Things turned out okay after the assembly.
Or that was what Amelia thought.
She had no idea about the weird rumors spreading about her. The rumors about how she was so desperate for attention that she didn't even think twice before standing before the alpha king and risking her life.
Amelia was sitting in her lecture, attending the chemistry lecture, when she felt something hit her in the back out of the blue.
She turned around to catch the culprit; her brows knitted in annoyance.
No one was looking at her. Who would've thrown this paper ball at her?
Her expression darkened. They were somewhat wrong if they thought she would sit here to take their bullying. She wouldn't allow anyone to put her down in this lifetime, not even her fate.
She observed everyone, her gaze finally catching something off.
A particular boy was shaking his legs a bit too nervously.
She kept staring at him, and it wasn't long before that guy finally looked at her before scoffing, too proud to admit that he hit her.
Amelia smirked.
She didn't hit the boy immediately.
She had been too impulsive in the past, and her impulsiveness and desire for instant justice always got her into trouble. This time, she intended to catch her tormentors off-guard and hit them when they least expected it.
The lecture ended soon, and Amelia shifted to the edge of her seat.
As soon as the boy walked, ready to go towards the exit, she deliberately extended her leg at the last second, making him stumble.
Aaron had good reflexes as the pack's alpha and grabbed hold of himself. However, as he moved again, Amelia pulled back the bag she had already placed there, making him stumble harder this time, and he fell face-first on the ground.
"You!" Aaron glared at her.
Amelia stood from her place before blinking innocently.
"What happened, Alpha Aaron? How did you fall? Who could it be? Someone threw a paper ball at me earlier. Could it be the same guy who hurt you?" Amelia said, her wide, clear eyes making him grit his teeth.
"What's happening there?" The professor asked, but Aaron just stood from his place and stepped out of the class.
"Ryan, did you see that? That girl tripped me on purpose. I am an Alpha. How can she do that?" Aaron seethed with displeasure once he saw his brother walking out.
Ryan, reading the articles on the school forum, hummed vaguely.
"What kind of Alpha throws a paper ball at girls?" Ryan asked before he went to the gym section to get changed to play basketball.
Since they were supernatural beings who worked out a lot to keep their other half active, there was one free/gym period after every lecture.
Everyone had a choice to run in the forest or play some sports if they had better control over their wolves and nothing provoked them.
Due to their supernatural ability and understanding of wolves' needs, the professors weren't allowed to stop the alphas from leaving the classes in the middle if they said they wanted to go for a run.
Aaron stood there for some time before shaking his head. He would definitely avenge that, he promised himself before leaving.
_________________
Someone was watching her.
She didn't know who, but the constant feeling of being watched everywhere made her wary.
It was confusing, almost suffocating.
Amelia turned around when she used the washroom, the feeling still not leaving inside the ladies' restroom.
'It's just my paranoia.' Amelia said to herself before washing her hands.
The free lecture was almost over, and she had better head towards the following lecture.
Amelia made a bee-line for the building again, not wanting to feel distracted by the gazes that were becoming a new normal for her, all thanks to Hannah and then that candle-lighting ceremony.
"Amelia,"
She heard someone call and stopped in her tracks.
She looked around, wanting to see who called her name, but she couldn't find anyone.
Shaking her head, Amelia started walking when the voice came again.
"Is this a boon or a curse?" She heard.
This time, she was sure the voice almost whispered into her ears. The slight tingling and wind she felt in her hair were clear indications. It was unmistakably close to her.
Amelia turned around hastily again. But just like the previous time, there was no one besides her.
She gulped and was about to turn to another corridor but stopped. The feeling of a thousand needles nipping her skin made her freeze, and she looked to her right.
A man stood there, watching her, observing her every move. The distance between them was more than 100 meters, but even from this far, she could feel his creepy smile bore into her soul.
Amelia was curious to know who this person was and why he was following her, but she was no stupid heroine of a melodrama movie.
She would not walk to the man after feeling his negative vibes.
She turned around and hurried towards the stairs, almost bumping into someone when she reached the last stair.
Her eyes widened when she lost her footing. She was about to grab the side of the railings to save herself when the person placed their hand on her waist.
A little spark.
That would be exactly how she would describe the touch she felt.
The person's face was hidden behind the hoodie as he helped her. Her fastened heartbeats were a clear indication that what she felt was real. This kind of spark… could it be that this person was her… no. How was that possible?
She told herself it might just be static energy from the friction and was about to thank him when he spoke.
"Be careful," he left immediately after that, not even looking at her. Amelia stood in the place for some time, looking at his back. She shook her head after some time before continuing her way.
"Still not leaving any chance to interact with boys, are we?" Amelia heard from behind her.
"And what is it to you? It's not like I am going around you now. Shouldn't you be happy?" Amelia asked without looking back.
She didn't need to look at the person to know who it was.
She would be a fool and utterly ignorant if she couldn't recognize his voice.
Seeing her acting so nonchalantly as if he was just a passing person in her life, Killian pressed his lips into a thin line.
He kept following her, unsure what to say.
There was this sudden urge to talk to her, and he was sure it was because she insulted him. Maybe that was her way of grabbing his attention, and now she had it.
"I don't believe you paid for your tuition yourself," Killian said.
Amelia rolled her eyes and kept walking. Of course, he wouldn't believe that. In his eyes, she was just a useless, lovesick puppy.
"Are you trying to ignore me? So that I keep following you?" Killian asked smugly.
Amelia sighed and paused.
This alpha surely has some self-obsessed traits. How come he ends up making everything about himself?
"You know, Alpha Killian, narcissism isn't a trait you should be proud of," Amelia said before she turned and looked into his eyes.
"You are right. I didn't pay my tuition, but my husband did. Even when he knew I was just a lantern and a member of the healer family that he hated, he paid for my tuition because he saw my passion for studying. Then again, why am I telling you all this? It's not like you could understand that," Amelia smiled before entering the laboratory.
Killian was about to follow her, but he was met with Derrick's icy-cold gaze, which looked him up and down, making him scoff and retreat.
Though he retreated, Amelia's words kept echoing in his head.
What did she say? He would never understand her compassion for studies. What did she know? He was the one who paid for her internship in the —
Killian paused.
Didn't Hannah take the internship, and Amelia undergo a strict screening process to get in again?
So what? It wasn't the only incident where he helped the healers. He scoffed.
He clearly remembered arranging the healers' meeting in his pack and all their accommodations in another country so the girl could participate in the annual competition.
But… there was only one spot from their community, and Hannah had taken that too.
Killian suddenly felt contemplated as he struggled to find one time when he could successfully help Amelia and return her favor of helping his mother.
He thought for a long time, but he couldn't find one. The feeling suffocated him since he always thought he immensely helped her.
So what? I was tolerating her for so long. Wasn't that enough? Killian tried to persuade himself before leaving, but he had a bitter taste in his mouth.
Meanwhile, Derrick turned to the girl who wore her lab coat and stood in her spot to start the experiment.
"I helped you just now," Derrick said.
"I am married," Amelia said without looking up, and Derrick paused.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Oh, you weren't hitting on me? With your reputation, I thought you were doing that," Amelia looked up at him with a smile.
"I have nothing against you, but you are Aaron's brother, and I hate him. Thank you for the help, but let's never interact," Amelia said before focusing on the board.
Suddenly feeling rejected even when he didn't propose, Derrick returned to his assigned slab.
What was this weird feeling? He stood there confused.