Tears of the Crescent Moon

CHAPTER 5: Drake's Special Order

As the scent of burnt material hung in the air, Ember's frustration and disbelief surged. She had poured hours of her time and effort into that project, and now it had literally gone up in flames. The sabotage was painfully evident, and her gaze immediately locked onto the grinning face of her fellow she-wolf classmate.

"Aurora!" Ember's voice was sharp with accusation, her eyes narrowing in anger.

Aurora's grin only widened, her satisfaction palpable. "Oops, looks like your little experiment didn't quite work out as planned."

A surge of anger boiled within Ember, but before she could take a step forward, someone else intervened. It was Drake, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, his presence commanding attention.

"Ember, are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.

Ember nodded, her eyes still fixed on Aurora, who was now retreating slowly, her triumphant expression fading. Drake's presence and support were oddly comforting, reminding Ember of her relationship with Drake.

Drake's gaze shifted to Aurora, his tone cold and assertive. "Aurora, I suggest you leave. Now."

Aurora hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. But sensing the seriousness in Drake's words, she eventually turned and left the laboratory, disappearing from their eyesight.

Ember let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her heart still racing from the shock of the explosion and Aurora's sabotage. She looked at Drake, her expression a mix of gratitude and surprise.

"Thanks," she managed to say, her voice still shaky.

Drake gave a reassuring smile, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "You're welcome. I've got your back, remember?"

The professors in the room were now starting to regain their composure. Ember's main professor, Professor Roberts, approached her with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Ember, are you alright?" he asked, his eyes flickering between her and the remains of the explosion.

Ember nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I'm fine, Professor. It seems like there was foul play involved here. My project was deliberately sabotaged."

Professor Roberts looked at the damaged equipment and then at Ember. "Sabotage? That's a serious accusation."

Ember nodded firmly. "I know it sounds strange, but I saw Aurora near the equipment just before it exploded. She had a suspicious grin on her face."

Drake chimed in, his voice dripping with authority. "I can vouch for Ember's words, Professor. I was here too, and I saw Aurora lingering around."

The professor's expression hardened. "Very well, I'll look into this matter. In the meantime, Ember, I'm glad you're safe. We can discuss the project later. Please make sure to wear proper protective gear next time."

Ember nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude. She watched as Professor Roberts addressed the other professor and then headed out from the laboratory.

Drake turned to Ember, his expression still concerned. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Ember managed a small smile, touched by his genuine concern. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks to you, I didn't turn into a human torch."

Drake chuckled softly. "Well, I'm glad I could prevent that. And I guess this is another unexpected turn in our fake relationship saga, huh?"

Ember chuckled too, the tension of the situation easing slightly. "Definitely unexpected. But somehow, having you around makes things a bit more bearable."

Drake's smile softened, his gaze lingering on her. "You know, Ember, I think we make a pretty good team."

Ember couldn't help but agree. "I can see that."

"Come, let's go to the clinic. We have to make sure you're okay," Drake said in an authoritative voice before taking her away from the laboratory.

Ember wanted to disagree but upon looking at Drake's reaction, she knew he wouldn't let her win this time..

Ember was immediately accompanied by Drake up to the clinic, aside from her burnt hair, she also had burns on her hands, stomach, and thighs. She was given ointment, and after making sure she was safe, she was advised to rest in her dorm.

"I can't believe someone would sabotage my project," Ember muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, a nervous energy radiating from her. "All that hard work, gone to waste."

Drake leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on her with unwavering support. He nodded, his expression a mix of empathy and determination. "We'll find out who did it, Ember. I won't rest until we do."

Ember glanced up at him, a small smile forming amidst her turmoil. "Thanks for being here, Drake. It means a lot."

He gave her a reassuring smile in return. "Always, Ember. We're a team now."

Their conversation shifted, and Ember hesitated before bringing up the topic that had been swirling in her mind. "I think I have to cut my hair short."

Drake's face lit up with enthusiasm. "I've been thinking, Ember. We could try a makeover. Just a little enhancement to bring out your natural beauty."

Ember's eyes widened, her surprise evident. "Drake, I appreciate your intentions, but I don't think I want to change that much. Maybe I'll just cut my hair to remove the burnt part."

Drake blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Oh, well, if that's what you want, I respect your decision."

Ember's shoulders relaxed, relief washing over her. "Thank you."

Later that day, Ember found herself in front of a mirror in her dorm room, a beautician standing behind her. Nervousness fluttered in her stomach as the beautician began working on her hair, snipping away the unruly locks.

The woman even gave her energy drinks upon hearing what happened to her earlier that day.

As the process continued, Ember couldn't help but notice the beautician's hands moving in ways that seemed different from what she had initially expected. Then, her eyes suddenly felt heavy. Ember didn't realize she fell asleep while in the middle of fixing her hair..

When she woke up, she was already lying in her bed. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, trying to remember what had happened. She must have fallen asleep while getting her hair done. She shook her head, thinking she was probably just extremely tired for that to happen.

She stood up and quickly faced the mirror to check her hair, but she stepped back, her eyes widening. She cautiously approached the mirror again and stare at herself intently.

"Is that me?" she asked herself in alarm, her hand touched her cheek. She ran her fingers through her wavy and neatly styled hair.

"Am I wearing makeup?!"

Her gaze traveled down to the luxurious dress she was wearing, her mouth agape in shock as she finally understood what was going on.

"Drake!" she exclaimed with irritation. She wanted to stomp her foot, but that's when she realized she was wearing a pair of elegant sandals. Her frustration escalated, causing her to wrinkle her nose in annoyance.

"This wasn't what I agreed to," Ember protested in herself, her voice shaking.

She was beginning to take off her dress when loud knocking on the door interrupted her. Annoyed, she approached the door and opened it, expecting to find Drake, ready to confront him. However, she was left speechless upon seeing his entirety.

He stood tall in a meticulously tailored tuxedo, displaying an air of sophistication. The jet-black fabric hugged his form perfectly, making him looked even taller. A crisp white dress shirt contrasted with the darkness of the tuxedo, its collar peeking out from under the suit jacket. The satin lapels shimmered subtly as they caught the light, adding a touch of luxury to his attire.

His hands, strong yet graceful, held a single exquisite flower—a vibrant rose with petals as red as passion. With each movement, he emanated confidence and refinement, his presence commanding attention. The way he carried himself, combined with the flower he held, painted a portrait of a man who understood the art of elegance and was ready to make a lasting impression.

He has a deceptive grin on his face making her forget the annoyance she felt for him just a while ago..

"Wow! Y-your so beautiful, Ember." Drake murmurs, almost drooling but he immediately composed himself. He acted as a decent young man. He even cleaned his throat.

"It's for you,"

Ember becomes totally speechless, she feels like her inner wolf wants to emerge and take this opportunity from her!

"I'm here to take you for an out of school date tonight. The car is waiting outside the building. Let's go?" Drake said without even asking her, then, he took her another hand and put it around his arm…