Chapter 4 - Josette

I could barely keep up as Mr. Charleson droned on and on about alkynes, or was it aldehydes? Honestly, I didn't know anymore. I might have to speak to him after class for assistance; exams were around the corner, and my grades were already low. I couldn't afford to fail chemistry.

Vanessa was currently absent; she had been recruited for an interschool competition. Without meaning to, I found myself doodling on my notebook, my pencil scratching out random patterns.

I must have zoned out because the next thing I knew, the bell rang, and everyone started packing up for lunch. In a rush, I called out. “Mr. Charleson.”

I quickly grabbed my bag off the floor and picked up my books, heading to the desk at the front of the class where Mr. Charleson sat.

He sat, arranging his textbooks in a leather bag, focused. Without looking up at me, he said, "Young lady, I noticed you weren't paying attention in class."

I replied quickly, trying to dissuade his thought, "No, sir, I... I did try. I just... I got lost."

He fixed his gaze on me and sighed, exasperatedly. "Look," he said, "I'll speak to the teacher, and we'll see if we can get you a tutor this late in the semester."

Before I could thank him profusely, a low, smooth voice spoke up from behind. "I can tutor her."

I didn't need to turn to know who spoke. Evander.

My heart sank as I turned to face Evander. I locked eyes with him, hoping he'd take back his offer, but he just stared back.

I slowly turned to face Evander, my eyes locking onto his in a silent plea to take back his offer. But he just gazed back at me and said nothing.

Before I could even process what was happening, Mr. Charleston chimed in from behind me, "Oh, excellent! That's very good!" He picked up his bag and stood to leave, oblivious to my distress.

I rushed to speak up, "No, sir, I—"

But Mr. Charleston was already nodding, "Yes, yes, that's all settled then." He glanced at me, his eyes expecting my agreement.

I felt trapped, unable to deny the arrangement. "That is... if you want me to." I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Charleston smiled, satisfied, and turned to leave. As I watched him go, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just made a deal with the devil himself.

I turned to Evander, furious. "Look here, I don't know what game you're playing, but I really need this," I hissed.

Evander shrugged, his hands slipping into his pockets. "I don't have a game, Josette. I'm just offering to help."

His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Are you even good at chemistry?" I asked, eyeing him skeptically. I knew nothing about him.

about him.

"I guess we'll find out." He said, leading the way out.

Reluctantly, I trailed behind him.

* * *

Evander clearly had no idea what he signed himself up for when he volunteered to tutor me. But it was dawning on him. As much as I want to be glad that I'm able to get him riled up, I still haven't made any progress, and we've been at the library for over two hours. I'd even skipped a class for this, and yet I was still as hopeless as I was before.

I scribbled notes furiously, but his words were a jumbled mess in my brain. I had started to get frustrated, more than ready to give up.

"I don't get it, Evander," I whined, frustrated.

He was starting to lose his patience with me. "We've gone over this like five times, Josette. It's not that hard."

"I know, but nothing seems to stick." I sighed, rubbing my temples. Even after all this time, I still couldn't remember anything.

Evander leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. He was quiet for a moment, and then he looked at me. "You're just not remembering it, are you?"

I shook my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Evander was silent for a while, but suddenly he leaned forward so fast that I moved back instinctively.

"I think I have an idea," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

I looked at him, confused.

* * *

Over the next couple of days, Evander had been helping me memorize chemistry during lunch, using funny pictures to make them stick. I'm not sure how he does it, but it actually worked, and I feel more confident than before. And somehow, our previously strained relationship had shifted. We were almost friends now. Or as much as one could be friends with Evander.

Monday arrived, and I was nervous about the exam. But as I sat down, I felt a gentle squeeze on my hand. I looked up to see him offering a reassuring nod before heading to his seat and I felt better. Vanessa raised an eyebrow, hinting that we'd talk about it later. She and Riley had expressed concerns about my relationship with him, but I'd brushed them off, insisting he was just my tutor. Vanessa had even offered to help me study, but I'd declined, I didn't want to add to her already packed schedule.

I'd worried for nothing - the exam was a breeze. I was so happy that I threw my arms around Evander in a tight hug as soon as I saw him.

He laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement, opening his arms to catch me as I threw myself at him. As he lifted me off the ground, I felt his strong arms wrap around me, holding me close. His warm breath on my skin sent shivers down my spine, his hard body beneath mine ignited a wave of heat within me. Our eyes locked, and time stood still. The world around us melted away, and all that mattered was the two of us, lost in each other's eyes.

The moment was shattered when he abruptly pulled away, his nostrils flaring. Startled, I took a couple of steps backwards and Liam suddenly inserted himself between us, his back to me, facing Evander. "Don't, Van, don't," Liam warned, his voice low and urgent. Confused about what was happening, I tried to peer around Liam's broad shoulders, but he was too tall. I couldn't see Evander's face or gauge his reaction. All I saw was Evander's retreating back as he strode away, his long legs eating up the distance. Liam turned to me, his eyes flashing with anger, before he took off after Evander.

I was left alone in the hallway, with everyone staring at me accusingly, wondering what the hell just happened.

*EVANDER*

I had no idea why I volunteered to tutor her; I just couldn't help myself when I overheard her conversation with Mr. Charleson. I told myself that I did it to prove to my father that I could control myself around her without having to distance myself, to prove to him that she had no effect on me. But deep down, I wanted to be around her.

And over the past couple of days, something had changed. My need to be around her increased, and I'd started to look forward to seeing her. From up close, I could see every detail I'd missed earlier—the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes when she laughed, the redness of her nose when she got angry.

It was infuriating, to say the least. I'd always prided myself on my control, but Josette had taken that away.

The feeling of her warm body against mine was all it took for me to snap. I couldn't put all the blame on my wolf, for I also wanted her. If it weren't for Liam, Lord knows I would have had my way with her right there, not caring if anyone witnessed it. I'd punish her for tempting me with her sweet scent, that tiny skirt that teased me as the wind blew it up her thighs, for having such an effect on me. And I'd be sure to enjoy every moment of it.

One whiff of her scent up close, and I'd lost every semblance of control. I got out of there as fast as I could, but not fast enough. My wolf screamed at me to go back to her, to give in and have her on her knees where he wanted her. But my human side was still coherent enough to know that it would be a mistake. I couldn't afford to lose control. Not now. Not ever.

The closer it got to my eighteenth, the more powerful my wolf felt, the more in control, and I knew that it would only be a matter of time before he took what he wanted.

And I had a feeling that I wouldn't stop him.