As he carried me through the hallway, I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. My face heated up, and I couldn't stop blushing. All eyes were on us as we passed through the hallway, and I could hear the murmurs of the other students. But none of it mattered—it was like a dream come true. I was in the arms of my Prince Charming, and nothing else existed.
I used the moment to inhale his sweet scent, closing my eyes as it soothed my nerves. His scent was impossible to resist—a mix of citrus and woodsy notes that sent my heart racing, my body easing into his strong arms.
As we reached the nurse's office, Kelvin helped me onto the bench. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.
I nodded. "Yeah, thanks," I murmured.
Kelvin gave me a gentle smile and handed me an ice pack. "Keep this on your ankle," he said.
The nurse came over to examine my ankle, and Kelvin stood up. I turned to thank him, but he was already gone. I didn't even see him leave. I felt a slight sense of disappointment, but it was quickly replaced by the excitement of having been in his arms. I didn't care about my throbbing ankle; I was just happy to have had the chance to hold onto Kelvin, to breathe in his sweet scent. I was grateful for that moment, no matter how brief.
As I walked back from the nurse's office, I limped due to the persistent pain in my ankle. I made my way to Kelvin's table, my heart still racing with excitement. I felt the need to thank him again, to let him know I was grateful.
"Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for helping me earlier," I said.
But Kelvin ignored me completely. He continued flipping through his book, his eyes never leaving the pages.
"Okay," he said, his voice cold and distant.
Yes, that was the voice I remembered—cold. How could I have forgotten? This was the Kelvin I knew.
A sting of rejection settled in, but I tried again. "How's your day going?" I asked, trying to make small talk.
He shrugged, still not looking at me. "Good."
I hesitated, feeling a bit rejected. "Well, thanks again for your help. My leg is feeling better now."
He grunted, his eyes still fixed on his book. "Good."
I realized that this was just how Kelvin was—cold and distant. He had been like this since he transferred to our school, and I had foolishly thought that our moment in the hallway would change things. But now, I saw that it had been fleeting, and he was back to his usual self.
I nodded, feeling disheartened as I walked away. As I returned to my seat, I couldn't help but wonder why Kelvin was so closed off, so unwilling to connect with anyone. But I knew I couldn't force him to open up, and I couldn't keep trying to break down his walls. I needed to let go of whatever fantasies I had about him. I thought I already had, but he made me feel like I still had a chance. How foolish of me to believe anything could happen between us.
While I was lost in my thoughts, Dustin suddenly appeared and knelt in front of me.
"I'm sorry, Kiara. I didn't mean to make you fall," he said, his whole body covered in sweat, trembling.
I was stunned, and so was the rest of the class—everyone was staring. Dustin always teased me, and I usually ignored him, so why did he look so scared? Maybe he thought I was seriously hurt.
"It's okay. I'm fine," I said, trying to lift him up, but he refused, gripping my legs tightly.
I was taken aback, and the murmurs in the room grew louder.
What the hell happened to him?
"Please, tell me you forgive me," he begged, his voice shaking.
I crouched down to his level. "It's okay, Dustin. Knowing you regret it is enough for me. I forgive you, okay?"
"Thank you," he said, finally standing up. Then, he glanced at Kelvin, who hadn't even looked up and was still engrossed in his book.
"Thanks for forgiving me, Kiara," he said before walking out of the classroom.
Well, that was strange.
---
Kelvin's POV
My heart ached watching her leave my seat.
Do I really have to do this?
Hurting my mate continuously was killing me. If I wasn't the future Alpha, I would have made her mine without thinking twice. Other werewolves had human mates—it was normal. But in my case, it was different.
Knowing my father, he would never accept Kiara. I could make her mine if I wanted to; I just didn't want her to be part of a family that would never accept her. My mom and sister would definitely welcome her with open arms, but my dad and the pack never would.
But this was torture for me. Her scent was driving me crazy. I still remembered our encounter in the hallway. As I scooped her up in my arms, I felt a strange sense of comfort with her close to me.
As I carried her through the hallway, I was consumed by a desperate longing for her touch. I couldn't help but notice the way she fit perfectly in my arms, the way her scent filled my senses, and the way my heart raced with every step. I yearned to run my fingers through her soft, dark hair and get lost in her tawny eyes.
My desire for her was overwhelming, but I fought to restrain myself. Instead, I took a deep breath, inhaling her scent, which was already driving me wild. My wolf howled inside me, sensing my frustration, but I gritted my teeth and kept my inner beast at bay. I had to maintain control, no matter how much my instincts screamed for me to give in.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility toward her. She was vulnerable and hurt, and I wanted to be the one to take care of her. I gently set her down on the bench outside and handed her an ice pack. Our fingers touched, and I felt that spark again. I quickly pulled my hand back, trying to shake off the feeling.
"You okay?" I asked.
She nodded.
I hesitated for a moment, wanting to stay with her, but then I remembered my rules—no getting close, no getting attached. I stood up and walked away, leaving her in the care of the nurse.
And I headed back to class to make sure I dealt with Dustin for causing her pain.
I saw Dustin in the hallway, talking and laughing with his friends. Without a word, I grabbed his hand and said, "Follow me."
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, trying to pull his hand free.
I turned and gave him a death glare—that was enough to make him behave.
"Wh... what's wr... wrong?" he stammered.
"Just shut up and follow me," I said.