CHAPTER 70: TOO CLOSE TO HIM

Theo stared at him, her heart racing. His eyes were too intense, and his heartbeat was violent and chaotic.

Like her presence was something he was fighting.

Her expression twisted, "Actually," she whispered, "Yes. It does,"

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

She continued before he could speak, "It feels like... resentment. Like my existence grates on you. Like you despise that I even breathe the same air as you,"

His jaw ticked.

"And why wouldn’t you?" Theo added, her voice low and bitter, "Every time you look at me, you look like you’re trying to swallow something down. Like being around me irritates you to your core,"

Zeke’s fingers tightened around her wrist, not painfully, but with a tension that vibrated straight through her bones.

He didn’t deny it.

He didn’t step back.

And...he didn’t correct her.

He leaned in further, his forehead almost touching hers. His voice dropped to a harsh whisper as he tore the words out, "...Fine. Think that," His voice was a frustrated whisper, "Maybe you’re right,"

Theo froze.

Her chest tightened with the confirmation of her own logic, and the hurt in her amplified.

Zeke’s breathing was uneven, like he was holding back words, or instincts, or something far worse than anger.

"You irritate the hell out of me," he ground out, every word laced with pure emotion, "You stir up things I don’t want stirred. You make me..." His voice broke off as if he was swallowing glass. "...feel things I don’t understand,"

He released her wrist abruptly, as if the contact now burned him. Then he stepped back, but only an inch, still close enough to cage her in with the heat of his body.

"So if you think I resent you?" His eyes flicked down her face, his jaw tight, "If you think I despise how you get under my skin?" A harsh, humourless smirk carved itself onto his lips, "Then sure. Let’s go with that. It’s exactly how I feel,"

Theo blinked, stunned by how easily he accepted the worst version of what she said. This also led her to think that she might be right with her interpretation.

If so, why did he look so cornered? He wouldn’t even look at her eyes anymore.

She stood there, panting softly as he walked away. He strode up to his side of the room and threw on some clothes.

She took her eyes off them and used that opportunity to slip into the bathroom. Once she was behind the doors, she faced the mirror atop the sink and stared at her reflection.

What the hell just happened out there? She’s never seen that look in Zeke’s eyes before, especially when she had said he loathed her. Or did she misinterpret him just now?

It was all too much for her. She had barely recovered from the match, and the attack from the second-years, almost getting caught by Aurelius and now...this?

As she walked into the shower, she could feel the fur retracting into her skin, and when she stood under the warm water, she he was naked again.

She closed her eyes, letting the water wash away the blood.

If only it could wash away the pain, too.

*You good?* Seraphina whispered.

Theo sighed, *I feel bad. I’m sorry for yelling at you like that. You were right. If you hadn’t intervened, that weapon would have killed me. Eric would have...* Her chest squeezed and she couldn’t complete her words.

*It’s fine. You’re in love with him. I get it* There was a pause, *Eric’s actions aren’t justified in any way. He said the second years put him up to this, and it makes no sense either. Even if he isn’t the heir, he’s still Cain’s son. No one would mess with him like that. Personally, I think he’s lying*

*So my Best friend of ten years tried to kill me? There has to be some other explanation*

*I don’t think you should bank on that, Theo. Let’s face it, ever since you arrived at Gravemont, Eric’s been acting different. It feels like he’s protecting you, but at the same time, it’s like he’s just trying to protect himself. In the past, you guys only met when he and his dad came to visit. He’s the only person who’s been nice to you, your sprinkle of faith that life isn’t so bad, and you developed feelings for him. You guys talk and laugh and share things, and it feels like a dream to you and him - or to you, only. And then, you step outside to the real world - and the real world exposed people’s true feelings, who they really are* Seraphina paused, allowing Theo to absorb all that information.

*So you’re saying Eric isn’t... Eric? He’s a totally different person than who I know him to be?*

*Maybe. Maybe not. I’m just telling you based on what I’ve observed with him so far. And you just need to be more careful around him now. Sometimes, you gotta push your feelings aside and face reality. Then, you’ll be able to tell your true friends from the fake ones,*

*Eric isn’t fake!* Theo was quick to defend him again, *And I’m sure he has a lot of...things going on with him, too.*

*Yeah, like the big mouth he has. Telling Finn about us. You shouldn’t have so much trust in him anymore. He’s given you several reasons not to!*

Theo was conflicted.

*I’ll try,*

She stepped out of the bathroom with a change of clothes, drying her hair with a towel.

Zeke was lying on his bed, the same irritation from earlier etched on his face. No, it looked even worse than before.

He glared at her as she sat on the bed, drying her hair. Every part of her itched uncomfortably from his glare, but she ignored it and continued what she was doing. She just needed it dry enough to stop dripping so she could leave the room to go and see Liam.

"What makes you particularly hate me so much?"

Theodora’s eyes widened in shock, and the first thing she did was wish she could smack her wolf in the head. Seraphina had literally spoken just now, using Theo’s voice.

The question only made Zeke glare even harder, "What?"

"Ignore the question," Theo spoke this time, trying to dismiss it.

Zeke sat up, and she knew he wasn’t gonna dismiss it.

"Don’t ignore it. Tell me exactly what I stir up inside of you," Theo’s lips moved again.

Theo almost went crazy, *Sera, are you insane?*

*No, I just love the drama. Plus, look at him. He’s so hot every goddamn time,*

Theo couldn’t agree more, but she still disagreed, *Whatever. Just stop speaking for me!*

"Ignore me," Theo said to Zeke flatly and spread the wet towel on her pillow, then stood up to leave.

As she walked past him, his arm shot out and grabbed hers tightly. Her heart skipped a beat, and she slowly looked down at where he held her, then up to his face.

He looked up at her, a smouldering intensity in his gaze, "What kind of things you stir up in me?" He repeated her question softly.

She answered, despite herself, "Yeah?"

"These are things you do NOT want to know," He replied, his dark gaze boring into her.

"What if I want to know?"

He paused, and his gaze turned even something she couldn’t even name. Something that felt like her soul was being ignited, "I don’t know how to say it," He uttered dangerously, then he yanked her arm forward and she fell next to him, her face suddenly took close - way too close, "How about I show you?"

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