Chapter Two: One word
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For a brief moment, I thought I had misheard him, but my mind wouldn't accept it, so I repeatedly blinked. My breathing stopped. It wasn't loud, it wasn't dramatic, and in the end, it was straightforward and clean.
"What?" I asked quietly.
He took a step forward, but I didn't move, not because I was brave, but because I couldn't. I felt like something was stuck inside of me, and his gaze was fixed on me.
"Mate," he repeated.
This time, it wasn't a question, but an affirmation. My heartbeat quickened. I'd seen him from a distance on campus before, as had everyone else. It's impossible to have grown up in Moonfang City without knowing his name: the future Alpha King, the heir to power. People lowered their gazes without being told to.
"I believe you are mistaken," I responded quickly. My voice sounded more composed than I felt.
"I am not," he replied.
The way he said it made my stomach tighten, as if he was absolutely certain and there was no room for doubt. I took a small step back, and he noticed right away. His expression remained the same, but something about his posture shifted. Sharper, more focused.
"You felt it," he said. I rapidly shook my head.
"No," I replied.
It came out too quickly, too defensively. He took another step forward, and I should have moved back, but I didn't. The air between us felt too heavy.
"I don't even know you," I replied. His eyes remained fixed. "Are you sure about that?" he said. My fingers gripped the book tightly. This made no sense, he is Lucien Knight. There was no way in which this could make sense. Footsteps were heard from the restricted section's entrance, and I unconsciously turned my head slightly to see some students frozen at the end of the aisle, staring at us. My stomach dropped instantly.
No.
Not now.
The student's gaze shifted between me and Lucien, causing confusion and then shock. Lucien's gaze remained fixed on me, even when he noticed the student, but his demeanor changed. It was subtle and controlled. The students took a step back, then another. They turned and walked away quickly, without saying anything. The sound of their footsteps faded along the corridor, and silence returned, but this time it was heavier and more dangerous in a subtle way. I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak again.
"This is impossible," I said. "There is no mate bond between us."
For the first time, something changed in his expression, not doubt or confusion, but something deeper, which quickly faded.
"You're wrong," he responded.
I shook my head again.
"No!" I insisted. "This is not how it works."
He moved closer again, leaving only a small space between us.
"I do not choose it," he explained. His voice had gotten lower and more controlled.
"But it is there."
My chest tightened, I had no idea what was going on inside of me, and nothing made sense, but I refused to panic.
"I need to leave," I said.
I turned slightly toward the exit, and he immediately let out a low sound, not too loud, but enough to stop me.
"Stay," he uttered.
It was not a request. My body froze again, and I despised the fact that it had responded before my mind. I slowly turned back, and he was still looking at me, calm and unreadable, but something in his eyes had changed. It wasn't emotion, but recognition, as if something within him had already decided I belonged in his world.
"I'm not your mate," I repeated.
This time, my voice was softer. Even I could hear the uncertainty. He didn't respond right away. Instead, he gave me a long look. Then he said something that caused my chest to tighten in an unusual way.
"You will understand."
I shook my head slightly.
"I don't want to understand this," I stated.
That was the truth. He finally took a half step back. Not retreating. Just adjusting. As if he were giving me space. But his gaze never left me. I tightened my grip on the book I was still holding.
"I should go," I replied.
I made a slight turn towards the door. He let out a low sound. This time, there was no growl, but it came close.
"Stay."
The word was not pronounced loudly. But it completely stopped me. I didn't turn back right away. My chest felt tight.
When I looked at him again, his expression remained controlled, but his eyes had changed. Focused in a way that made my skin feel overly aware of itself.
"I don't understand what's going on," I admitted honestly.
He took another step forward, but I did not back down, something inside of me refused to show fear, even though I felt it.
"You felt it too," he explained.
It wasn't a question. I paused. Then I responded carefully.
"I am not sure what I felt."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Don't lie," he said.
My breath didn't caught as a result of anger, because of certainty. He believed everything he said. I forced myself to breathe more slowly.
"I'm not lying," I replied. "I had been working. I heard a sound. Then you appeared and began saying things that don't make sense."
His gaze didn't leave mine. The silence persisted. I became aware of how silent the library was. Too quiet. The building itself seemed to be waiting for something. Then footsteps emerged from the hallway outside. Student voices. Lucien didn't move, but something inside him changed in an instant. For a brief moment, his attention was drawn to the sound. That was my chance. I turned and hurriedly approached the exit.
"Selene."
He said my name again. This time, it was sharper.
I did not pause. I pushed open the door and entered the main library just as two students passed by. I kept my head down and moved quickly to the exit. My heart was beating too quickly. Behind me, I didn't hear him. But I felt something. A pull.
A thread I couldn't see had simply stretched tighter. I stepped outside into the campus air and breathed normally again. Even then, I felt it. Do not be afraid. Something worse. Awareness. It was as if something in my life had suddenly changed direction without my knowledge. The sun felt too bright after the restricted section. I walked faster. I didn't stop until I got to a quieter corridor near the medical building. Only then did I lean against the wall and place my hand on my chest. My heartbeat was still too loud.
What was that?
Mate.
The word came back again. I closed my eyes for a second.
No. That was impossible.
I'd heard stories about mates. Soul bonds. Fated connections. But those stories were for powerful wolves. Not for people like me. Not for someone who spent her life being reminded she did not matter. I opened my eyes again.
That night, I could not focus on anything. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him standing between those shelves. Saying that word.
Mate.
I turned in bed again and again, trying to convince myself it was nothing. A mistake. A misunderstanding. But my body did not agree. My heart still remembered the way the air felt when he said it. I pressed my hand to my chest.
"This is not real," I whispered.
But even I did not sound convinced.
- Writer
