Alpha's Last Howl

2. The Keychain

Nessa cursed under her breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm her erratically beating heart, threatening to burst out of her ribcage. She huffed, fixating her eyes on the lean figure of her teacher who was pacing back and forth along the length of the classroom. The words coming out of her mouth never registered in Nessa's mind, despite all her efforts to comprehend her teacher's simple speech.

She could feel Jordan's eyes burning into her back. If only she knew what was going on inside his mind.

Did he think of her as a creep? Oh, no.

When Nessa began thinking it was impossible to not think of what had just happened, her mind eased, finally absorbing Mrs Robinson's words and began numbing. She let out a yawn and leaned forward, resting her lower arms on the cool surface of the desk. She was ready—any second to sleep right there—but then the bell rang and Mrs Robinson sealed her lips finally, leaving the class after one disapproving glance at Nessa.

Riley snickered, gathering her bushy hair into a large ponytail. "How long are you going to exploit her tolerance limit?" She asked with a tight lipped smile.

Nessa narrowed her eyes. "I don't like Biology." She could not think of any other response. Half of her mind was still resting.

"I don't either. But I don't openly yawn and stretch my arms so the whole class notices."

"Oh, shut up, Riley."

The smile faded away but she continued, "Study session at my house. Niall's in. You?"

"Pass. But you and Niall can do it without me. I have to take some tourists around. I promised my mum I'd help her."

"Are you planning on getting good grades or not?" Riley questioned, her brows furrowed as if she was genuinely concerned about Nessa. "You barely passed last sem."

"Don't worry, sweetheart," Nessa replied, swinging her arm onto her shoulders, "This sem will be the one where I shine the brightest."

"By surfboarding the days away until finals arrive and you're helpless and panicked and touch my feet praying to somehow learn it all in a day?" Riley raised her brow, watching her with ridicule.

Nessa decided she could not keep up the pretence any more. "Okay, Riley. For real, shut up now."

Not only did she stop talking but also left the classroom immediately, pushing through a crowd of people. Nessa rolled her eyes and began making her own way out.

She halted, however, when she heard someone call her name from behind. She turned leisurely and found Jordan walking towards her.

"Vanessa? Hey?"

She froze: her feet glued to the ground and her arms stopped mid-air as she recollected what had happened a while ago. Nessa wanted to turn back and run—as fast as her feet could take her but she knew it was too late to do so. She didn't want to appear rude to him.

"Hey, Jordan?" Her voice came out breathy. She closed her eyes and cleared her throat, but before she could say something in defense for her actions earlier, he cut her off.

"Umm, you dropped this," he said, lowering his eyes to her tiny keychain resting on his open palm. It was a mini surfboard—a gift from Niall.

The ghost of a frown still graced his lips, his broad shoulders dropping as he leaned against the wall. But there was no evidence on his face that he had seen something.

It took Nessa some seconds to regain herself. Had he really not noticed her staring at him?

"Oh, that. Thank you," she replied with a nervous grin and pulled the object from his palm, tucking it quickly into her jean pocket. "Good, you saw it. It's kinda important to me."

"Looked like," he replied, his eyes going around the room, looking at everyone but her.

She took the opportunity to admire his face. He had been crying, she knew that. Even with his rheumy, amber eyes, he looked handsome as ever. His square jaw displayed a little stubble and she took a moment to appreciate that slit in his left eyebrow—it wasn't purposefully done, no. He had once picked a fight with an older guy and received that scar above his left eye.

"Okay, then. Thanks again," Nessa told him. And his eyes swept back to her face and for the brief moment that their eyes met, she felt a flutter in her chest. A smile crawled its way to her face but she put it away before he could catch it.

"Fine," he replied and started pacing away from her but Nessa caught his arm and he halted, turning back to her.

"Jordan, I'm so sorry for your loss. Mr Hale was a good man," she said, slowly letting go of her grip. His eyes hovered over her face, confusion evident in them but then they lowered to the chain around her neck. A silver one with a crescent moon as the pendant.

Reflexively, he took a step back. Nessa realised what that meant. She sighed, her own eyes briefly glancing at the little blood moon hanging around his exposed neck.

The confusion on his face multiplied. He kept staring at her and then without another word, turned and left.

Nessa was disappointed. She felt a tiny stream of rage coarse through her vein.

That was really rude of him—to leave without saying anything. Just because their packs were rivals. Not for a single moment in her life had Nessa ever thought ill of any blood moons. She had not expected such behavior from him. But there was nothing she could do—her heart didn't allow her to be angry at him so she locked the rage she felt deep inside her and plodded out of the empty classroom.