Chapter Seven
Elora's POV
My eyes opened slowly, meeting the plain white ceiling above me. For a moment, my mind went blank as I tried to gather my thoughts and piece together what had happened before this moment.
The memories began trickling back, fragmented and hazy at first. I remembered being approached by some men, the sharp sting of a needle on my neck, and then a stranger walking up to me.
His face was blurry while I tried to remember everything. Images onne using my thumb to trace his lips suddenly flashed in.
"How about you sleep with me first? I'm pretty sure that's going to make them get really, really mad."
Oh fuck! A loud scream tore from my throat the moment I remembered saying those words. My heart raced, my cheeks burned, and panic clawed at me. What had I done? I had no recollection of what happened after that.
I pushed myself upright on the bed, still in my outfit from yesterday. My body felt intact, sore in none of the ways I had feared. That meant… no one had touched me. Relief and embarrassment washed over me in equal measure realizing I had just screamed for no reason.
I tried to recall the face of the person who had helped me, but the details were blurred, hazy as though someone had smeared them across my memory.
A sudden creak of the door made me flinch. My body tensed in fear, my eyes darting toward the entrance. For a heartbeat, I was frozen, unsure if this was another threat or a savior. Then I saw him—one of my mates standing at the doorway.
I recognized him from yesterday. My throat went dry.
"How did I get—" I started, but my gaze swept the room in confusion and rising anger. "What happened to the person who helped me yesterday?"
Wasn't I supposed to be with the stranger who had found me yesterday? Did they do anything bad to him?
"Just calm down," he said, his voice smooth yet firm. "You look tense, and we couldn't introduce ourselves properly yesterday. I'm really sorry about that."
I wasn't ready for apologies. Not now.
"Okay?" I muttered, not fully convinced.
"Will you calm down a bit? You could've died yesterday. Why did you storm outside alone?" His eyes studied me with a mix of curiosity and something harder to read.
"Isn't it your duty to protect me?" I demanded, my voice sharper than intended.
"So, you admit you're weak?" A smirk curved the corner of his lips, subtle but infuriating. He leaned casually against the doorframe, and I noticed for the first time the outfit he was wearing.
His white hair was styled better than yesterday, perfectly in place, and my gaze involuntarily fell to the outline of his body in his tight sweatpants. My stomach knotted, anger and distraction colliding. Fucker.
"Hey! Seems like you're distracted by something else. You can't measure it that way until you see it properly." His teasing tone only made me glare harder.
"Fucker!" I cursed, loud enough that even I was startled.
He pushed himself off the doorframe, stepping closer. "I'm Ronan. The cool brother. Honestly, I don't find you as annoying as my other brothers do. I was pissed at first, but I know I have no choice, Elora."
How could someone look this good and still seem so untouchably calm? Every movement he made seemed effortless, a perfect combination of danger and charm. He was the kind of person people instinctively looked up to, and right now, I couldn't decide whether I hated him or wanted to throw myself into his control.
"The cab is waiting outside," he continued, breaking me out of my spiral. "You have to get to school now. Several uniforms are already laid out in the future wardrobe."
Did he really need to step this close to tell me that? His cologne hit me all at once, rich, intoxicating, and impossible to ignore.
"Okay," I said softly, my voice barely audible. I had nothing else to say, and anger was fading into something more complicated.
But then, an idea struck me, and I blurted it out before I could second-guess myself.
"I have a request."
Ronan paused, a faint look of interest crossing his face. "What is it?"
"Can you… not let anyone know that I'm not your mate?" My words were cautious, almost pleading, but firm. I wanted him to keep this a secret. "Same with your brothers too."
He chuckled, a low, amused sound. "That's a very funny request."
"I'm serious," I said, feeling the weight of my insistence. "And you can pass it on to your brothers."
He raised an eyebrow. "I don't think my brothers would want anyone to know that you are their mate. You know your status, but I'm surprised you're making that kind of request. Aren't you supposed to tell people we're related? That'd help increase your—"
"I'm not doing it for your brothers. Attention is the last thing I want at school right now." I interrupted firmly.
"I can't guarantee that," he said calmly. "Some people already know who you are and—"
"Okay. Thank you. That's all I needed to know." Relief and determination settled in my chest.
I hope those few people will be able to keep their mouth shut, and I believe he'd tell them to do so.
---
By the time I reached the school gate, Tracy was already waiting, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. She seemed to know more than she let on about what had happened to me yesterday.
Her constant pestering made my skin crawl, but I ignored it, focusing on the day ahead.
"You didn't sleep in your dorm last night? Where were you? I was worried," she prattled on, trailing behind me like a shadow.
We had a training class that morning, and I was grateful not to be late, all thanks to Ronan arranging the cab. I didn't see Kael or Rhys, and I was glad for the small reprieve.
Tracy glanced at me once more before turning to leave. "We'll see each other later. Make sure you train well so you can rank up alongside us." Her fist was lightly pressed to her hip as she walked off.
I stood frozen at the entrance of the training hall, staring at the large double doors before me. My hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitant. My heart thudded painfully in my chest, memories of yesterday's chaos mixing with dread and curiosity.
Taking a deep breath, I twisted the knob and pushed the door open. The hall was vast, echoing with the sounds of students training and weapons clashing against dummies. My gaze swept across the room, searching for a familiar figure.
Oh Lord! I hated this so much. How will I be able to survive in an environment like this? Shouldn't there a rank lower than this?
And then I saw him—or at least, someone who looked strikingly like him. The professor I had crossed paths with yesterday. My stomach tightened, and a shiver ran down my spine. He was standing at the far end of the hall, his posture commanding, his gaze sharp and focused.
I wasn't sure, but everything about him reminded him of the person I had met yesterday. The coincidence were alight too much?
I hesitated. Could it really be him? Or was it just someone with the same imposing presence?
Something about the way he moved, the confidence in every step, made my heart skip. I wasn't sure if I should approach or stay hidden, unsure if he remembered me—or if I even wanted him to.
The air in the hall felt heavier suddenly, thick with anticipation and unspoken tension. My pulse quickened.
He saw me, but he didn't budge. He kept on talking amidst the other students while they trained.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The cliffhanger of recognition hung in the air, unresolved, and I found myself caught between fear and curiosity.
Would he come toward me? Or would I have to make the first move? The uncertainty gnawed at me as the doors closed behind me with a soft thud.
"Elora! Welcome." The entire students turned their faces to me immediately the door went shut.