Whispers Of The Moonstone

Ten

The bell rang, signaling the start of biology class, and Rohan found himself, as usual, at the back of the classroom. But today was different. Today, all his attention was fixed on Abigail, sitting at the front, her soft, dark hair cascading over her shoulders as she scribbled in her notebook. His gaze didn’t leave her for even a second.

She was completely oblivious to his staring, her focus on the lesson. But Rohan couldn’t tear his eyes away. His heart raced every time she tilted her head in thought or adjusted her glasses, her gentle aura calling to him in ways he didn’t understand. Every part of him felt like it was yearning for her, and he was powerless to stop it.

Drake, his best friend since childhood and his trusted beta, was sitting beside him. He’d been quiet for a while, but the persistent gaze Rohan held on Abigail didn’t go unnoticed.

“Rohan,” Drake muttered, tapping Rohan’s shoulder. “You’re gonna drill holes in the back of her head if you keep staring like that. Wassup with you?”

Rohan shook his head, trying to refocus on the lesson. He didn’t even realize he was staring so intensely until Drake pointed it out.

“Nothing, just… thinking,” Rohan mumbled, though he knew that wasn’t entirely true. He was thinking about Abigail. Always thinking about her.

Drake smirked but didn’t push the issue further. He knew his best friend better than anyone, and he could sense the tension in Rohan’s voice. This was more than just curiosity. His mate bond, even if still unacknowledged by Abigail, was tugging at him stronger than ever.

⸻

Once the bell rang and the class ended, everyone shuffled out, ready for lunch. Rohan’s mind was still on Abigail, and his focus was unwavering as he watched her walk toward the cafeteria with Emma by her side.

He didn’t hesitate. He knew what he had to do. Without thinking twice, he followed them, keeping his distance but close enough to keep an eye on her. His heart pounded as they entered the cafeteria, the noise of students laughing and talking filling the space around them.

Abigail and Emma walked to the food counter, and Rohan stood nearby, pretending to browse the selection. His eyes were locked on Abigail as she placed her order. The moment the cashier handed her the tray of food, Rohan stepped forward.

“Here,” he said, surprising both her and the cashier. Before Abigail could even respond, Rohan took the tray from the cashier’s hands and handed it to her.

Abigail blinked in confusion, looking at him with wide eyes. “Uh… thank you,” she stammered, clearly caught off guard.

Rohan smiled softly, offering a quick nod before walking away. He couldn’t help the thrill that rushed through him at the mere interaction. It was nothing—just handing her a tray—but it felt like the first step toward something bigger.

Abigail, still surprised, took the tray and joined Emma, who was already seated with her own meal. Emma was staring at Abigail, her mouth slightly open. “Did he just… help you?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Abigail nodded slowly.

Emma’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Girl, this is huge! What if he’s your mate—this is Rohan, the new Alpha. He doesn’t just help anyone. You’re in for a wild ride, my friend.”

Abigail shrugged, not sure how to feel about it. She didn’t sense anything unusual—yet. “Maybe he was just being polite.” She thought.

They settled into their seats, and soon Tommy arrived with his own plate of food. He had a flushed look on his face, but his eyes kept darting toward the Beta—Drake, who was sitting a few tables away with Rohan. Tommy quickly sat down, but the others noticed his uneasy expression.

“Tommy, why do you look like you’re hiding something?” Emma asked, a teasing glint in her eyes.

Tommy tried to play it off, but the flush deepened. “Nothing, just… hot in here, that’s all,” he muttered, but his eyes couldn’t stop glancing toward Drake, who was sitting with Rohan, deep in conversation.

Abigail raised an eyebrow. She scribbled on her notepad. “Tommy, you’ve been acting strange lately. What’s going on?”

Before Tommy could respond, Emma leaned closer to Abigail and whispered, “You know, Tommy is about to celebrate his birthday in a couple of days. And guess what? He already knows who his mate is. It’s Drake, the Beta. He’s just too shy to admit it.”

Abigail blinked, surprised. “Really? I had no idea.”

Emma giggled, enjoying every moment of teasing. “Oh, you’ll know soon enough. Tommy and Drake have been inseparable ever since they figured it out. Tommy’s just waiting for his mate bond to trigger, but you’ll see—it’s only a matter of time.”

Abigail couldn’t help but laugh softly at the thought, but her attention shifted back to Rohan. She had noticed the way he’d helped her earlier, and now, it seemed like he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Every few moments, she would glance up and find his gaze locked on her. It made her feel… strange.

Drake, sitting at the table next to Rohan, noticed his friend’s gaze once again and raised an eyebrow. “You’re really obvious about it, you know,” he teased, giving Rohan a knowing look. “She doesn’t even know yet, and you’re already looking at her like you can’t breathe without her.”

Rohan flushed slightly, a wave of embarrassment rushing over him. He wondered how Drake got to know about it because he hadn’t told him yet. He didn’t care that it was obvious—he couldn’t stop himself. But his thoughts were interrupted when Tracy walked over, her eyes immediately zeroing in on Rohan.

“Hey, Rohan,” she purred, sliding into the seat next to him. “You’ve been so quiet lately. I missed our chats.”

Rohan stiffened. He hadn’t expected her to come over, but he wasn’t about to entertain her. Not now, not when Abigail was so close.

“Tracy,” Rohan said, his voice firm. “I’m not in the mood right now. I think we should talk later.”

Tracy’s face twisted in irritation, her mouth opening as if to protest. But she quickly collected herself, glancing around the cafeteria. “I get it,” she snapped. “You’re probably busy with pack duties and I understand that.”

Rohan’s eyes flickered toward Abigail and Emma, who were deep in conversation. The situation was becoming uncomfortable. Tracy’s voice grew louder as she continued. “I haven’t found my mate yet, neither have you. Maybe this is a sign we belong together.”

Rohan’s jaw clenched, but he stood up, ignoring her words. “I’m not having this conversation, Tracy. I’m leaving.”

As he walked away, Tracy’s voice followed, and he could hear her making a scene. But Rohan didn’t care. All that mattered was Abigail.