Our Binding Wolf

"Odessa!"

Luca yelled as he ran after her in his polished school uniform. He looked so dashing in them. His white never had a stain whether in the cool of the day or the roughest afternoon after football.

"What?"

Odessa asked feigning some sense of ignorance. She always had a soft spot for him and their childhood friendship had blossomed into a secret affection that they both nursed. "Why are you storming out of the class angrily?" He asked throwing his hands in the air. He had taken the instincts thanks to Zoe's silly advice to mark Vynessa as his mate seeing that they have been betrothed for a while. She was the school's hottest werewolf and his rage was spurned when Ken pecked her to say "good morning".

He fell for the bait that she set.

"Because I can't understand what you just did! You said you were not ready to commit until after 6 months when we would be done with our final exams and now I come into the class and seeing you marking Vynessa?"

Odessa asked with her blue eyes filled with tears threatening to fall. She pinched her skirt to stop her from crying. It would mean more than that.

"It's not what you think, Odessa. I had to, unlike you humans who have a strong level of freewill, for us we have to do what is right early or live with the consequences. Moreover, she is my mate."

Luca affirmed as if trying to convince himself. As her eyes searched for answers, he was feeling that strange pull again towards her; his heart was burning with passion for her and his senses were raging mad. He couldn't explain it to anyone that his wolf nature was always ignited whenever he was this close to this human because they would find it silly and conclude that he was just in love. Yes, he was in love with her but his tongue has been locked in for years.

"Mate? Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

Odessa scoffed as she pushed her head back to drive back her tears. He was spurning all sort of passion inside of her and insides were on passion fire both out of anger and lust.

"I don't know but I thought you would be here to support me as my friend!"

Luca thumped still trying to lay hold of his feral instincts. He never wanted to use them on her. Moreover, he never had to because it was always a natural strong pull between them. "Friend? Nice, I'm happy for you my friend." Odessa scoffed as she walked briskly out on him. His legs made to run after her when he heard Vynessa's voice. She had been watching. "Luca!"

Her voice held him back even as he watched a piece of him disappear into the school hall way. ***

Odessa held on to the bathroom sink as her body attempted to control her pain. It was a strange feeling for her to fathom. Her head was spiraling with questions like; why am I so angry? Who does he think he is? Am I the fool now? But we kissed I thought it meant something? She couldn't step out of the toilet even if she attempted to, she would be making a mess of herself because of how terrible her tears have made her face appear.

"Hello, Whitney. Please can you come meet me in the rest room?"

She requested as she dropped her cell phone. "Hey, what happened?"

Whitney asked like a concerned guardian. She looked like an angel even as she came to Odessa's aid. Her curly blonde hair fell over her pale shoulders. Her pale skin had grown with Whitney over the years and despite the taunts of everyone that she looked like a dead fellow, she never lost her shine. Odessa had helped her severally with the stupid ideas to tan her skin but like butter under heat, it always fell apart. "Luca marked Vynessa!"

She found herself yelling repeatedly as she hit the ceramic washing basin. It was suffocating her to think about it again. Whitney's face fell in sad wits although she heard the news already from her class; she thought probably Odessa would handle it better. She longed to see her best friend after hearing the news but the burdens of the lecturer in class made it difficult for her to leave. With Odessa's call that was her cue that it was disaster o'clock. She wrapped her hands around Odessa's fidgeting body. "I'm sorry baby. He doesn't deserve you!" Whitney continued reiterating as she patted Odessa's sobbing shoulders. She was too fragile for how hard the system was going to break her and a big name like Luca Tharros was definitely going to push her under the water for long.

"We kissed last summer and I thought it meant something to him but I guess not."

Odessa expressed between sobs attempting to gain composure.

"Men are useless, I tell you that all the time. Ladies deserve better those species."

Whitney said in her familiar sarcastic tone which sparked a bit of smile in Odessa's countenance. "I guess you are right."

Odessa scoffed raising herself from the toilet seat with Whitney's hands arranging her scattered hair.

"You look terrible, I'm grateful I came with my make up bag."

Whitney's hand continued to fix Odessa's hair into a perfect ponytail with her usual fringes. She had one of the most amazing body and face not only because of how she looked but also the way in which she carried herself all over Moonstone academy. The only friends she had was Whitney and Luca, mainly because she was reserved and careful with her feelings.

"Thank you, Whitney."

"It's alright, we could skip school today. Ursaria's favorite artiste is visiting Moonstone!" She squeaked.

"I wish I can. I'm not in the mood, Whitney." "Come on, don't let a silly alpha heir change your mood like this." Whitney complained.

"One that I'm in love with!"

Odessa expressed even as her heart throbbed as if to say you are right!

"Let me guess, you are in love with my brother?"

A strange wispy voice spanned from the other toilet as she revealed herself. It was Zoe. She had the same powerful aura and scent of her brother. Her arrogance was topnotch and just like Vynessa, Zoe was a mini devil.

"That's not your business, Zoe. She wasn't speaking to you."

Whitney's shaky defense was employed instinctively, she knew the implication of not countering Zoe, and she possessed the power to ruin Odessa's feelings and reputation in school.

"I wasn't talking to you, cadaver! This is a conversation among the living."

Zoe shunned Whitney almost immediately, shifting her gaze back to Odessa.

"Zoe please, don't do anything stupid."

Odessa begged with pleading eyes. She could literally feel the burning excitement in Zoe to taunt her with it and destroy her with her pain staking words. It meant nothing to her, for all it was worth; she hated Odessa since preschool ever since she won the ideal girl award, which made Odessa the most sought after girl in the whole academy. The rage grew even as they advanced in age, when she would top her class continually making herself a model for young Zoe, then Luca's keenness to Odessa and his constant appraisal of her was killing her daily. She would have given anything to watch Odessa burn in hell and for the first time spotting a weak spot appeared to be something she was willing to take advantage of and drag her in the mud. It would mean the world to her.

"Stupid? I'm not the one who is crying like a lost puppy because my 'friend' found his mate." "Watch it, Zoe!" Whitney hushed her. She was losing her cool and all she wanted was to pin the little brat on the concrete wall and dismantle her face for some seconds before letting her go. "Again, I'm not talking to you cadaver!"

She yelled with a strange arrogance causing Whitney to bolt in her direction with all shades of fury. She wanted to tear her apart but Odessa stood in the middle as a body shield.

"Leave her alone let her come. I've developed my senses and my claws would love to dig into your face. I don't even know what is wrong with all of you silly humans, just because Moonstone academy chose to merge us together, you seem to have forgotten your place as preys to the mighty."

She scorned as she examined her claws as they slowly tore out from her fingers. It was her own means of showing the girls that she wasn't bluffing.

"What do you want Zoe?"

Odessa asked in retreat. Her eyes were filled with tears again but this time they were washing down her flushed face.

"Nothing, puppy. I have you on record along with your embarrassing sobbing voice, everyone is just going to know that the almighty Odessa Atlas is so hell bent on snatching another lady's mate and she is so shame less about it!"

Zoe flaunted with an evil smirk. Her stomach was back flipping out of excitement, she would crush Odessa. It gave her joy.

"You would do no such thing Zoe!"

The husky and drowning voice of Luca echoed in the bathroom. What was he doing there? How did he even get in?

"Give me the phone now!" Luca ordered.

Luca paced restlessly even as the psychology lecturer was talking. His wet eyes were glued to the door of the classroom. Odessa wasn't back yet and his heart raced as he thought of anything negative happening to her. He activated his deep senses which were against the academy rules which read

"no use of powers in school premises under any circumstance."

He needed to find her but even with his smelling sense at its peak, he couldn't pick her scent.

"Excuse me, ma. Please can I use the bathroom?"

He asked Mrs. Ella. She curved her eyebrows before nodding for him to go. He rushed down the hallway desperately searching for her soothing smell. With every second that he scoured for her in futility, his heart raced faster like one engaging in a duel. He stopped by the toilet in the second floor where he could hear voices. He couldn't catch even the faintest scent which he found unsettling, even if it wasn't Odessa's the fact that people were inside the toilet, he should be able to pick up their scent except someone was blocking him. It magnified his vain fright, so he crept up to the entrance. Lectures were ongoing hence the hallway was hushed and his ears rested on the wall listening to the chaos happening. He knew Odessa's voice and as soon as he picked it, he was certain that his suspicions were right. Someone was blocking him from catching their scent. Apart from Odessa's voice, the other one he could detect even from a weak sigh was Zoe; she was the one blocking him, probably because she wanted to engage one of her mischievous feats. He waited till he heard Odessa's distress call and he sprung to action.

"Give me the phone now!"

He ordered.

"What are you doing in the ladies room, Luca?" Zoe cried. Odessa's eyes fell on him like a weary puppy that was grateful its mother showed up just in time. Her heart pounced in anger even from seeing him but she was glad he came.

"I didn't stutter, pass me the phone Zoe."

He echoed again. He was been consumed with vain anger like a mother hen would shield her frail chick but Zoe was his sister and he couldn't do much differently. "I'm not giving it, big brother. It's not your call to make!" Zoe stumped as she brushed past him. She fidgeted inside but held her head high. She was going to make a mockery out of Odessa and nothing was going to hinder it. Luca felt his hands shiver, he was pissed and with every second that the mild sobs of Odessa reached his ears, his anger was ignited. His wolf ravaging mad and with the bolt of speed, he reached back for Zoe with an unmatched velocity, pinning her to bathroom wall. The loud gasps from both Whitney and Odessa brought back his senses. Zoe struggled for breath, Luca grip was unyielding and all Zoe's attempt to unwrap herself was futile. His thumbs flicked the phone from Zoe's grip, he swiftly opened it and deleted the audio and video she recorded. "You are choking me, Luca." Zoe coughed.

"Let her go, Luca. You would hurt her."

Odessa cried as her hands tugged at his shirt. His eyes caught hers and like a man hypnotized, he yielded. He wanted to let Zoe go but after giving her an earful but he let it go mainly because he couldn't resist Odessa's plea.

"You need to grow up, Zoe!"

He scoffed as he let her down. "And you need to be a better brother!"

Zoe thumped as she barged out of the toilet boiling with rage. She wasn't done yet.

"Thank you for coming but we were already handling it."

Odessa pouted.

"Handling? No one can handle, Zoe."

Luca responded with keen eyes. She was stubborn and even their parents let her have her way whenever she persisted.

"Anyway, Odessa please can we talk."

"We do not want to talk to you, moreover this is the ladies convenience better leave before others see you, you may never recover from that."

Whitney chirped in as she pulled Odessa with her. She wasn't sure why she didn't want Luca to speak to Odessa but it was her own way of protecting her friend from a futile attempt. Zoe was one but Vynessa was a whole legion.

***

"Did you see the video I sent to you?"

Zoe inquired looking impatiently to be sure that Vynessa received the sent file. It was her last hope. Vynessa hastily opened her phone and downloaded the videos. The content amazed her and her face expressed her utter bewilderment.

"How did you get this?"

Vynessa asked with a hushed voice with her stomach cringing from both excitement and anger. She knew Odessa had a soft spot for Luca and despite his constant affirmation that they were harmless acquaintances, she never bought it. "Doesn't matter, what do you think we should do with this? It's enough to bring her down and probably keep as a receipt for blackmail or something,"

Vynessa lips curled backwards. She nursed a sinister idea and wasn't sure Zoe would support of it.

"Yeah, you are right. The human has a lot of guts I must say. Luca has marked me as his mate and even if she floods Moonstone with her tears it won't change providence."

Vynessa expressed. A part of her felt defeated because she knows she doesn't have Luca's whole attention. She studied how his countenance changed when Odessa received the news but it wasn't something that she couldn't fix.

"Anyway, thank you for this Zoe. I'm so grateful that you have my back, we would be lovely sisters. I feel it deep in my wolf." "You are welcome; just don't let her win this time." Zoe smirked as she walked out.

***

The next day saw the biggest buzz not just at Moonstone academy but the whole capital city. Zoe's video had been posted on Moonstone blog at midnight and the whole city happened to be buzzing around the news. The Atlas' and Tharros' were one of the two greatest families in Moonstone. The hall way was lined in several clusters all watching the video over and over again. Several edits have been made to Odessa's voice hence creating a trend for it. The headlines of several blogs were bleeding the Atlas and Tharros family. The Heir wants more, Rich and Needy Atlas, Desperate lover, A one-sided affair, The wolf's whore, human and wolf mix, and other drowning headlines just to catch hungry readers. Rowan pulled up in the parking lot of the academy and signaled Odessa to hop down. She was oblivious to the online buzz that had turned moonstone upside down. The business of combing the internet had never been a hobby for her seeing that she kept herself busy with several humanitarian duties like planning for her donation to the pets, addressing humans in Rehab, the orphanage her father founded and also her academics. Her quiet life had been a cause of envy because it had a way of drawing people to absolute awe. Unlike other children of high estate, Odessa had no pleasure in the popular elite culture of partying and feeding the blogs with juicy gossips. It was her first time ever on the blogs for a controversial topic and she was still oblivious to it. She stepped out and noticed the wispy stares and voices that twirled past her; the way some went as far as pointing her as she walked through the school scanner, Elvis the school guard was also staring at her with what looked like pity. Odessa's eyes were beginning to water and her body was getting cold from fright. What was happening? She could feel the hot stares on her, the hall way had one loud voice of whisper from the young grade one students to the grade 8 finalists, all had their eyes on her and she couldn't pick but she could hear their loud whispers.

"She is the one, Oh she looks too beautiful, I pity her", "looks so harmless"... some youngsters went as far as laughing at her face.

"Odessa!"

Whitney shouted from behind. She turned to meet Whitney running up to her breathlessly. "Whitney what is going? Everyone is acting odd, even you came early to school today."

She cried still holding down her school skirt.

"Nothing, let's go outside."

Whitney insisted. Her own gaze was falling as she tried to hold back her tears. It would kill Odessa to find out that her most vulnerable moment have been publicized and mocked by the world.

"No! Not until you tell me what is going on!"

"I promise, I would tell you when we get out of here." Whitney urged as she escorted Odessa back outside. The crowd gathering to get a glimpse of Odessa had increased. Whitney's cold palms held tightly to Odessa's as she led her out. She stood by the car watching the clusters and their preying eyes on her as she opened her cell phone to also understand the buzz. Whitney was talking with Rowan to take them back home while Odessa's eyes caught the first blog post. She watched as the video replayed the confession of her feelings for Luca. How her hair was in a mess and her face washed with tears. Her fingers trembled even as she dared to open to the comment section.

"Stupid rich human, psycho bitch, he already has a mate how desperate can you be?"

"These humans continue to act stupid; she looks like a haggard witch, see her hair", "Odessa Atlas desperate for a mate"... As her eyes continued to search for solace in the comment, her vision was getting blurry and hazy. Her lids were becoming too heavy for her to lift; she felt the ground lifted even as her head continued to bang the echoes of the comments, the noise around was becoming distant and her body lost its balance as she hit the tarred road in an unconscious mist.

"Odessa! Odessa! Odessa!"

"Can you hear me? Open your eyes!"

Luca woke up to the leaked video flying all over his timeline. His fears were not for himself as he buckled up to get to school before Odessa. He knew she would not check her phone and was scared that the effect may hit her hard. He replayed the scene in his head over and over. His anger burned deep within him but he suppressed it. Zoe and her constant youthful frivolities always earned the Tharros's a spot in every blog's post but not Odessa. Apart from Mr. Atlas's daily contracts and business prowess, nothing about their family got out.

She was his only child and she was a quiet one hence, there was no smoke about them. Although blogs itched for a gossip, Odessa never gave them any.

"Axel, have you seen Odessa?"

He inquired as he touched down the school environ. Everyone was digging into their phone and glaring at him but he didn't mind. He just wanted to see her and apologize.

"I thought you said you handled it, so what happened?"

Axel asked as he struggled to match Luca's walking pace.

"If I know that, we won't be here. Just try to pick her scent."

Luca ordered as his eyes scurried past the busy path of students. He caught her scent but it was faint.

"There she is!"

Axel shouted with vigor pointing to Whitney who happened to be pulling her outside. Luca increased his speed but met a major road block. "Let her be!"

The voice ordered. His broad shoulders and his brown hair which rested on him gave his height an amplified effect. It was Xandros, Odessa's personal bodyguard. His aquiline nose and daring facials made him the dream of all the girls he ever encountered. He was also not very jovial but he was obsessed with his duty of protecting Odessa, even Luca knew that.

"I just want to be sure she is fine."

"She is fine!"

Xandros stumped with a straight face, he was trying very hard to hold his rage in and not let them find expression on the face of the one who caused Odessa pain. Luca raised his hands in retreat even as she watched her collapse to the ground and Xandros moving with the bolt of lightning to help her up.

***

The Tharros mansion appeared more like a castle because of the Alpha's obsession with history. He didn't want the modernization of the capital city to rob him of his place and position as a werewolf.

"How can you possess so much vile and wickedness?"

Luca raged as he stormed into Lyra's chambers, where Zoe was hiding all day. He pushed hanger of clothes by the side in a fit of rage causing a mild commotion of both sounds and clothes. "Luca, I don't know what this is about but you won't come in here and destroy things in my space!"

Lyra ordered as she stood firmly in front of scared Zoe, shielding her from Luca's rage.

"I swear by my wolf, I did not post that video, Luca!"

Zoe cried behind Lyra.

"You still have the guts to lie to my face? What do you take me for?"

Luca asked with his palms burning with rage. Zoe was filled with petty mischief but he had no idea that it was going to escalate like that. "Luca, at least listen to her, if she said she didn't do it, then she didn't."

Lyra chirped in.

"That's a lie Lyra, she made that video herself and posted it. I thought all you were doing was just petty mischief but you didn't even think of protecting my own image before you fed it to the hungry bloggers?"

Luca thumped with his hands shaking from anger, not only for Zoe but also at himself. If he didn't let himself be baited by his pride, all of that wouldn't have happened. He replayed Odessa's collapsing over and over and couldn't stop blaming himself.

"Zoe! Why didn't you tell me that part? And not in a bid to support Zoe's childish behavior but why are you so concerned with this girl if you already have a marked mate?"

Lyra asked with the same confusion written on all their faces.

"So because I have a mate, I should disregard my friend?"

"Friend? I hope you know what you are doing, little brother."

Lyra added. Luca's tongue glued to his pallet as he stormed out of Lyra's chambers, he was becoming too emotional.

***

"Vynessa, why did you post it?"

Zoe scolded Vynessa. As soon as Luca left Lyra's room, she was given an earful and a prompt remorse filled her heart. She didn't want to post it, she just longed to have something to threaten Odessa with and have her do her biddings. She was well aware that posting the video would mean also dragging her family's name in the mud.

"Lower your voice, someone may hear you!" Vynessa hushed Zoe pulling her from the ball room to her own chambers. She didn't want anyone to catch the breath of their conversation.

"Leave me alone! I sent you something, you should have at least asked for my permission before posting it for the world to see and make a joke out of my family."

Zoe lamented. She was attempting to hold it in to prevent her mouth from blowing off in anger. "Permission? That's a strange word for Vynessa Kaiser."

Vynessa scorned letting her white hair fall over shoulders. Her beautiful white hair happens to be one of the few things that made the whole academy rate her special. It was her mark from the lunar queen, a mark that made her special and elevated.

"I know that now!"

Zoe scoffed in apparent anger.

"Anyway, I am sorry that things turned out that way. I didn't mean to drag your family in this stench. I just did it for our common interest." "And what is that?"

"Our hatred for Odessa Atlas, I wanted her to burn in the flames of the scandal and from what I gathered she got properly burnt."

Vynessa affirmed with a sinister smile patting herself for Odessa's fall. Zoe caught on too as they both wallowed in their quick victory.

"I loved that but I hate that the flames drew my family in."

She smirked

"And for that I apologize."

Vynessa confessed with a fake bow. She cajoled Zoe with her talks of pulling Odessa down as they both celebrated their victory.

"Goodnight, Zoe. See you in school!"

Vynessa waved as she locked the door behind her.

"I never knew I raised a shallow fool for a daughter"

The commanding full-bodied voice echoed from the ball room. It was Alpha Kaiser.

"Father, good evening. It was just Zoe, Alpha Tharros's daughter."

Vynessa prostrated as her body shook in fear. Alpha Kaiser was an authoritative figure and treated Vynessa the same way hence contributing to her sinister desperation. "I know that and I heard all my foolish daughter did to elevate the status of a frail human." He resounded.

"No, dad. I pulled her down."

"All the more reason, I called you a shallow fool. You already have the heir to yourself instead of keeping his attention solely on you, you decide to elevate the human and shine his piteous attention to her."

"I'm sorry, dad."

"The alliance between you and Tharros's heir must not be broken and not certainly because of your foolishness. Get out of my sight!"

He ordered with his profound baritone, sending shivers of fear all over Vynessa.

***

"Thank you so much doctor Ryan for coming on such short notice. I would send my token of appreciation later."

Ethan enunciated with assurance.

"It's ok. Odessa is like a daughter to me and I will try to be there for her."

Doctor Ryan voiced with a spike of affection. "And Ethan remember what I told you the last time I was here; her heart palpitating and you know why."

The doctor added with a lower tone. Ethan breath slowed down as he tried to find answers for the doctor.

"You gave me two options and I'm trying to keep up with the second which is to keep my daughter from any emotional rollercoaster or shock. Odessa lives a quiet life which makes it easier for me to keep her from things like that. What happened today was just an unfortunate event, it won't happen again."

Ethan pronounced as if pleading with Doctor Ryan not to do the first.

"If you say so, then I'll take your word for it. I will be leaving now; she should be up any moment from now."

Doctor Ryan reaffirmed as he moved out of Odessa's room briskly. He was their family doctor and friend ever since Ethan moved to Moonstone bay. He was the only one Ethan allowed to treat him, his daughter or any member of his household.

"Daddy..."

Odessa muffled voice rose from her sleep. Ethan rushed at her to help her up. He placed her head on his thighs and watched her pale lips curve a smile. He dismissed everyone when the doctor arrived and he was happy he did. He wanted to have his father-daughter moment with her.

"My princess, how are you feeling?"

He asked.

"Dizzy, daddy. I didn't mean to scare you or anyone else."

Odessa muttered softly.

"It's fine. I saw the buzz on the blogs, it was enough to sink a cargo ship. I'm sorry you had to go through all that."

"Was I wrong, dad?"

"Wrong about what?"

Ethan inquired.

"About my feelings, about expressing them, about trusting Luca?"

Odessa asked with her eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall.

"No you were not. You were true to your feelings and I'm proud of you."

He affirmed as he patted her shoulders. She was all he had after her mother's death. She was all he was living for and he would do anything to give her the best of life.

"So what went wrong?"

"Baby, sometimes we can control our emotions but not that of others. Sometimes society, life anther external forces shape our choices; in all, we are just victims of the system."

"What system?"

Odessa asked inquisitively. Ethan scoffed at her ignorance. He knew she was going to find out.

"I think you should rest now, Elara will bring some milk for you to rest and refuel."

"Dad, please be honest with me!" Odessa insisted.

"You are human, he is a werewolf, no matter what the damn constitution of Ursaria says, there would still be restrictions."

"What restrictions?"

Elara's swift barging into the room interrupted their conversation. She was panting, Ethan knew something was wrong.

"What is it, Elara?"

Ethan asked impatiently as he rose to his feet. "Alpha Tharros is here!"

"What?"

"He's in your study!"

Elara reported.

"Stay with Odessa, I'll be back!"

He kissed Odessa and stormed out. He walked briskly with so much vigor and strength into his study.

"What are you doing here, Maximus?"

Ethan questioned with bloodshot eyes. It had been years since they stood in the same space. "It's been a while anyone called me by my first name. I just came to see an old friend."

Tharros affirmed with a wry smile. Ethan could hear the mockery in his voice, he had ulterior motives.

"Oh snap out of it! Why are you really here?" Ethan probed, provoking a sinister smile from Tharros.

"I'm sorry for what happened on the blogs today but don't you think this is providence bringing us back side by side?"

Tharros asked.

"Nonsense! If you don't have anything to say, just leave. The door is opened, you can get out anytime."

Ethan scoffed as he turned to leave.

"How much longer would you seal this secret from her, Ethan?"

Tharros interrogated with a seemingly raised voice causing Ethan to be triggered. He rushed at Tharros pinning him to wall of the study with his hands clawing at his neck.

"You would keep my family business out of your mouth, you bastard!"

Ethan whispered in his ears with his whole body raging from inside out. It was the secret that he would die protecting.