Chapter 2

The Institute.

That place that is full of teenagers and raging hormones was anyone's nightmare. Some could pretend to love this place while others instead openly demonstrated how much they hated it. Adrien was one of those guys. Always complaining and always grumpy. The Institute was dangerous and teeming with predators. Much more because this said Institute was full of supernatural beings who barely managed to live together.

Humans were a minority in this place, but other humans felt too special to notice the anomalies. They did not realize that sometimes we shared classes with werewolves. A being so terrifying that they could kill an average human in just seconds. Oh, but arrogance can do more. None of them paid enough attention to anyone other than themselves, so even if the werewolves sometimes showed that wild behavior that characterizes them, the human would simply not notice.

In fact, I only knew the existence of wolves because I was raised in a pack and I knew each of the members who studied here.

"Watch out!" I heard although it was too late. Cody, a lycanthrope jerk, bumped into me, knocking me to the ground.

"Get back." I could feel him sniffing at me, making me feel uncomfortable. "Get off me!"

His friends laughed like all a bunch of idiots because like wolves, idiots also had to go in groups.

Cody and his friends were part of the pack, but they were also part of the idiots who loved to mess with me when Adrien wasn't watching. The future Alpha would never allow them to mess with me. In fact, the first order from him as the future Alpha was that no one could attack me. And the orders of the Alphas became law, a power so mighty that it could not fall into the wrong hands.

"Why, little human? Don't you like having a wolf on top of you? Isn't that how you've stayed in the pack for so long?" 

His questions made me nauseous. He was a jerk in another category. It wasn't the first time I'd heard things like that but he always managed to make me cry when he was alone. Cody wasn't always the one leading the attacks on me. In fact, he seldom participates. We were actually friends when we were kids. However, her demeanor changed overnight, leaving me confused and hurt.

I did not allow him to see how much it affected me; on the contrary, in the pack, they would always be picking on the weakest, so I should never be weak to others. That was one of the first lessons I had learned. Always be strong, keep your head up and face any adversity. This was how wolves dealt with their problems, and that's how I had to behave.

Using the techniques I'd learned from Adrien, I managed to turn it over with a boost from my body. I had trained with the future Alpha since I was just a child. The wolves would always be more potent than me, but if I could use my intelligence against them, then they could never beat me.

"Yes, and you are dying for not having been the one who slept with me," I replied, listening to the laughter of his friends.

It was no secret to anyone that Cody wanted me, no matter how hard he tried to mess with me. We all noticed it. He started messing with me right at the age when all wolves begin to have specific changes. At sixteen, in the first transformation.

Although Cody was always a wolf, he's a bit different than the others. His first transformation had come later than usual, according to what the pack was saying. Also, he had some trouble communicating with his wolf. Adrien had explained to me, simply and concisely, that the wolves were the spiritual part. A being that helped you in the transformation process. I never entirely understood it, but it seemed like Cody wasn't able to hear the wolf's inner voice from him.

It was at that stage of rebellion and anger that his behavior began to change. He stopped being the sweet boy who played with me and changed to be a smug idiot.

"You wish."

"What's going on?" asked a hoarse voice. I was still on top of Cody, catching him with my body.

Adrien took my arm, and in one fluid motion, I ended up beside him. He was so strong that he could move me at his will and I didn't even know it. He was always careful with me. He knew that his strength was more incredible and in general, he used to be soft because of the fragility of my skin. His brow was furrowed, while his lips stayed in a line with an unusual seriousness in him. His dark brown hair was slicked back, making it easier for me to see his peculiar eyes.

"No one is going to answer?" he insisted.

Everyone lowered their heads when we heard his Alpha tone, including me. He can scare us by just speaking firmly. 

The Alpha is pure wolves, and they were obliged to fulfill the responsibility of taking care of the pack.

I felt a burning on the back of my neck, so I instinctively reached for the place. I hissed when I touched it, feeling something slimy.

Instantly I had Adrien's gaze on me. He had detected the scent of my blood. He took me by the shoulders, looking firmly into my eyes.

"Are you okay? Did they do something to you?" He was still angry, but the concern seemed to be more significant.

"I'm fine. It was just an accident," I replied. I was only doing it because I didn't want him to fight those people. I hated to see him fight.

"You're bleeding."

It was not a question. It's a statement. It was the bad thing about living with werewolves with ultra-developed noses. No scent would go unnoticed by them, but sadly for him, I knew how to outwit him.

"Yes, just like every month."

The laughter was not long in coming, even though I had only whispered. They also had very good ears, to my regret.

"Oh," he exclaimed, the colors rising to his face.

He reminded me of the first time I had my period and how uncomfortable it was to have to explain to him that I didn't have any injuries. Since then, I have tried to be discreet.

"Get out of here. I don't want to see you near her," he ordered.

Everyone obeyed immediately. We were left alone in the corridors of the north wing. The director knew about the creatures that inhabited here. In fact, the charge was the elders of the pack. In order to prevent wolves and humans from interacting more than usual, we used to have separate classes. We only shared a few classes in the main building. The north wing was forbidden to all students who did not belong to the pack so that the wolves could act freely here.

"What were you doing with him?" He continued with the interrogation.

"I was seducing him," I replied, trying to chase him away.

I thought he would laugh at my joke; however, his face clouded over. If I didn't know him like the back of my hand, I could even swear he was jealous. But Adrien didn't reciprocate my feelings. Things like jealousy were out of context.

"Seducing him? Did you lose your mind? Cody is an idiot!" 

His fury amused me. I wanted to see how far he could go with my strange little scene. What did he want? There was no point in him being jealous of someone in his pack, not when he was the owner of my heart from the first moment.

"Yes, you are too, and look, here we are."

"You know what I mean." He gave me an irritated look. "I don't want you near him." 

"You are not my father, Adrien."

Adrien was always possessive and protective of me. However, this was the first time that he had looked so jealous. He took care of me from the first day I came to the pack, so I always willingly accepted his protection. At first, I believed it was just because I was a weak human, but as time went by, he proved that he was sincere.

"Don't get me off with those, Estelle."

I hated when he called me by my full name since it meant he was upset, and I would have to apologize. Well, not this time, sir, I'm-the-alpha-and-everyone-must-do-what-I-want.

"I'm not getting away with you, Adrien." I have the right to sleep with whomever I want," I declared, starting to walk straight to class. My best friend must already be waiting for me.

I had to go to the territory of the wolves to deliver a message to the board, but he had already taken me longer than it should have.

"On my corpse." I turned to see him, surprised at the seriousness of her words.

"Why couldn't I do it?" I asked, feeling the rage beginning to dominate me. You sleep with any girl you are attracted to.

"Just keep Cody away," he said after a few seconds.

I did not answer him, and I did not want to continue fighting with him. Adrien had the conquests of him, from time to time, he dated a girl or another, including Astrid. Not that I wanted to sleep with someone, but I wanted to at least have the decision there, at my fingertips. And if he wasn't going to reciprocate my feelings, then the best thing I could do was move on with my life and look for someone. Someone who would like to be with me and not just as friends.

I walked towards the class. Today I was studying philosophy, a subject that I had always liked, and that was also one of the few that I shared with Adrien. I sat in my usual position while Adrien sat next to me. Ainsley, my best friend, made an interrogation gesture at me. She barely saw me, we were just seconds from being late, and she knew well that I was very serious about my studies.

In the middle of class, while she was concentrating on what the teacher was explaining, Adrien handed me a small sheet of paper folded in half. I looked at him, intrigued. He shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

When I opened it, a drawing of a wolf welcomed me. He had a sad little face, with a somewhat fat body and an enormous head. It was a chibi version of a wolf, with a small bubble at the side that read a big sorry. I laughed helplessly, drawing the attention of the teacher and all the students.

We were always together. The place, the date, or the time did not matter. We were soul mates, after all, even if he didn't know it.

It took me a bit to concentrate on the class, but after a while, I was able to do it, taking note of everything the teacher dictated without further interruptions.

"Let's go?" I asked Adrien after class.

It was about thirty minutes from here to the pack so Adrien would take me back and forth in his car. Every day he had to wait for it because I didn't even know the way to the pack because it was hidden in the middle of the forest. Only the wolves knew how to get there. And how did I get there in the first place? I did not know. I did not know it.

"Oh, sorry, bunny. I forgot to warn you that I couldn't today," he apologized.

I did not understand. He had seldom stranded me, and it was always for a good reason. What could be more important?

"Yeah, we'll be busy all night," a voice purred from behind me.

Astrid. Dyed red hair, of course, wide hips, and voluptuous breasts. She always used to take advantage of her body, wearing as little clothing as possible. That is how I could define a b*tch like her, and I wasn't just saying it out of jealousy.

Well, maybe a little, but I did have reasons.

I couldn't deny that I sometimes envied her body. We were the same age! However, Astrid already looked like a woman while I was still looking for where my breasts had gone. I couldn't deny that I had an excellent rear end, but they couldn't compare to Astrid. She was everything that I wasn't.

If her attitude towards me wasn't disgusting, I might even compliment her some time. She always did it with Ainsley, after all. Astrid despised me from day one and took it upon herself to let me know.

"Astrid, how nice to see you." I smirked. Instantly she answered me with an equally fake smile.

"Hello, Estelle. Hello, baby," she greeted Adrien, taking his shirt between her nasty claws and pressing her filthy lips against him.

Ugh, I really didn't like her. I knew she was doing it just to provoke me.

A little grunt escaped me, but I didn't give it much thought. There were more important things to worry about. Was he really going to leave me here just to go screw, Astrid?

"I can take you," Adrien offered after a long make-out session.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I denied.

"The buses will be running late into the night." Astrid checked on her phone, feigning kindness.

"We can take her and then go back to town," I heard Adrien whisper in Astrid's ear.

"You don't have to, Adrien. It is not the first time, and it will not be the last that I go by bus. Just make sure someone is close to the road to guide me the rest of the way."

Still not convinced, but the reality was that I did not want to see that couple flirt right under my nose. I wasn't sure I could control my jealousy.

"I'll see you later," I said goodbye, without getting any response.

I walked, feeling angry even with the air that passed around me. I didn't like it when Adrien left me stranded, much less when he did it to go on a supposed date with my arch-nemesis. I arrived at the bus stop with rapid breathing. At least I was not that far from the institute, and with luck, I would arrive at my home in about forty-five minutes. He hoped to be lucky at least once in his life.

And, of course, I didn't.

I had been walking in the rain for two hours. And not just any rain, it seems that the sky is about to split in two. I shivered with every step I took, my teeth chattering from the cold.

The worst of the case? The rain didn't allow me to see where I was walking, so I wasn't even sure I was going to the right place. In the forest, everything was dark, with no trace of moonlight to guide my way. I tripped over a root in the ground again, hitting my knees as I fell to the muddy ground.

I got up, even when it was just provoking me to stay there, give up and wait for, hopefully, the members of the pack to look for me all over the forest.

I was tired, hungry, and dead from the cold. I couldn't think coherently. I just wanted to take refuge in the heat of the pack.

It haunted me to think that while I was having the worst day of my life, Adrien was on a date, having fun, happy.

I collapsed, exhausted. There was not the slightest sign of being near the herd. I was lost in the forest, with the icy water wetting my soul. I stayed in the dream, not caring about the mud around me. My legs did not give out more.

I just had to wait ...

I didn't know how long it was before I felt the presence of some kind of predator nearby. My body immediately became alert, grabbing a nearby fallen branch to protect myself. I felt that something or someone was stalking me. My clothes were soaked, full of mud. The rain sec was falling furiously around me, but that didn't matter. There was something out there, and I was not going to become anyone's dinner.

I released her as soon as I recognized Adrien's wolf-like appearance. He was black as night, impressive, captivating. I knew anyone who saw it would wet their pants, but I was so happy. He had found me and was coming to my rescue. Luckily for both of them, he always carried a change of his clothes in his bag. He was used to having to transform suddenly.

I turned around as he transformed, giving him as much privacy as possible. I listened to it, feeling a chill. I didn't know what his mood was.

Maybe he was angry that I missed the bus and had to go find me. I was clumsy. I should have stayed on the road, but to enter the pack, I needed to cross the forest. There I got lost.

His arms wrapped around my back. I felt the warmth of him, the strength of him, the agitation of him. His breathing was rapid and uncontrolled. It seemed that he had run for hours, terrified. I was angry with him, furious, yet the relief was so great that it removed all reproachful thoughts from my mind.

He had taken me by surprise, but I let him hold on to me as the rain continued to fall around us.

"I was so worried," he whispered. "Nobody knew where are you exactly, and I was afraid something had happened to you. I'm so sorry, Elle." 

"It's okay, Adrien." I tried to comfort him, but he wouldn't let me move from where he was. "I'm fine, you've already found me." 

I felt tears burning in my eyes. I wanted so badly to cry and scream at him that I had been so scared. My whole childhood was running through forests and villages, fleeing from something unknown. Reliving those days was a hard blow, but his presence meant I was safe. And I appreciated the fact that he had found me so much that I ignored that he was, in part, one of those responsible for this situation.

"How far are we from the pack?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"About a twenty-minute walk."

I moaned in regret when I heard him. I had had the absurd hope of being close. I was so tired, my feet ached, and I couldn't walk without feeling a pinch on my right ankle.

"Get in," he ordered, pointing at his back.

"That? I'm not going to ride on you!" I exclaimed in shame.

"Your feets is hurting, Elle. I can take you and we will be there in just ten minutes." 

Yes, werewolves were very fast and strong, but that didn't imply that I was excited about being on top of him.

Lies, the only thing that prevented me from jumping on him, was the shame he would give me.

"Okay, I can walk, Adrien." I knew I was being stubborn, yet I didn't give my arm to twist.

"As you like."

I took a couple of steps before I felt his arms lift me up, bride style. I screamed in surprise, staying very close to his face.

His hair was matted, his eyes a little red as if he were holding back some tears. His lips were in a fine line that I wanted to erase with my kisses. God, this man was going to end up killing me.

I took refuge on his shoulder. The heat of him managed to counteract the cold in my bones. I felt his heartbeat, erratic.

"Thank you," I murmured. 

"You don't have to thank me. You wouldn't be in that state if I hadn't let you down. I'm never going to forgive myself if something bad happened to you," he declared, tightening his chin.

I knew him well enough to know that he was upset with himself. I didn't need words to understand it.

I caressed his jawline, getting him to look me in the eye. I tried to smile at him and erase that tortured expression from his face.

"You had other more important things to do, I understand." I instantly regretted what I had said. It had sounded like complaint and jealousy, the least we needed at that moment.

"Nothing is more important than you," he declared so firmly that there was no room for doubt.

He kept walking, despite my insistence that I could walk on my own. He didn't let go of me or complain. The rain was waning; the trees were helping us a little.

I closed my eyes for just a second, breathing in the scent of him, wanting to stay that way forever.

Together.