Chapter 59 Feel the bond

Chapter 59 Feel the bond
Chapter 059

DARIUS

It was unbearable sitting there, watching Dorian laugh with Ravenna, my enemy....the human who had turned my entire world upside down.

And Samantha, her friend who was becoming bolder and more stubborn with each passing day. The way she had challenged me earlier in class and had brought up the accident without fear, It grated on me.

I tried to ignore them, focus on my coffee or on anything else but I could not help listening to their conversation.

Not because it interested me. It did not. But because her voice kept cutting through everything else.

Ravenna's voice.

It was sweet. Soft when she was not shouting at me. Almost melodious.

When had I started noticing that?

My wolf stirred inside me. Atlas pushed closer to the surface. His presence was strong. Insistent.

"Listen to her," he murmured with a deep rumble. "Hear how she laughs and speaks. She is perfect."

I hissed internally. "She is not perfect. She is irritating."

"You are lying."

"I am not."

"You are. And you know it."

I clenched my jaw and forced Atlas back down. He resisted and pushed harder. But eventually, he retreated. Though I could still feel him there watching Ravenna and waiting for the perfect to say something.

I drained the rest of my coffee and stood abruptly. "We need to go. The next class starts soon."

Dorian glanced at his watch. "You are right. Come on, ladies."

Ravenna and Samantha finished their drinks and gathered their things. We left Angelas together and headed back towards the academy.

The walk was quiet. Tense even. I kept my distance from Ravenna. I made sure there was always at least a few feet between us.

But Atlas kept growling softly. Unhappy with the space.

We reached the classroom just as the bell rang. Students were already filing in, taking their seats.

A new professor stood at the front of the room. I had never seen him before. He was tall, broad-shouldered, hair was greying at the temples and expression was serious.

"Take your seats," he instructed as the last few students entered.

We obeyed. I dropped into a chair near the back. Dorian sat beside me. Ravenna and Samantha took seats a few rows ahead.

The professor waited until everyone was settled before speaking again.

"My name is Professor Rowan," he introduced himself. His voice was deep and commanding, and to be honest I didn't like the sound of it. "This is a newly added course. It's called Survival Assessment. We will be covering various scenarios that you may encounter in the field. How to navigate difficult terrain, work under pressure and most importantly, to survive."

A few students exchanged nervous glances.

Rowan continued. "Today, we will be starting with a practical lesson. Theory can only teach you so much. Experience is what truly matters."

He reached into a bag at his feet and pulled out a sheet of paper. "I have already assigned partners for this assessment. When I call your names, stand together."

He began reading off pairs. Students shuffled around the room as they found their assigned partners.

Then he called my name.

"Darius Pike."

I stood.

"Your partner is Ravenna Casmir."

My blood ran cold.

No.

Absolutely not.

Ravenna turned in her seat and our eyes met. She looked just as horrified as I felt.

Atlas, on the other hand, perked up immediately. His tail flicked, eyes glowed faintly behind mine.

"Yes," he growled approvingly. "This is perfect."

"This is a nightmare," I countered sharply.

I raised my hand. "Professor Rowan. I need to speak with you."

Rowan looked up from his list. "Yes, Mr Pike?"

"I cannot work with Ravenna."

"Why not?"

"Because she is reckless. And stubborn. We have a history of not getting along. Pairing us together is a mistake."

Rowan's expression did not change. "I am aware of your rivalry, Mr Pike. However, I cannot unpair you."

"Why not?"

"Because I am sure there are other students in this room who also do not like their assigned partners." He gestured around the classroom. "Am I correct?"

A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

Rowan nodded. "Exactly. Part of survival is learning to work with people you may not like. To put aside personal differences for the sake of the mission. So no, Mr Pike. You will remain paired with Miss Casmir."

I wanted to argue further.

But Atlas was making it difficult. He was practically vibrating with excitement. His energy bled into mine, made it harder to think clearly.

I sighed and moved closer to where Ravenna stood. She was shaking. Just slightly. But enough for me to notice.

Was she afraid of me?

Or was it something else?

Rowan clapped his hands together. "Alright. Everyone follow me. We are heading to a location just outside the academy grounds."

We filed out of the classroom and made our way to the car park. A large school bus was waiting for us.

Rowan climbed aboard first. "Each student must sit with their assigned partner. No exceptions."

I bit back another protest and boarded the bus. Ravenna followed close behind.

The seats were narrow. Cramped. I slid into one near the middle. Ravenna sat down beside me.

Her arm brushed against mine as she settled in.

A low growl escaped my throat before I could stop it.

Rowan, who was still standing at the front of the bus, turned immediately. "Mr Pike. You better control your wolf. Any slip of control will result in a deduction of marks."

I clenched my fists and forced Atlas back down. "Yes, sir."

Ravenna said nothing. Just stared straight ahead. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap.

The bus started moving. The drive was not long. Maybe fifteen minutes. But it felt like an eternity.

Atlas kept pushing forward. Kept trying to get closer to her, to touch her qnd claim her.

"Stop," I hissed internally.

"No," Atlas replied stubbornly. "She is ours. Our mate. You cannot keep denying it."

"I am not denying anything. I am simply being practical."

"You are being a coward."

I did not respond. I did not have the energy to argue with him anymore.

The bus finally came to a stop. We had arrived at a large frozen lake. The ice stretched out before us. It was vast and white and very cold.

Rowan stood and addressed the class. "Today's assessment is simple. You and your partner must make it to the other side of this lake together. You will be given skates. You must work together, stay close to each other and help each other. If one of you falls and the other does not assist, you will both lose marks."

He stepped off the bus and gestured for us to follow.

We climbed out one by one. The cold air hit me immediately.

Rowan handed out skates to each pair. I took mine and sat down on a nearby bench to put them on. Ravenna did the same beside me.

Once everyone was ready, Rowan blew a whistle. "Begin."

I stepped onto the ice. My skates glided smoothly over the surface. Years of hockey training made this easy for me.

Ravenna stepped on beside me. She wobbled slightly but caught herself.

"Stay close," I muttered.

She glanced at me. "I know how to skate."

"Good. Then this should be easy."

We started moving. Slowly at first finding our rhythm.

I took every opportunity to snap at her. To criticize her form. Her speed. Anything I could think of.

"You are leaning too far forward."

"My balance is fine."

"It is not."

"Then stop looking at me."

Atlas growled approvingly. "She has fire. I like it."

"I do not care what you like," I shot back angrily.

What the hell was wrong with Atlas today?

Across the ice, I caught sight of Dorian and Samantha. They were paired together. Samantha looked miserable like she couldn't be anywhere but near him. Dorian, of course, was grinning like an idiot.

He waved at Ravenna.

She waved back.

My jaw tightened. Jealousy flared hot and sharp in my chest.

"Why does he always have to talk to her?" I muttered under my breath.

Atlas purred deeply enjoying this. "Because you will not."

"That is different."

"How?"

I did not answer.

We continued skating. Ravenna was talking to Dorian from across the ice now. She wasaughing at something he said.

I hated it.

Hated how easy it was for him. How natural it was for him to get along with people.

Then something happened.

Ravenna turned to look at Dorian again. She was not paying attention to where she was going.

Her skate hit a rough patch of ice and she slipped.

Her arms flailed, eyes widened in panic.

I moved without thinking. My body reacted before my brain could catch up.

I caught her.

She collided against my chest. Her hands gripped my jacket tightly.

We froze.

Both of us completely still.

Her face was inches from mine. Her breath came out in short puffs of white air. Her eyes were wide.

Atlas surged forward again. His presence overwhelmed me. His purr was deep. Satisfied even.

"Yeah, that is it," he murmured. "Feel the bond, asshole."