Chapter 11 TEN

MORGIANA'S POV The early walk to the school didn't feel normal. For one, someone was watching me from afar and two, after turning into a wolf, my senses were somewhat heightened. I could hear better and I could see from miles away. I hear Arleigh's car right before they neared me. I did not bother to turn around when I heard their car coming. Her car slowed enough to match my speed and that's when I looked in their direction. She was wearing a mask and shades, hiding the damage I had done to her face. "Good morning to you, Arleigh. And to your cronies too," I said. She removed her shades and the mask and I could see only a small bruise on the bridge of her nose and on the side of her lips. "That doesn't look too bad. You can cover it up with makeup this coming charity event." I could see her face getting red with anger but I really don't care. "How dare you," she seethed. "And how do you know about the charity event? It's only exclusive to the founding families and last I recall, you're not one of us." "What are you talking about? The charity event is known to everyone." "But it isn't announced to the public yet. What are you-" Arleigh's eyes widened at the same time as I felt someone's hand around my shoulder. I looked and was greeted by Laurent's bright smile. "What's holding you up, babe?" Babe? What the heck is he on about? Before I could ask him, he turned his attention in Arleigh's direction. "Are they your friends? Nice to meet you. I'm Laurent." He extended a hand but Arleigh and her friend were too surprised to even talk. I felt Laurent's hand tighten around my shoulder as if a silent warning. Right. I shouldn't be associating with Arleigh. Especially now. "They're not my friends," I muttered and walked on ahead. I did not wait for Laurent to walk with me as I was also occupied with another pair of eyes observing me from the distance. Alaris was parked near the school but I could sense his piercing glare. I sighed. I shouldn't have talked to Arleigh. "They seem friendly," said Laurent and scoffed. "That's because they think you're hot. Of course, they'd play it nice with you." He went silent that I had to turn to look at him and I saw him giving me a smile. "They think I'm hot?" "Don't play naive and pretend that you don't know that," I said and he has this innocent look on his face that truly tells me he doesn't know how good-looking it is. I just shook my head. "If you went to my school, girls would be all over you." "Like how they're all over Alaris?" he asked and instantly, my face turned hot. Alaris was not only popular amongst the students but also with other teachers too. She's one of those people at school who had a crush on him. I mean, who wouldn't? He has this air of mystery around him. He's smart, he's tall, and he is good-looking. "Yes, like how they were all over him." "You were one of them too, right?" he asked so innocently that I almost tripped. I gave him a wide-eyed look and he was grinning from ear to ear. He knows something from the way he was grinning. There's no use hiding it now. "That was before I knew him," I said, keeping it short as I know Alaris could be listening to our conversation. There is no way I am admitting that I still have a crush on him. "Not anymore?" Laurent asked as though he doesn't believe me. I rolled my eyes and just continued walking. "Why are you still following me? Arleigh's gone now. I won't talk to them again, I promise. You can go back and hide." "Who says I was hiding? I was intending to go to school with you, Morgiana." I stopped in my tracks and looked at him. "What the hell did you say?" He placed a hand on my head and ruffled my hair before he said, "See you at school." And then he walked on ahead without waiting for my protest. *** Just like how I predicted, the students at my school were already giving Laurent curious and flirty glances. I don't mind at all as long as he keeps the attention to himself but he insisted on walking together with me and now, the students are looking at me too. I already know what they're thinking about. In fact, I am betting by tomorrow, a rumor about all possibilities there are that somehow worked to my advantage to get this handsome fellow to walk beside me. I am not surprised. And to make matters worse, Laurent once again places a hand on my shoulder as we walked down the hallway. "What the heck are you doing?" "Hoarding attention?" "Yeah obviously. But aren't we supposed to do the opposite of that?" Even though I know keeping lowkey would be impossible. Not with Laurent and his insanely good looks. "I know," he said and then looked at the surroundings and winked at one of the girls standing on the side. I could have sworn the girl gasped. "But I am liking this kind of attention." I rolled my eyes but I was stopped in my tracks when I saw who was standing at the e nd of the hallway. Alaris stood there while crossing his arms while giving both me and Laurent sharp glares. He's back to wearing his suit and I couldn't help the little gasp that escaped my mouth. Laurent must have heard it as he looked at me and then to the end of the hallway where his alpha is standing. "Oops," he mumbled before he stopped walking too. Alaris' eyes narrowed in our direction and then went to the arm draped around my shoulder. "Laurent, come to my office now," he ordered and I could have sworn the surrounding turned ice cold. Then his sharp eyes went to look at me. "And you come too." He turned to walk back to his office and I looked at Laurent questioningly who just shrugged playfully. It was my first day in school since the day I turned into a wolf and he'd call me immediately to his office. What the hell did I do this time? Don't tell me he's going to punish me for something I have no idea about. Groaning, I just walked towards where his office is but I ended up waiting outside as he has to talk to Laurent privately. After a few minutes of waiting outside, Laurent came out, grinning like an idiot. "I'm guessing he didn't give you any punishment?" "Nah. Good luck to you, though," he said and tapped my shoulder, making me frown. "This is so unfair," I mumbled before I went into Alaris' office. The moment I was inside, I saw him leaning on the table, hands braced on each side. He still has his arms crossed and I couldn't read the expression on his face. I want to know how pissed he is even though I totally have no idea what made him pissed. "Close the door," he said and I did so without question. I slowly closed the door and it almost made no sound. "Lock it," he added and I flinched as I slowly turned the lock too. I faced him and he was still looking at me with that unreadable expression. "Okay, tell me what is going on and why are you scaring me like this?" "You're scared of me?" he asked. I don't know if he's genuinely curious or if it was a trick question. All I know for sure is that I should answer it properly. "Who wouldn't be scared of you? You're always frowning and you look like you're ready to tear someone to shreds. And since I discovered what you truly are, it's even scarier because you could actually tear someone to shreds." "I will never tear you to shreds even if I could." "You're quick to change your mind about whether I should live or die so I can't really trust your word." He closed his eyes firmly as fingers massaged the bridge of his nose. "You're not going to die. Not in my hands. Not in my people's hands. You can trust me on that." I trust him on that. I know it may seem stupid of me but I trust him. Even after those threats, he made to my life that night I was caged. "So why am I here for?" He blinked and he looked like he had forgotten the real reason why I was in his office. Then he cleared his throat before he said, "You can't hoard too much attention. Especially not now." I scoffed. "I could easily do that, Mr. de Marcel but one of your guys kept sticking with me and he's the one who's hoarding too much attention. I hope he's going to clean the bathroom and not me." "You two were being too close," he said and looked at me with those dark eyes that could easily entrance a woman who stare for too long. "Since did you two become so close?" "Err...since I saved his brother?" The way his knuckles turned white as he held the edge of the table did not escape my eyes. What is he so pissed about? Then I heard him click his tongue and before I could even ask, he stood and turned his back. "Get out." I wanted to scream at him or curse him because I couldn't understand what he was on about. But I remembered I'm on the school grounds and a student yelling at a teacher won't do me any good. So I let out a sigh before I turned to open the door.