Diana p.o.v
I was just finished dress up for tonight's hang out. I put on a short skirt, a sweater, and a sneakers with ankle socks. It was not much, but I thought I look cute.
I thought of visiting the slushy shop for a drink before heading to Luna Park. Yep, that was how extravagant the school was. They had their own stores in.
Of course, waiting outside the girl's dormitory again was Noah. His tall stature stood out for the other girls that walked out, taking their attention.
He had a sweater on as well with a sweatpants. He looked casual with his comfort outfit. His hair was unkempt just like the first time I saw him.
"Noah." I called the distract Noah and he looked up from his phone, a smile immediately formed on his face.
"Hey. How was your evening so far?" He wrapped his arm over my shoulders and I rolled my eyes.
"Still feeling sore on my arms thanks to certain someone. I finished some college works and that's about it. Now, I'm just hanging out with you." He cringed at the mention of my sore arms.
"I'm a bit competitive when I'm sparring with someone as good as you. I hope it wasn't that bad." He began to make a gentle massage on my shoulders, and I shook with a smile.
"It's okay." I took his hand, "Ian also never give me any slack. I'm used to it." He did not reply but just smiling, taking my hand that was on top of him and held it. I gave him a look, trying to figure out why he became silent.
"Oh anyway, I want to thank you." I changed the subject.
"Ian told me you saved me from someone last night. Thank you, Noah." He suddenly stopped at his track and brought me along with him. I tilted my head, becoming more confused with his actions.
"It's my responsibility. You're my mate, so no one can lay their hands on you. Besides.." His face turned serious.
"That guy is bad news. If you see him, don't try to engage any conversation. Avoid him if you can." He warned me, and immediately that pair of blue eyes that towered over me in the dance floor flashed in my mind. I nodded absentmindedly, but acknowledging it.
"Come on. The others might be waiting." He immediately lighten up the mood with his smiles and pulled me with him.
We arrived at Luna Park, and I could see more people gathered at random places. They all had their group of friends, and seemed so clicked with each other. There are some playing some light sport in the field, some girls taking pictures, and couples that being lovey-dovey.
Then, I heard laughs coming from certain direction where we were heading, and saw Natasha with other two I did not know. The man had a long, black hair with red streaks, his fringes were pinned to the back, eyes were the color of black, while the other girl had some freaky color of light blue, her eyes were a simple brown eyes.
"And then there was this man puking his life out next to us, killing the mood. We just head out of there and continue in my dorm." The guy said, and Natasha seemed occupied, watching me and Noah, a smile formed on her lips.
"What's up, dude." The man finally noticed us; Noah specifically and greeted him with shoulder bump. I noticed the lady came over at me and hugged me. I stood there awkwardly.
"Hey, I heard about you !" The girl said, and I sat next to Noah with her beside me. We were just sitting on the small staircase in the Park, along with some other groups not far from us.
"Guys, this is Diana. Diana, these are the Bonnie and Clyde of the school."
"Come on, Noah. We don't do crimes." Noah smiled at his reaction when being nudged on the shoulder.
"I'm Alia, and that guy over there is Chris. If you need any help, don't be shy and just ask, okay ?" I nodded sheepishly when she was being super friendly. So these two are the couple Ethan told me not to worry about. They seemed nice.
"So, how's school treating you so far, Diana ?"
"It's okay, I guess. There aren't too many classes in a day. I was just fell short by having them in the morning though." I told Chris, and he spit out a laugh.
"No wonder why I don't hear any complain from this guy here. He literally get to meet his mate every day !"
"And we were separated by teachers because according to them, we can't be in one class to avoid negative energy." Alia added. These two were perfect for each other even in a glance. They even finished each other sentences.
"If you guys just behave in one class, maybe this won't happen." Natasha finally spoke, joining the conversation. She had been quiet for a while.
"Hey, Natasha, where is your man ?" Alia asked, walking over at her.
"My man ? Please." I heard Natasha said, rolling her eyes.
As if in cue, a loud smack heard close by and we all turned to see Ethan slapped by a girl. He looked visibly annoyed but the girl at the other hand, looked super upset.
"I waited for you the whole night, and you were with that bitch !" She pointed at Natasha, who had a straight look while watching the drama.
I saw Ethan retorted, pushing his tongue against the inside of his cheek. He looked like he was ready to strike if it wasn't for her being a girl.
"I'm sorry ?"
"You prick ! You heartless bastard ! I hope you drop dead !" After her final train of insults, she stomped away. The drama caught everyone attention around and they immediately mind their own business when noticed Ethan looking around.
While Ethan walked his way here, Chris received him with a slow clap.
"Your face is truly made of steel." He said.
"We'll see him with a different girl tomorrow." Alia said, looking at me with a wink.
I sat there awkwardly, leaning closer to Noah.
"Will he ?" I asked him, and Noah nodded, regrettably.
"I'm sorry that you had to witness that, Diana. Hope you don't think badly of me." Ethan said, and I gave him a little smile. I don't really have any thoughts about what he did and what he choose to do. I'm trying not to get involve so much with him so Ian won't be worried.
If I had to comment on his doing, I would say he was really heartless to be playing with a girl's emotion like that. But I honestly did not want to complicate my life. I am just hoping Noah would not be like him.
"Well, if you must know one good side of him, that he is very good at Math." Chris said playfully, and Ethan put him in a headlock, playfully poking his head.
Well, at least there is something.
"I had to ask. Have you mark each other ?" Alia asked, and I immediately felt eyes on me. Natasha especially, felt like she shot laser at me.
Mark each other ? Me, marking Noah ?
"Oh my god, Diana is beaming red." Chris said out loud, making me cupped by cheeks with my hands.
"Don't make fun of her. We'll mark each other when we want to. When Diana is ready." He turned to look at me, his eyes reassured me that it was okay. I did not say anything. I just smiled, since Noah have just saved me.
"Be careful, Noah. You know there's 'mate stealer' in the school." Ethan suddenly spoke, made me pay attention to him.
"What is that ?" I asked him.
"I don't understand the concept either, but some people just can't seem to see other people happy. Since you're still free from marking, you could easily be stolen. Just.. be careful around guys." Ethan continued to explain, and I could not believe I was receiving advice from a Casanova. I should not be prejudice.
"Especially that one guy. He's insane." Alia added, "Noah had told you right ?"
"Oh, that guy that can't see our Noah happy here ? I don't see him around anymore." Chris said.
"He was there, in the pub. He already had his eyes on Diana." Noah said, his face was serious. Everyone looked surprised, except for Natasha. It seemed like since earlier, she was in her own world. She gave little reaction to all our conversation.
"Damn, he's a freak ! Don't go anywhere alone, Diana. Just ask any of us if you plan to go anywhere if Noah is busy." Chris exclaimed, and Ethan nodded in agreement. Alia gave me a smile, and I smiled at her back.
They all seemed very nice. They had each other back.
"You hear that, Diana. They got your back." I felt Noah comfort me with a squeeze to my shoulder, and I smiled at him.
I am not being carefree with my thoughts, but I am safe because Ian is with me. Whenever I am in danger, he would appear out of nowhere and I kept wondering how that works. I asked him, and he said he was just there with no further explanation.
I excused myself to return to my room and Noah followed. I exchanged numbers with everyone and they kept reminding me to call them if I need anything.
"I want some slushy. I forgot to buy it earlier." I suddenly told Noah, and he just nodded. It was embarrassing. I had such a loose mouth and blurted out my stomach.
I looked down to our intertwined hands. It became more natural now. I'm getting used to the heartbeats that would go fast with his presence.
He bought slushy for the both of us, and I got myself a strawberry ones, and he took blueberry. We took our time walking to the girl's dormitory while gazing up the night sky.
Our hands stayed intertwined, we sip on our slushy and he looked as peaceful as I felt.
"Why is "the-guy-with-no-name" hated you ?" I asked him, finally. He silenced for a moment, before he spoke.
"He is an heir to Gardner family, the next Alpha." My eyes widened.
"He is Eden Gardner ?!" I exclaimed, and he nodded.
"His family is our close family friends. Well, used to. We're close in age, but growing up, he received a lot of good things, since he is the next Alpha. Thanks to the attention and privilege given to him, he thought I should not have things before him. How I found out about it ? When I got a girlfriend." My heart thumped at that word. A girlfriend ? Noah used to have a girlfriend ?
"It was back then, during middle school. I felt a little challenged when Ethan got girlfriends left and right. I was young !" My eyes flattered hearing him reasoning of his choice of getting a girlfriend. Then I felt how hand I clenched his hand.
"I completely understand." I gave him a smile, and he nodded nervously.
"Anyway, I later found out he marked my ex. I thought it was his mate, and of course I let my ex go. But then, he threw her away and my ex came crying at me. Now, she's marked and many refused to be with her." I cringed at the story, as well as feeling sorry for the girl. Well, she should not have cheat on Noah in the first place. Isn't marking equivalent to mating ? What a foolish girl.
"Then, I told them I would just wait for 'the one' to come and they make fun of me. Then, I found you years later." He smiled at the end, and I smiled at him as well.
"Sorry for being a little late." I told him.
If only my dad just let me go early on, he won't have to face the betrayal of his friend.
I had heard of Eden Gardner, the family of scholars, the future Alpha. He was quite arrogant but I did not took him as someone who would steal someone's girlfriend before and recklessly marking random female. That should be a crime, but the kingdom are more leaning to human's regulation now. The King has completely bewitched.
-
The next morning, I had Physical class; a class where you learned fighting as a werewolf. It sounds tempting, but not after you just had Swordsmanship class yesterday.
For Physical class, every level of citizen get to take the class, no matter how poor you were. We all born werewolves, and hand-to-hand combat was a mandatory. However, many incline to learn Swords more, and the ladies seem more uninterested now.
Since the era of modernization had offered many technologies over time, no one thought of the important of Werewolf spirit anymore, especially when Werewolves strength had weakened.
The previous King sensed the strength of Werewolves noticeably weakened, that was why they introduced Swordsmanship. Many Physical teachers, MMA fighters, against this, but their voices were the minority and to this day, the number of people against it decreased.
The Kingdom is slowly overrun by humans technologies and ideology, it was threatening even. But no one can say no to the King.
"I'm going out later with a friend. Her name is Amelia Foresky." I whispered at Noah when we were in Mathematics. He nodded, eyes widened hearing the name.
"You have a serious talent at finding friends, Danielle." He complimented, and I smiled. I felt like after walking out of that place, my luck was pouring on me.
"Be careful. Call me if you need anything."
He pecked me on the head, and that caught me off guard. I knew he got what he wanted when that cheeky smile formed on his lips. I just watched as he leave before I called Amelia and told her I am on my way.
I, of course, did not forget to message Ian where I was heading.
I head to the cafe in front of the school. Amelia said the one inside was not good and the whole school agrees. I waited at one of the table, scrolling down social medias.
Once again, there are news about how the King executed wrongdoers mercilessly. I saw that he became more and more ruthless, as if he was a tyrant. I let out a heavy sigh.
Though, the law breaker was murderers, he should have put them in trial first to show transparency. People need to know the reason it ended the way they are. Now, nobody knows what they truly do in details and whether they were truly bad guys or there are other reason, or if there were true culprits.
Many comments are saying the Kingdom has no future, and that cause a heat argument.
"Diana." I heard a voice and it was Amelia. Her smile as soft as ever, and looked fluffy. She sat in front of me after ordering her own coffee.
"How was your days ?" she asked, and I explained how I got all the morning class, and I also found my mate. She looked so happy for me.
"Good for you ! I can't wait to find my mate as well !" She said, and I just giggled. We exchanged conversations a lot more natural than the first time we met, and I found out I am more talkative with her.
"Well, I am always busy with studies. You know how my dad is part of the parliament. He was adamant for me to join as well." I nodded.
"Parliament, what an honor if you're chosen directly from the King. I know you can do it." I told her, giving her an encouraging smile and a squeeze on the hand.
"Ah well, I'm hoping I won't be underneath the King. Please don't tell anyone." She whispered at me, and I just smiled awkwardly. If not the King, who else going to reign the country ?
"Diana, it's you !" I heard a familiar voice, and it was Ethan Griffin. Sure enough, there was a new girl in his arm now.
"Hey, Ethan. On a date ?" I asked, and he just smiled.
Then, his eyes fell on Amelia, and I swore I felt like time stopped in between the two. I could sense the tension between them.
"I'll get going now, Diana. Don't tell Noah about this." He told me, putting a finger over his mouth and walked away. I could hear his new girlfriend asked why they should change the cafe, and it seemed he was reluctant to answer.
I looked at Amelia, and she was looking agitated. She drank the coffee and fingers tapping around the glass.
"Are you okay ?" I asked her worriedly, and she just smiled.
"Yeah. Everything's fine."
I did not dare to ask any further, whether she had a history with Ethan. Well, Ethan is infamous for having many girlfriends, and Amelia might be one of them.