2. Connection

Isabelle POV

The school bell rang, signaling the end of another dragging, tiring day, and I quickly closed my books and packed my lighter stuff into my bag. I have to carry my book in my arm and my other stuff in my bag to make the load lighter. Did I tell you that I have a weak heart? It has become too weak, that I have to watch the things I carry with me even at a short distance.

I watched as my eager classmates rushed to the door like there was fire and they needed to shove each other just to step on the suffocating halls. I bring out my phone and click on an app to hack the CCTVs along the hallways, watching my schoolmates rush to their next classes. My heart beats faster in panic as I see Xander coming towards the room I was in and I quickly stand up, carrying my things with me, and walk to the exit door at the left side of the classroom. I quickly punched in the code and the lock clicked open. I step out and immediately close the door behind me, all the while praying that Xander would not catch me walking out through the exit door. 

I took a few minutes standing behind the door to regroup myself as my heart started thumping so fast, something my doctors advised me against. I take deep breaths, while my eyes are closed, doing my best to relax my heart before moving back inside the school to return my things in my locker. 

"Ahgggg." I screamed when I felt myself falling to the ground. Then I felt hands behind me, catching me, preventing me from falling. Despite almost falling to the ground, I immediately felt the electric current from the touch of the hands saving me from falling. And I knew immediately who caught me.

" Careful baby." That voice, sent shivers down my spine, making the hair on my skin stand up in anticipation for something I don't know what. All I know is that heat started to pull in between my legs immediately upon hearing his glorious voice. 

Zander POV

I mind link every pack member in the school after my Economics classes, asking who saw where my mate was. I planned on being at the door of her last class was, to carry her things for her but was detained by Mr. Hogan, the Economics teacher about rogues seen near the territory. Mr. Hogan is one of the top warriors of the pack and was informed by some warriors on duty at that time that some rogues were seen on the South side of the territory, near my mate's residence. Is it a coincidence that after a day I discover that Isabelle is my mate, and there are rogues around the area where my mate resides? I discussed with Mr. Hogan what to do before looking for my mate. Her classmates said they left her sitting at her chair at her last class, so I immediately went there, wondering if she was feeling alright. 

The classroom was empty when I got there, but Isabelle's pine and breeze scent was so strong, that I knew she had just vacated the room. I mind-linked the pack members who were still in the hallway, asking if anyone had seen her come out but no one did. I walked further into the room and sniffed, following her scent to the exit door. How did she know the code to open the door? Only I, the officers, and the teachers are supposed to know. I punch in the code and open the exit door, not expecting that she was weakly leaning on the other side. My hands reflexively shot forward to catch her as she fell to the ground. Thank the goddess for the werewolf's fast reflexes, I caught her before she fell. 

"Careful baby." I feel the sparks that only mates feel when they touch their mates and I pull her to me for a soft hug, inhaling her beloved scent. Then I smell the budding smell of something else coming from my mate. Arousal. It must be the mate thing working. Thankfully, I can restrain myself from pulling her hard to me, and let her feel how turned on I am as well at being near her. I held her still until I felt her pushing on my chest. I looked at her face, she was red as a tomato. 

"What are you doing here?" 

"I'm supposed to be asking you that. How did you know the code to open this door?

Before she could answer, my breath caught in my throat. I felt an icy shiver run down my spine, and my head snapped towards the forest, visible to both of us. There, standing at the far end, was a familiar feature watching us with piercing eyes.

"Zander... do you see that?" she whispered, gripping my arm tightly. We were both looking at that creature, menacingly watching us from the forest.

"Stay behind me," I whispered, my voice almost dropping into a low growl. I could feel the tension radiating from both of us.

The creature moved closer, its unkempt, shaggy fur almost standing up from its skin. A cold, mocking smirk curled at the edges of its mouth. 

"S..t!" I gasped, barely able to form the word. I clutched Isabelle tightly as I felt her knees buckling nervously, her hands holding onto my arm tightly. I quickly pushed behind me as the creature transformed itself into a human. Rogue.

"I see you know our dear Isabelle," the figure said in a voice laced with malice, nodding at Isabelle who was peering at him behind me in shock.

"Stay away from her." I said in hard tones, worried that he would try to snatch my mate right now that would ensue into a fight; inevitably leading us to shift into our wolf forms. Isabelle is still unaware of our world, and I would rather she not find out through a violent encounter. I stared at the rogue top warrior. We never had a violent encounter with his group before as they never trespassed in our territory, and they never bothered us before; until now. I dared him with a look to try anything with my mate with a challenging look. He stared hard at me for a few minutes, weighing the situation, before smirking and slowly turning back.

"I'll see you both around, alpha."

The air around us grew heavy with an oppressive silence, broken only by the distant echoes of the rogue's footsteps. The rogue turned and disappeared into the forest, I pulled Isabelle closer to me, as a chilling realization settled over me.

Something very dangerous is brewing. And I wasn't sure if either of us was ready for the storm that was coming. Especially her.