The Alpha's Seeress

Chapter 4

Olivia Isla

Nana Sienna's knocking awakened me. My head throbbed for some unknown reason, as if it were about to break. I couldn't recall staying up late last night, nor was it due to a hangover. With heavy eyelids, I walked to the door.

"Don't you have class today? It's almost eight," she nagged after I opened the door.

What day is it today?

Wait! My eyes widened as I realized it's Monday. s**t. What happened last night? I remembered being with Riley and... I ran straight to the bathroom without answering Nana Sienna's question. I pulled the collar of my pajamas and saw a mark there.

I placed the back of my palm on my forehead, feeling stressed about what had happened. The mark looked like a freaking hickey, and if Nana Sienna saw this, she'd freak out. Not only that, but our uniform isn't a turtleneck, so it won't cover the mark.

"Freaking Riley!" I hissed.

I had no idea how they managed to send me back here. I wasn't sure if Nana Sienna knew them, but if she did, she'd have asked me, which she hadn't. And then there's my history assignment. Oh great! I wanted to yell in irritation at how messed up everything was.

"Good morning, Miss Quinn," the university guard greeted me. But since I was running late, I just smiled at him and ran straight to our department building.

I'm really not in the mood today. For the first time, I failed a major test because I couldn't concentrate, my mind filled with all sorts of thoughts. It was embarrassing. Even my professor couldn't believe I got the lowest score among everyone.

"Where did you go last Saturday? You ditched us in the middle of the forest!" Myrtle confronted me, clearly annoyed, after our first class.

I pressed my lips together, stopping myself from telling them the truth. If I said I got kidn*pped by a werewolf, they surely wouldn't believe me. Well, we sort of think such creatures exist within the woods, but in this modern generation, it's just a myth.

"I... I went home because I saw a ghost in the woods when I went out to pee. I'm sorry, girls," I reasoned out. If I see Riley again, I'll really smack him hard in the face. This is all his fault. I wouldn't have been in a hot seat if he hadn't appeared out of nowhere and scared the s**t out of me.

"You... what? There's a ghost there? And you didn't even bother telling us?" Myrtle's irritation became more defined.

I heaved a sigh. "That's why I'm apologizing, Myrtle. It's not like I meant to leave you two there. I was just so scared. You can't blame me! I shouted both of your names, but you didn't listen to me."

Myrtle didn't talk to me all day. Isabella was in the middle; she still smiled and approached me, but she eventually got dragged away by Myrtle. I shook my head and decided not to make it a big deal. I'd already given them my explanation; I wouldn't stoop low just to get their forgiveness. It's not as if I did everything intentionally. I'm also a victim here.

"Where's your activity, Olivia Quinn?" Prof Hermes asked after she checked all the outputs.

I was about to tell her that I'd forgotten to complete it when somebody knocked on the door. Prof Hermes raised her brows before walking to the door and opening it. My eyes widened upon seeing who was there. Why the heck is Riley here?

"This is Miss Quinn's output, Prof. She left it at my place," he said.

What the heck? Is there something wrong with my ears, or did Riley just really mention something nonsensical? All of my classmates' eyes and heads turned in my direction with that malicious look, including Prof Hermes, who accepted my assignment, which I didn't remember doing.

I glared at Riley, ignoring all the eyes fixed on me, but the i***t just smiled. I had no idea how he managed to get in; I was sure he wasn't a professor.

"Was that your boyfriend, Miss Quinn?" Prof Hermes asked after Riley left. I instantly shook my head, rejecting the idea. He's not my boyfriend, and there's no way I'd have that man as a boyfriend. Sure, he has the looks, the wealth, and everything, but not the attitude.

"I don't know him, Prof Hermes. There must be a misunderstanding," I replied, sounding defensive.

"That's okay, Miss Quinn. No need to deny it; everyone goes through that phase. Just know your limits. You're all still young; prioritize your dreams first," she said.

This is so annoying. There's no use defending myself if they won't listen to my explanation. I guess I'll let them believe what they want to believe. My eyes linger on the paper that Riley submitted. I don't know what's inside it, but I'm certain I didn't make it.

"You already have a boyfriend? And you didn't even tell us? Are we even your friends?" Myrtle approached me after Prof Hermes dismissed us. She really just talked to me because of that. I never thought she'd be this petty over something.

"I don't have a boyfriend, Myrtle. I didn't even know who that man is. Besides, I didn't actually make the activity... I forgot."

It's frustrating how Riley's actions have messed up everything, from my personal life to my social circle. Can't he just disappear and leave me in peace? I'm already in my senior year, and I don't want any more mess. I agreed to his condition even though I didn't like it. I allowed him to mark me just to get away from him. And now, he dares to follow me.

"I don't believe you, Olive. It seems like you're keeping a lot of things from us," Myrtle accused.

Explaining things is the least I would do. I don't need to prove anything to anybody else, not even to my friends. I keep matters to myself because I don't think I need to share everything about me; that's what we call privacy.

"I already told you, Myrtle. If you won't believe me, then it's up to y—" my words stopped in mid-air, failing to continue, when Riley appeared right in front of us. Isabella was even shaken in shock by his appearance. I glanced at Myrtle, and she gave me that disappointed expression before walking away, leaving me.

"What do you need?" I faced the idi*t. He gave me that unsure look followed by a shrug.

"Just making sure you're in good condition." He suddenly pushed my hair aside, checking my neck. But his brow furrowed after seeing no mark on it. I'm not stupid enough to display it; I used some concealer just to hide it.

"What did you do? Did you cut the mark out?" he asked, panic dancing in his eyes.

"Are you stupid? Did you see a wound? No? Then, I didn't."

He was about to ask again when I walked past him. The more I engaged with him and acted casual, the more suspicious my blockmates became. Myrtle already has suspicions regarding my connection with Riley, and if I stay with him longer, she might actually believe that we are a thing.

"Tell me, Olivia. What happened to the mark? I remember marking you yesterday. It wouldn't just fade without your intervention," he uttered, following me until I reached the exit gate. He is really annoying. Riley doesn't know how to read a room.

"I shredded my skin off, happy?" I sarcastically spoke, but for some reason, Riley gaped his mouth, shocked by what I had said. Did he really believe it?

"You didn't, Olivia," he whispered, his tone laced with disbelief. Seriously, this werewolf will be the death of me.

"Stupid, Riley. It was sarcastic. If I had shredded it off, it would have left a mark or a scar."

His face lit up in sheer realization. "Great!" he shouted, then suddenly laughed, as if relieved about something. However, he looked somewhat crazy. Who the heck yells and laughs in front of the gate where it's crowded with students? Because of his behavior, everyone looked at us. Out of embarrassment, I walked through the crowd, leaving Riley behind. He can act as crazy as he wants, but not with me.

"Olivia Isla Quinn. Wait for me," the idi*t yelled, making me quicken my pace.

I'd already endured enough shame for today, but it seemed my luck wasn't on my side. I tripped, not just a normal trip, but a full roll near the bus stop where students were waiting. My left foot landed straight in dirty water from the drainage. I muttered a thousand curses under my breath when someone laughed uncontrollably— Riley. I was so annoyed and embarrassed that I wished I could disappear.

"Too old to be careless, Olivia," Riley muttered before offering to help me. Out of anger, I slapped his face and walked away, hearing people gasp at what I did.