Drawing myself up, I hugged the book. I picked up my pace following her. Silver and Elizabeth used the same hallway to get into the house.
"Do you live here?" I asked.
"Yes, it's a packhouse." She gestured at rows of three rooms. "These are spare rooms." I have been in one of them with them. We didn't stop to get in one of the rooms. She kept pacing the hallway till the end and it turned to the right, bringing us to a luxurious part of the house.
At first it was murmuring, then it got louder with every step. All members of the pack were seated in the living room.
"Oh, hello Em. I've made sandwiches. Come, join us." Silver said enthusiastically.
I darted my eyes at all faces waiting for someone to object, particularly Edward. He didn't even look at me
Don't worry, dude. You also don't exist for me.
"Go, I can't join you." She softly touched my shoulder.
My brothers were also seated among them but I was feeling nervous. I wasn't used to being around so many people but my family. They were all-powerful.
I nodded, flashing a soft smile her way. She took another hallway.
I sat on the couch. Silver and Elizabeth were sitting on the arms of the couches, their mates arms curled around their waists.
"Try this," Elizabeth held the plate out for me.
I stared at the homemade potato chips. Hesitantly, I grabbed one. "Thank you." I popped it in my mouth. It was crunchy and delicious. "They're good."
"I know. Take it all." She said, still holding it for me and smiling.
"Um, thanks." I grabbed it. I noticed there were more on the table.
"Stop thanking us. You're part of our pack too." Silver said
The men were silent. They were talking in their heads. I could feel his golden eyes swiping over me. Mostly in the class, he showed his back to me. Nobody would trust me if I told them I was in Darkice' house.
No one was particular talking to me but Silver and Elizabeth
"Who wants coffee?" Elizabeth asked, getting on her feet.
"I want a strong one." Carlos said.
"Usual one, black." Daniel said.
Edward and Alessandro just glanced at their mates. I saw rings on both female's ring fingers. They were mated.
I caught his golden eyes following my gaze. He stared at me with a blank expression. Abruptly, his eyes lightened to a burning yellow.
"Your eyes," I blurted, a little louder.
"It's normal, pumpkin. our eyes change color frequently." Drake said.
"But they weren't amber but..." I gulped seeing his gaze never left me.
"Like fire?" Alessandro asked.
Meeting his stormy grey eyes, I nodded my head.
"He's a fire wolf. Soon, you'll see his orbs of burning fire." Carlos said, smiling
"Will that hurt?" I cursed myself. Why was I suddenly worried about him?
Edward and Daniel laughed. Everyone joined them except Darkice. His eyes were still studying me.
Slithering the plate on the table, I got on my feet. "I should go home." I told them.
"Hey! Don't take offense. We're not mocking you." Carlos said, still laughing.
"No, it doesn't hurt. I feel more powerful." Darkice replied, catching me off guard.
My big eyes stared at him. Did he really answer me? I blinked my eyes pulling myself out of my shocked zone.
" Don't go yet. You can help us in the kitchen." Silver said.
"No!" I squealed in fear. My round eyes stared at her.
"Did I say something wrong?" She asked, darring her eyes around nervously.
"She's scared of fire. Nothing else." Drake said, coming to my side. "I can take you home."
"She's coming with me. She wanted to see the garden." Darkice stood tall, his eyes never leaving me. What was wrong with him? What would I say if my family asked why he was just looking at you?
"Alright," Drake returned to his seat next to Carlos.
Is anyone going to ask me? I guess not as Silver and Elizabeth gait toward the kitchen. They all returned to their conversation. Darkice was still looking at me.
"Which way?" I darted around. This place was a maze, I saw many hallways.
"This way," He muttered, pocketing his hand as he spun striding toward the narrow hallway
I placed the book down. With my eyes cast low, staring at his feet I followed him. have to walk fast to avoid looking above his knees. No doubt he was muscular and staring at him would be amazing. I shook my head. I shouldn't forget they could feel my emotions in the air.
When we were in the open area, something unexpected happened. His hand curled around my arm. "Stay close to me. The sun is setting down." He said, tugging me close to him, gently.
"I.." I forced myself to speak a little loud. But then I forgot what I should say. Damn, this hot guy!
The corner of his lips kicked up. I inhaled deeply and a full smile curled on my face. "Is this lavender?" I asked.
"Yes," His feet halted and I looked around. "Wao!" I hunched over them, placing my hand on my knee. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. My ears tried to listen to the slightest whisper. It wasn't just beautiful but a peaceful place. "This part of your house is amazing." I told him, opening them.
"You haven't seen anything." He said.
Our eyes locked one more time. His jaw clenched and he let go of my hand. I felt disappointed. It shouldn't matter to me.
"What are you doing here?" He asked dryly.
My head jerked as I listened to the dried leaves crushing under someone's boots.
Grace wasn't looking happy to see me here. She glared at me as she would eat me alive.
"I'm your future fiance, Royal. It'll be my house, too." She said in her egoistic voice, her eyes stabbing me.
Fiance! My eyes shot to his ring finger. There was no band. My eyes jerked to his face for confirmation.
Her arms curled around his neck. Her head was reaching his shoulder. She was just a few inches taller than me. She wiggled her ring finger, showing the platinum band.
"We can't wear jewelry at school, you know." She smiled, proudly.
Was she really wearing it? "I should leave you guys alone." I turned, not looking at him.
My throat tightened suddenly. My eyes began to burn. I took the path I came from. The garden I wanted to see so desperately, it felt like the worst place in the world. I shouldn't be feeling bad but happy for them
My stomping feet grabbed everyone's attention. The conversation stopped and they looked at me.
"What happened?" Jasper shot on his feet.
I parted my lips and felt the salty water of my tears. I didn't realize in my agony that I was crying. "Take me home." My voice cracked with emotions choking me.
All sets of eyes turned on my back. I knew he was behind me. I felt attached to him. I shouldn't. I didn't know him. I haven't met him before. The hurt of seeing him with Grace always angered me or left me in tears.
"Why the fuck is hurting so much?" His voice was low and gruff. He wasn't looking happy to see my face with tears running down.
What does he mean? Could he feel my pain too as he understands everything without my speaking?
"They're mates." Elizabeth squealed in utter shock.
"What? No! He's my mate." Grace shouted and forwarded her steps toward me.
Silver stepped forward and glared at her.
"Stay back." I heard the snarling voice of Drake.
"I'm going to get engaged to him. I have known him since we were children. They are not true. She's not a wolf." She turned to him. "Tell her you don't want her. Ask her to leave this place, your houses, this academy." She placed her hand on his chest.
His eyes met mine. He didn't try to push her hand away. "I have many reasons to reject you." Darkice said, giving me unbearable pain.
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. He couldn't do this. What Elizabeth was saying if it was true, he couldn't do this. I'm his fated mate. His rejection would kill me. "No," I muttered. His eyes locked onto mine.
"Yes, I want a strong base. A human can't give me that. I reject you." He said.
My heart stopped beating. I stared at him without breathing. His words turned my stomach to stone. I tried to inhale from my parted lips. I couldn't breathe-the stone is pressing on my lungs, and my heart is an aching, twisted knot. The pain was unbearable, worse than death pain. I waited for the ache in my chest to go away. It didn't.
Everything around me faded. I couldn't utter a word and just stared at him in pain. The time seems to freeze so my pain can prolong. My agony, and hurt feels never ending.
"I take my words back." I heard him muttering. My lungs inhaled a deep breath. The pain, hurt, and agony went the speed it came.
Everything around me comes alive. Two hands were holding me to her chest. My ears were echoing with the heavy sound of my breathing.
"When you turn twenty-one and she turns eighteen Then you'll decide. She's your mate. You'll treat her like one." I heard Reina's solid authoritative voice.
I couldn't peel my eyes away from him. I felt the same pain in his eyes. "Is she going to die soon, Mom?" He asked, his golden eyes never leaving me.
"No, there's nothing to be scared of. Her breathing would attach to you, your powers would protect her." She said.
He gulped and nodded. But he was also looking relieved. Was he scared? Did he reject me because he didn't want me because I'm a human? Jace didn't reject Sisily. They love each other.
"Take her home." She told my brothers.
Anger flashed on his face and his eyes flashed amber and bright burning yellow.
"Come, pumpkin," Drake muttered as he curled his arm around my shoulder and turned me to the door.
An animalistic growl filled the hall. It sent shivers down my body. Goosebumps raced over my skin. I looked over my shoulder. His eyes were locked on me.
"He rejected me." I whispered in my cracked voice.
"He didn't. He was scared that you would die." Jasper said.
"But he said it." My hands were shaking. Shivers were running through my body with the dread he installed in me. It was worse than anything. It felt the same after him taking his words. But he has done the damage. I shook my head, tears running down my cheeks. His words are still running in my head. It is driving me crazy.
"Don't think too much. We are connected to him through the pack bond. We felt it. He was scared of losing you." Drake said.
Jasper opened the door of the car. Drake slid in next toe. My head rested on his shoulder.
"It doesn't make sense. You're my brother. Shouldn't you be by my side?" I shouted in a cracking voice.
I was feeling anxious. It was getting hard for me to sit here. I wanted to shout, and scream out loud until the pain disappeared. It wouldn't go. I know. Everly has told me someone rejected his fated mate. She died as she couldn't endure it, the pain of parting from him.
"I want Mother and dad." I told them.
"Dad's on the flight. Mother must be sleeping. Should I wake her up?" Drake asked.
With tearful eyes, I shook my head. They didn't need to tolerate this. "No," The cracking word left my trembling lips.
I wasn't looking at anything, just staring out of the window. I wanted to go into the dark and let them swallow me until I could feel nothing.
Panic laced through me. I wasn't ever getting rid of this feeling.
He pulled the car in front of our house. I didn't wait for him to drive it to the garage. I jumped out of the car and rushed into the house.
My silent tears and sobs had turned into screaming. He just rejected me without knowing a thing about me. I don't believe what Jasper and Drake said.
Spamming the door of my room behind me, I threw myself on the bed and buried my face in the pillow. It soaked the tears from my cheeks. The newly forming tears were making a mess. Pain like I'd never experienced before laced every cell in my body. His words were running in my head. I wanted to die.
Abruptly, I felt my body floating in the air. Terrifying, I yanked them open. Instead of pressing my face into the pillow, I was staring at the dark castle. Everything was dark around me. Even the soil beneath me. This place was scorched and horrible.
I prayed for death like I'd never prayed for it before. but not this. But I would prefer anything that would take the pain and hurt away.
But the amber glow around me kept the dread away. I lifted my hand and touched my chest where it was hurting so much. I stared around me in awe.
Panic crawled over me when I saw a figure in the dark coming toward me.
"Stay where you are." I told him out loud. Tears were still running down.
After taking two more long strides he stopped.. my heart was racing. His face was in the dark. I couldn't see much. But I know he is tall, very tall. The amber and red glow behind him reminded me of my last encounter with him.
"Am I in the dark realm?" I asked, more to myself.
"Yes,' The soft but authoritative voice echoed in my head.
" You saved me again." I said. Was he holding them back, the evil things?
'No,' He stayed there unmoving. Was he looking at me? I wasn't certain. I couldn't see his face. I waited for him to explain. He didn't.
"I found my mate and he rejected me." I told him, tears appeared in my eyes.
'He didn't.' I heard him in my head again. Whoever he is, he's very powerful. I glanced at him in confusion.
" How do you know?" I asked, both liking and hating it. It's a relief for now. Hating it that he was also taking his side.
I heard nothing but I felt myself falling.