THE TEACHER'S VIRGIN STUDENT MATE

CHAPTER 3

ELARA ASHFORD

I'm close to the mysterious man, my body still pressed against the tree, the woody scent of the surroundings mixing with his fragrance. His eyes scan my face, and I freeze, unable to breathe.

"Don't move...", he repeats, slowly removing something from my shoulder.

A bug, I realize, my heart racing.

"You should never hurt animals, ever.", he murmurs, still too close, his eyes gleaming in the faint moonlight.

I never found older men attractive, but my god, he is very attractive.

He blinks slowly, as if time around us is slowing down, and places his hands beside my head, blocking any escape. His words are low and intimate, brushing my ears like a dangerous breeze.

"Never cry for boys like him again. He doesn't deserve your tears, your attention, and definitely not your virginity. Save that for someone who knows what they're doing...", he whispers, his voice carrying an intensity that makes each word vibrate inside me.

I blink, surprised, and my heart is beating fast, almost painfully. Something about his words and his proximity makes my mind spin, whether from the alcohol or the power emanating from this man, who seems to know more about me than I do.

A shiver runs down my spine, a mix of fear and excitement.

"He didn't even know how to kiss you properly. You should feel relieved; you're not like that girl with him...", he continues, his tone almost cruel, as if exposing all of Oliver's flaws.

I bite my lip, trying to suppress what I'm feeling, but he's too close now. Every word intensifies the closeness, and I can feel the weight of his body against mine, like an unspoken promise.

"Why?", I ask, not knowing exactly what I'm seeking in the answer, just aware that I need to know more.

“Because he wouldn't know how to kiss someone like you. He wouldn't know how to touch you or how to get you into bed the right way.”, he murmurs in my ear.

The shock of the direct word makes my body tremble. I feel desire growing inside me, something primal, as if every part of me is responding to this man.

The urge to kiss him and to give in to this moment overwhelms me.

"You deserve a real man.", he whispers once more, almost like a provocation.

"Are you like that?", I ask, my voice drunk, not just from alcohol, but from his presence, from the intensity of this exchange.

His smile is slow, dark, and loaded with intent.

“If you were mine, absolutely. I'd show you what it's like to be kissed and what it's like to be touched in the right way. In a way you'd never forget.", he says.

I need nothing more.

Before I can think, my lips are pressed against his. I know he's much older, but that seems irrelevant now. The kiss is hot, hungry, and much more intense than anything I've ever experienced—far better than with Oliver.

I moan softly against his lips, feeling the immediate response when he grips my waist firmly, pulling me closer to his body. He presses me even harder against the tree, and my hands automatically go to his shoulders, feeling the tense muscles beneath his shirt.

The kiss is unlike anything—deep and full of an undeniable energy. It's the best kiss of my life.

"You deserve to be kissed by a man like this.", he whispers before kissing me again, leaving me breathless, almost begging for more.

But the sound of voices and loud laughter brings us back to reality. We pull apart abruptly, and I open my eyes, my lips still tingling.

I turn my head at the sound of my friend calling me.

"Elara?", Chloe yells from the distance.

"I'm coming.", I respond, still breathless, turning to the man. I want to ask his name, but he's already walking away, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

I just kissed a stranger.

When I return to the campfire, Chloe is waiting for me, her face worried.

"Where were you?", she asks.

"Just needed some air.", I respond evasively, trying to ignore the turmoil of emotions inside me.

"What's going on?"

"Everyone is starting a new game, but I think we should leave after what happened.", Chloe explains.

Still with the man's words echoing in my head, I shake my head.

"What game?"

"Truth or dare.", she answers, her eyes pleading for me to back out.

I blink, still drunk on adrenaline and alcohol.

"I accept."

"Elara, you don't have to do this.", Chloe insists, but I ignore the warning.

"I want to.", I respond, determined not to let Oliver continue humiliating me.

We sit with the others, and soon Oliver, with a provocative smile, stands and starts the game, asking the first question. The person chooses truth, and the round continues until it's my turn. Oliver grins broadly, savoring the moment.

"Truth or dare, Elara?", he asks, with evident malice.

I feel the tension in the air, but I keep my eyes fixed on him.

"Truth."

The group laughs, knowing what will come next, but I don't look away.

"Is it true that you're a virgin?", Oliver asks, laughing.

The laughter explodes around me, but I remain firm, my face expressionless. Chloe squeezes my leg in support, but I don't need it.

"True.", I whisper, not caring about Oliver's laughter anymore.

The night goes on, but the tension only grows, and when it's my turn again, I'm ready. Oliver, with an arrogant smile, asks again.

"Truth or dare, Elara?"

"Dare.", I respond firmly, as if I have something to prove.

Oliver smiles in a way that makes me shudder.

"I dare you to sleep with the guy who lives in that strange house.", he says, pointing to the mansion in the distance.

I freeze.

"What?"

“It's a dare. I dare you to seduce and sleep with Professor Langston.”, he repeats.

I widen my eyes, feeling the blood drain from my face.

The man I kissed was the professor.

Oh my god.

"Have you lost your mind?", I ask, moving closer to Oliver, my heart racing.

"You agreed to play the game.", he responds with a provocative smile.

"I choose truth.", I say quickly, but Oliver shakes his head, and the group starts shouting in support of him.

"That's not how the game works, Elara.", he says, amused by the situation.

I tremble, the truth finally sinking in.

I kissed the new professor, and now I'm daring to sleep with him.

"Let's go, Elara.", Chloe insists, trying to pull me away, but with anger boiling inside me, I turn to Oliver.

"This is wrong."

"Only if the school principal finds out. Just one night, Elara.", Oliver teases, shrugging.

The alcohol speaks louder now.

"I accept.", I say, and the group erupts in cheers and applause. Oliver looks genuinely surprised.

"Wow! You're more interesting than I imagined!"

"How am I supposed to do that?", I ask, my voice defiant.

"Go to his house or wait until classes start, I don't know. But there's no escaping this dare, Elara. If you don't do it, the whole school will know you're a virgin and that you tried to seduce the new professor.", Oliver says, smiling.

God.

I'm about to respond when a loud sound interrupts the conversation.

I turn my head, hearing distant howls.

"What was that?", Chloe asks, her voice filled with fear as she grips my arm.

The howls echo through the air again, tearing through the night's silence. I turn my head sharply, my heart racing and my eyes fix on something coming toward us.

A huge and dark one runs between the trees, moving with terrifying speed.

My chest tightens at the sight of its form: a black shadow with glowing golden eyes, the same eyes that have always haunted me in my dreams.

Now, they are real and here, in front of me.

I'm frozen, unable to move, and the sound of people around me screaming becomes distant.

All I can see are those bright, hungry eyes, fixed on me.

"Elara!"

Chloe's voice breaks the trance, and I feel her hand pull mine, but my eyes are still locked on the creature. It's huge, a black werewolf with dense fur and sharp teeth gleaming in the faint starlight.

"Oh my God! Elara, let's go!", Chloe pulls harder, and only then do I realize the surrounding chaos.

I blink quickly, as if waking from a nightmare. Everyone has started running, screaming, and panicking, taking over the camp.

But it's not just one creature. I realize there are more of them—many black werewolves, large and fierce, emerging from all sides.

They attack without mercy, their sharp teeth sinking into the people around them.

I see a girl scream desperately as she falls to the ground, being dragged by one of them.

Terror grips me, my lungs burn as I struggle to breathe.

"Run, Chloe! Run!", I shout, my voice broken by fear.

Chloe and I start running toward the cars, but I'm drunk, and my feet stumble as I try to keep my balance.

I turn my head back and see a werewolf lunging at another boy from the football team, begging for help, but all I can do is run.

The panic is immense; people run chaotically, screaming and crying, while the werewolves continue their c*****e.

The bonfire that illuminated the camp suddenly goes out, leaving everything in complete darkness.

I keep running, holding Chloe's hand, our bodies pushing against the darkness.

"I can't see anything!", Chloe shouts, her voice filled with panic.

I fight against the fear and reach for the phone in my jacket pocket, turning on the flashlight.

The faint light cuts through the darkness, but the surrounding howls seem to be getting closer.

I turn my head back, my heart pounding out of rhythm, and I see two huge werewolves running towards us.

"Faster, Chloe! We need to get to the cars!"

My hand trembles as I hold the phone, desperate to see any sign or anything that could help us, but there’s no service to call for help.

Fear tightens in my chest, and tears well up in my eyes, but I keep running as fast as I can.

The werewolves howled, their claws scraping the ground as they approached.

The sound terrifies me, and then Chloe trips and falls to the ground, letting out a scream.

"Help me!", she screams, and I stop abruptly, eyes wide, as I run back to help her.

"I'm scared, Elara!", Chloe cries, her big eyes full of desperation.

"I know, I am too. But we have to go now!". I reply, my voice trembling.

With difficulty, I help Chloe up, and we start running again, having no idea where we're going.

Everything around us is covered in shadows.

My heart is beating so fast, I feel like it's going to explode at any moment.

I hear one of the girls scream, and I force myself not to look back.

Panic grows, and the pain of running nonstop starts to weigh on my legs.

Then, my flashlight shines on something ahead of us.

A cliff.

We stop abruptly, desperation washing over me.

"There's no way out here!"

I turn to Chloe, with the werewolves already closing in.

My lungs burn as I try to breathe, and I squeeze her hand tightly.

I see three werewolves emerge from the shadows, ready to attack.

The largest one, the one with golden eyes that haunts my nightmares, growls as he stares at me.

I blink, and something surreal happens.

The werewolf doesn’t speak, but I hear his voice in my mind.

"Elara…", the word echoes in my head, like a distant echo.

My mouth opens, incredulous.

"Elara!", Chloe repeats my name, but my eyes are locked on the creature. The werewolf is getting closer.

"What do you want?", I murmur, my voice barely a whisper.

"Elara, what are you doing?", Chloe asks, desperate, but I keep staring at the werewolf.

"He's talking to me..."

"What? I didn't hear anything! They're going to kill us!"

"Can't you hear him?", I ask, my voice weak.

"Hear what?", Chloe is confused, but I know something's wrong.

I can hear him; he's talking to me.

The werewolf's voice reverberates again in my mind:

"You're the only one… She's not like you..."

I turn to Chloe, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Chloe, when I tell you, you're going to run to the car."

"I'm not leaving you, Elara."

"I'll be right behind you. Now go! Run!"

Chloe starts running, and the werewolves howl, launching after her.

I start running too, but the world spins around me.

I trip on a rock and fall to the ground.

The impact is hard, and I feel something warm trickling down my forehead. Blood. I try to get up, but the dizziness disorients me.

I look back and see the larger werewolf approaching.

I blink, struggling to stay focused, but the pain in my head makes me weak.

I force myself to stand and start running, staggering.

Then, a new werewolf appears, much larger, charging at the ones chasing me.

He attacks the other werewolves fiercely, his teeth gleaming in the dark.

Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and I see the golden pupils fixed on me.

There's something different about him—something that makes me keep running, even though I barely know where I'm going.

Without Chloe and without my phone, I’m lost.

The pain in my head is unbearable, and I feel like I’m going to faint.

I try to keep going, but my steps falter.

When I finally stop, unable to go on, I lift my eyes and find a pair of light brown eyes watching me.

"Professor…", I murmured before fainting.

I feel his strong arms catching me, and for a moment, I feel a strange sense of safety before everything goes dark.

I groan softly, feeling a dull pain throbbing in my forehead.

I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are heavy, and everything around me seems blurry.

Gradually, I realize I’m being carried, and a familiar warmth radiates through my body.

My vision starts to adjust, and through the shadows, I see the face of the new professor carrying me somewhere. Before I can process what’s happening, the world around me goes dark, and I pass out again.

I don't know how much time has passed until the pain in my forehead slowly wakes me up.

I blink my eyes, trying to adjust to the faint light, and I realize I'm lying on a soft couch.

The ceiling above me is dark and made of old, polished wood.

The room around me feels cold and strange.

I’m not home. Sitting up too quickly makes my head spin, and I groan again, bringing my hand to my forehead.

I look around, and my eyes widen as I take in the room I'm in.

It's beautiful and, at the same time, eerie.

The furniture is old, but extremely well-preserved, with intricate dark wood details.

Heavy curtains hang from the windows, and the décor has a dark tone, giving the place a mysterious and elegant air.

Where am I? What is this place?

I touch my forehead again, feeling the sharp pain from the wound.

Slowly, the memories start to return: the attack, the werewolves...

Chloe! Chloe!

My heart races, and I start frantically looking around, searching for my friend.

But Chloe isn’t here. Panic begins to spread through my body, and I try to stand, but my knees are weak.

"Don't worry, you're not in danger anymore."

The deep voice makes me stop suddenly.

I quickly turn my head and see Professor Langston descending the stairs with steady steps.

The man who saved my life.

He looks different now, wearing a dark sweater over a dress shirt and equally formal pants.

Elegant and composed, as if nothing that happened last night affected him. But I know that's not the case.

Blinking several times, I try to organize my thoughts as the memories flashback: the werewolves, the attack... him appearing out of nowhere to save me, as if he knew what was happening as if he was prepared.

"Why am I here?", I ask, my voice weak and full of confusion.

"This is the safest place for you right now.", he replies with a supernatural calm, his golden eyes fixed on me.

I feel a wave of panic rising in my chest.

"Where is everyone? Where’s Chloe?", my voice trembles as I mention my friend, desperate for an answer to reassure me.

He stops near the couch and watches me with a neutral expression.

"If you're referring to the girl with you, I don't know where she is."

He hands me a glass of water and a pill.

"Drink this. It will help with the pain you're feeling. Then I'll take you to the hospital."

I hesitate for a moment, frowning.

"Today is the first day of class. I can't miss it.", my own voice sounds surreal.

How can I be thinking about that after what happened?

The professor looks at me with a mix of incredulity and sarcasm.

"You were attacked. Some of your friends died. You hit your head hard, and you're still thinking about going to school?"

Blinking is all I can do.

I'm surprised by the coldness of his words.

"You're going too...", I whisper, pointing to the clothes he's wearing, trying to deflect the conversation.

But I can't ignore what he just said. My chest tightens at the thought of the friends who were at the camp.

Who else died?

He tilts his head slightly, his eyes shining with a disconcerting intensity.

"What were those things?", I finally ask, my mind refusing to accept the memories coming back.

"Werewolves."

The word is said with such certainty that I am stunned.

I let out a nervous laugh, not believing it.

"I don't think so. That kind of creature doesn't exist in the real world."

He steps closer, his presence overwhelming.

"And how do you define the real world, Elara?"

He watches me with a challenging, almost predatory expression.

"Werewolves are legends."

"Now you know they're not."

"You didn't tell me your name...", I whisper.

"Neither did you. I'm Rowan."

"Elara..."

I take a long sip of water after swallowing the pill, trying to process what he just said.

I place the glass on the coffee table, my eyes fixed on him.

He is incredibly attractive—more than I remembered.

He takes a step back, pointing to the door.

"Get up. I'll take you home."

I look at my wrinkled dress and let out a sigh.

But no matter how much I try to ignore it, my mind keeps going back to the kiss from the night before. I can’t stop thinking about what he said about being a real man. The thought makes me restless.

I try to stand, but the world spins around me. Before I fall, he holds me firmly, pulling me close to him.

Our eyes meet, and I realize how close he is. I can smell the woody scent coming from him, which is intoxicating and hypnotic.

My heart races.

"As I said, people your age shouldn't drink so much...", he murmurs.