Chapter 5
1154 Words
I sat in Ms. Porter’s office, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was too quiet, except for the steady ticking of the clock. My hands felt clammy as I pressed them against my thighs. I tried to focus, to stay calm, but my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.
Aiden was missing. I had no idea where he was, and the weight of everything I’d learned so far pressed down on me. Werewolves. Vampires. My strange new powers. None of it felt real, but it was.
The air grew colder.
I tensed.
He was here.
“Not now,” I whispered under my breath.
Bastien leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, a knowing smile on his lips. He always had this smooth, dangerous energy about him, like he could destroy you without even trying.
“You can’t avoid me forever, Nadia,” he said softly.
I glared at him. “What do you want?”
“I told you, I’m here to help.” He stepped closer, his eyes flashing with something dark. “You deserve the truth, and I’m the only one who will give it to you.”
“I don’t need your help,” I snapped, though my voice shook slightly.
He chuckled under his breath. “Are you sure? Because the truth is uglier than you think.”
My stomach twisted. “What truth?”
His face turned serious. “You know you’re different. You feel it, don’t you? The power inside you….the hunger.”
I swallowed hard. “What are you saying?”
Bastien crouched down beside me, his voice dropping lower. “Your mother wasn’t who you thought she was. She was human, yes, but your father… he was Baelish .”
I froze. “Who?”
“The alpha of the Deadleaf Pack,” he said, his words slicing through me. “The most powerful werewolf who ever lived.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “No. That’s impossible.”
“It’s the truth,” Bastien said calmly. “Your mother tried to hide it, but she couldn’t erase what you are.”
I shook my head, my throat tightening. “My father, he loves me.”
“He didn’t know,” Bastien said softly. “Your mother never told him the truth. She couldn’t, because Baelish took her by force.”
The air left my lungs. I felt sick. “No…”
“You were born from that r**e, Nadia,” he continued, his voice sharper now. “And because of who you are, you’re a target. Hermes , the leader of the vampire coven wants your power. If you stay weak, he’ll take you. But if you join me…” He leaned closer, his voice a dangerous whisper. “You’ll never have to be weak again.”
I wanted to scream, to deny everything, but deep down, something inside me stirred. Something that knew Bastien wasn’t lying.
I opened my mouth to ask more, but the door creaked open.
“Who are you talking to?” Ms. Porter’s voice cut through the air.
My heart nearly stopped. I glanced back….Bastien was gone.
“No one,” I said quickly, forcing a smile.
Ms. Porter narrowed her eyes, stepping inside. “You seem nervous.”
“I’m fine,” I lied.
Her gaze stayed on me as she settled behind her desk. “Let’s talk about Aiden,” she said. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“I….I don’t really know him that well,” I stammered, my pulse racing. “I haven’t seen him lately.”
Her expression remained unreadable. “If you know anything, you should tell me now.”
“I don’t,” I insisted.
After a long pause, she finally nodded. “You can go.”
I didn’t need to be told twice.
That evening, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Dad.
I hesitated before answering. “Hey.”
“Hey, sweetheart,” his voice was warm, but there was something else…worry. “You okay? You sound… different.”
My throat tightened. For a moment, I wanted to tell him everything. About the werewolves, the vampires, the fact that I wasn’t fully human.
But how could I? How could I drag him into this?
“I’m fine,” I said quietly. “Just… school stuff.”
“You sure?”
“I promise.”
Later that night, there was a knock at the door.
Ava answered it, and her entire body tensed. “What do you want?”
Eli.
His eyes softened when they landed on me. “I wanted to check on you.”
Ava stepped in front of me like a shield. “She doesn’t need your help.”
Eli’s jaw clenched. “I’m not here for you, Ava.”
“Well, you should leave.”
I sighed, stepping between them. “Let’s go,” I said to Eli, grabbing my jacket.
The night air was crisp, the distant rumble of thunder echoing across the sky. We walked silently to the edge of campus, neither of us speaking.
“You okay?” Eli asked, his voice softer than usual.
I nodded. “Yeah. Just… a lot on my mind.”
He stopped walking, turning to face me. “If you want to talk, I’m here.”
I met his gaze, and for a moment, the world around us faded. “Why do you care?”
His lips curled into a small, sad smile. “Because you matter to me, Nadia.”
A drop of rain hit my cheek. Then another.
“I should go back…..”
“Wait,” he said, grabbing my hand.
I froze. His touch was warm, electric, sending a rush through me.
“I want you,” he said quietly. “Not because of what you are. Just… you.”
Something inside me shattered. Before I could think, I closed the space between us.
His lips crashed into mine, fierce and hungry. The kiss deepened quickly, heat flooding my body as he pulled me closer.
His hands slid down my waist, gripping me tight. I gasped softly when I felt him….hard against me. The heat of his body pressed into mine, and every nerve in me lit up.
“Eli…” I whispered, breathless.
“I want you,” he murmured, his lips trailing along my jawline. His hands gripped my hips, pulling me against him. I could feel how much he wanted me….and God, I wanted him too.
His mouth returned to mine, rougher this time. His tongue teased mine, his hands sliding lower, squeezing my ass. The rain poured down around us, soaking our clothes, but neither of us cared.
“You drive me insane,” he muttered against my lips, his voice raw with need.
I was losing control. My body burned everywhere he touched me.
But then, Guzman’s face flashed through my mind.
- Writer
