Chapter 5

Crystina’s POV

Alpha Luka didn’t say a word, and neither did I. We were both staring at each other, waiting for the other person to say something. Luka stared at me expectantly, his eyes narrowed as he scrutinized me. One hand was on the wheel while the other was on the passenger seat next to him. It was as if he was waiting for me to enter and take a seat. I knew better than to do that. Luka would never want me to enter his car. It was impossible; if I made the mistake and entered that car, I’m sure I’ll regret that decision for the rest of my life.

Meanwhile, my wolf was encouraging me to enter the car. ‘I think he wants us to enter that cool car, Tina,’ Kris repeated, and I almost yelled.

‘Don’t be stupid, Kris, we know him better than that,’ I told her.

“I don’t think we do, Star. If we don’t get close to him, how are we supposed to know if he’s a good or a bad person?” She admonished.

“No is no, Chris. Back off now,” I warned. She quickly crouched and ignored me.

“Good morning, Alpha Luka,” I bowed my head in respect, ready to walk off after that.

“Come in, Crystina. Trust me, I’m going to ask once,” He commanded, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. He was affirmative, and I hoped if I said no, he would let me go.

‘See, I told you he wants us in that expensive car,’ Kris interrupted.

‘Shut up,’ I yelled at her.

I’m so sure that Luka can be offering his help for nothing; he probably wants something in return, something that I can’t give to him, something that’ll make me regret taking a step closer to him today. So, instead of saying no with words, I gently shook my head while staring at the floor.

I didn’t look up to see his reaction to my response. As an Alpha, I’m so sure he wasn’t used to hearing no from people, and now, a nobody like me dared say no to the Alpha. I didn’t look up until he drove off, and all that was left was the sound of his engine.

Good luck getting to school without freezing first, I mumbled loudly, even though I was the only one walking on that path.

Even though I thought I was late and the school gate would have been closed, to my surprise, the gate was opened. A lot of students also arrived late, and I think it was due to the weather. Some of them were dropped off by their parents, while others drove themselves to school. Well, never have I had that privilege, and never will I.

As I walked towards my locker, I could see Paige waiting for me by my locker, looking at me pitifully as I walked towards her. She had a sad look on her face, and I could only smile at her. I was shivering like a chicken dumped in a bucket of cold water. Some students gave me the stink eye while some looked at me with amusement. I didn’t bother to check if others find me pitiful as well. Does it matter?

“What happened to you, freako? Did you sleep in a snow house till dawn?” Brandon, the oldest of the triplets, mocked me as I walked past them.

“Mind your business, Brandon,” I grumbled.

“You look terrible,” Paige complained when I finally got to her. She removed the tiny sweater I was putting on and gave me an extra coat of hers. I quickly wrapped my arms around the coat, trying to radiate the heat to the upper parts of my body.

“I got you some warm socks as well, have you eaten?” I shook my head. I collected the socks from her while she fetched some things from her locker.

I kept the socks in the pocket of the coat and decided to put them on later in the toilet.

She gave me warm milk and a sandwich while grumbling about something. “I knew this was going to happen.”

No wonder she came with an extra coat and socks as well as food for me. Paige is the second best thing that has ever happened to me, and I won’t take our friendship for granted.

“Thank you.”

“Shut up,” She glared at me, and I couldn’t stop smiling. A hand landed on my shoulder from behind, and before I could turn to see who it was, the owner of the hand was our third friend, Nico.

“I thought you died in a ditch,” Paige rolled her eyes as soon as she saw Nico.

“Just missed a day of school, and you already wish me dead.”

“Whatever,” Paige groaned.

Suddenly, Nico placed his palm on my forehead. “Are you okay, Belle? Do you have a fever?” Belle was Nico’s nickname for me. Since the day he first called me Belle, he told Paige she was forbidden from calling me that as well.

“I’m fine, Nico,” I assured him, and I watched as he frowned a little, ignoring my response. He removed his scarf from his neck and wrapped it around my neck.

“You don’t have to do that, Nico, I’m fine.”

He took a step back, stared at me, and smiled. “It looks better on you, moreover, I don’t need it,” He flexed his muscles at Paige and stuck his tongue out at her while she rolled her eyes. He turned to smile at me. My heart skipped a bit every time he smiled. My fingers lazily danced on the scarf around my neck, and I can’t help but blush. Everything he does makes me happy.

“What’s the first class we’re having?” Nico asked as we walked away from our lockers. I was walking in between the both of them.

“Arts,” I answered disappointedly. I wasn’t able to make any purchases for my arts supplies that I needed for the class. I tried searching for a job last week so I could get some money to buy them, but it was to no avail. My efforts were futile, and now I have to face embarrassment in class one more time.

“Why would your family…” I didn’t allow Paige to complete her statement when I grabbed her hand to stop her from saying too much. I know she was ready to complain about my family again, but I couldn’t afford that embarrassment with Nico standing with us. Nico suddenly grabbed hold of my pinky finger and smiled at me as we walked to class.

I wanted to smile right back at him, but the hair at the back of my neck suddenly stood up. It was as if I was being watched by someone. I looked behind, and I didn’t see anyone. Right when I thought I was being paranoid for nothing, a familiar scent hit me, and when I looked to my right, he was right there.

Alpha Luka was standing with the principal, but his gaze was focused on my hand. When he looked up to glare at me, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.