B e l l a  ♣  A l b y

"Okay class, now dismiss." Mrs Oakson, my History teacher ordered. The classes flew by quickly and this was the last period of the day. I had my lunch in the Library.

All of them scattered out of the class. I packed my bag as slowly as possible as I didn't want to get in with the crowd. I was still afraid that anyone would try to bully me.

After everyone left the classroom, I made my way towards the door. When I exited the room, I saw Xanthos standing against the wall opposite to my classroom with his eyes closed. I tried to not look at his body but my eyes drifted down involuntarily.

He really was hot And se--

Oh god! I was embarrassed for saying it aloud. I slowly looked up to only find a smirking Xanthos which confirmed that he heard what I muttered.

My cheeks heated up.

I was sure my face became completely red.

"I-I..uh..you see..uh... I just-- God." I looked up. "Please save me, sprinkle some holy water on me. When did I become a girl who swooned over a guy?"

Oh no! Not again. I prayed out loud.

Xanthos chuckled. "When you met me," he said with a smirk plastered on his face.

If it was possible, I became a darker shade of red.

Xanthos took long strides and stood in front of me.

As an instinct, I flinched when he raised his hands. He looked hurt but soon it got replaced by an emotionless face.

I tilted my head downwards.

Was he going to hurt me now because I flinched? That's what my father does. Thanks to them, O can't even live my life without trust issues.

I gazed up when I heard a cracking sound. I started taking slow steps back with fear being my only emotion.

He looked like a monster.

I had never seen anyone looking this livid. The aura around him was dangerous; emitting power.

I looked behind him to find the wall against which he was leaning before having a huge hole formed. My face paled at the thought of him cracking a wall.

All of them backed away slowly and bowed their head. I started to bow my head too but two hands cupped my cheeks in one swift motion.

"Don't ever bow to me," he demanded in a deeper voice.

I peered up through my eyelashes only to notice his eyes being closed. He caressed my cheekbone with his thumb's pad.

Why did I feel sparks in the areas he touched. It felt so right and normal but I don't even know him properly, so I took a step back.

"We--I'm sorry for losing my temper. I'm quite a hot headed wolf."

Did he call himself a wolf? I laughed leaving behind the thoughts of my father and the fact that I didn't know who exactly Xanthos was. I noticed a few people gasp and some take a step back.

I heard someone whispering, "no one ever dares to look at him. Let alone laugh at his face?"

Why was he stressing 'him' and 'his' as if Xanthos was some other being?

"Why is mate laughing?" Xanthos asked with a smile.

Wait was he testing me to make me his new target? What should I reply? Bella don't trust anyone. I reminded myself and the fact that he can choose violence anytime scares me.

He looked liked a flower boy with that smile though. Should I just go along with him? I wanted to feel how it feels to be normal if this is what you call being normal is.

So, I did what a normal person would do when they find someone adorable, that was pinching his cheeks. He gave me a cheesy grin in return. Was he really the Xanthos that beat a guy to a pulp? Why was he acting like an entirely different person? It feels like I'm talking to his other personality. For instance, his tone isn't as dark as how he spoke to me earlier neither does his eyes has a cold shade in them rather they look warm.

"Can I, if  mate doesn't mind, get a hug? Its been so long since I hugged my mate."

Another difference is that he keeps using the term 'mate' right now.

From what I had seen, people were scared of him. Power radiated from his body but when he touched me, I felt something else gleam off of him. 

Maybe the longing tone of his wanting to hug a 'friend' made me feel relatable and closer to him? I too never really had close friends. My eyes watered by the fact that he was trying to be friends with me this way? By wanting a hug? Maybe he too was lonely like me? He had no one trustworthy in his surroundings? so maybe he thought I could be someone who he can trust? 

With those thoughts, I pulled him in a hug. "I can relate to you. It's fine you ain't the only one who's alone." I was pulled closer to his body and felt him bury his face at the crook of my neck.

"It's really our mate in our hands," he muttered.

Uh? I must have heard him wrong.

He slowly pulled away and stared at me with an emotionless face. His eyes looked no longer as warm as earlier but still there was a glint of spark in his eyes.

He removed his gaze from me and looked around us.

"Saw the drama? Satisfied? Took any video to show it out?" He asked with his usual dark tone. 

His face hardened. Guess, personality switch. That could be a valid reason for his sudden switch.

All shook their heads hesitantly whereas I slightly flinched at his tone. He must've noticed causing him to look down at me with a small smirk. "I think you'll have to distract yourself for a moment." I looked at him confused. "Close your eyes if you don't want to have bad dreams of me." He said making me confused even more. 

"Who wants to have 'good' dreams of yours anyway," I whispered thinking he wouldn't have heard me but saw him holding his heated gaze towards me.

"You just wait for the right time to get your punishment," his smirk grew bigger. Whats in his mind? 

His arms pulled me into him causing my left cheek to lay on his hard chest. I struggled to pull myself away from him but his strong hold on me couldn't let me move, not even a step back.

I tried looking around or at least managed to look up only to see his eyes glowing red. 

Was he similar to my 'family' members? I peaked from my side to see a few people walking towards us.

From my peripheral vision, I saw all taking their phones from their backpack. They looked hesitant but did whatever he demanded.

When I peaked up, I saw his red orbs looking at me. "Hmm, mio amore, you saw everything, didn't you?"

I wasn't supposed to see? Oh yeah, he did tell me to close my eyes.

"No, I didn't see anything," I stressed the word 'anything' to make it sound that I was telling the truth.

"Yeah sure, I believe you," He said sarcastically. "Why aren't you running away from me, little mate?" He looked at me in amazement.

I know, I should have been scared of him but I wasn't. I didn't understand why. Maybe I already knew it because of my dear family which didn't make me feel frightened?

"My family also know voodoo magic." He chuckled

"Voodoo magic? Who told you I do  'voodoo magic'?"

"I assumed," I said shrugging. I held back a wince as I felt my shoulder bone crack a bit.

He chuckled before he turned back to the crowd. "You may leave us alone." All immediately bowed their heads before walking away. Most of the girls glared at me and boys looked at me in disgust.

I was used to these stares, kind of comforting myself with those words.

"Bella." I pulled away from Xanthos arms to turn around to see who was calling me.

Natasha. Oh! I completely forgot about her!

"Are you okay? Do you remember me? I am Natasha. After we both agreed to be friends, where the hell was you after that? During lunchtime, I was searching for you like an idiot. I didn't have lunch. Well, leave about myself. Did you eat?--"

I laughed at her rambling. 

"Calm down! Look I am totally fine. Seriously? You're asking about my body parts? Wait...you didn't eat because of me?" I pulled her into a hug.

"I was searching for you." She sobbed which didn't sound too natural.

Hold on, was she crying?

I pulled away to look at her. Her eyes were normal. She had a smile on her face oh, so she was faking it and I almost believed it. 

She stared behind me only for her facial expressions to go from playfulness to mortified. I bit my lip. She did finally realize that someone was there listening to her talks.

Xanthos glanced at her before staring at me and gave me the 'dandelion boy' smile waving his hand. "Remember us soon mate," he said before walking away.

Natasha hooked her arm with mine and dragged me to a nearby park. "Now tell me everything. That is if you wish to share it with me. Don't get me wrong, I just am trying to be a good friend of yours as I have challenged myself to not fight with at least one girl this year."

I nodded my head. "That's heart touching."