5
As they continued to stand there at Nel’s locker, both took a pensive moment of silence-both girls seeming to harbor something on their mind. Nel broke out of her reverie first, and finally continued the conversation concerning the necklace.
“One day, I will,” said Nel as she was convinced that it was just a simple necklace and nothing else. Nel’s reluctance had very little to do with not trusting her best friend’s powers as she knew that Manari harbored a power within her that no one could probably rival. Still, Nel found it hard to believe that her own mother would give her something so powerful and not tell her about it. “But I just can’t believe that this necklace is more than what it is,” she finally continued to say. “And…well, besides…I don’t even feel anything.”
“You wouldn’t if you weren’t meant to,” Manari pointed out as she studied the beautiful piece of jewelry with its large onyx stone.
Nel paused and eyed her friend consciously. “You think mom gave me something with a secret power?”
“If the power is secret, she may not even know at all,” said Manari. “To be honest, I can’t speak on the intentions of the one who has given it to you. Only on the thing itself.”
Her words began to sound cryptic and immediately Nel could tell that she had become entranced in her own power as she continued to stare at the piece. Her eyes gradually began to glow. “Okay, that’s enough,” murmured Nel as she tucked the necklace into her shirt. Seconds after, Manari retracted, and her eyes began to return to their golden-red hues.
“Oh, I-” she looked at her best friend. “Nel? Is everything alright?”
Manari asked because the expression that Nel suddenly wore was something of suspicion and concern. She was quickly beginning to question whether she should be wearing the necklace in the first place and would have to ask her mother about it later. Never had Manari looked at the necklace long enough to have such a reaction but now, Nel was suddenly glad that she had.
“It’s nothing,” Neliyah finally said, although, in her mind, those feelings were quite the opposite.
“O...kay,” Manari replied though it was evident that she was doubtful of her best friend’s reassurance. “We should get to class.”
“Yeah…yeah sure. I’ll catch up.”
Manari reluctantly nodded and went on ahead, leaving Nel to her thoughts.
After her best friend walked away, Nel pulled out her phone again. “Something happened today. Can we talk later?” She texted her mother.
Hardly two seconds passed before Leana responded back, “Of course.”
She was grateful that her mother agreed but a part of Neliyah couldn’t help but be frustrated that she was so quick to respond to that text but not the other. “Nice to know that you saw my text, mom,” she murmured to herself before heading to class, gradually coming to the realization that she wouldn’t be actively attending the day’s lesson in PA class once again.
Quickly, she rushed to class as the bell began to ring when she bumped into a rock-hard pillar of an inhuman. She stumbled back when she felt hands take hold of either side of her arms to steady her.
“Whoa,” Nel heard a deep voice say. “What’s the rush? You, okay?”
“I-I’m fine, thanks! I’m-” Neliyah started when she realized who it was that she bumped into. “Oh!” she quickly bowed her head. Not again, she thought silently to herself. “Alpha! I-I’m sorry! I should have been looking at where I was going. I-”
“Seems like you make a point of not doing that. You know…watching where you’re going.”
“Apologies,” Nel quickly replied with her head slightly bowed. “It won’t happen again.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” said Colsin in a snide tone.
Trust me, slick, unless you find me yourself, I’m going to be avoiding you like the plague. I’ve had enough run-ins with you to last me a lifetime, Nel thought to herself. However, she stayed silent.
“You’re the Undecided,” Colsin said without hesitation or emotion. “The one who comes in with your mom to clean up the packhouse,” he seemed to realize though with a seeming disinterest. It could be asked why he had decided to make conversation with her in the place because he seemed so unimpressed by her.
While she wasn’t necessarily pleased to be known as the girl who picks up after the Mystic Cove pack, Nel nodded a simple yes. “I am, sir,” she confirmed, her gaze still brought to the floor as she was an Undecided and therefore, a lower-level inhuman was not allowed to necessarily meet such a high-ranking member’s gaze.
After making this observation the young Alpha didn’t seem to have much else to say concerning the subject. He just simply stared at her for an unspoken minute. Just like he did in the office on her first day there about a week ago.
Starting to feel uncomfortable, Neliyah continued with her apology. “Again, I apologize for running into you. I wasn’t paying attention-”
“It’s fine,” he interrupted her, staring at her pointedly. “Just…watch where you’re going next time.”
“I…I will, sir. It won’t happen again,” she reiterated before walking away. Neliyah wanted to get as far away from the situation as possible. It was intimidating and downright uncomfortable being in the presence of the Stone family for Neliyah. Colsin Stone being one of them.
Maven Stone was probably the worst of them all, however, the alpha of the Mystic Cove wolf pack. He seemed to have an unspoken ought against Nel. He was known to be very dismissive and sometimes even cruel when it came to Neliyah at times. Neliyah never had an incident with Maven’s son-mainly because she rarely would even see him-let alone have to interact, she didn’t want to risk a double whammy of mistreatment. Of course, Leana wasn’t aware of this abuse. And Neliyah kept it this way, not wanting any sort of trouble to stem from something that she felt was insignificant compared to living an otherwise peaceable life in Mystic Cove.
“Hey,” the sound of the young alpha’s voice caught her off guard.
At first, Nel was reluctant to turn around because she wasn’t sure that he was talking to her. After all, why would Colsin Stone address her in any manner? Neliyah slowed her pace, but she did not respond. She had already placed herself in a situation with having to interact with him. Embarrassing herself by assuming that he’d have something to say to her was something that Nel would prefer to avoid altogether.
“Red,” he said this time around, and yet again Nel’s pace slowed a little more, but she still dared not turn around. “Yes, I am talking to you,” he confirmed with clear impatience in his voice.
Nervously nibbling at her bottom lip, Neliyah turned around and veiled her anxiety as she acknowledged him. “Yes, alpha?”
“Aren’t you in PA class?” he asked her.
Caught off guard by the fact that he knew this, Neliyah reluctantly answered. “Yes,” she replied slowly.
“It’s this way.” he said to Nel.
“Oh!” Why had she forgotten that Colsin Stone was in her PA class? How did she so quickly forget? “Thanks,” she quickly said and then hurriedly turned around and made her way to class, quickly bypassing the alpha prince. One encounter was enough to last her a lifetime.
Colsin watched the girl walk away and then gradually followed after her, giving her time to get the head start that she so desperately was trying to get.
“She looks even better up close,” Shadow said in the back of Colsin’s mind.
His wolf wasn’t lying. It certainly was a reasonable observation. He never learned the girl’s name as he knew that knowing it wouldn’t improve his life one way or the other. Colsin never had any verbal contact with the girl; there was never any reason to. In truth, he never even realized that she existed until he saw her standing outside of the window in her school uniform. Truth be told, though he’d often hear about the girl around the packhouse, whether it be through someone randomly referring to the red-haired girl or the girl daughter of the disperser, Colsin never officially met her. Then she showed up at school a week ago and in a few of his classes no less. This was his first face-to-face official encounter with one another.
“She’d be a nice…house servant at best…maybe a side piece at best,” Colsin muttered.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Shadow agreed with a cackle. The wolf was as insatiable as his more human counterpart. “That would be a treat,” he growled. “A new toy to play with.”
Admittedly, even Colsin could not deny that the idea of another woman sharing his bed outside of his luna would be feasible for him. Especially, if this Luna would not be his true mate.