14

“I could smell Joyce.

Not because I had some super sensitive nnose. But the amount of trauma she had delivered me made me very sensituve to anything that had to her. 

She was coming from the right, so I turned and took a bend to the left. 

It led me to the scool’s clinic but I didn’t give a damn.

Tis was a school for werewolves, so the infrastructure was just for fun and was mostly not used. 

When I got in there was no one, not even the school nurse and I couldn’t be more glad. First, I tpook off my shoes and then my socks tos ee my injored feet.

Th wound had started to heal, but was still loking ver fresh. 

With a sigh, I wrapped it with clean bandages after giving it a neat treatment, that stung most of the time. I just oculdn’t risk any complications or infections.

“I didn’t know you were here.”

“Ah!” I gasped and turned around to the sound of Terri’s voice and that was when it dawned on me. 

I’d percieevd Joyce’s scent on him, not her herself. 

My heart shattered at the meaning. 

Hugs were not enough t cover one with teh scent of another, they needed to get more intiimate.

“Hey, realx. Its just me,” he said andI realised that he had entered into the clinic and senaled up behind without me noticing anything. 

My heart skipped a beat because for the first tiem, I felt fear towards Terri. 

NO anticipation, not admiration or love. All I felt was a fear that shook me to my bones and triggered my flight response. 

He still had his usual smile and his amiability was still radiating off of him. 

Butthe fact that he must have done somethig witH Joyce and could still walk up  to me with his huge grin plastered on his face and no traces of remourse meant a lot.

The cotton wool in my hand fell to the ground. His eyes traced it and returned to my face, but the smile didn’t fade.

Like the face of a monster. 

How did I not notice tat he only ever hadthis expression onhis face, like it was leanrt and mastered to be displayed just in front of me. 

“I came to apologize for what Joyce did at the cafetaria. It’s why I always tried to keep you hidden for the longest time,” he said as he sat on the bed opposite me, spreading his legs to take up a wide space.

I nodded, not knowing what to say to him because there was a lot. 

“I tried to prtect you, you know, but if people saw you with me, this owuld just continue to happe againa nd again,’ he said but I remembered clearly what happened in the cafetaria. 

Not once doid he acknowledge me. All he did was ask me to sit. Not evn as a friend or classmate. 

He treated me like  begger. Hew dind’tg give me any identity, so i was easily picked on. And eve after that… after that, he did nothing in my defense. 

So whatdid he mean by protect. 

Nothing he did was protective, nothing!

I gul;ped down y bubbling rage, my pain and asked, “what is ypur relationship with Joyce?”

One simple question that made the smile on his face falter. 

Oh how badly I wanted to probe. I wanted to ask more, tp get ansers I knew would hurt me, but even then, I dind’t dare.

Not when the memories of yesterday was still fresh in my head. 

That aggression, that harrassment. 

It was just us here, so if he decde dto hit me again, there would be no one to call. That’s why I waited.

Consciously, painfully, gripping theedge of teh bed and holding my breath as I waited for his answer. 

“Joyce is your bully right? Wat do you mean relationship?” he laughed out. A laughtr that didn’t reach his eyes.

“I…”

“Don’t tell me you’re mad at me because she was holding my hand?” he asked, remindingme of a memory I’d sucessfully locked up. 

“No. I’m sorry, it’s just… people are talking,” I said. 

“Talkng about what?” he leaned forwrd, placing his elbows on his thighs as he interwined his fingers and asked, “do you ahve friend to talk to?” 

There was a teasing, almost ridiculing smile on hsi face that made me feel more weary that I already was.

“No friends… everyone keeps talking about how you are her mate and…”

“I see you’re jealous.”

“No, it’s not jealousy. I just wish things were better between us,’ I sighed, feeling a little more relaxed as we onversed. 

Withot knowing it, he’d given me n outlet for my feelings.

“That’s why I’m here. Let’s forget everything that happened in these recent days. Things have been really hectic for me, and I know it must have unconsciously affected yoru own mood.