Chapter 17: Chapter 16

‘Bunny Doc! How are you this morning? I heard your pack won against those losers of Golden Fur. Should I congratulate you for stealing candy from a pack of pups or scold you?’

A laugh bubbled from my throat at the text, before I sighed. I had to admit the sad reality: I, Yvaine of Comet, future neurologist and rational person, always against all social stereotypes, had become one of those creatures that first thing they do when waking up is to check the phone.

After a big fat yawn, I glanced at the brain-shape alarm clock on the bedside table with bleary eyes. I still had a lot of time before my day would kick in, with two late classes that afternoon. After lazily stretching my arms in a more cat-like way than wolf-like, I decided to make breakfast for all my flatmates and neighbours. All still asleep, considering it was 5.30am.

Plutos was nowhere to be seen, likely chasing rabbits and birds through the patio.

Putting on my fluffy slippers, I headed for a quick shower.

Unconsciously I massaged my chest. In the last few days, that strange discomfort above my left breast occurred three times. It had woken me up last night, yet was bearable and only lasted for a few minutes. I had another mammogram and booked an appointment to check my pancreas, a completely underestimated organ.

Tiziano again suggested that perhaps, without realizing it, I had crossed paths with my mate and that the male was cheating on me, with or without realising it. My smart friend had also speculated that as soon as my so-called mate realized who I was, he had run away, too scared of my father, my brother and all the Scottish uncles.

It made no sense.

First of all, I would certainly have smelled my mate, considering my overdeveloped hound senses. Secondly, when a mate cheated, regardless of the extent of the betrayal, you would feel the same amount of pain and the heart would bleed. Moon Goddess apparently considered a kiss on the lips to be as wrong as a full intercourse. And I agreed with her, because the moment your mate decided to betray your trust and the bond, it didn’t really matter how he did it or what he did.

My heart was not crying blood and the pain was bearable. It was more of a nuisance than something close to pain.

I was heading into the kitchen, with a towel tied over my head, passing in front of my roommates’ rooms, when Makena’s door slam open and a giant appeared. I doubted he could pass through the door without bending his head.

He was wearing only a pair of black boxers and it did not take a genius to figure out what kind of business they’d done.

“Oh hello there, Sweet Pea,” The lad winked at me and, somehow, that sad nickname made me chuckle.

There was something about this guy.

With chest and legs covered with some kind of fur, like most wolf men, he had a rough appearance but his light brown eyes were almost ... gentle?

“Hello there, Gentle Eyes." I retorted cheerfully, going into the kitchen with him hot on my heels.

“Gentle Eyes?” He repeated with a deep laughter coming from his throat. I already liked this guy, he seemed the kind of person who took everything with a laugh and a shrug.

“Are you saying you fancy me?” Maybe I didn’t like him after all.

“No thanks, you’re not really my type. Besides, didn’t you just walk out of my friend’s room?” I arched a brow.

He raised his hands in front of him, “Hey! She’s not my mate and I’m not hers!”

“Fair point, Gentle Eyes” I winked at him like he had done before.

“Could you find at least a more manly nickname?” Gentle Eyes groaned, faking stress, as he sat down on a chair. His lack of clothes does not bother me as we are all werewolves.

“Nah, you are stuck with Gentle Eyes,” I replied, as I began to take the ingredients to make homemade croissants. “But what is your real name?”

“I’m Liam, milady,” He made a funny bow to emulate a gentleman. Something I knew he wasn’t.

“Well, nice to meet you, I’m Ivy.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful she-wolf”

I laughed at his line, covering my mouth so as not to show that I had found it lame. Who was I to destroy his confidence and his ways with women?

“So where exactly are we, Ivana, and above all, what are you cooking?” He looked ravenous, judging by his expression. I guess the nocturnal activities had tired him up.

I didn’t mind that he had misunderstood my name. It was not uncommon since my name was Scottish and these American fellows only knew how to pronounce their “native” names.

Then I remembered his first question. “Don’t you know where we are? Really?” I gaped as I grabbed my headphones to call Rudolph.

Since I would be busy cooking croissants and getting milk for the different cappuccinos, I preferred to call Rudolph. The fact that he did not enjoy texting had little to do with that...at least that was what I told myself.

“We’re just off Comet’s campus,” I said casually, bending over to pick up some bowls as Liam ate some cookies he’d found somewhere. When I heard him cough out loud, I whirled around, worried. He was red, redder than the peppers in my refrigerator.

“C-comet you say?” he cursed with eyes flashing yellow. “Oh shit! I really wanted those croissants.”

“What-”

“It was a pleasure to meet you Ivana. Say hello to that bombshell of your friend for me... ” He scratched his neck as if he were thinking something. ”Marina"

My mouth formed an O. The dude had serious problems with names. I didn’t bother to correct him.

“Wait, what about your clothes?” I asked, remembering that he is wearing nothing. Not that we werewolves ever felt cold.

“You can keep them for me, Sweet Pea. If you want something amazing to smell when you’re lonely.”

I chuckled, shaking my head at his Cheshire cat smile, “Oh thanks! You never have enough rags to clean a kitchen!” And then he was the one who barked out a laugh.

“You are cool, Iva. Usually females only blush...when they don’t try to chase me relentlessly.”

“I wonder why...hey wait, take this for the way back!” I went to the fridge and then handed Liam my lunchbox that I had prepared last night.

He looked at it for a moment, taken aback, “Is this yours?”

One leg was already out of the kitchen’s window. The fact that we were on the third floor didn’t seem like enough motivation to use the door.

By then, I had put two and two together, noticing how in a hurry he was to leave. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the Highlander and his crew lived right below us, or he would probably pass out on my kitchen floor.

“Dark Diamond is quite far from here and it looks like you need some energy”

Then it was his turn to gape. “And damn, you’re smart too! What else are you hiding under your cute cheeks, Sweet Pea?”

I shook my head with another chuckle. “Not hard to guess. It explains why you’re as scared as a little girl in a dark room,” I joked as he clutched his chest, over his heart, and pretended to be stabbed.

“Ouch female! You sure know how to put people in their places.” Then he paused and looked at me, studying me with an odd face. “You remind me of a friend of mine. If I hadn’t already decided that you and I are going to get married, I might have introduced you two.”

I didn’t want to know his friend in a romantic way if he were like Liam.

“And if you really want to know, I’m leaving ‘in a hurry’" He mimicked my very own words, “because there are probably at least twenty Comet douchebags around and I’m pretty sure I have beaten up quite a few during wereball.”

I scoffed at this, “Do you play on the wereball team?” I said sarcastically, as Liam looked like the classic wereball player.

Then a thought crossed my mind and without thinking I asked. “Do you know a certain Lucien?”

He looked at me for a moment: “Lucien. Yeah... a few, why? Do you have a crush on the dude?” He grinned mischievously while I fidgeted because he wasn’t far from reality.

“Nah”

“Better for you! The only Lucien I know with an age close to ours is a short boy with black greasy hair”

Oh.

Could this be my Lucien? Maybe Liam didn’t know Lucien as Dark Diamond was massive.

In which world could that deep voice belong to a short person?

“Unless you have a thing for old people.” He winked as I smacked him on the shoulder and we ended up smiling again.

“Listen Sweet Pea, if you can’t find your mate, please come and find me, ok?” He flirted a little more and scribbled his number on a piece of paper.

“Sorry Gentle Eyes, but you’ve already been to Makena’s territory.” I raised my hands, then switched the oven on.

“Makena,” he repeated before understanding crossed his face. “Oooh right! Makena, not Marina” He rubbed his eyes.

Somehow, his attitude reminded me of magical duo, Rudolph/ Lucien, when he forgot who Ludmilla was.

“Well, I really have to go, but nice to meet you Iva! See you around”

Saying that, he sent me a fake kiss and jumped off the window like he had never been here.

AN/ Thank for reading! :)

You can read up to chapter 92 of this Series on my Patreon’s page together with my other story! ;)