Chapter 8: The First Collision
1194 Words
CHAPTER 8
Mooncrest Auditorium
Kieran
I kept stealing glances at the new girl.
I couldn't take my eyes off her.
She carried a different aura.
Every other girl was screaming. Why wasn't she? While everyone else was losing their minds over Professor Ravencrest, she remained surprisingly calm.
Like she already knew him.
Darius Ravencrest finished his welcome speech in under five minutes. Typical. Talk less. Command more.
The moment he stepped off the stage, half the female population sighed as though their hearts had just been stolen.
She clapped politely.
Too politely.
Her eyes followed him as he walked past our row.
For the briefest second...
...their gazes met.
My chest tightened.
What the hell was that?
"Dude, earth to Kieran."
Damon snapped his fingers in front of my face.
"You've been staring at the new girl for almost ten minutes."
"I wasn't."
"Sure you weren't." He smirked. "That was smooth earlier though. Playing the gentleman. What? You trying to get in her pants already?"
I ignored him.
Because the truth was...
I didn't know what was wrong with me.
My eyes drifted back to Seraphine.
She was chatting with her loud friend as though nothing had happened.
---
Seraphine
My wolf...?
In my previous life...
I never had one.
My mind went completely blank.
Him...?
I shook my head.
Maybe I was imagining things.
Maybe I was just hallucinating.
"Did you see him?" Aria grabbed my arm excitedly. "Cousin Darius! Tell me you saw him!"
I nodded.
"Yeah... I saw him."
"And?" she asked impatiently.
I rolled my eyes.
"He's so freaking handsome."
Aria squealed.
"I know, right?! For a second I almost forgot he's my cousin!"
I laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
"Excuse me? Did you see that face? That man was sculpted by the Moon Goddess herself!"
I nodded in agreement.
"You're actually right."
Then...
A familiar voice echoed inside my head.
"Is that really how you're going to compliment your mate?"
My smile disappeared.
...What?
"Honestly, I expected something better."
I froze.
You're back...
"Of course I am."
"Who's talking to me?"
"Your wolf."
"No..."
"Yes."
"This isn't real."
A soft laugh echoed in my mind.
"Poor girl. You've finally awakened me, and the first thing you do is deny my existence."
I'm losing my mind...
"No."
"You're finally hearing me."
I swallowed hard.
Mate...?
"Yes."
"Professor Darius Ravencrest is your mate."
My heart nearly stopped.
Darius... my mate?!
"Now you're getting it."
No...
This can't be happening.
"Oh, it's happening."
"And between us..." she giggled.
"You seriously need better compliments for your mate."
"Calling him 'so freaking handsome'?"
"That's the best you've got?"
My lips parted.
"What?!"
Aria blinked.
"Huh?"
I immediately covered my mouth.
"N-Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You sure?"
I forced an awkward smile.
"Yeah..."
No.
I needed to get away before I embarrassed myself.
"Aria..."
"Hm?"
"I need to use the restroom."
"Now?"
I nodded quickly.
"I'll be back."
Without waiting for another question, I hurried out of the auditorium.
"Running away already?" my wolf teased.
Will you stop talking?!
"No."
People will think I'm crazy!
"Only if you answer me out loud."
I clenched my fists.
You're impossible.
"And you're adorable when you panic."
---
Darius
As I stepped down from the stage, my eyes instinctively searched for one person.
Seraphine.
She suddenly stood from her seat and hurried toward the exit.
Mida growled.
"Now."
I frowned inwardly.
"What?"
"She's alone."
"This is your chance."
"Go after her."
Without another word, I excused myself from the faculty members and followed her out of the auditorium.
---
Seraphine
"Slow down," my wolf laughed.
I'm trying to think!
"There's nothing to think about."
"You finally met your mate."
Stop saying that!
"Why?"
"Because it's true."
I turned the corner toward the restroom, my mind completely occupied by the mischievous voice inside my head.
"Wait until you hear my name."
I don't even want to know it!
"Liar."
I said stop talking!
Before I could take another step—
Bang!
I crashed into a solid chest.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist before I could fall.
A familiar scent invaded my senses.
I slowly looked up...
Silver eyes.
Darius Ravencrest.
For a heartbeat...
The world stood still.
My wolf fell silent.
A strange warmth spread through my body.
My vision blurred.
The last thing I saw...
A strange warmth spread through my body.
My vision blurred.
The last thing I saw...
...was Darius Ravencrest's worried silver eyes.
Then...
Darkness.
---
Darius
"Seraphine!"
I caught her before she could hit the floor.
Her body went completely limp in my arms.
"Seraphine... wake up."
No response.
Mida's playful tone disappeared.
"She's unconscious."
"I can see that."
"Take her somewhere safe."
By then, the commotion had begun.
Students walking out of the auditorium noticed us.
"Oh my Goddess!"
"Isn't that Professor Ravencrest?"
"What happened to that girl?"
"Did she faint?"
Their whispers grew louder with every passing second.
I frowned.
The last thing Seraphine needed was to become the center of campus gossip on her first week.
Without another thought, I bent down and lifted her carefully into my arms.
She was lighter than I expected.
Her head rested against my chest as though she had always belonged there.
"Comfortable?" Mida teased.
"Not now."
"I'm simply pointing out that our mate fits perfectly in our arms."
I ignored him.
The students instinctively stepped aside, creating a clear path.
Outside the university entrance, my driver was already waiting beside the black Rolls-Royce.
The moment he saw me carrying an unconscious young woman, his eyes widened.
"Young Master..."
"Open the door."
"Yes, sir."
He hurried to obey.
I settled Seraphine gently into the back seat before climbing in beside her.
"To the mansion."
"Immediately, Young Master."
The car pulled away from Mooncrest Royal University.
Silence filled the vehicle.
My gaze never left Seraphine.
She looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"She's beautiful." Mida murmured.
I sighed.
"I know."
"You're smiling again."
Only then did I realize the corners of my lips had curved upward.
I looked away.
"Stop noticing everything."
Mida laughed.
"Impossible."
---
Ravencrest Mansion
The moment the car stopped, the mansion staff rushed outside.
They froze when they saw the unconscious woman in my arms.
"Young Master..."
"Call Dr. Marcus."
The butler immediately bowed.
"Right away."
Within minutes, the Ravencrest family physician hurried into the mansion carrying his medical case.
He carefully examined Seraphine.
Her pulse.
Her breathing.
Her temperature.
Her eyes.
Several long minutes passed.
Finally, he removed his stethoscope and turned toward me.
"Young Master..."
"How is she?" I asked immediately.
He frowned.
"Physically..."
"...Miss Veyra is perfectly healthy."
My brows knitted together.
"Then why hasn't she woken up?"
The doctor hesitated.
"I don't know."
"I've never encountered a case like this before."
The room fell silent.
I looked back at Seraphine.
She lay peacefully on the bed, completely unaware of the worry she had caused.
I walked to her bedside and gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
"Wake up..." I murmured softly.
"I'm waiting for you."
Beside me, Mida remained unusually quiet.
For the first time since recognizing our mate...
Even he had no answers.
- Writer
