Chapter 2

Third POV

THREE WEEKS LATER

It was her first day in college, the best day, also the worst day of her life. She was set to meet with the man who bought her heart and left without saying a goodbye. Alpha Rhys, the young Alpha of her pack, Helves Pack in London who was set to take over from his dad. Now a Professor of Music in New York University.

Elisa Jordan arrived in New York from London two days before, living a street away from NYU. Today the day she was waiting for had arrived, she would get to feel if the man who had interviewed her, acting all cold like he never knew her was Rhys Alexio.

The studio was silent except for the sound of the grand piano at the right side. The professor was preparing for his first class for the freshmen Masters students who were resuming today.

His fingers moved skillfully over the keys, playing a soft melody that floated through the music studio of New York University. The morning class was yet to begin. He was alone, thinking, letting the music keep his mind from wandering to memories he did want to let go.

Then, the door creaked open and students began walking in, talking their places on empty seats, waiting to have their introduction class. They totaled over thirty in number. It was his second year, slightly lesser than last.

He stood up to close the door when he felt everyone had arrived, returning to take his seat on the podium.

Then the door slowly cracked open, a young girl in crazy western fashion. Ripped jeans which exposed her legs and tights while hugging her curves. Her black top stopped just above her waist. Her long, loose hair bounced as she walked.

What the professor hated most.

Two things.

Indecency and lateness.

She didn’t look like she cared about the rules, and she didn’t care who was watching. It totally skipped her mind to check out who would be her professor, until his deep voice rang across the room, then she jerked up.

“I just guess you wouldn’t really want to start up with me on the wrong foot. Look at how you’re dressing.” She paused abruptly. “Where are you from?” Somehow the voice looked familiar, she widened her eyes, raising her head slowly to check out who was talking to her.

Her jaw dropped.

“Oh goddess!” She whispered covering her lips. “Rhys? Rhys!!” The excitement pulled her into advancing towards the professor who shifted backwards in shock.

“Where are you from?” The professor questioned, putting up with a deep frown, he ignored her reaction of shock.

“Don’t you know me?”

“Can’t you remember me, Rhys?”

“Hello miss, are you high or drunk?” He sprang up. “Do I look like your one-night stand college professor or are you trying to hit on me?”

His eyes got redder. “Where are you from? What’s your identity? Why are you dressed like this?”

Elisa shivered from his raised voice, her lips were still wide apart. She was beyond shocked at how Rhys was treating her. Colder than she ever expected. It rained into her mind how he left without saying a goodbye, how his family ignored her after he left and how she decided to move on.

She stepped backward, feeling the sudden pangs of betrayal.

A few students chuckled. Rhys didn’t. He held on to his serious face.

“Respect is a huge part of this course,” he added. “Indecency has no place, so does lateness. If you don’t want to see me as a cold professor, take note of these three things.” He warned.

“You’ll be marked absent today,” he uttered, returning to his seat.

Elisa stood there, dumbfounded, feeling cold hatred. She then shrugged and took out her notebook. “Do what you have to.” She muttered.

He turned back to the piano, but he could feel her eyes on him. Watching. Judging. Taunting. His mind went back to the interview, her reaction was the same as today. He sighed, smirking.

All through the class, Elisa spent in thoughts wondering why Rhys would still treat her this way. At some point, she rubbed her eyes, confused if this was a dream or she was seeing him for real.

Later that day, Rhys sat in his office, trying to focus on writing new music. But Elisa’s image still lingered in his mind, he found himself getting distracted and he couldn’t control it. His wolf was restless to talk with her, but then he couldn’t. One thing he wanted to avoid the most was an informal relationship between him and a student.

He ignored the thoughts and continued with his music.

He wasn’t just a professor. He was something else, a secret he wanted to keep from his students as long as possible. Prior to this, he needed no side distractions.

The next few classes didn’t help. Elisa kept showing up, always late, always dressed like she wanted to seduce him. Besides her clothes, she never paid attention to what he taught but him in person, her obsession which had wanted to let go had grown back again, now deeper than before.

Even with the lack of focus, she was a muse. She played with her emotions. Elisa played music like she was born for it. Raw, emotional, intense.

He wanted to ignore her but couldn’t ignore her talents, one he rarely saw.

Elisa bubbled with excitement seeing how this was pulling Rhys towards her, soon a man who was always acting cold towards her was looking at her most, standing beside her listening to her music in the studio and worst of all, he made her his class representative.

“You must have majored in music in your first degree?” He asked, nodding his head like he could see already before walking over to other students.

“Most here are coming in from related fields.”

Elisa sensed something off. “Weren’t we studying music together in Oxford?”

Within their coldness to each other, there was a deep strong with their wolves pulling them together. Elisa believed they were meant to be even when he didn’t want her any longer. They both felt it.

One afternoon, Elisa was walking toward her next class which was already late when she turned a corner too fast and ended up bumping into a rock hard chest, stumbling, then feeling firm hands sliding over her waist.

“Goshhhh!” She muttered in shock before raising her eyes to see who it was.

Rhys.

Her breath ceased. He was staring deep into her eyes with want, focus and desire. Her lips dropped wider. His hand never left her waist. Then he cleared his throat and lifted her up.

“Be more careful next time,” he said and walked past.

Elisa remained fixed to the spot, blinking her eyes in shock, struggling to breath. His scent, that of hyacinth and olives stuck to her nose, refusing to leave. Her wolf was rocking inside her, inciting her hormones.

“What’s going on?”

It took her almost ten minutes to regain her consciousness, from where she took to her heels, running off to class. She was quite lucky that it was a class handled by another professor. Not Rhys. She wouldn’t be able to look him in the face or even play her instruments well. .

That night, Elisa tossed in bed, unable to sleep. Her chest felt tight still thinking of what happened in the day, she imagined what Rhys must be thinking about her, how he’s feeling. Her wolf disturbed inside her, restless, confused, hungry for someone. All she could think about was him—his hands, his scent, the way his voice made her body react. Everything replayed like it was just happening.

The next morning, Elisa received an email. She peered through her screen.

Professor Rhys.

“Hello, good morning Elisa. As the class representative, help me spread this information to your colleagues. I’m unable to make it to today’s class for personal reasons.”

Elisa held her breath, feeling many thoughts rushing in.

“You all will be recreating the last topic we had, the studio’s door will be opened for practice. My studio assistant with you will be available to make sure everything goes in order.”

“Thanks.”

It rang in her head that it was none other than the event of yesterday. He was pulling away. Elisa didn’t know what to feel. She was angry. Confused. Heartbroken. And yet, she wanted him more. She just couldn’t let go of him.

Three days passed and with no sight of him even in class, his assistant took them all.

Heartbroken, she decided to visit the College chapel for the first time to pray. Aside from this, here was the only quiet place she could spend the evening at with no disturbances. Religion wasn’t quite popular here in the Sowfield Pack but coming from a conservative pack, she wanted to be different, at least for the meantime.

She wasn’t expecting to see anyone at the chapel.

Stepping at the door, her wolf began to giggle. She tried to ignore and walked in, a strong scent hit her. She paused.

“Someone was near,” she whispered to herself. “Professor Rhys? What’s he doing around here?” Then she recalled how he stood against her fashion, what no other professor that has taught her has done.

“He must be religious with his attitude.”

Barely done with her thoughts, her eyes shot straight at the altar. A tall, muscular man with a familiar hairstyle knelt in a black priestly robe, collar in neck and was straddling with prayer beads, head raised up.

He looked familiar.

In her wave of confusion, he turned.

Elisa gasped. Stumbled.

Professor Rhys. Her Rhys. The man she has been waiting for three good years, upon no return, came in search of him. The man who has been acting all cold.

Now, a werepriest?