Chapter 59

KIRA:

Twenty minutes ago, I had been adamant about not leaving the house. But now I am en route to school.

The day had started off with my parents making it compulsory for me to go back to school today as the school management had cleared the environment safe to return but I had argued with them that I was in no way going anywhere.

They had asked for the reason and the only thing I could come up with that was close to reasonable was that I was scared that something like what happened yesterday would happen again. They had instantly flagged it off and insisted I leave, citing I was being childish.

It was not until I had been threatened with being grounded for a whole month did I get my acts together and eventually leave the quarters for school.

Now I regret doing so. Because ever since I got to the path that was surrounded by more woods than usual, I have been having this eerie feeling that something was going to go wrong. I would say it was my intuition playing games on me but the way I was feeling cannot be looked away from because of how much weight that came with it.

However, with Alexia encouraging me, I continue to walk through the path. That did not take away the fear from me but the assurance from Alexia that I was safe was enough for me to forge ahead.

I don’t know how long is left for me to get to the academy, but I know it is not too long anymore because it has been minutes since I left the quarters. At least I could say that I was almost out of the woods because this area was giving me the creeps as hell.

With a little walk away left from the eerie path, I suddenly feel a presence around me. I know it’s the presence of someone because of the feeling that came with it. It was not threatening but at the same time, it was not any good because having such a feeling around here was nothing that could ever make sense.

I pick up the pace because I cannot bear being around this axis any longer than this. I could soil myself if things come to worse because I have reached a stage where I cannot handle that much pressure anymore.

And just as I am about to get out of the axis, I suddenly notice something that has me stumbling backward immediately. I almost trip to the ground because of how startled I was until I am caught by the arm.

“Get away fro—” I start to yell at the one helping me stand upright but stop mid-sentence when I realize who it is. “Bradley?” I ask in surprise because it is him after all.

The smile I receive from him infuriates me a bit because it is crazy enough to think that my heart almost jumped out of my mouth because of him.

“Geez, you scared me,” I say while adjusting the sleeve of my blouse properly. It is a bit rumpled now from him grabbing me by the arm.

“I didn't mean to scare you,” he says. “Was just trying to catch up with you before you get to school.”

“How sure were you that you would catch up with me?”

“Seventy percent. I left your quarters not too long ago after I was told that you just left which is why I decided to run as fast as I could to get to you. And here I am.”

I look away from him in annoyance. My heart was still thumping against my chest in quick succession from how much fear I was going through at the moment. Could take a while before it gets regulated.

“You didn’t have to corner me, you know,” I say as I start to walk away from there. Instantly he joins me by the side and we both get on to walk together. “Still I have no idea why you’re here,”

“Take a guess,” he says and I glance at him with a questioning gaze.

“How am I supposed to know what you came here for?”

“Just guess.”

I roll my eyes and look away from him. He was wasting his time by thinking I was going to guess my mind away in this. What I do in place is ignore him and continue walking. When he is ready, he will tell me what I need to know. And that he does in a short while.

“Since you do not want to rack your brain on this, I will do the honor of telling you,” he states and I scoff silently in return.

“Better get on with it.”

“Okay, I’m here because I thought you needed protection on your way to school.”

I stop in my tracks because I wanted what he said to make sense. Slowly, I turn my head in his direction and ask, “Am I in danger or something?”

He has also stopped walking. So while facing me, he shakes his head to decline. “Not in any way. But I know what happened in the academy yesterday. Hell, the whole pack does. So I thought it would be wise if I offered you the needed protection so you could feel safe on your way to school,”

Now I get what is going on here. And just to make him realize that I do understand, I show him the expression hoping he would get it.

“I appreciate your gesture but don’t think it’s a bit too much?”

“How?” he demands, looking a bit confused. Sure he is doing something innocent but there is more to it for me.

“How? What do you think the others would say when they see a pack warrior escorting me, an ordinary student to the school? You want me to be the talk of the day, huh? And if you knew you really wanted to offer protection per se, why would you turn up in your uniform?”

Every word I spout put him in the realization of what he has done. Gosh, Bradley could be a mess when he wants to be.

His gesture was nice but it was uncomfortable for me knowing how much I like to do away with attention from others. But it seems lately attention seems to want to be drawing itself to me and I’m beginning to hate it.

I watch Bradley scratch the side of his head nervously. His whole expression was enough to make me know that he has realized how bad of an idea he laid down.

“So you want me to go back now?” he asks with his hand still by the side of his head.

“Obviously,” I tell him with a friendly smile plastered on my face.

“You sure you want me to go back? Won’t you be scared while walking all alone to the academy?”

I shrug. “I don’t think I will. Actually, the path that I needed an escort was just at the back and I have passed it already. I’m sure I can take care of myself from here.”

He does not look too good with my response. But there is nothing I can do about it because no way will I allow him to follow me to school. At least not in that uniform.

“Bye, Bradley,” I finally say before turning to the front so I could continue with my journey back to the school. At least now I feel a little safer than before knowing I have Bradley behind me to watch over my back even though he was not following me anymore.

However, I have not taken enough steps when I suddenly hear running footsteps. And just as I look to the side, I see Bradley walking right beside me.

“I thought I told you I’m fine already,” I blurt out to him.

“I know,” was his response. He then follows that up by saying, “I just know that I will not be fine if I do not follow you. My mind isn’t going to be at rest because it would feel like I failed a very important mission. So, please, let me see you off to the academy.”

“You sure you are not doing this just to get on my good side again? I’ve forgiven you already so no need to try,”

“It’s not because of that, Kira. Trust me, more than what you think, it has nothing to do with it. Instead, I am shit scared about the whole thing that is going down, especially knowing there is nothing I can do just to ensure your safety in the academy. I wish there was a way I could get the word across to the alpha that things are not looking good in the academy.”

The sincerity in his words makes me recall the idea I had. It might be the only way the safety of the students could be guaranteed but to get that done, I might have to get myself in trouble again. Don’t know if it’s worth the risk.

Until then, let me simply agree with Bradley’s adamance.