pain

Emily's Point Of View

"So, what do you think?" Eren asks, a smile tugging at his lips.

"About what?"

"This place." I sigh, looking around.

"Crowded." I don't have any other words to describe, admitting that the place might be the most happening spot in town right now.

Again, a group of girls peer at me from the corner of the room, catching my attention. I use my super hearing to hear one of them say.

“Who is that bitch with Eren? She looks so out of his league.” A brunette laughs.

"Am I doing a sin or what? It feels so hot in here, with all those glares shot in my direction." I fan myself with my hand.

Eren turns his head towards the girls, giving them a death stare that makes them abruptly look away. He faces me again with a smirk on his face.

"Don't worry. I'm not dating any of those humans,"

"I can't believe a guy like you can stay single," I blurt out, recalling Peter's conversation with a girl named Lesley a while ago, only to regret it later. It might sound like a cheap pick-up line from any girl, but really, I genuinely think that way.

Every girl would line up to become Eren's girlfriend. Not me, of course. I'm not interested in developing my feelings for my brother's best friend, and the Alpha of the most feared pack.

"A guy like what?" he asks, looking amused.

I laugh, rolling my eyes. "I guess you're just the same as my brother." Peter doesn't like commitments with girls, and I guess that Eren is no different.

He smiles. "No, we're different. I do commit to some girls," he says, as if reading my mind. Smart guy indeed, isn't he?

I shake my head, laughing. "Sorry. Maybe we shouldn't be talking about this." It feels slightly inappropriate to bring up such a topic as a warm-up with a new companion.

Shouldn't we be talking about college? About his major? I heard he was the football team captain, we could talk about that.

"Why not? I'm sure you've heard enough about me." Eren smirks. "Because I have heard quite a lot about you."

I can't disagree. The topic piques my interest, though.

"Really? Like what?" Eren leans closer to me against the bar counter, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he locks eyes with me, making my breath catch in my throat.

"Emily Stoneheart. 18, shifted when she turned ten into a white wolf which is too early than most she-wolves, and considered extremely rare. Majoring in Geoscience. Loves to play the Cello, been playing it since she was three actually. I even know your favourite composers, Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, Edward Elgar, Robert Schumann." I gasp, and he continues,

"You wanted to major in literature and English studies before, but your parents wouldn't let you, and in the end, you had your mind set to pursue a career in geological science." That fact makes me raise my eyebrows.

"You had this obsession with the movie Harry Potter when you were a kid and a weird crush on Lightning McQueen. I mean he is a race car but I listen, don't judge.”

Oh, Gosh. I burst into laughter, and Eren laughs too, drawing even more attention from the other people in the room. I look at him with my mouth agape.

"Did my brother tell you all of that?" I rasp.

"He talks about you quite often." Eren shrugs, leaning back in his seat and his playful smirk is back again.

"Anything else, Mrs McQueen?" I'm about to open my mouth to respond, but he cuts me off.

"But there's this one fact about you that caught me off guard," he says, scrutinizing me.

"What?" I ask, clueless.

"That you've never had a boyfriend. I thought Peter was bluffing, feeding his ego, bragging about being your knight in shining armour. But now, I can see why he wants to look out for you even though you're in college." I frown but can't resist asking more.

"Why is that?" Eren leans even closer, his gaze on me so intense that I'm scared to break our eye contact.

"Because you, Emily Stoneheart, are the good girl every bad boy dreams of," he deadpans, his voice low. He startles me.

Something about the way he said the sentence sends chills through my body, as if he's the bad boy himself.

How could a guy flip his personality that fast? One time, he made me laugh. But then, he sent cold shivers down my spine.

I pretend to scoff with ignorance, just so I can look away. "How can you be so sure that I'm indeed a good girl?" I challenge him, already feeling inferior by the way he managed to read me like an open book.

To my surprise, he plasters a charming smile, brushing his fingers against my cheek before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. And that movement heats up my cheek. His touch is like electricity on my skin. I can't explain what it was but I knew I craved more of it secretly.

I freeze, like a statue, not even able to blink.

"See?" He laughs. "You're blushing again. This is the fourth time I have managed to make you turn red as a fruit."

Unbelievable. My face flushes even more, if that's even possible. I feel so embarrassed. He's such a tease. Even when he called me pretty back then in the house.

"Are you drunk, Emm?" Peter's voice snaps me out from my trance as he takes his seat again between Eren and me at the bar.

Thank the goddess. My lifesaver. "Drunk?" I echo.

"She didn't even drink," Eren says, amusement present in his voice. "But your face is so red Emily."

Peter studies me with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"

“I’m more than sure." I bite my lip, shifting my gaze to my straw again. "It's just so hot in here.”

I'm not lying. It feels hot in here. Eren. Eren is hot. Damn, my skin feels like it's scorching.

"How was the dance?" I ask Peter.

Peter smirks. "Fun." He calls the bartender and orders another shot.

"Although I wish Eren wouldn't have let me enjoy it by myself."

I laugh. "It's true, then. You're not interested in any girl, Eren, even just for fun." Maybe he's indeed different from my brother. I don't know how to feel about it, but I think that it's a good thing. One thing I don't like about Peter is that he's a complete player. But as far as I know, Peter plays only if the feeling is mutual, only if both parties want no strings attached. He wouldn't play with a good girl.

"I am interested," Eren says, his voice lack of emotion. "I had a girlfriend." And that surprises me. So, he's into serious dating, unlike Peter.

"He chose her as a mate and they lasted for two years," Peter adds. "Broke up six months ago," he continues, as if knowing that I'm curious. "And you still leave me here alone with all these chicks out here, man." Peter scowls.

I watch Eren, who is still expressionless. Maybe my intuition a while ago was wrong. He isn't a bad boy. He was, apparently, a loyal mate. But why does his aura speak differently? Why does it speak of danger? Why do I feel like he's dangerous?

"She's not worth it, Eren," Peter says before taking his shot and placing his tequila glass on the counter with a loud thud. And at this moment, I see something that I don't expect. Hurt in Eren's eyes.

Those emerald eyes turn cold but filled with pain. Has he not moved on from his ex-girlfriend?

I shake my head, not believing what I'm feeling. It's only day one since I met this guy, but so many questions have popped up inside my head about this mysterious guy. Just like a moth to a flame, I am drawn to this mysterious alpha.