Chapter 4

Lia~

I frantically wave my hands around trying to somehow shake off the feeling of impending doom that's currently creeping up my spine to settle in the darkest crevices of my heart." Um, Henry, did I mishear you, or did you just say that my mother wants us to return IN. SIX. WEEKS?!" I make sure to put extra emphasis on the last part hoping, praying that he meant to say something like "she's extending our stay to 6 years." and for him to laugh it off as a simple mistake on his part.

Obviously, someone up there has it in for me and his next words confirm that suspicion. "No, you heard me right the first time. The queen, as well as my father, wants us to return to our packs by the end of the next 6 weeks."

It takes everything in me not to punch him in the face.

The reality of it all refuses to settle in. My mother wants us back in 6 weeks?! Is she insane?

My expression must reflect my thoughts because Henry suddenly decides that it would be a good idea to run his fingers through my platinum blonde hair in an attempt to comfort me.

Spoiler alert it ain't working

I glare at him and he immediately takes his hand away from my face. Maddie and Lucas call it my "ice glare" seeing as my eyes are icy blue and it might also have something to do with the fact that I tend to act like an ice queen at times, especially when this idiot is involved.

Maddie, Lucas, and basically everyone else assumes he has a crush on me and I'm just friend-zoning him when in actuality we're engaged. None of them know what we are or what we can do and it's torture keeping my biggest secret from my best friend but I have to in order to keep her safe.

I rub my temple, trying to regain my composure, "So let me get this straight, the queen wants us back within the next 6 weeks, 3 years ahead of the time we agreed on just because it suits her? Exactly how long have you known about this?" I look at him expectedly and as predicted, his face is a mixture of embarrassment and slight fear that I might blow up on him.

" Well... "he starts entwining his fingers, a nervous habit I've come to notice." The queen told me about it a few weeks ago but didn't want to be the one to tell you so she waited until she left for me to tell you."

1, 2, 3, 4...

I should have known my mother wouldn't be the one to tell me that she's basically cutting my life short. I count to 10 and backward before I ask the one question I don't think I want to be answered.

" So what does this mean in terms of our wedding?" the words taste bitter on my tongue. The smug, sort of proud look returns and I hate the answer before he even says it.

"She arranged for us to get married the week after we return."

This time I do punch him in the face.

***

By the time I reach my first class of the day, I'm infuriated beyond reason. How dare she? I know she's the queen but she's supposed to be my mother first. I guess I was wrong.

I'm so deep in thought that I don't pay attention to where I'm going and walk into someone.

Again

And as fate would have it the lucky winner and person I've walked into is Lucas Maxwell.

Again

"Woah there, are you okay? You seem to be walking into things a lot lately." Lucas laughs it off but looks at me with genuine concern in his eyes and I would've melted if I weren't already boiling.

"Yeah, sorry, Luc. I'm just distracted." just then I spot Henry walking through the doors and we make eye contact for a split second before he looks away. I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back a growl, trying not to use my superior strength to finally rip him to pieces once and for all.

Lucas follows my gaze and figures out what I'm staring at, or should I say who.

Nah, "what" is pretty accurate since he's basically what an ego would look like if it took human form.

Lucas makes a sound so low, I would've missed it if not for my heightened hearing. It kind of reminded me of a growl which doesn't make sense since 1) he's not a werewolf and 2) he's not the kind of human guy who growls when they're mad.

"What did he do?" again I hear a hint of a growl in his voice. His stance is rigid and he looks ready to attack at any moment and as entertaining as that would be, I don't want him to get hurt since it wouldn't be a fair fight.

"He was just being his idiotic self, don't worry about it, Luc." he nods and walks into the class while taking my hand in his to practically drag me in behind him. I'm so shocked by my hand in his that I don't have time to react until we reach our desks and he lets go. We sit down next to each other and an uncomfortable silence settles between us. I've never liked silences and usually, I always have something to say but for some reason with him, I can't think of anything to fill the space between us.

Lucas looks at me, almost like he's studying my features, and smiles slightly, showing off those adorable dimples. For a moment he looks like he's about to say something but stops short when Henry walks in and starts walking towards the empty desk next to mine.

You'd think a punch in the face would give him a hint of how I feel about him right now

I see my life flash before my eyes and come to the conclusion that all of this is my mother's fault. Every decision she's ever made has lead to this moment in time when the smug asshole gets to sit next to me. I sigh and wait for his egotistical butt to plop down on the chair next to me but it never happens.

I look up and notice that not only has Lucas gotten out of his desk without me noticing, but he's also standing between the empty chair and Henry, who's now looking at Lucas with a mixture of confusion and the obvious smugness.

"Move out of my way, Maxwell, class is about to start and I want to sit down next to that cute little lady over there." he winks at me, and I almost gag. Actually, by the look everyone gave me I'm pretty sure I did gag.