Tears of the Crescent Moon

CHAPTER 4: The Crescent Moon

A few days had passed since the tense dinner and the subsequent surprising conversation between Ember and Drake. As they both navigated the delicate balance of their fake relationship, an unexpected turn of events brought them together in a way neither of them anticipated.

Ember sat in the college library, engrossed in her research, when a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. "Working hard as always, I see."

She looked up to find Drake leaning against a nearby bookshelf, a teasing smile on his lips. "And what brings you to the library, Mr. Popular?"

Drake chuckled, walking over to her table. "Believe it or not, I do have the occasional need for knowledge."

Ember raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Oh really? What could someone like you possibly need from a library?"

He pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. "Let's just say I have a business project that requires some research."

Ember's curiosity was piqued. "Business project? You're not just all about parties and extravagant events?"

Drake leaned in, his tone serious. "There's more to me, Ember. Just like there's more to you than being a science geek."

She smiled, acknowledging his point. "Hmm, let's see."

As they both immersed themselves in their work, an unspoken emotion settled between them. It was a strange feeling, realizing that they were not as different as they had initially assumed.

Hours passed, and Ember found herself intrigued by Drake's insights into his project. "You actually have a good head for becoming a leader."

He shrugged, a hint of modesty in his expression. "Comes with the territory."

Ember tilted her head, a question forming in her mind. "Drake, can I ask you something?"

He looked up from his notes. "Sure, shoot."

She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Why did you agree to this fake relationship? I mean, I get the benefits for you, but what's in it for me? Those delusional fans of yours finally leave you alone, right?"

Drake leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "Well, yeah. I'll admit, I had my own reasons for suggesting it initially. But as I've gotten to know you better, I realized there's more to gain from this arrangement than I expected."

Ember's eyebrows furrowed. "Such as?"

He met her gaze, his eyes holding a sincerity she hadn't seen before. "An ally, Ember. Someone who can understand the challenges I face, and someone I can rely on."

Ember was taken aback by his candid admission. "An ally? You and I are far different, you are a son of an alpha and I am just an ordinary she-wolf, our pack is different too."

Drake smiled softly. "Maybe that's exactly why it could work. We complement each other in unexpected ways."

Ember pondered his words, realizing that beneath his confident exterior, Drake was seeking something genuine amidst the chaos of his life. She nodded slowly. "I- I suppose we could help each other out."

Drake's smile widened. "Exactly. So, what do you say? Are we in this together?"

Ember paused and gazed into Drake's eyes. She felt that strange warmth emanating from within her body again, sensing that Drake's smiles were once again her quiet attribute--her wolf abilities.

She put down the book she was holding and closed it before crossing her arms over her chest.

"What kind of partnership are you referring to? I want to know if that would be fair for me," she cautiously asked.

Though it went against the desire of her heart, those were the words that came out of Ember's mouth. Her mind remained resolute in not making a decision lightly, especially knowing that Drake was known to be manipulative.

"Don't worry, Ember. I just want someone like you who believes in my abilities. I know you can help me become a respectable and skilled Alpha's heir, just as my Dad often expects from me."

Ember felt immediately guilty upon hearing this. A genuine smile formed on her lips. She stood up and extended her hand.

"Is that all? Deal," she said.

Drake's eyes sparkled, and he reached for her hand. But to her surprise, he didn't let go. Instead, he intertwined their hands and pulled her out of the library.

"Come on, we'll be late for class. And since you agreed to what I wanted, I have a gift for you," he said with a cheerful tone.

Ember had no choice but to go along with Drake's whims. She couldn't deny feeling proud whenever he did things like that, especially when she noticed envy in the eyes of the girls they passed by. Those were the same girls who used to incessantly bully her.

Upon entering the room, Drake led her to the middle part of the classroom, instantly drawing the attention of their classmates to them.

Drake quickly pulled something out of his pocket. A long black box with elegant design.

It's a shining necklace with a crescent moon as its pendant!

"You deserve this. Like this crescent moon, you may not be perfect yet but you still can light up the darkness. It suits you, you look beautiful in my eyes," Drake said sincerely.

If Ember didn't know that their relationship was fake, she would believe what he said. Drake's eyes sparkled as he spoke those words.

Ember bit her lips unaware, something inside her awaken and it makes her feel so special. She must admit, it was the most wonderful feeling she had in her entire life.

"Stop biting your lips or I will sealed it with a kiss." Drake whisper to her that makes her heart beat even loudly.

Their male classmates playfully howled in approval, having witnessed the scene, while the girls watched, some irritated. Aurora's eyes almost pierced through them as she stared.

The next day, Ember headed straight to the laboratory to present the new formula she had created for her project. All of their brilliant science professors were present, as they knew she was a genius and expected a stellar presentation from her.

Filled with excitement, Ember didn't even put on protective gear for her body. She began her presentation eagerly. However, in the middle of her performance, for unknown reason, the machine she was using suddenly exploded. This caused the lower part of Ember's hair and even her uniform to catch fire.

Everyone panicked and screamed, and even Aurora became frantic. Thankfully, there was a sink nearby in the laboratory, and they were able to quickly extinguish the fire that was just starting to spread.

In the midst of Ember patting down her burnt uniform, she noticed one of her female classmates who shouldn't have been there. The she-wolf stood not far from them, grinning as she watched Ember's project to fall apart, the project she had worked on for two weeks.