Chapter 4 Four

• CHAPTER
• FOUR
• I wake up feeling less sorry for
• myself. I do not know why I am smiling. My stomach rumbles rather loudly.
• I put on one of my tight black
• high-waist jeans, a yellow crop top, and I decide to let my hair down. I smile
• at my reflection in the mirror, and I run downstairs to meet my mum.
• “I am so hungry,” I whine as I
• approach the dining table.
• “Good morning to you too”, my mom
• teases, smiling. “Someone is happy today”.
• “Yes”, I say, and she dishes my
• breakfast.
• I thank her and don’t waste time
• digging into my food.
• I finish up, kiss her, and leave for
• school.
• When I get to school, I see Jordan and
• try as much as possible to ignore him. I haven’t accepted his rejection yet,
• but my mom says I have got to.
• “Students, move to the hall”, I hear
• the principal’s voice, and all students walk briskly into the hall. Nobody
• wants to disobey someone like Don Richardo.
• “What the fuck”, I mutter when I get
• to the hall. Everybody s already seated, and a tall man dressed in black with
• broad shoulders is already addressing everyone. The smell of fresh wood lingers
• in the air.
• “I am so so sorry”, I apologize
• quickly, find a seat and sit down. He doesn’t say a word and the principal nods.
• I pray silently that I will not be penalized for my late coming. Don Richardo
• leaves after addressing everyone.
• “You may all leave”, the principal
• says, and I stand up.
• “Nala Price, report to my office now”,
• he demands, and I begin to shiver with fear. I have a bad feeling about this.
• My best friends surround me.
• “I am dead, guys”. I say, and tears
• cascade down my pale face.
• “Don’t cry,” Keeran reassures me, and
• I nod.
• “Tell my mom I love her”
• “Don’t talk like that. You will come
• back, okay?”, they all scold me, but I can see the uncertainty in their eyes. I
• leave them for the principal’s office, and every student in the hallway gives
• me a worried look.
• Everyone knows it. I know it. I would
• be punished.
• I enter the principal’s office, my
• hands visibly shaking.
• “Good morning sir.” I greet and bow my
• head in a bid to hide my face.
• “Have a seat”, he says, and I perch on
• the seat closest to me, afraid to even move.
• “Miss Price, Mr. Richardo would like
• you to go with him”, he says, without mincing words.
• “Why? Please, I am sorry.” Tears fall
• quickly down my face, and at this point, I don’t even care.
• “Miss Price……” his voice fades into
• the background, as I perceive an amazing smell, pleasant to my nostrils. I feel
• my Wolf jump inside me, and I am about to turn to see the one who smelled so
• good when I feel someone grab me and inhale my scent.
• “Mine,” a voice whispers hungrily. I
• close my eyes in fear.
• Slowly, I open my eyes.
• And I see him.
• With terror, I quickly realize that
• Don Richardo is my other mate, and he is so scary.
• Oh shit!
• I quickly get off my seat and try to
• run, but he yanks me back to my former position, beside him.
• “You are coming with me,” he says, as
• he pulls me through the hallway. All the students stare at me, and my friends
• stand there helplessly. Don Richardo pushes me into his car and drives really
• fast.
• “I want to see my mum,” I whisper,
• afraid he is going to torture me or at worst, kill me.
• He suddenly stops and turns the car
• back. I honestly don’t know how he knows my address, but he stops right in
• front of my house. I run inside, and he just walks at his own pace.
• Calm. Unperturbed. Unmoved.
• “Mummy!” I shout as loud as I can, and
• she immediately comes to where I am standing. I hug her tight.
• “What’s wrong, baby?”
• “Mum….Mum…He..” I stutter, pointing
• outside.
• “What is it, baby? Talk to me”, she
• demands, already worried. She however bows her head as soon as Don enters the
• house.
• “I’m sorry sir,” she says, keeping her
• head low.
• “Mummy, he wants to take me. Please do
• something!”  I plead, pulling her, but
• she doesn’t say a word, neither does she look up. I turn to him, and he gives
• me a captivating smile.
• “You may look up”, he says, and my mom
• raises her head.
• “Sir, what brings you here?” she asks,
• fearing the worst.
• “I am taking your daughter, and she
• insisted on seeing you” he explains.
• “Mom, help me”, I say, sobbing and
• holding tightly onto her.
• She hugs me back and whispers in my
• ears, “I’m sorry baby. I can’t do anything. Just make sure you obey him at all
• times. Never disobey him”. I nod.
• Don stands up, and I follow, giving my
• mother one last glance. I see her wipe her tears. I am disappointed, why can’t
• she fight for me? Why did she give me up so easily?.
• In the car, I am quiet, making sure
• not to touch anything, as I do not want to be shouted at, or beaten.