Unseen Bond

A joke.

I had no idea what he was on about, but I’d definitely seen something play out like this before. The taunting, the condescension from Higan and his minions. Higan must have recruited him the minute he got here to taunt me. Well, too bad. Whoever this new student was, I wouldn’t let him have his way with me. Never.

His cold and unnerving eyes bore into mine. Even his ridiculously perfect face wasn’t going to disarm me. “You can start by apologizing, you know?” I demanded, my voice laced with defiance. “You bumped into me.”

He blinked, a look of disbelief washing over his features. His brows furrowed as if he was trying to recollect himself. He probably figured I wasn’t buying his antics. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” he apologized, his tone flat, confirming my suspicion that this was some kind of twisted joke.

“Sure you didn’t,” I spat, the words laced with sarcasm, harsher than I’d intended.

He recoiled slightly. “No, I—”

“And just so you know,” I interrupted, cutting him off, “I don’t care who you are or who you’re affiliated with. Whether it’s Higan or whoever, I won’t let a newcomer walk over me.”

He tilted his head, a look of curiosity flashing across his face. “Who is Higan?”

Ignoring his question, I snapped, “I don’t have time for this.” I shoved past him for good measure, not bothering to look back, and headed toward the teacher’s staff room, my heart still pounding from the encounter.

I got to the staff room and luckily enough for me, Mr. Donald bought my lie, but I think the major reason for the pardon was because I never defaulted in handing in my homework. As I made my way to the next class, the thought of the hallway encounter crossed my mind. His apology had been strangely hollow, almost like he wasn’t used to saying the words. And that question about Higan... it had been so out of place. How could anyone in Springville not know who Higan Sinclair was? Even the previous new student who arrived three years ago, knew about Higan the second he got to Springville.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I had more pressing concerns, like surviving the rest of the day without running into Higan’s lackeys. I quickened my pace and I spotted Aiko, a Beta of the Crescent Moon pack, talking in hushed tones with a group of familiar girls at the far end of the hall. I wondered what they were discussing—probably my humiliating rejection at the Mating Ritual. My brows drew together as I strained to listen. Their voices were like a distant hum.

With growing frustration, I tucked my hair behind my ear, hoping to catch a few words. My sensitive ears picked up snippets—“moonlight”… “ritual”… “Higan”… “rejected.” That was all I needed to know. They burst out laughing as if they had just shared a joke amongst themselves. They weren’t wrong to laugh. I was a joke. I heaved a sigh, trying not to let it get to me. I turned on my heels, not wanting to listen to any more of the occurrence of my shameful night. Suddenly, a name I heard from one of them stopped me in my tracks. I swiveled and took a step closer, my eyes fixed on the group, willing them to speak clearly. They didn’t glance my way. I was thankful for that. I was invisible to them anyway.

“Ethan Starrk,” Aiko whispered to them in a serious tone.

“I heard he’s here with his pack. This is our territory. What business does he have in Springville?” Another girl chimed in. I stiffened, and my skin grew clammy. The look on their faces almost sent a shiver down my spine. If a new student could make a group of Betas look this way, then I was acting too calm for my own good. He was definitely trouble. I knew there was something off about him. From what I could get from the gist, he was an Alpha. But of which pack? The other ones I’ve heard of apart from ours weren’t led by a high schooler. I mentally face-palmed at how badly behaved I was towards him and the baseless assumption I made of him being affiliated with Higan. I pursed my lips as I scanned the hallway. There were barely any students around as most had already cleared out for their next period. I prayed silently I wouldn’t catch a glimpse of him. I was going to avoid him as much as possible.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. I managed to avoid any more confrontations with Higan’s minions, and I knew for certain that he wasn’t busy doing his dirty deeds with Tess, because there was no heart-wrenching pain. But there was this lingering fear in my mind, that I had crossed the wrong person. By the time the final bell rang, I was more than ready to leave.

I made my way to my locker, in a dash. Just as I was about to close my locker, I felt an airy presence behind me. My heart leaped into my throat, as I spun around, expecting to see Higan or one of his goons.

“You,” I blurted absentmindedly. Ethan stood a few feet away, with an expression I couldn't decipher. Those strange eyes fixed on me again. Shit! Shit! Shit! “Do you need anything?” I asked, my voice quivering.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took a step closer, his intense gaze searching.

“I’m sorry I upset you earlier,” he said quietly, the words still sounding foreign coming from his mouth. “I didn’t mean to.” His gaze remained locked on mine, an awkward silence stretching between us. I arched my brows, not knowing the right words to say. I might just say the wrong thing and who knows what he might do to me. For Moonsake I was just an Omega.

“Where are you from?” he demanded, his voice carrying an authority I couldn’t resist. I pondered on why he would ask me such. Shouldn’t the question be directed at him? He was the new guy in town. I didn’t utter a word, but he continued. “There’s something different about you.”

“Different?” I echoed, narrowing my eyes, reminiscing the moment he first mentioned the word. “What are you talking about?”

He hesitated as if searching for the right words. “What bloodline are you from?” he asked. Bloodline? What’s with the strange questions? Is he trying to end my generation? I’d be open to seeing his displeasure when he finds out I’m nothing but an omega. “Are you from the Moon Stone Pack?”

I stared at him, trying to process what he had just asked me and it took everything in me not to laugh, considering I was in a dire situation I wanted to get out of. Did he seriously just ask me if I was from the Moon Stone Pack? The Moon Stone Pack was ancient and was one of the first bloodlines of werewolves. They harnessed unimaginable powers from the moonstone, making them, unbelievably powerful and indestructible. But according to legends, they vanished into myth when the stone was lost.

“No, I’m not,” I answered, shaking my head vigorously. Maybe that would make him stop. “I hope that answers all your questions.” I turned to leave, but he reached out, his hand gently brushing my arm. The contact sent a strange, electric sensation through me, and I froze. I peered up at him, waiting for him to do the unknown, but he didn’t. After what felt like a lifetime, he reluctantly let go of my arm. I clutched my arm as if it burned, then ambled away, feeling his eyes on me but daring not to look back.

As I got to the school parking lot, my mind was still wandering.

“Harlyn,” Higan’s voice cut through my daze. I turned around and almost collided with his chest. His face was contorted into a mask of fury, or maybe it was something else. I couldn’t tell. The expression on his face now was one I’d never seen before.

“Higan” I exclaimed, gaping in disbelief. Why does he have to be so close? How the hell is he here alone with me? The moon be damned if Higan was seen alone with me in such proximity. Yet here he was. My inner wolf stirred, sensing him near. She was restless, whining softly in the depths of my mind. I couldn’t control it. Was this one of his tactics to taunt me? Because it was working. “What do you think you’re doing?”

My heart pounded widely as he slowly closed the distance between us, his dark brown eyes like two burning coals. “I should be asking you that question, Harlyn,” he replied coolly, his voice dangerously low. “What do you think you are doing?”

My brows pulled together. “What?” I asked as if I hadn't heard what he had said. Knowing Higan, he wasn’t one to repeat himself, so I was hoping for some sort of clarity in the question he would ask next.

“What games are you playing with Ethan Starrk?” he growled.

The realization dawned on me. He must have, at some point, seen me with Ethan. I struggled to maintain my composure, but his unwelcoming presence overwhelmed me. The desire to yield, to let him dominate me, almost made me sink to my knees, but I couldn’t let it happen.

“You’re mistaken,” I muttered, trying to steady my voice, but it came out weaker than I intended. “We were just—”

Higan’s hand shot out, gripping my chin in a vice-like hold. His touch was firm, yet it didn’t hurt. He tilted my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze. I could see the storm brewing in his eyes. Anger, jealousy, something else… It was hard to tell. For a moment, I was lost in the dark depths. “Don’t ever talk to him again,” he snarled, his voice barely above a whisper. His breath fanned against my skin. “Am I clear?”

I nodded, unable to find the strength to argue. Even if my wolf fought against his command, she was powerless against his Alpha presence. The bond I had with Higan wasn’t what I wanted, but it existed, binding me to him in a way I couldn’t escape.

He looked at me as if he wanted to add to what he said, but the words didn’t come. And when I thought things couldn’t get any more complicated.

Higan slammed his lips on mine.