Chapter 10 I can help you

*Atlas*

A sense of pride swelled in my chest that she had trusted me enough to ask for help. I couldn’t help the smile that twisted at my features as I eyed her up. She was so beautiful: chocolate eyes and deep brown hair very intense. So much emotion behind those eyes, she was careful to keep it contained. All that tension in her shoulders, the way her combat clothes hugged her nimble figure.

The first time I laid eyes on her was burned into my mind. The feeling came from behind me, I was compelled to turn and follow it. My wolf Alex knew immediately that she was my mate. There was no doubt about that. With the way she walked up to me, with that misty look on her face, before kissing me - I assumed she knew the same.

But her reaction was weird, like she didn’t know that I am her mate, and Alex never could talk to his mate. He was confused, usually the other wolf answered quickly. She never responded after the first moment they recognized each other; it made my wolf sad, and I didn’t know what to do.

After walking her to her dorm, I tried to figure out what was wrong. Was she just playing hard to get? Did she not want me despite our mate bond? The idea was too much to bear. It had to be something else. After some thought, I came to the conclusion that something felt… off about how our wolves had interacted. She had just turned eighteen, and if it was her first day at the academy, maybe something was wrong with her wolf. Maybe she just hadn’t gotten it yet… I wondered when her birthday was.

As I stalked to the academy offices to find her file, I couldn’t keep her off my mind. When I got to the files and started looking through them, I couldn’t find a Kara. It didn’t seem like a very real name, and her tone didn’t seem very serious when she said that name, so I kept digging until I came across her file. A small picture of her was stapled to the information inside. Just the sight of her softened my cold heart.

Her family was an important one, for sure. She had been lying about her name and her family. She was so mysterious, trying to hide herself from me like a cat. I chucked at the thought as I scanned her file. Her real name was Aria Maxim, and she hadn’t grown up too far away from the Academy for the Supernatural. Born and raised in the South. My lips twisted into a frown on their own accord. The odds of her being from the North were slim but I had held out hope until it was confirmed she was from the South.

Her father was Alpha Rick Maxim. Everyone knew him, he was polling the highest out of any of the candidates for the Alpha King election. Her mother was Beatrice Maxim, a fierce warrior and one of the best in the South. Anyone who was anyone knew them. In the file was a photo of them with Aria. Everyone smiling, but her intense eyes had that same secret to them. She was their only daughter and heir. That must be a lot to live up to. I knew that feeling well. I sighed and let me shoulders slump.

I had gotten so distracted by reading Aria’s file that I hadn’t noticed I was late to teach. I cursed myself and put the file back haphazardly. I ran over to the arena, and when I walked in there was my mate. My Aria. With some other girl looking like she was going to kill her. Striding over, I broke up the fight. After that, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes on her. Aria looked nervous when she saw me, not scared but worried. My mate had to know that I wouldn’t share her secrets.

My wolf still didn’t feel anything about his mate, he became anxious and started to jump in my head. He urged me to ask her, but I blocked him so that he could calm down. It was harder to contain him than it usually was in the presence of my mate.

I believed there was something wrong with her wolf, maybe she was sick, but my wolf told me that she was a strong and healthy wolf and he was sure of that. For some reason she got her wolf but her wolf disappeared and she couldn’t shift. That’s why she didn’t want to fight. That’s the only reason she would back down I’m sure. She would have to hide that fact so it didn’t affect her father’s election.

She was lucky that first day they didn’t have to shift, I asked everyone to practice in their human form. She seemed less nervous and then found a partner. Why was she fighting worse on purpose? Her mother was Beatrice Maxim, I had seen her battle entrance exam results, she knew how to fight I was sure. I had asked her to come to my office and here we were.

Even though there was lots of space the air in the room felt stuffy. Being around Aria, I could barely control myself.

I knew she wouldn’t admit it in the first place, because obviously she didn’t want anyone to know her secret, but it was possible to hide it forever, especially hide it from me. The way she pretended to be wronged and angry when I exposed her lie amused me and I became more interested and obsessed with her and her little tricks.

I deliberately told her that everyone would asked to shift in next class, she started to panic as I expected and grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving.

She changed her attitude after realizing she needed my help and tried to get my sympathy with her beautiful eyes and pitiful look, which was obviously her acting too.

I had to say that she is a smart girl and she knew how to achieve her purpose, but I am not one of those soft-hearted professors not to mention that she gave me a fake name before she left.

I closed the door and pressed her against the door. The thought of her promising to do anything in return really made me want to do something bad to her.

“Anything I want?” I asked, she blushed and probably regretted what she said.

“No, I mean...If there is anything I am capable of, I will do it, Professor. If you can help me, my father would definitely get what you want.”

“Why do you think you father can give me what I want, what if I want you?” I said and watched the red on her cheek and ears became darker. But still she reacted and looked at my eyes without fear.

“That is impossible, Professor Atlas, maybe you want to consider again.”

I laughed and stepped back, looking at her with appreciation.

“I can help you. ” I said and sat on the edge of the desk, her eyes lit up.