4 Budding Friendships (2)

Syn was so busy berating herself that she almost kissed a piller. The librarian was a tall middle-aged woman. She had a pair of glasses encased in an emerald green frame perched on her nose. Her hair was made into a bun and she was wearing a Sapphire sweater which matched her blue eyes. Syn took an instant liking to her. 'She seems to be a strict librarian. That means the silence will be maintained in the library. Good.'

Syn had a gleeful smiled pasted on her face which made the librarian raise an eyebrow. " How can I help you, Miss....?"

"Wolfe. But please call me Syn. It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. McGonagall. I would like to borrow Feynman lectures vol. 1, please." Syn said with a smile.

"So you are one of the witches." Ms. McGonagall replied in an indifferent tone and observed her through those cat-eye spectacles.

"Woah! You are a werewolf too!! Does the majority of the student population of this college belong to the pack, I wonder?" Syn was stunned. No matter where she went, she met some wolves. 'Are there no humans in this college, for heaven's sake!?'

"You are mistaken, Miss Wolfe. I'm a human. Mated to a wolf, though." Ms. McGonagall replied with a faint smile. "Well, let's get going. You will find the book you need at the second row of the first cupboard on the right of that flower vase kept on the blue desk near the entrance."

"Thank you, Ms. McGonagall." Syn offered a polite smile and retrieved the book. She brought it back to register and exited the library as soon as she could, for the first time in her life. She was eager to meet up with her friends to get the update of that day. She found her way to the parking area where Leonardo's car was parked. The girls were already there along with Leonardo and were having a lively conversation.

"Hello everyone. I'm here." Syn rushed to them with a hundred-watt smile.

"Why so late, Ms. Wolfe? Hmm....Let me guess, Library?" Cassie asked with an 'I-knew-it' expression.

" Or some black-eyed devil?" Sarah joked.

" How did you know the colour of his eyes?" Syn was startled. " You met him, too?"

"Oh my goodness!" The girls chorused all at once.

"How?"

"When?"

Leonardo was laughing hard on seeing the girls' expressions. "Seriously? She just met a guy. Why such exaggerated reactions?"

"No, Mr. Bulky. It's a very important event. And it's a long story. We'll tell you later." Cassie explained. "And Syn, you are not off the hook."

Syn raised her hands in surrender.

"Hey, why that weird nickname?" Leonardo sounded stupefied and offended.

"That's because you look fat." Sarah gave an explanation.

"Fa-at!?" Leonardo stuttered. "I'm pure muscles, babe." He flexed his arms for her to see.

Jo, who was drinking the coffee, choked on it. Syn laughed right out. Cassie was openly admiring.

Sarah looked positively confused. "I know that Leonardo. But still you look fat. With all those muscles bulging out and you are wearing a fitted t-shirt."

" I quit. And please call me Leo, for heaven's sake." Leonardo threw his hands up in the air in exasperation and got into the car. "Climb in ladies. Let's start the mission - getting to know the way around in Rauland."

"You are not offended, are you?" Sarah asked in a small voice from the passenger seat.

"Oh, how I wish I could be." Leonardo let out a chuckle. "But you look so adorable that I find myself melt, sweetheart."

"Oh." Sarah blinked.

"Oh, hey. What's up with Joan? She's been texting and gazing at her phone ever since she came back from class. Not that it's an issue. But she looks positively forlorn." Leonardo asked Sarah in a whisper.

"Love issues." Sarah sighed. "They had a falling out before we boarded our flight. They'll be alright. We have faith in their love." She smiled.

"That's good to hear." Leonardo smiled back. Then he said out loud, "Ladies, our first destination is the pack house. Luna would have prepared scones that goes perfectly well with butter and mugs of hot chocolate. Not to mention those juicy ham burgers. Is it alright?"

"Oh yes. I'm drooling already." Syn sighed. Soon, they reached the pack house and got down from the car. Elora came out beaming on hearing the sound of the car.

"Come in, hurry. There's someone here to meet you."

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A few minutes ago in the woods of Rauland:

A big black wolf was resting on a meadow of snow. It was a majestic creature. Pure black all over except for the paws and ears. Those were tinted snow white. It had a pair of t-shirt and jeans, generously coated with the saliva, nearby. It observed the surroundings for a while and suddenly transformed into a handsome young man. He had jet black hair with a few silver strands at the front. The sunlight gave it a golden sheen.

The man lay down on the grass. The snow had already melted, courtesy of the high temperature of the wolf. He stared right up at the sky through the the holes created by the tree tops. He seemed to be in a dilemma. A frown marred his forehead.

" What is happening to me!? This is so wrong. I'm supposed to wait for my rightful mate, my Luna. "

('What if she's the one?') His inner voice chimed in.

" Of course not!! I'm an Alpha. She's a human, moreover a witch. She is not a werewolf. How can she be my mate?" the young man replied with anger and exasperation coating his words.

('Then explain why you don't enjoy being away from her. Pray, explain why you felt like you felt. You smiled at her, initiated a conversation with her and even indulged in light flirting.') His inner voice shot back.

"I don't know." the young man roared.

('She could be your mate. Or she could not be. But can you deny the attraction? If so, for how long? You were clearly leading her on. What if she falls for you? Are you going to break her heart? Mind you, you won't enjoy the consequences.') His inner voice said in a serious tone.

" Why will I be concerned about her!? I clearly know that there is no chance for her being the one. Quit it out. I'll keep my distance. Happy? " the young man grumpled. " Damn!! I should stop talking to myself."

The young man closed his eyes and lay there for a few minutes. He didn't like the plan. But he had responsibilities.

Suddenly he received the wolf mail tingles and he opened his eyes.

" Damn! I forgot the time and closed the mind link too. Great. Just great!!" the young man said out loud.

He concentrated for a moment, bracing himself to receive lots of loud conversations in his head.

"KJ...where are you?"

"Mama Luna is asking for you."

"Have you met the witches already?"

"Where are you?"

"KJ, you okay?"

"Alpha...? The last was a shout. And in unison by his trusted beta, third and fourth-in-commands.

"Chill, please. I'm alright. I just went for a run. I'll be at the pack house in five. Now get out of my head and do your work." KJ replied.

"On it, Alpha."

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