placing jewelry in odd places. Kayla, like the perfectionist she was, would no doubt be livid once she found
Kiara.By the time we were done, I was ready to race out of the place. I did so, eventually, but not before receiving one of Kayla's pack-famous lectures.This time unlike others, she didn't seem as passionate and into it as usual. Perhaps because she noticed that I was so out of it, or perhaps because I was so out of it that I didn't take the full brunt of what she said.Either way, by the time she was done, I ran out like the devil was hot on my heels. Entering my house was the greatest reprieve, only that Mary was there.“Kiara?” She spoke in a hushed tone, her eyes filled with evident worry.Swallowing my pants and attempting to regain my lost composure, I shook my head.“I think I've had enough of Kayla now,” I sputtered out without any hesitation. Inside, I grasped myself.‘Please let her believe me.’ I inwardly prayed, sucking in the guilt that came from lying.Thankfully she did, her face twisting into a sympathetic expression.“That bad, huh?” She asked, moving toward me.A t
Kiara.Flashback.“So what do you say?” He asked. Despite his false bravado, I still spotted his fear as he looked at me with a pleading gaze.I had never seen him look this nervous. But it was a given, considering what he said.Pondering over it, there was only one answer.I parted my lips and spoke.“Yes.”….Present.“Are you really bothering over your dress?” He whined.“Yes. Now, hush and focus on the road,” I said.I raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to say anything else. As expected, Felix simply looked away and let me work my magic.Looking at my mirrored reflection, I wiped off the slight excess lipstick at the corner of my lips. There. Picture perfect ready.“Women.” His mutter made me turn to him again, spotting him stiffen as I did.“I just don't understand. You look good already.” The words rushed out of him, no doubt his feeble attempt to save himself.I faked a despondent sigh, turning toward my side of the door and reaching for the handle.“I guess you don't need m
Kariana.Isabella and Leo emerged from the side of the podium, reaching the two other people. Immediately, the place was bathed in an even louder applause, yet I couldn't hear it over my racing heart as I eyed the corner where they came from.‘Was he by chance also going to emerge?' The thought kept me still.Wasn't it more or less bad luck if I met him twice in a row? Even though I now had this new plan, I still needed time to think.“Kiara?” I swiftly turned to meet Felix's gaze. He looked sheepish as he took a step away.“Hate to break it to you, but even I have a level of grip strength I can handle. This tux has even less." He chuckled, raising the arm I'd just released to show the rumples in his tuxedo.I did that, I realised. I hadn't even noticed myself gripping his arm so badly.“Sorry,” I muttered, eyes darting toward the podium to see that there were still only four people there. No green eyed brunette man in sight.Inwardly, I let out a sigh of relief, turning back to Felix
Karina.My presence went unnoticed amongst the crowd that walked past me.Collecting two more glasses of fruity wine, I found my place in the corner of the festivities, sitting on a chair and table whilst looking listlessly at my phone.I was adept at small talk, at asking for information from people. But outright flirting? Hell no.Flitting through my screen, I furrowed my brows.There was no way I could do this properly. I just had to hold on so I didn't get stranded.As I waited for Cafe Stranger's next text, I swiped up to play a game. It was the only alternative to doing absolutely nothing.I couldn't let myself wander. All other worries aside, I didn't want to stray too far from where Felix would meet me.Anytime he actually came, that was.More time passed, and even playing a game felt like too much work. The phone almost slipped out of my hands from how loosely I held it.I wanted to go home, and the pleading croon from Germaine inside me spoke of the same sentiment.I had no
Karina.Returning back to the pack was akin to a rush of fresh air, literally. I embraced the familiar scents around me the moment we entered the pack area, relaxing at the buildings surrounding us.Felix stopped in front of Gino's home, where I had taken Levi to stay in the meantime. Stepping out, I groaned at the slight ache of my heels.“Of freaking course this will happen.” I cursed out, shutting my eyes.I was used to wearing them when it suited me. However, after months of being in maternity and wearing mostly flipflops and sandals, I decided to wear these to fit the occasion, and here I was suffering the consequences.Pain, it seemed, was a universal price to pay for looking good.It was going to lessen soon enough — the wonders of werewolf healing — but not until a few minutes after I took off the shoes.The sound of the car door closing followed by footsteps nearing me made me look up.“You really got yourself in a tizzy, didn't you?” He asked, placing one of my arms to wrap
Karina.The hallway was too quiet, but that was what I needed.Honing my hearing, there was no indication of anyone else nearby. Isabella was likely at her own job—owning and managing her bookshop— whilst Leo was at work. Aside from the faint and muffled noises that no doubt emanated from the kitchen, there was nobody else nearby.It was the perfect setting.I matched his glaring stare with one of my own, trying to ease my racing heart if its trepidation.‘Stay strong.’ Germaine spoke inside me. I took a step forward.“Connor-”“–Is he the reason?”I stopped short, all the circuits in my brain staggering at his words.What?“Wh…what?” I asked out loud, dumbfounded.“Felix. Is he the reason that you don't want to be my mate?” He asked.Surprise struck me, not just at his words and his insinuation. How did he know Felix's name?“I know a lot of people here, thanks to Isabella." He said as a way of reply. I blinked.Had I accidentally said it out loud or had he simply read my mind?Nev
Karina.His gaze was slightly stricken.Hope gleamed in me. Perhaps this was all I needed to do. Maybe now he'd stop trying to reach me.But he didn't say anything for another set of seconds, and slowly my hope turned into worry.I contemplated not moving forward.“Co- you… are you okay?” I asked. His name seemed too powerful to say.He nodded stiltedly before replying, “Yeah. I am.”I breathed out, all the tension and worry deflated like a bubble.“So… we're okay then,” I said tentatively, hoping that he'll agree.But he didn't say a word, or give any gesture. Instead, he turned away for a moment.“Please just answer this question for me.” He said.I nodded. No doubt it would be a question about whether I cared for him. Even if I did care enough to not reject him, it didn't change things.Liking someone wasn't enough, mate or not. I had seen it amongst the humans already, whether it was the gossip of coworkers or strangers or events that happened in my presence.Like wasn't enough. L