I was just staring at the screen, not actually watching the movie. I could hear them. murmuring next to me. No one was paying attention to the screen but their talk revolved around only one topic. Them. They haven't contacted any of us yet. It's eating me from the inside. I wonder how I could care about him so much. We just met. He's my mate. That changes my entire world.
The mattresses were laid on the polished wooden floor. There was a giant hall. A big screen was mounted on the wall, almost fifteen feet away from us.
Their mumbles felt like a lullaby to me. My eyes closed against my desire. I was waiting for him. I was expecting any minute hearing him in my head. I jerked as I was feeling sleepy. The will was so strong I couldn't hold back as I drifted off.
Gloom and sadness could be seen from afar on our faces. But everyone smiled, pretending to be normal but we all knew deep inside that we were keeping on a show. My family looked pretty convinced. Daddy's car drove us to the academy. I was the last one to get out of it.
"Ember," I heard Sisily.
I was still upset with her for lashing out at me. I wasn't a punching bag. She could casually ask me to leave her alone. I would have gladly given her space.
"Yes," I asked without looking at her.
"I'm sorry about yesterday."
"You don't have to be. It's natural. You are upset." I told her. I wanted to snap that her mate was with her. She was certain that in the evening or the next morning, she was going to see him.
It was hurting me to contemplate that none of them had tried to contact us.
"Ember, you're not even looking at me." She complained.
Seriously, she wanted to do it now when my mate and brothers were away from home. I didn't know anything about things happening around us. "Sisily, please, I don't know. My head isn't going to get a thing. I need to know something about them. It has been more than twelve hours." My gaze drifted from them to Silver and Beth. Sadness was clearly visible over their beautiful faces. "Anything?"
They shook their heads. "Two days. Just wait for two days. Then we would find our way to them. " Silver said.
It grabbed my full attention. "Can we go there?" I asked. I didn't need to mention the Dark realm.
"Actually," Elizabeth and Silver exchanged gazes. It felt as if It wasn't going to happen through a mirror. "Our access would be easier with you."
My brows shot up, demanding an answer.
"You're Royal's mate." Silver smiled. It was the first smile on her face from yesterday.
The corners of my lips kicked back. "Awesome" I waved my phone at them. "What's the plan?"
"Let's wait. If we don't hear from them. We're heading to the realm." Silver said.
"And we can't tell anyone." Elizabeth added.
"My lips are sealed." I turned to the building. Sisily nodded her head, hope shining in her eyes.
I reached the cafeteria. My eyes shot at our table. Aidan waved at me, lifting his hand in the air. I smiled at him, waving back.
"So, how was the movie?" he asked.
"They were all discussing them. I drifted off."
"Ember, they are capable of taking care of themselves. That could be a scary place for a human but we love dark places which hold powers."
My brows shot up. "It could be evil."
"Witches like them. But not all. I'm the good one." Instead of happiness, I saw gloom over his features. "They call me a white spot in the glorious black name." I saw water shining in his eyes. He blinked and it was gone.
"See, your white spot brought you to the best people of the academy, Aidan Black." Silver slid into the chair, flashing her beautiful smile.
He grinned. "No doubt, Alpha girl."
Confused, my eyebrows pulled together. There were a lot of secrets I didn't know about the people around me. "Alpha girl?"
"She's alpha. Don't you know this?" Aidan asked, shocked.
I shook my head. I don't get to know them ever. How would I know?
"She doesn't know a lot of things." Sisily took the chair next to me.
"I was kept away from the academy and other things." I made a circle with my finger, gesturing around. "Almost everything."
"I see." Aidan trailed off, thinking.
"That's cruel. That comes with the price of being human. Your parents got it pretty well that you're no use to our beautiful precious world." I heard the most annoying voice.
"Oh, yeah! Who can understand better than you." I faked a smile.
My friends laughed and other students around them joined in.
Grace glared at him. "I wish for another attack and..." She smiled evilly. "No one is here to save you."
"I would suggest to Royal that he should take your wolf forever," Elizabeth said. "What do you say, Silver?" She asked her.
"Yes, if she's going to be a threat. We should definitely suggest this to Royal." She agreed immediately.
Amusement played on my friends' faces. Grace and her friends were gawking at us as we had grown three more faces over our necks. She gathered her things and stumbled out of the cafeteria. Her friends trailed behind her, making sure their friend didn't fall.
"Now, she will stay away from you." Aidan laughed.
I hope so. It would make life easy.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I hadn't seen Sisily yet. Silver and Elizabeth weren't around either. I didn't know what they did exactly. I never asked. The students were sitting on the grass in groups, some were gossiping, laughing, and studying and I saw some shifting and running toward the wood. Life was beautiful for them.
It was bigger than the football ground, and I was surrounded by nature. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I felt a pang of pain. It was late afternoon and I didn't hear anything from him.
Before opening the message I checked the time. There were three missed calls from Daddy and two from Jace. I didn't call my mom. I don't have answers to her questions and she doesn't want to answer my questions.
I tapped on the message. 'We're waiting in the cafeteria - Jace.'
They weren't there five minutes ago. I whirled, my backpack was slung over my shoulder. As I shuffled in, my phone began to ring again.
I picked up the call. "I've just finished my classes." I muttered.
"I've sent the driver. You don't need to hurry." His voice was soft on the other side.
"Okay, see you later." The call ended.
Stopping under the archway of the door, I darted my gaze on all faces. It wasn't full. Most of the students were in their rooms. Sometimes I thought about enrolling myself in one of the rooms. But my family wouldn't allow me. When we had two villas and one giant gorgeous mansion here. I took a look around. Some glanced back at me.
Aidan waved his hand like usual. It was his duty. Kidding!
Sisily was curling her arms around her mate. She wasn't going to leave him alone. It was clear. Jace smiled looking up at me as my feet deterred reaching the table.
"When did you come?" I pulled the chair next to Aidan and settled down.
"Just now." He said.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"I should be the one asking you." His arm was wrapped around her shoulder possessively. They met after, what twenty-four hours? It's impossible to separate them now. My being human changed a lot of things. I love my mate, it hurts when I don't see him or he's not around me but I'm bearing it better than Elizabeth and Silver. Though, I want to cry.
"Jace and I, we're going out. You wanna come?" Sisily asked me. Her eyes were still on him, adorningly.
"Nope, Dad has sent the driver. I should be going." I told them, getting on my feet.
Aidan didn't say a word and got on his feet too. I didn't notice he was eating a burger until he grabbed it with him.
"I'll walk you out." Jace was about to get up.
I held my hand and shook my head. "Aidan is going that way." I patted his bicep.
"Yes, " He nodded his head, chewing on his food.
"Bye," I waved my hand at them but stopped. "Jace, did you hear anything from them?" I asked.
He shook his head schooling his expression, "But they are fine. I can feel the bond strong."
"You sure?" I asked again. I didn't feel a thing but my strong feelings for him.
"Yes, my mind-link is strong. Nothing to panic about," He assured me.
I nodded and turned to the door. I didn't want him to scent my disappointment. I tried to act as bold as I could while pacing out.
"I know you're sad. But you'll love your bond after the full ceremony." He said, nudging his shoulder and flashing me an encouraging smile.
My cheeks flushed considering his words.
"Shy girl!" He nudged my shoulder again.
I hit him hard on his upper arm and giggled at the same time. " Shut up, Aidan."
"That." He lifted his index finger, motioning at my face, still gripping his burger. "Better now. Try to call him in your head. He would reply to you."
"How?" I asked dumbfoundedly.
He rolled his eyes. "The normal way you talk to him when you meet him."
"Alright," I wasn't going to try anything in front of so many students. "You could eat calmly." I gestured at the empty bench.
He shoved the last piece of his food in his mouth and wiped his hands on his jeans. He chewed on it hurriedly. "Well, you should read the book. '' he suggested, walking toward his car.
Justice, one of the soldiers of his pack, straightened his back from the SUV at my sight. I turned to go to the house to get my book.
"Ember." I heard Justice shouting my name.
"I need to grab my book. I'll be back soon. Just five minutes." I said.
"Alpha would shred me in pieces if I let you go alone. I hope you don't mind." He said.
"Not at all. I understand." I nodded, knowing the wrath of my brothers if something happened to me. I had faced this one when I was ten. I still felt sad that day. That was the only day I didn't talk to my brothers.
After exactly five minutes, I sauntered over to the car. Justice didn't leave my side. I didn't know what the danger was. Better, I didn't try to invite anything dangerous toward me.
I got in the passenger seat and hugged my backpack.
"You can sit back." He suggested, looking at me from the driver seat.
"You're not my driver, Justice." He was
Drake's friend. They trusted him. I do too.
He shook his head and ignited the car.