Never Goodbye, A Werewolf Romance - (Book 1-The Mist Series)

~ Chapter 4 - Stalker Alpha ~

~ Louise ~

The first school bell chimed, signalling for students to head inside. I froze. In just ten minutes, the second chime would call us to our homeroom classrooms. Am I doing the right thing?

Fight, Mum had said. You’re stronger than you think.

I can do this! I wiped the tear stains from my puffy cheeks and hurried up the stone steps, weaving between the other students. Their laughter and chatter felt distant, muffled by the roaring in my ears. Each step felt heavier, but I pushed through.

I reached the large glass double doors and pushed them open.

An overpowering salty breeze hit my senses, sharp and unexpected. What is that? I stepped forward, rubbing my nose, only to smack head-first into a solid object. I skittled backwards, collapsing on my rear with a solid whack.

“What the hell…” I winced, rubbing at my aching shoulder. “Oww…”

“Whoa, slow down there!” a familiar voice chuckled.

A shiver crawled down my spine. I looked up. The alpha-to-be Joseph stood before me, his gaze holding mine with an unreadable expression. Soft streaks of brown gleamed in his dark hair, catching the hallway lights.

“Not you again!” I hissed, clambering to my feet, teeth clenched. A breath caught in my throat as I gathered my schoolbag, dusted off my dress, and turned to face him. The familiar heat bloomed in my chest, stirring a fresh wave of nausea. “What are you—”

“—Well, fancy seeing you here, Omega…” Joseph drawled, tightening the bandage on his forearm and flexing the muscle beneath. That infuriating returned to his lips. “This is our second meeting. Are you stalking me?”

I glowered at him, my heart thumping against my ribcage. “Me stalking you? As if! The question is… why are you here? I’ve never seen you here before!” The words tore from my lips in rapid fire.

A strangled snarl twisted his lips. Light swirled in his silver eyes. His nostrils flared. I met his gaze, refusing to back down. He was undoubtedly handsome, but that didn’t give him the right to be such a jerk.

He circled like a wild, calculating animal, before stopping before me. “I transferred here this morning. And you?”

“Me what?” I asked, my gaze unwavering.

His jaw clenched, a muscle twitching beneath his skin as his thumb traced the sharp line of his chin. I shifted from one foot to the other, my shoulders tense under his gaze. One perfectly sculpted brow arched as he asked, “How long have you been attending Our Lady of Souls…?”

I crossed my arms, clutching my bag against my chest, and feigned a calmness I didn’t feel. “Since… forever. Though why you’d care is beyond me. You don’t even know me.”

He leaned closer, his face a mere inches away, his breath warm against my skin. “You’ve gone… tense, Omega. Are you happy to see me?” he murmured, each syllable drawn out in a low, possessive growl.

“No!” The word burst out, a frustrated snap. My scowl deepened, tugging my eyebrows into a tighter line as I fiercely battled the traitorous flutter trying to bloom in my chest. “Why would I be happy? You insulted me! You’ve been nothing but rude to me since we met!”

A slow smirk stretched across Joseph’s lips as he took a step back, the movement somehow both languid and predatory. His eyes held my eyes captive. “Maybe not now,” he breathed, the words a silken promise, “but you will.”

Swallowing, I clutched my bag tighter. Something in his eyes, in his very aura, was rankling me, burning a pathway to my chest. His shoulders shuddered, and I knew he could sense it.

“Louise? You’re here!” I turned as Raine came tearing down the hallway, brown hair flapping behind her. Though short and round-faced, Raine’s personality was anything but diminutive. It shone with a vibrant energy, breathing life into the space around her. At that moment, I couldn’t have been more grateful for her intervention.

Arms open wide, she swooped in, snatching me into a bear hug. The scent of her rose shampoo intensified as her embrace tightened. “I’ve been thinking about you all morning! How did it go? Do you need to talk about it?”

“It’s good to see you, Raine.” I muttered, untangling strands of her wavy hair from my face. My shoulder throbbed in protest, but I ignored it. “I want to talk about it, but we need to find Jo first. And soon. The bell’s due to go any minute. We have a lot to talk about…”

A growl rumbled deep from Alpha-to-be Joseph’s chest. Without a word, he approached, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me. His eyes flashed wolf-black, muting the moonlight shimmer in them, and stirring something untouched and dormant within me.

I stiffened, pushing the strange feeling back. The fear vanished almost instantly, but the familiar ache in my abdomen returned, bringing with it a sharp spike of irritation, just like at the doctor’s office.

Alpha or not, Joseph was being a jerk, and I couldn’t stand it. “Joseph…!” I snarled under my breath, trying to pull Raine away from him. “Why are you still here?”

“Joseph?” Raine asked, backing away, her voice unnaturally high. “Joseph, who?” Her question trailed off as her curious gaze landed on him. She stiffened, betraying her recognition. “Alpha… Oh, my Goddess…” she sucked in a sharp breath, her hands fluttering as she attempted to smooth the wrinkles from her school dress and tame stray strands of hair. Every movement was a perfect reflection of an obedient omega. “I-I’m so sorry if I intruded…”

“Seriously, Raine,” I snorted, a laugh vibrating in my nose. “No need to apologise… he’s the one being so rude!”

“Louise, you can’t talk to him like that! He’s our alpha!” She turned to me, her face paling by ten shades.

“He’s not Alpha yet.” I met Joseph’s gaze, defiant. “Respect is earned, and he hasn’t done a thing this morning to earn mine.”

Joseph smiled, dimpling the smooth skin around his lips.

The void of blackness around his eyes held me captive for a moment, then the silver within sparked to life, mesmerising me. I frowned, shaking my head to break free from the spell.

Raine yanked on my arm, tugging me away from him. Her face was a mask of intense horror as she swivelled toward me, her voice a bare whisper. “Louise, what are you doing? He’s alpha blood… How?”

“And he insulted me—” I began, but the words caught in my throat. A large, warm hand had closed over mine, igniting a trail of sparks through my fingers, tracing a path up my arms. Breathless, I turned to find Joseph with my hand now cradled between his. “W-what are you doing?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.

He smirked, a wave of arrogance washing over him. “Isn’t it obvious? Apologising.” Then he kissed my hand, his apology dripping with arrogance.

“Let go!” I demanded, wrenching my hand from his. “What was that for?”

“I told you… I’m offering you an apology. And for good measure, I’m offering it twice.” He sniffed deeply, his nostrils flaring. A wave of disgust washed over him, his eyes clouding and his face contorting. “Why…” he choked out, his hand going to his face. “Why do you smell like that?”

“Smell like what?” I spat, recoiling from him.

He advanced, trapping me against the wall’s chilly surface, and inhaled deeply, as if trying to capture my essence. His expression twisted again, a grimace he fought to suppress. “It’s difficult to explain… But there’s something odd about you… something I can’t put my finger on. What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?” I spat, anger flaring anew. I shoved Joseph, forcing him back, and a nearby student darted away to avoid the confrontation. “Why do you even care?” My fists clenched tight, jaw rigid, and a nauseating pulse throbbed in my stomach. “I’m sick, alright?! Is that what you want to hear?”

The arrogance vanished from his face, replaced by a gathering darkness. “Wait, you’re what?”

The words exploded from me in a bitter tirade. “I’m sick!” Heads turned, a few people pausing nearby, their gazes glued to the scene. I glared at them until they dispersed, then rounded on Joseph, gesturing emphatically around the exposed room. “Now everyone in the school knows. Is that what you wanted?”

“I didn’t realise…” He trailed off as a skittish hand raked through his thick hair.

“Well, now, you and everyone else!” I threw back at him.

“I-I’m—” Joseph floundered, his words stuck on his tongue. “Louise, I’m…”

“A jerk!” I burst out, my voice shaking along with my hands and body. “An arrogant jerk!”

He stood frozen, eyes wide, shoulders tight.

“Louise now, is it? Not omega anymore?” I mocked, seizing Raine’s arm. Still reeling, she stumbled as I hauled her down the hall. “Just leave me alone!” I called over my shoulder.

He didn’t move, his gaze fixed on me as I raged toward the locker room, slamming the door open and dragging Raine inside. My heart pounded against my ribs.

“Wait… Louise, did you—an omega—stand up to our future alpha?” Raine half-laughed, her voice trembling. I released my hold of her arm. “He gave you hell, but you just gave it right back… Wait! Did you just call Joseph a jerk?”

“He started it,” I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

“But he’s an alpha! And I’m completely shocked. I can’t believe you did that!” She repeated in disbelief.

I shrugged and then swivelled to face her. “He deserved it!”

“What started it?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.

I sighed, shrugging again. “Honestly, I don’t know. He’s been on my case ever since we crossed paths in the clinic this morning.”

The surprise on her face melted into a playful smirk that made her brown eyes sparkle. “I think he likes you…,” she teased, punctuating the statement with a wink. “Think about it… He kissed your hand! Then he pinned you against the wall and nearly kissed you. Louise, he was flirting with you!”

“Yeah, right, he didn’t kiss me!” I half-snorted, the sound echoing as I wrestled open my locker. Shooting her a sideways glance, I added, “and he said I smelt weird! How is that flirting?”

“He said that?” She leaned forward with a subtle sniff. “You smell the same as ever,” she said, her assessment hanging in the space between us. “Kind of like sweet toffee… a little sweet and a little tough.”

“Thanks, I think,” I half-laughed, tossing my bag into the locker. I paused just for a moment, letting my heart find some semblance of peace. The ache in my stomach faded. “Besides, he’s an alpha, and as he so readily reminded me—I’m an omega… And,” I pressed a hand to my chest, a pit of despair yawning open within, “I’m sick… very sick.”

Oblivious to the pain my words insinuated, Raine gasped, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Maybe Joseph’s your destined mate!” she squealed. “Can you imagine what that would be like—mated to an alpha?” She lowered her voice, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Imagine what the s*x would be like… absolutely insane!”

A gasp slipped from me, followed by a stifled laugh. “Lorraine!” I exclaimed. “Did you really say that?”

She giggled, linking her hands before her, feigning innocence. “It’s just a thought… if you’re mated to the Alpha, then life would be so different!”

“Now you’re being crazy…” I snorted, grabbing what I needed from my locker. Snapping it shut, I turned to face Raine, my laughter dying in my throat, replaced by a sudden, icy shiver. “Raine, after what happened with Joseph… if my illness gets back to his family… we’ve worked so hard to keep it from them. It could end up bad for us—for me.”

“Oh, Louise, I hope not…” she murmured, throwing her arms around me in a comforting embrace. “All those nosy parkers were human, so unless Alpha Joseph says something, you should be fine.”

“He might…” I sniffled, burying my face into her neck.

“No matter what happens,” she said, her voice filled with unwavering resolve, “I’ll never let you go through this alone. I’ll stand by your side. It’s going to be okay.” She held me at arm’s length, her soft eyes searching mine. “What did the doctor say?”

I glanced around to make sure we were alone before revealing everything Doctor Anderson had told me in the lowest whisper I could manage. Each word ached deeper.

“Oh, Louise, that’s so scary. I’m so sorry. It sounds absolutely horrible! But you will get through this. I know you will.” Raine murmured, hugging me tight.

“But,” I sniffled, a lump forming in my throat as I slid out of her hold. “What’s the use in living a life without…” I trailed off, gesturing vaguely to my lower stomach. “These…?”

Taking my hand, she traced the lines of my palm with her fingertips. “I can’t even imagine how you feel. That’s something no one I know has ever been through.”

“I’m not ordinary…” I whispered, as the school bell rang.

With a soft half-smile, she brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. “Well, my little oddity, like I said, I’ll be with you every step of the way… And so will Jo.”

“I thought my ears were burning…”

We spun around, finding Jo’s dark blue almond eyes fixed on us, half-hidden beneath her long black hair. They glinted with curiosity, a pensive feature that seemed to coax the darkest secrets from your soul.

“Who died?” she asked, shrugging off her blazer and letting her bag slide to the ground.

Raine gasped, covering her mouth. “Joanne! Why would you say that?”

Jo’s eyes went dark. “What?” she breathed, glancing between us, trying to gauge the atmosphere. “Wait, did… did someone actually die? Oh my Goddess, who?”

“No,” I said, swiping at my tears with the side of my hand. “I got my results back today.”

Recognition crashed over her face, and her expression crumbled. “I’m such an i***t! I’m so sorry, Louise…” she blurted, rushing to engulf me in her thin arms. “That was so rude of me.”

“Louise is going in for surgery soon,” Raine said, her voice soft as she stroked my arm.

Jo stepped back, mirroring me with her own mournful gaze. “Really? What are they going to do?”

I quickly whispered the doctor’s plans with an unflattering sniffle.

“Oh, s**t!” She covered her mouth, her voice muffled. “That’s major surgery, with a long recovery… And knowing it’s experimental on our kind…” she shivered. “That also means…”

“My life is going to change…” I wept, burying my face in my hands.

“Don’t be so insensitive, Jo…” Raine hissed as she hung her arm over my shoulder.

“I’m not being insensitive!” Jo insisted, her voice ringing with sincerity. “It’s just a fact. Mama’s a nurse, and she always leaves medical books lying around. I sometimes browse through them. Just recently, I was reading one about the female anatomy… I’ve seen how the surgery is done with humans, and the end results. I didn’t mean to sound so rude.”

“It’s okay,” I sniffled as I took both their hands in mine. “Now’s not the best time to talk about this.”

Jo paused, glancing this way and that. “That’s true. We should talk about this in private. There are too many wolf’s ears around…”

“Besides,” Raine said, her eyes twinkling. “You missed our Louise having a heated argument with the future alpha, Joseph Black…”

“What?” Jo grinned, her eyes now as bright as Raine’s. “We need to get to class, but tell me everything…”