Chapter 6

After trying hard to control the class, the lecturer finally gave up. He dismissed the class for another day.

How I hated him. He began this and set the students against me but he couldn't stop what he had started.

The class resumed their banters and their noise echoed through the hall as they gathered up again.

 They were aggrieved that Mrs Hopkins chose to send me to them. They threw different glances at me and I cringed on the inside.

My savior left his seat and went on to address them. I couldn't make out their discussion but I knew he was trying to speak to them about me.

I rose to my feet and walked out of the hall dejectedly. I fiddled with my necklace and walked away wearily. My eyes burned as tears threatened to fall from them.

I have been rejected all through my life. My mother died because of me. Even in my own home, my father treated me like an outcast. To my stepmother, I am a little monster that her children must avoid. 

I was bullied at school and here I am, amidst the vilest individuals I have ever encountered in my life but I was still treated like garbage. I am invariably locked in here and I can't leave nor escape.

I knew I did not ask for any of this but I am beginning to think that I must have been cursed. Yes I'm jinxed!

"Don't you worry, I got your back," my savior's voice seeped into my thoughts and I jeered up looking above my shoulder.

I thought he was behind me but he was right beside me and our eyes met. Quickly, I cleaned away my tears and looked away.

 "Thank you," I responded dryly and began to walk away hurriedly.

"Hey! Wait!" He yelled and tried to catch up with me.

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier... I couldn't ntroduce myself during the class.. I am Hardin… I am the rep for the faculty of big cats. I know you are disappointed and all but what you just witnessed is a normal reaction… it's because you are… just human… I mean.. But be rest assured, I will deal with this accordingly…" he continued rambling and at a point, I got lost. 

"Let go of me!" I yelled and pushed him hard as I suddenly felt his arms around me.

"You blanked out!" He muttered and let go of me.

The roads were rowdy again as other facilities had also rounded off. I had strayed into a group of fast moving students who almost knocked me down. Hardin had to pull me out of the way and that was why his arms were around me.

My face flushed in embarrassment as I took in the scenario.

"Thanks… Hardin," I said and walked away hurriedly. This time, he stood rooted to a spot and watched me leave.

 I bumped into the dorm and slammed the door behind me.

"You will be fine…The rep… he promised to fix it, just accept his help for now," I said to myself and tried to relax.

I had hardly settled down when Evelyn walked in.

"Evelyn…" I said without knowing what to expect.

"Are you still mad at me?" I managed to ask but her next action was beyond my expectation. She dropped her handbag on the floor and started to walk towards me. Her strides were deliberate and she looked enraged.

She closed up on me and pushed me hard. With a single stroke, I fell against the wall.

Her hand found its way to my neck, stifling me and pinning me against the wall.

"You bitch! You don't belong here… what is your mission here!? Look, I don't bloody care about why you are here. Hardin is mine! Get the fuck out of this school and let him be! He is mine!" She growled.

"What the heck as that got to do with me," I slurred and choked on my saliva as she tightened her hold on me.

I reached for her hand and tried to pull it away but her hold was as hard as steel. My arms fell limply beside me and I gazed at her pleadingly.

"This has got everything to do with you. Do not touch what is mine! Hardin likes you already but he can't fall for you. If he does, you will die by my hands! " She gritted out and I watched in horror as blood seeped out of my neck. 

Evelyn's nails had turned into claws and they were buried in my neck. 

I shrieked in fear and pulled away from her hold with all my strength but it was all a waste. She only let go when she was done with me.

 Right before my eyes, her claws receded and were replaced by nails. I fell to the ground and coughed repeatedly as I gasped for breath.

 Evelyn picked up her bag and pranced out of the room breathing heavily.

Hardin

I watched Pearl leave and my heart sank. Something about her stood out but I couldn't place my hands on it.

From her first day in the citadel through her hazing until this very moment, it is safe to say that I am being drawn to her.

I felt no pull between us and we definitely did not share any bond. Stan on the other hand was quiet, he felt no pull towards her either but I could tell that he was also attracted to her. 

This was strange, since I wolfed out, I had been attracted to different beautiful ladies but Stan was never attracted to any of them, all he wanted was his mate.

It must be sympathy, I must have been drawn to her because she looked so damn helpless but that didn't explain Stan's attraction too. 

Well, I will stick around and be her friend for now. Being a normin, getting through might be quite difficult for her.

I stood outside Pearl's dorm and I was almost walking away when I sighted Evelyn. She looked enraged and by the dark look in her eyes I could tell that she was trying hard to control her wolf.

"Eve," I called. Well, everyone called her Eve, it was the short form of her name and it was also the name of her wolf.

She turned around and I could hear her wolf squealing. But her anger dissipated immediately after she set her eyes on me.

"Hada…" she said surprisingly, the corner of her lips curving into a wide grin.

"How is she? I mean the normin…Pearl.. Is she alright now?" I asked in concern and the dark look in Eve's eyes returned. Although it left almost immediately.

"Thanks for your timely intervention …and I saw you frolicking with her just now, so thanks to you she will definitely be fine!" She said dangerously and flicked her hair sideways.

"Common Eve! Frolicking with her? She was sti in shock and I was trying to…" I began but Evelyn glared at me and I stopped.

"Anyways, I am counting on you…Take good care of her," I said casually.

"Yes! Sure!" She responded dryly in a way that unnerved me. I shrugged it off and watched her walk away.