Scarlet Moon: The Marked Heir

CHAPTER TEN

Arian’s POV

I felt my blood turn icy. I pulled my hat closer to my face. And then a group of girls walked in. Their eyes darted around the room, like a predator looking for prey. Eloise, their crew leader, stood in front; her eyes glowed gold before returning to normal.

"The new boy…" she mouthed, and the others giggled in anticipation. I felt my heart racing against my chest. Those crew members were sensitive, with a high ability to sense things. I quickly returned to the vending machine, inserted another coin, and a pack of chewing gum slid out.

"Hello everyone," said Eloise, standing on a table. Her voice was sharp and authoritative. She was one of the academy's strongest she-wolves, and from what I've heard, no other girls had been able to defeat her in training or combat.

"Seeing that big poster on the wall, with the pathetic face of that new boy." She chuckled and looked at one of her crew members. "Please guys, I mean the guys. Can you stay behind or seek anyone you believe to be the person in the poster?"

Everyone gasped and mumbled, trying to understand what she had said. She rolled her eyes and added, "You know, I owe you one, if you do."

She bit her lips seductively, and the guys cheered while looking at each other.

I panted, my heart pounding hard against my chest. I took a deep breath and looked around for another way out. I couldn't pass the entrance door, especially since everyone was looking for me.

"Lioran…" I said bitterly. Why do I have to be his mate? Everyone is looking for me because of his brother, who refuses to leave me alone.

The girls then began to walk from one table to the next, tapping the majority of the men and searching their faces. I had to act quickly; I found a small window on the side of the building, which was a little deserted. I lowered my hat, stared at the floor, and walked to the window.

Before I could get there, I accidentally struck someone on the shoulder. Not again; this time, it wasn't a girl, but one of Rowan's crew.

"Be careful! Are you not seeing what's in front of you?"

I pressed my lips together and refused to raise my face to look at him. Then I heard him scoff and whisper something. And before he could turn to face me, I walked past him. "I'm sorry."

"Hey!"

"Hey! You!"

I increased my speed, gripping the bottles as if they were vital. I hate that my life at this academy has become one where I have to run at any moment.

"Isn't that the new boy?"

They laughed and followed me from behind. As I approached the window, I threw the water bottles through it and jumped.

"Ouch, f**k!" I hissed as a metal blade sliced through my leg, knocking me to the ground. I groaned, then raised my head to look at them. They stood by the window, each with an even grin on their face.

"Temple Run," one of them whispered. I gasped, my breath shortening as I quickly picked up the bottle and ran around the corner from the back of the cafeteria building.

Tears streamed down the corner of my eyes, wishing they would leave me alone. I felt a rush of adrenaline as the boys climbed through the window and transformed into wolves.

"No!" I cried, hearing their groans as they followed behind me. I sprinted faster, exerting all of my strength. Part of my body was already giving up, with my hands clutching the bottles, but unfortunately, many of them fell off.

I couldn't pick it up because I didn't care about the water right now; I cared about my life.

"Get out of the way!" I yelled, pushing through the crowd that gathered on the path to the training courtyard.

Lioran, where are you? This is entirely your fault. I whimpered as my pace slowed and my stomach bit me. As we entered the empty training yard, the wolves approached, almost pouncing on me.

"Grhhh!"

They slowed down and began circling me, like vultures around dead prey. Their golden eyes shone at me, telling me I had nowhere to run. I whimpered and backed away, and then out of nowhere, another wolf walked forward, his form larger than the others. His fur was black with flecks of gray, and his eyes shone as he approached them.

But he wasn't going to join them and attack me. Was he? Defending me?

My heart sank as he moved towards them. Instead of attacking him, they ran away. I sighed with relief and turned to face the wolf. He growled at me, but not in an aggressive manner. Following that, he turned away.

"Hey…"

I called, walking behind him. I should've thanked him for saving me from them. He did not turn back; he simply walked to the depths of the training yard.

"Thank y…"

He immediately resumed his human form. My heart skipped a beat, and the bottle in my hand fell to the floor. My cheeks turned bright red, and I thought I was going to burn.

Lioran… He saved me, but he was standing naked with no clothes.

"What?"

He rolled his eyes annoyingly, his cold demeanor repulsive. I turned away, preventing him from seeing my face. But one thing remained in my mind: he was big down there, so f*****g big.

"Put…some clothes on…" I gasped, pulling the hat closer to my face. I stayed in that position, my inner self screaming to get that image out of my mind.

I felt him approaching, and the closer he got, the more I backed away from him. He whispered, "You're acting weird…"

"What do you… mean?" I stuttered but tried to make it flow. Without looking at him, I could feel his sharp gaze on me, as if he were assessing me.

"You literally have what I have, don't you?" he taunted, but there was no warmth to break through his icy tone. My stomach turned; he was logically supposed to be correct. Just as most females are never ashamed in their locker room, despite the fact that they are all naked. I wasn't supposed to be ashamed of seeing him naked, but I couldn't...

"I don't understand…" I said, pressing my sweatshirt hem. "Just put your pants on."

"Of course you do, Arian," he said, his voice sharp and sending shivers down my spine. I forgot I was supposed to be hating him. "Unless you're hiding something."

I froze in shock, a heavy lump stuck in my throat. I shuddered but quickly stood my ground. I don't have to let my past follow me; it's just him, and I need to get used to him. I am a guy, and I am expected to act like one.

I cleared my throat and lowered my voice. "I have nothing to hide, Arian."

Oh, Goddess, what have I gotten myself into? I guess I deserved the morning chase; I should have simply walked I ran away like everyone else when he saved me from Rowan that day.

I pulled away, which I knew he noticed, and he said, "Why don't you man up and give me what I sent you? Besides, I'm sure you've seen werewolves transform back into their normal form in your pack, right?"

I screamed "NO!" in my head, but my lips remained sealed. I wasn't who I am now, and they won't even change into their human form when the opposite gender is present. It is against the law.

"Arian…" he teased, being shameless as usual. I shifted my gaze to the floor, hoping that no one outside was watching what he was doing.

"Arian, just f*****g give me the water."

I extended my hand, unwilling to look at him. He scoffed in dissatisfaction, his hand brushing against my finger while holding the bottle. The knot in my stomach was tied tighter.

He flipped me around to face him, and my eyes widened as I saw his tall frame tower over me.

'Don't look down, Arian,' my inner sense whispered. I silently wish the floor would open up and swallow me, transporting me back to my room. I kept staring at his face; he was dead attractive, and his golden eyes ignited something I couldn't explain. Little freckles sat on his slightly crooked nose, but they never took away from his beauty.

And then there are his tattoos, which run from his neck to his chest. I realized I was staring too much and quickly snapped out of it, a blush appearing on my cheeks. Then his daring expression faded to a cold one, and he pulled away from me. "You're weird, Arian; something about you doesn't sit right with me."

He walked away, around the corner of the building. I fell to the ground, still pounding on my wrist. I have to stay away from him; if I continued to be with someone like him every day, I would be unable to accomplish my goals.

He was a distraction. A hot distraction is when, without saying anything, he tells me my roots.

Then he half-yelled, "I asked for two bottles of water, why did you only get me one?"

I hissed, rage bursting through my veins. He obviously saw how I was being pursued by those rogues; I don't care if they had a pack from where they came, but he still asked where my water came from.

I yelled, "If you really want the second bottle, go get it yourself. You realized you'd already gotten me into this huge mess."

He didn't respond. I began to regret what I'd said. I waited for him to say something, but instead, questions filled my mind. Was he still there? Have I said something wrong?

Then he walked out of his current location, this time dressed. "What did you just say to me?"