Tales by us

That guidance counselor was just really nice," I said to Damien as we strolled towards the class, still reeling from our earlier chat.

"Yeah? You're the Luna. What else would you expect?" He chuckled, and I playfully pushed at him.

"Well. you know how it is," I said, flashing a smile as we entered the bustling lecture hall.

Just then, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I had always thought my first day at college would be me walking in with Mia and Daphney, the sound of our laughs reverberating off the walls. But right now, I couldn't get rid of the dead ache in my chest.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Damien nudged me again, concern etched across his face.

If I couldn't be with my two best friends, I supposed Damien would have to do as a substitute was the silent thought, followed by a flicker of hope. Thank God we weren't sharing a mind-link; otherwise, he'd probably be running for the hills.

"N-nothing. I just thought my first day would be with Mia and Daphney," I admitted, my smile fading.

"Oh…." The smile was gone, too. "Well, look on the bright side! Mia's at an Ivy League school now, and Daphney…." He paused, looked at me knowingly.

"Getting better," I said, trying to sound optimistic.

We silently agreed not to mention my Luna status or Daphney's condition. Only a few teachers knew, and the students? They knew nothing. Except that irritating Luna Ceremony soon to come, that would formally present Daphney to the pack.

Just then I overhear a girl behind us say, "I heard Luna actually died."

I turned to look, unable to resist the gossip.

"Some say she ran away from the two attacks from Novera and is hidden at the mansion of the pack," I heard another girl chime in beside her.

I turned back to Damien, who rummaged through his books, seemingly absorbed. “Did you hear that?”

"Hear what?" he asked confused.

"Those girls," I said, nodding toward the back of the room.

"What'd they say?

"They're talking about Daphney and the attacks," I replied, and I feel my stomach clench.

"Oh," he said, except he wasn't shocked like I was. "People love to gossip about it. That's why the Luna ceremony got pushed up."

"Oh."

"Hey, Damien!" A blonde girl plopped herself down beside him, her voice high and obnoxiously cheerful.

"Hey, Jennifer," he beamed, with a smile that was a little too friendly for my taste.

"Oh, I am so glad you got accepted here!" she gushed, flinging her arms around him in a practically suffocating hug.

Who the heck is this girl?

"Me too, Jenny," he replied, laughter lacing his voice.

Jenny? Seriously? I could practically feel her sniffing him like a dog.

Clearing my throat, I wanted to interrupt.

"Oh, hi! Who's this?" Jennifer asked in a saccharin-sweet tone.

This. Whore!

"This is Ariana. She's…" Damien paused and turned to me, finishing with, "my friend."

"Hi! Nice to meet you!" she chimed, waving at me.

"Hi," I returned dryly, tugging out my books, trying to act like her obnoxiously peppy attitude wasn't grating on my nerves.

Just then, a towering fella with a buzz cut sauntered up to our row and plopped down beside me.

He smelled like roses.

Wait, roses?

"Excuse me, but do you wear Tales by Us cologne?" I asked, and he stared at me, eyes wide.

"Yes! How did you know?"

"Because that's my scent. Are you kidding me?" I smiled, genuinely surprised.

"Same here! Who doesn't love the sweet scent of—

"Roses and lavender crushed together!" we exclaimed in unison, grinning like idiots.

"Hi, I'm Dante," he said, extending his hand.

"Ariana, nice to meet you!" I replied, shaking his hand.

"Same here. Where do you get yours? It got discontinued at Silver Moon for some reason," I said, rolling my eyes in exasperation playfully.

"Well, my sister stocks up on it every month. I could get you some!"

"Sounds like a plan!"

***

After class, Damien and I jumped into his car, off to the mansion.

"What was that cologne called again?" Damien asked as we pulled onto the curving road.

"Hmm?"

"What you were talking about with that guy before class?" he pressed.

"Uh… Tales by Us," I replied-my head still caught on Dante's flowerly scent.

"Alright," he said, giving me a nod as I departed.

I showered and clothed, then flopped onto my bed, where I saw a little bottle of Tales by Us was sitting on my nightstand with a note.

I just happened to run across this at the mall today. —Damien

Had he really gone out of his way to do this for me?

I couldn't help smelling the note-the slight scent of cinnamon was there.

Damien smelled like a mix of cinnamon and cocoa, either from his body wash or cologne, but I adored it, anyway.

Well, just then the door burst open, and Aiden was standing in my doorway staring at me, and I froze, towel-clad and hair a wet mess.

"Oh my God, can't you knock?" I shrieked, trying to bury myself under a fit of horror.

"I did knock," he said calmly, his eyes unbothered by my embarrassment.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to ask how training has been going," he said out of the blue, catching himself as if he had remembered something.

"What?" I stammered, caught by his suddenness.

"But I'll ask another time" he walked out. I ran to the door and locked it

——————————

At dinner that night, I wordlessly sat down beside Damien, and the tension was thicker, just like the first time I'd come. Everyone was there—well, except for well——Luna.

Damien threw me a soft smile, but it faltered as he caught a whiff of something.

I had sprayed the cologne after my shower.

*It's a really good scent,* he mind-linked me, and I couldn't help but grin back.

"What's a good smell?" Aiden suddenly said, his gaze on Damien.

"Huh?" Damien replied, his face relaxed while my stomach was twisted into a pretzel.

"You said that was a good smell," Aiden insisted his eyes as sharp as a razor.

"Yeah, so?" Damien shrugged.

Aiden gave him a look before going back to his food as if nothing was wrong, though his whole self was weirdly unaffected.

"Must have been something different then, what I thought I heard," Aiden said, sipping his water, again plunging the table in heavy silence.

Everyone around the table seemed ill at ease. Aiden had that effect on him; he was an intimidating character, and quite frankly, I was scared of him. Alphas were supposed to be respected, not feared.

*Thanks,* I thought wincing as I turned to Damien, who sat ramrod straight, his jaw clenched.

He didn't look back at me; his eyes were dark with unspoken frustration. He'd told me about Aiden's knack for getting under his skin. In so many ways, Aiden was still angry because he was an orphan, while his brother, the Alpha, acted like he didn't care if he was alive or dead.

I set my fork down silently and reached under the table, squeezing his leg in hopes it would calm him. But the second contact was made, I froze mid-way.

I couldn't do it.

Suddenly, Damien reached under the table and grasped my hand, making my heart leap.

He didn't look up at me, but down at his plate, his hand keeping mine sandwiched between us, but the heat emanating from his hand made me not focus on anything else.

He gave my hand a little squeeze, and I let out a soft gasp, trying to bite back a smile.

"What?" Aiden shot a glance at me, and I froze, wide-eyed.

"H-huh?" I stuttered.

"Why's your heart beating so loudly?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh…" I stuttered, taken aback.

"Maybe she's getting sick," Shannon piped up oozing sarcasm.

"Shannon," Kehlani whispered, but Shannon dismissed her and continued to enjoy the chaos.

"I'll take her to her room," Damien said, releasing my hand and standing up.

"Oh… okay," I managed to say, following him out.

"Goodnight," we chimed in unison, feeling tension lift a little as we walked away.

The walk back was silent and awkward.

"I guess it's goodnight then," I said softly as we reached my door.

"I'm sorry this pack isn't exactly hospitable to you, Ari," he replied, and I smiled, gripping the doorknob tightly.

"It's fine."

"It's not," he shook his head.

"It is," I insisted, my smile unwavering.

"It's not," he said, an awkward laugh escaping my lips.

"You don't have to be brave or act tough," he joked, and I snorted, crossing my arms playful. "I am tough."

"Yeah," he said, jamming his hands in his pockets. We exchanged quiet glances, and I felt the air thicken with unsaid words before he took a step closer.

Goodnight, Ari," he whispered, his breath hot against the cool night air.

"Ari?" I blurted out, surprised.

"Yeah, I tend to call my friends by nicknames, if that's okay with you?" he said, and I nodded, still clutching the doorknob as if it would ground me.

"Sure," I whispered, my heart racing as I realized just how close he was, inches away, my back pressed against the door.

I could see every detail of his face, and his eyes-glowing softly in the dim light. Does he know?

"Damien, your eyes—" I started to say, but he kissed me, and the world just melted away.

I was enveloped in that warm scent of cinnamon, and the kiss drew out, lengthening like it had lasted for hours as his hands stayed in his pockets.

"Goodnight," he whispered, touching his lips to my cheek, before stepping back.

"Yeah," I stammered opening my door, leaning against it, mind reeling.

My heart was going to burst.

—-