Chapter 3
1566 Words
VIOLET'S POV
I watch his retreating figure in shock and disbelief. Why is he so rude?
My jaw tightens. Of all the ways this day could have gone, this is how it ends? A complete stranger, rude and arrogant comes here, saves me, and then acts like I'm the problem? He's acting like it's my fault I got robbed.
"Unbelievable," I mutter under my breath.
Sure, I'm grateful—he did save me, after all. But did he have to be so arrogant about it?
I look at the path he took, clenching my fists.
"I wouldn't want to see him again. Ever," I say aloud, as if voicing the thought will make it true.
And yet, as much as I hate to admit it, his face flashes in my mind. He had the most gorgeous features I've seen – piercing eyes that seemed to see through me, and that stupid, maddening smirk.
"Ugh!" I groan, shaking my head. "Handsome or not, he's a jerk."
But then it happens. That familiar tug comes. I feel a strange, intangible pull deep in my chest. It's faint at first, like the gentle tug of a thread, but it quickly grows stronger.
I freeze, clutching at the fabric of my coat over my heart. The sensation intensifies. A swirl of emotions that aren't mine flood through me—anger, pain, frustration. It's raw. It feels like a storm raging within someone else, and yet I feel it as if it's my own.
My breath hitches. What is this? It occurs to me that I'm feeling the stranger's emotions. He has so much pain and hurt inside him.
I'm confused by what's happening.
This only happens when my powers awaken, but it's far too early. My gifts don't come into full bloom until December which is just weeks away. Why now? And why is it tied to him?
For some reason, my wolf seems more alive at the thought of him. This doesn't usually happen. My wolf has never stirred at the thought of any man before. What's wrong with her?
I start to feel a bit worried. Something about this doesn't feel right. I turn and hurry back to my room. I walk as fast as I can while looking behind me to make sure nobody is following me. I definitely do not want to get robbed a second time tonight.
By the time I reach my room, I'm shaking.
I grab my phone and scroll through my contacts until I find Grandma's name. She always knows what to do when my powers act up.
The line clicks, and her warm voice answers. "Violet, darling! How are you?"
I sit down on the edge of my bed, clutching the phone tightly. "Grandma, something's wrong."
Her voice instantly shifts to concern. "What's the matter, my dear? Did something happen?"
I take a deep breath and recount everything—the incident, the stranger, his harsh words, and the overwhelming emotions that filled me after.
When I finish, there's a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Grandma speaks again. "Hmm... This stranger you mentioned, the one who saved you—he must be special."
I blink, caught off guard. "Special? No, Grandma. He's anything but special. He's rude, arrogant, and honestly, a bit of an ass."
Grandma chuckles softly "Oh, Violet. You sound so defensive. Are you sure he hasn't made an impression on you? You would be surprised. He could be your mate"
I groan, flopping back onto the bed. "Grandma, I'm serious. There's nothing special about him except for how infuriating he is. He acted like he was doing me a favor by being a decent human being! Besides, we can't be mates. If we were, I would have felt it immediately"
"But you felt his emotions," she points out. "That's not something that happens often, and certainly not with just anyone. The fact that it happened now, so early, says something. And I tell you all the time, dear - some mate bonds are special. Not all mate bonds are instant. Your powers could be blocking it"
I frown, staring up at the ceiling. "He's not my mate, grandma. I'm sure of it. The moon goddess wouldn't punish me with a mate as rude as that. I don't want to feel anything connected to him."
Grandma hums "You can't control who your gifts connect you to, my dear. If your powers are reacting this strongly, there's a reason for it. Maybe he's tied to your path in some way."
"Tied to my path?" I repeat, sitting up. "Grandma, we just met. And he's an asshole."
"Sometimes the people who are meant to change our lives the most don't start off on the best foot with us. Give it time, Violet. You might be surprised."
I groan again, covering my face with my hands. "Why do you always say things like that? Can't you just tell me he's awful and I should avoid him forever?"
"Because I know you, darling," she says gently. "And I trust that you'll figure it out. Just listen to your heart and your powers. They rarely steer you wrong."
I think about her words even after the call ends. I set my phone down and curl up on the bed.
I don't want to think about him. I don't want to feel anything for him. But as I close my eyes, his face flashes in my mind again, and I feel the emotions within him as clearly as if it were my own.
"Damn it," I whisper.
-
The sunlight streaming through the blinds should make me smile but my mind is somewhere else. I find myself staring blankly at my coffee mug. He's there again, uninvited, lingering in my thoughts.
The stranger.
I scowl at the memory of his words, his infuriating tone, and that look he gave me—like I was an inconvenience. An asshole, that's what he is. So why can't I stop thinking about him?
I shake my head and take a sip of coffee. Let it go, Violet.
A loud knock at the door startles me from my thoughts, followed by a bubbly voice. "Hey! Is Violet in here?"
I rise from the couch, setting my mug aside. As I open the door, I'm greeted by a tall lady with a wide grin and kind eyes.
"You must be Violet! I'm Petra, your new roommate." She steps inside with a duffel bag slung over one shoulder and hugs me before I can respond.
"Hi," I manage, laughing a little at her enthusiasm. "It's nice to finally meet you. I didn't think you were moving in so soon."
"Oh, I've technically been here, just... not here," she says, plopping her bag onto the floor. "I stayed at my boyfriend's place last night. But I'm so excited to get to know you!"
Petra looks around the apartment, clearly pleased, before turning back to me with a mischievous grin. "Speaking of which, I have so much gossip to share already. You would not believe what happened last night."
I smile at her energy but glance at the clock. "I'd love to hear it, but don't you have a class soon?"
She gasps dramatically, checking her phone. "Oh, crap! You're right. Ugh, I hate being late. Rain check on the gossip?"
"Definitely."
She grabs a few things from her bag, waves, and runs out the door. As the apartment falls quiet again, I find myself smiling. Petra's energy is contagious. I have a feeling we're going to be great friends.
I grab my bag and make my way outside to campus grounds. The air outside is filled with talking and laughter as I walk across campus, moving through groups of students. I glance at the building numbers, trying to figure out where my morning lecture is.
As I round a corner, I bump into someone—hard. My bag nearly slips from my shoulder.
"Oh, sorry about that," the guy says, stepping back. His voice is deep and smooth, and when I look up, I'm momentarily stunned. He's gorgeous. He's so handsome that I stay there frozen as I stare at him. He's tall with dark green eyes and long hair that's tied in a bun.
"It's fine," I reply, trying to regain my composure.
He nods, offering a faint smile, then walks past me. I turn to watch him leave, unable to help myself. There's something about him—something magnetic.
And then it hits me.
A chill runs down my spine as I see it. I see a dark, swirling haze around him. It's barely visible but I see it. His aura is shrouded in shadows, a sure sign of danger.
My breath catches. My powers stir within me and I feel a buzzing sensation in my chest. Something is about to happen. Something terrible.
I hesitate for only a moment before following him. My feet move almost on their own.
What am I doing? I don't know this guy. I don't even know what's going to happen. But something tells me I can't just let him walk away.
He disappears around a corner, and I break into a jog to catch up. My powers thrum with an intensity I've never felt before. Whatever is coming, it's big.
And I need to stop it.
- Writer
