Too Late For Redemption: Rise Of The Lycan Queen

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT: Ugly and Worthless

Ariela's P.O.V

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"Not even death will grant you an escape from me." He has once insanely barked out at me when I asked him why he doesn't just let me go, why he doesn't just get rid of me since he hates me so much? Why keep the thing you detest the most around?

After I finished my second lecture, I had to go to the courts but I couldn't even leave the main building without catching the lastest gossip and critique on Fallen Crest's most famous couple.

"She's so f*****g lucky! What I'd do to take her place." One of them said bitterly.

"She's not even anything special," another chimed in with even more bitterness and snidish attitude, "She's all boobs and legs, my ass is fatter than hers, my face card is more lethal, trust me once I get a boob job, I'll easily take her place-"

"Stop being delulu," a third monger joined in, "listen to you Bethany, you think bigger boobs are going to break Candyen? Wow, delulu on the max! Candace is clearly his mate and they're going to be together forever."

"That's not true!" The supposed man- snatcher shot back. "Nothing's set in stone until he accepts her and something tells me that b***h is not his mate. I can't wait to see the look on her bitchy little face when he rejects her. Ahhh… that means I still stand a chance."

It really upset me that they were spewing s**t like that about Candace, I really wanted to step in and defend her honour but I really didn't have the energy to argue. All of this will be forgotten once I'm in Icesena. I changed and made it to the tennis court where Logan was already waiting for me.

Logan transferred a few months ago but I only got to know him weeks ago when I clumsily stumbled into him while in a rush- trying to hide from Hayden. We've been playing tennis and hanging out at least once a week since then. Logan is the only other person who is nice to me and I cling onto that as much as I can and unlike Candace, it's actually nice to hang out with him because he doesn't come with an attached Hayden trailer.

"Thanks." I gave him a little smile, making sure to never look at him for long enough for him to analyze my features, and proceeded to open the bottle of fortified water.

I didn't know much about Logan, only that he came from Ascire, a country more than far away enough from here and that's good enough for me. I've never liked how superficial and predatory wolves are even when it comes to forming relationships. I didn't need to know of his status or rank. My mother was a powerful beta's daughter but she didn't raise me accordingly with any rank and I don't know my father-

"Ariela?" Logan's voice drag me from an endless pit of thoughts and he grounds me with his unique gray eyes.

"Sorry." I quickly looked away before I made him uncomfortable. Logan is very attractive, beyond conventional attractiveness, he's the jaw- dropping, epitome of raw, untamed male beauty kind. He almost has the same edgy, vicious, beastly kind of beauty as Hayden and is as tall as him.

Folktales always made it seem like ethereal beauty is a given to werewolves and that they're the most blessed of all creatures when it comes to looks, so being an ugly wolf is quite shameful, is quite unlucky.

I got distracted again and mindlessly offered Logan my right leg which has been constantly assaulted by cramps these days.

"You're so good at this," I complimented in a small voice, "you're like my own personal physical therapist." I laughed awkwardly at the end because I was regretting how I phrased it.

I really shouldn't have said that.

"Then let's seal the deal." Logan finished rubbing down my left calf and sat next to me.

When he suddenly went quiet for too long I became anxious and turned to face him only to find his eyes already fixated on me. I quickly pulled up my hood and tucked my head into it and slightly tilted so he only sees a partial side profile of my face. Why did he get so serious all of a sudden?

"Ari?"

"Ahhaa…" I looked at him fully for just a second before casting my eyes down.

I knew it. He's gotten sick of me, I knew this day would come, the day he finally accepts that I'm probably too weird and uninteresting for him.

"Ari… I really like you, please let me take you on a date."

What???!!!!! Did I just hallucinate?

I choked on my own saliva and fell into a fit of coughs. I pulled my hair out of the elastic band and let it fall to my face. Hiding was the only thing my mind could come up with. I really didn't know what to say and I couldn't believe that I had not imagined his words. I never think such things will happen to me so I never planned for it and it shows. No one has ever confessed to me or asked me on a date and… and… I was unexpectedly overwhelmed by a cocktail of emotions but I didn't let it reflect on my voice.

"You like me? Me? Are you sure?" I gave him another quick glance and he appeared to be tense and nervous.

"Yes… I like you… a lot….. I've been wanting to ask you to be my girlfriend for a while now but I wasn't sure if you liked me back…. Let's start one date and we'll see if I deserve a second one. So, what do you say?" He was actually smiling… is this for real right now?!

"But…" I was now speaking in my cheeks and not even pretending to not be hiding from him anymore. "But…don't you think I'm ugly and worthless? Are you sure you want to be with someone like me?" My eyes went to him briefly and he was frowning.

I didn't expect him to suddenly hold my hand so I flinched and nearly pulled it away. I quickly relaxed. I'll admit it feels nice. His hand is like a soft, warm cushion wrapping around mine.

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