RowenaThe cool night air blew across my face as I stepped out into the backyard. As I made my way toward the lone figure sitting by the pond, the sounds of the party began to fade and were soon replaced by the chirping crickets and the wind rustling through the trees.As I approached, the figure didn’t look up. But I knew it was Eric, not just from his familiar head of blond hair, but from his broad shoulders in the darkness.He was sitting in the grass by the edge of the pond that was situated at the center of all of the warrior cottages. It was a serene place here, with the sounds of the bullfrogs croaking just offshore.Without saying anything, I walked up to Eric and stood beside him. We both stayed like that for a while, neither of us speaking, just enjoying the view.Across the pond, the golden lights of the other cottages twinkled and mingled with the light of the moon rippling on the surface of the calm water. With each passing breeze, another ripple would blow across the sur
RowenaI ran.I ran so fast that the cold wind hitting my cheeks caused my tears to blow back across my face, into my hair. I ran so fast that I lost all of the breath from my lungs. I ran so fast that my knees felt weak and my feet stung from slapping against the pavement.And it still didn’t feel fast enough.Eric’s calls after me had long since faded, and I still hadn’t stopped. Even as the warriors’ village faded into the distance and all that was around me were the towering trees and the sounds of the night time creatures, I refused to stop.No, I had to keep running. Because maybe, if I ran fast and far enough, it wouldn’t be true.Eric was my mate.Or at least, that was what he had said. I could still hear his voice in my ears when he had uttered those words.“You are my mate!” he had said.We had both stood there in stunned silence after he had said those words, and at first, I couldn’t help but laugh. In fact, I laughed so hard that I doubled over, clutching my stomach as sti
RowenaI stood in front of the bathroom mirror, smoothing down my hair as my heart pounded in my chest. Today, I was wearing my usual: a pair of jeans, a white button-down, and a blue cardigan. I had my hair pulled back into a neat bun and wore my glasses, with my leather bag slung across my body.But today, when I should have been busy thinking about my upcoming classes and my assignments, my mind was on other things. Or rather, one thing in particular.
Rowena & EricRowenaThe dining room smelled like garlic and roast chicken, the only sounds that of cutlery on dishes and soft classical music in the background. My parents sat on either end of the table, wearing their more dressed-down—but still dressy enough for a family dinner—clothes. Eric and I sat between them, our gazes fixed on our plates.This was our monthly occasion&mdas
Rowena“Today, you’re going to be getting up from your desks and performing a physical assessment.”There was an audible murmuring amongst the class. From where I sat near the window, I could see my classmates shifting uncomfortably in their seats; it was a Friday morning, and the last thing that anyone wanted to do was physical exams, which usually involved having to pair up and exercise.
RowenaWhen I finally found refuge beneath the stairs, there were tears in my eyes for reasons I couldn’t quite understand. I huffed to myself as I sat down, dropping my leather satchel onto the tile floor.“Dammit,” I muttered as I wiped my eyes with my sleeve.I couldn’t believe I was skippin
RowenaI couldn’t believe my ears when Emma actually said yes to my request to get hot cocoa together. After purchasing our things, we found ourselves sitting at a small corner table in a nearby cafe, our shopping bags piled around us and two steaming mugs of hot chocolate on the table.“So,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, “how have you… how have you been?”
RowenaThe sound of fists pummeling leather filled the air as Eric stood with his back turned to me, sweat running down his skin. He almost seemed to be hitting his punching bag with a primal, feral intensity—almost as though he was trying to get out his anger, or perhaps his frustration.I wasn’t sure why I just stood there, staring at him. Maybe it was simply fascination with his form.