Chapter 4

Classes passed slowly. Studying was not a problem for me. I loved spending my afternoons studying. My grades were the best in the whole institute and that made me proud. I always sought Alpha's approval and knew that my grades and demeanor were impeccable.

Mathematics was my favorite subject but at the time, I was in no mood for numbers. My body still felt a little heavy from the disease and my head was throbbing. I wanted to go home, kidnap Adrien, and hog him for a bit.

Maybe watch a couple of movies lying on the couch. Yes, that would suit me perfectly.

"Have you seen the new physics teacher?" Ainsley whispered from the position she was, right in front of me. "They say he is a beauty." 

I had heard some whispers about it, but it was a bit off, so I didn't pay much attention to them. However, if she had already managed to get the attention of Ainsley, who usually ignored any kind of gossip, then it meant that the whispers were starting to increase.

A new teacher at the end of the year? I frowned at the thought.

"According to them." I nodded to the class in general. "Any decent man is a beauty." 

Ainsley laughed as the math teacher turned his bitter gaze on us. He was an older man who should have retired by now, but here he was, throwing imaginary daggers with his look.

It seemed that he needed a good romp to see if he managed to release that bitterness.

Of course, I didn't tell him. I wasn't looking for punishment just for wanting to be funny. I just wanted to go home and snuggle up with my best friend.

Physics was the last thing I had to do that day, but I still couldn't leave. Adrien was playing basketball so I had no means of transportation. He was the captain of the team and the sexiest of them all. He would have to stay until the practice was over. Of course, humans and werewolves had different outfits. Team A and Team B. They weren't related; at least, that was always the intention.

However, some days they trained together. Wolves were forbidden to bring out their full potential, so they got bored. The workouts were after school so I used to head to the gym to see them.

It didn't bother me at all. I enjoyed watching every game and every training session.

"Finally!" Ainsley yelled enthusiastically, regardless of whether the professor was watching her. We are just one step away from freedom.

"Miss Hernaez, I can still send you to detention," the professor pointed out with a half-smile.

Wow! It was quite a surprise that he could make a gesture in addition to that bitter one that characterized him. Too bad he was only able to smile with the suffering of his students.

Ainsley made an innocent gesture, flopping back into the seat until the professor let us out. A student passed me by, pushing me. I almost fell to the ground with a bit of graceful movement, but someone was there to stop me.

I felt strong arms wrap around me as my feet stopped touching the ground. I would recognize its scent anywhere.

"You stink!" I yelled in the middle of the hall. Some students stared at us: disgust. 

"Adrien. At least take a shower before you go out." 

"Nah, I prefer to hug my bunny with the still fresh sweat," he replied, smiling, not letting go of me. 

I blushed slightly at his words. Adrien would have to learn to moderate his comments if he didn't want me to die of a heart attack. Ainsley turned away from us, laughing. She headed off to our last class accompanied by Miguel.

Adrien had already finished his classes, so the coach was already torturing him.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned as soon as he put me down.

"The coach asked me to find the medical kit," he explained. "Cody didn't calculate his strength with a human and snapped his nose with an elbow." 

A horrified gasp escaped me. He knew firsthand the strength that werewolves had—poor humans.

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah, it wasn't a big problem," he minimized with a wave of his hand.

My few spare minutes were running out, but I loved talking to Adrien. I didn't want to go to a boring physics class with a new teacher who would just make us introduce ourselves as if we didn't already know each other.

"I'll see you later," I said goodbye with a smile after minutes of assessing whether I should attend the class or just go with Adrien. 

Just in time, I thought, relieved. The professor had not yet arrived. I sat next to Ainsley, who looked anxious. Beside her was Miguel, frowning. I had never seen him with such a moody pout, but there he was. Had they argued with each other?

"Something wrong?"

"I'm looking forward to meeting the new professor," she murmured, nibbling on her fingernail.

"Stay calm. Surely the others are exaggerating."

They did not.

I opened my mouth in shock just seeing him. He was indeed an impressive man. He had white hair, but not gray. In fact, he was an albino

His gesture was a bit serious, but he seemed to smile at the reaction he had caused. His eyes were blue, cold. His features were sharp, while his gesture was impassive.

A sorcerer.

I heard the voice in my head. I didn't know why sometimes, very rarely, I could listen to a small, faint voice in my head. He used to tell me some facts, like that one. Sometimes I thought I was crazy, but the truth is that I appreciated the information that was being released to me.

I looked at Ainsley, whose eyes shone brightly at the sight of him.

"Good afternoon," he said in a husky, captivating voice. "I am Professor Heath Dominique Ortega. You can call me Heath if you prefer." 

He looked around the room, lingering longer than necessary on none other than my great friend Ainsley.

I did not know how the other species functioned, but the connection I witnessed was very similar to the mate's connection.

Interesting.

Miguel didn't miss that interaction, either. Oh, so that's why he was angry. Ainsley's interest in the new teacher made her jealous. Poor thing. I felt sorry for him even though I was in the same situation.

I cleared my throat loudly, trying to get their attention. We were in a room full of humans who had no idea what was happening, and they couldn't afford to stare into each other's eyes for hours.

The professor blinked, coming out of the trance in which he was a victim. He tried to continue with the class normally, but I noticed that he was super attentive to each of my friend's gestures.

He started with the introductions, although something told me that this was not exactly what he had planned. I knew he did it just for Ainsley. He wanted to learn more about her. Frowning, I analyzed his every move. Something about him didn't please me, not at all. Why would a sorcerer be connected to a human? It did not make sense!

When it was my turn, I got up from the seat with a sarcastic smile.

"I'm Estelle, I'm 17 years old, and I'm not the target of his attention so please continue."

My classmates laughed while the professor's pale cheeks began to turn a deep red. I had embarrassed him a bit, but I wasn't lying.

"My name is Ainsley Matilde Hernaez. I am 17 years old. I like to paint and draw, I hate tuna, and I would like to become a professional artist," she blurted out all at once, then covered her mouth, embarrassed.

The bloody witcher had made her speak with a spell. He pissed me off. He shouldn't be using his powers just like that with my friend. I would have a long and interesting conversation with him.

No one else noticed the smile of satisfaction that that witcher had released, proud of knowing more than what seemed to be his mate. No one, except perhaps for Miguel, who seemed to have trouble controlling himself. Has he also noticed his magic? It seemed.

That witcher had no idea who he was messing with. Ainsley was my friend, and I wasn't going to let a witcher play with her.

Ainsley spent the rest of the class with flushed cheeks. I would make fun of that later. Now the important thing was to make the limits clear. When classes ended, she ran off without looking back. Miguel followed her, giving me nothing but a bleak look.

He would surely accompany her to her house. Miguel and Ainsley were close friends, regardless of Miguel's unrequited feelings. He took care of her almost as much as Adrien used to take care of me.

Now I'd be left alone while I waited for Adrien to be free, I thought with a pout.

Better this way, now it was my turn to act. Yes, I was only human, but that wouldn't stop me from caring for my best friend. If he was causing her to be drawn to him with magic, or if he only intended to use her powers on her, then I would be there to protect her.

"Teacher!" I yelled since he was walking away pretty fast.

He stopped after my scream, waiting for me in the hallway. Her blue shirt fitted his muscles. His eyebrows and her lashes were that incredible white color, impressive. Even for me, who had seen a thousand mythological things, it surprised me.

"Miss Estrella," he greeted politely. "How can I help you?" 

"Estelle," I growled, a nasty trick I'd borrowed from the wolves.

"Pardon?"

"My name is Estelle."

The witcher waved his hand to dismiss it. I had just told him my name during the class. She couldn't just ignore me as if I hadn't said anything.

Bastard.

"How can I help you?" he repeated.

"I saw your interest in Ainsley, witcher," I spat, to his surprise. "I won't tell you to stay away from her, but I won't allow you to use your powers on her again." 

"And who do you think you are?" he asked with a threatening smile. "A human girl who thinks she is a great thing." 

He took my arm tightly, bringing his face close to mine. I was not afraid. I should be terrified, shaking with terror. However, I faced it without hesitation, raising my head towards him. He looked surprised at not being able to intimidate me.

He could destroy me in seconds if the witcher wanted, but I was not afraid. I had met a few witches in my time in the pack. They were all arrogant. They thought they were wiser and more intelligent than anyone.

And the Alpha, as cunning as ever, taught me never to look down at anyone other than my Alpha. Even if I wasn't part of the pack, he had to show me as if I was.

"That human girl is mine, so get your dirty hands off her, little witch," I heard Adrien's voice behind me.

"Wolf," he whispered palely as he approached. I don't want trouble.

"Then heed his demand," I replied, to my surprise. "Stop using your powers on humans, and there will be no retaliation." 

I felt Adrien's arms wrap around me gently, positioning me behind him. Possessive, beautifully possessive. Had he been listening to the conversation? How come I hadn't noticed him?

"It's my mate. I can do whatever I want with it."

"No!" I exclaimed in a threatening voice. "Ainsley is under my protection, and you're not going to do anything about her. If you want to be with her, go ahead, but use your power." 

"Your protection?" He laughed wryly. "You're nobody, brat." 

"I am the future Alpha of the Wyrfell pack, and the brat that you're talking to is mine, so if you don't want trouble with my whole pack, you will stay out of her demands. Understood?" 

Adrien used his Alpha voice, making everything in my body vibrate. It wasn't that I liked it when he wore it, but my body always reacted to his tone. God, he was so sexy when he said I was his.

And it wasn't a lie. I was totally and deeply his. Just as he was mine and he always would be. Regardless of our love interests, we would always be best friends. And I would always be there for him, as I knew he would be for me. This is how true love works.

The witcher raised his hands in innocence, although he seemed angry at our intervention.

"Okay, not magic for humans."

He withdrew without adding anything else. I liked to think that I would comply with his words in the same way I would take care of having an eye on him. I would watch his every move and have a long talk with Ainsley about it. Maybe Miguel would like to help me a little too. After all, he loved her.

"Thanks, Adrien." I grinned at him. "So am I yours?"

Adrien blushed slightly in embarrassment, looking uncomfortable. He looked away, concentrating on the almost abandoned high school. It was time to go home, and he hadn't even noticed. Adrien had even taken off his captain's uniform.

"You are my best friend, Elle. Of course, you're mine" 

Disappointment overcame me, his words hurt me.

Damn friendzone.

At that moment, I just wanted to find the idiot who had invented it and give him a good slap for all the fallen soldiers and for failing.

I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face. He didn't love me the way I loved him. And that hurt.

It hurt a lot.

"Has training finished?" I radically changed the subject.

"Yes, after the incident with the human, the practice was suspended. I was waiting for you to leave."

"And Astrid?"

"What about her?" he asked, confused.

"Won't you wait for her?" I asked with the obvious, sometimes Adrien would drive her in his car.

After all, she claimed to be his mate, the future moon of the pack. He had to give her her place and respect her.

But I knew she was lying.

I was her true mate, her moon. And I couldn't tell because no one would believe a mere human. Besides that, I couldn't confirm it on my own either. I just had to wait and watch. Stay as her best friend and settle for it.

"She can come on her own. I'd rather spend time with you. I propose an afternoon of movies and video games, as in the old days," he invited me with a nostalgic smile.

He knew he had already accepted, and there was no way I would refuse something like that.

"What about your responsibilities?" 

"It's my day off," he murmured, starting toward his car.

Adrien had no days off, but I would let him pass. Surely the Alpha would be angry, but he was angry only with my existence.

In his own words, I was born to make him angry.

It wasn't my fault. I was raised as a complete savage, just running away. The Alpha always tried to turn me into a young lady while I was always playing with mud and making mischief. So every time he tried to educate me, I ended up distracting myself with anything and driving him crazy.

The Alpha was fond of me, but I was certainly not one of his favorite people.

"What are we waiting for?" I smiled.

"Move those precious asses up here and get in the car," he replied.

He always made jokes like that, managing to make me blush and uncomfortable. He was a damn seducer, but I loved him that way.

I got in the passenger seat, turned on the radio, and turned the volume up to the maximum. That's how it was always when we were alone, scandalous friends.

Although I wanted to be more than just a friend.