Chapter 6 CHAPTER 6
Rafael’s POV
I was heading down the hallway, ready to ditch school early. My head was pounding again, the same way it always did when the curse started acting up.
Then I caught her scent.
Tears. Fear. Pain.
It hit me hard—too hard. My wolf stirred inside me, the one that usually stayed quiet, weak. But this time, he growled. Loud. Furious.
I followed it straight to the empty classroom at the end of the hall.
When I pushed the door open, I froze.
Vivienne was there, sitting on the floor, clutching her torn uniform to her chest, shaking like she was made of glass. Her face was red and wet from crying. She looked so small, so broken, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe.
“What the fuck happened to you?” I roared in fury.
Every calm thought I ever had burned away in one second, replaced by only one thought. Whoever did this to her was going to pay.
I crossed the room in a few steps and dropped beside her. “Hey,” I said softly, even though my voice was shaking with anger. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
She flinched at first, but when she saw me, her eyes widened. Then she just broke—completely.
She threw herself against me, sobbing into my chest.
My heart twisted. I pulled off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, making sure it covered everything. She clutched it like her life depended on it.
And then it happened.
Her hands brushed my skin. Just a little. Barely a touch.
But the moment it did, my body lit up. A rush of warmth spread through me, like electricity, like fire. It shot through my chest and down to my fingertips. My wolf howled in my head.
Mate.
The word echoed so clear it almost scared me.
I tightened my arms around her, holding her closer even though I knew what it meant. My pulse raced. I still didn’t want to believe it—she was human. Humans and wolves couldn’t bond. It was impossible.
But the sparks didn’t lie. They danced between us with every touch, every tear that soaked into my shirt.
Her crying pulled me back. The sparks, the heat, everything faded under the sound of her soft, broken sobs.
She was shaking so hard it made my chest ache. I tightened my hold on her, pulling her closer until her face was pressed against my shoulder.
“Hey,” I whispered, trying to steady my voice. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. No one’s gonna hurt you again.”
She just cried harder. Her hands clung to my shirt like she was afraid I’d disappear if she let go. I kept whispering to her, repeating the same words—it’s okay, it’s okay, I’ve got you. I didn’t even know if she could hear me, but I had to say something. I had to do something.
I could feel my wolf pacing inside me, restless and furious. The curse in my blood felt like it was burning away, replaced with something hotter—something protective. I wanted to hunt down whoever did this. But right now, all that mattered was her.
The door creaked open behind me.
“Raf?”
Mathias’s voice.
He stepped in, his usual grin already forming—until he saw us. It froze on his face. His eyes flicked from me to Vivienne, still crying in my arms, her torn clothes hidden under my jacket.
“Dude,” he said slowly. “What the hell happened?”
I looked up at him, shaking my head. My voice came out low, rough. “Not here.”
He didn’t argue. He just nodded, eyes hardening as he took in the scene. He knew me well enough to know what that tone meant.
I shifted, sliding one arm under Vivienne’s legs and the other around her back. She gasped softly as I lifted her off the floor, bridal style, but she didn’t fight it. She just buried her face in my chest again, her tears soaking into my shirt.
“We’re leaving,” I told Mathias. My voice was calm, but I could feel the storm building under it. “Get the car.”
He turned and ran without another word.
I carried Vivienne out of the classroom, her small frame trembling against me.
There were still a few students hanging around the hallway when I stepped out, Vivienne in my arms. Conversations stopped. Every eye turned to us.
I heard whispers start almost instantly—her name, my name, gasps, and that annoying sound of phones being pulled out.
I didn’t care. Let them talk. Let them make up whatever story they wanted. None of it mattered.
Vivienne’s fingers gripped my shirt tight, her face still buried against me. She was trembling so badly it made my chest hurt just to feel it.
“Hey,” I said quietly as I moved fast through the hallway, ignoring the looks. “It’s okay, Vivienne. I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
She didn’t answer, just kept crying softly. Her tears soaked through my shirt, and every sound she made twisted something deep inside me.
By the time I pushed through the school doors, Mathias had already pulled up with the car, the engine still running. He jumped out and opened the back door without a word.
I slid in, still holding her close. The moment the door shut, Mathias hit the gas, and the school started fading behind us.
Vivienne’s breathing came out shaky. I could feel her heartbeat racing against my chest.
“Breathe,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Just breathe. You’re okay now.”
Her hand clutched the front of my jacket like she was afraid I’d let her go.
I leaned closer, keeping my voice low and steady. “You’re safe with me, alright? I’m taking you home.”
Mathias glanced at me in the mirror but didn’t say anything. He knew what that meant—my home, not hers.
She needed quiet. Safety.
And right now, I was the only one who could give her that.