CHAPTER 13 | I’ll Make Her Love Me, Then
The black Rolls Royce pulled over by the academy’s tall front gate. The name of the school was written in big, bold, black letters, signifying anyone who would read it that it was owned by the Nighthowlers – the family of the alphas who led the Nightshade pack for years.
Bella got off of the car and Axel followed her outside, holding Bella’s schoolbag. Meanwhile, Seth was approaching the tall gate, unaware that the two were there - together. He had been roaming around campus looking for Bella. Poor Seth would once again feel brokenhearted and betrayed by Bella if he would see her again with the same rogue.
“Call me,” Axel said as he snatched Bella’s phone from her hands and typed down his digits on her phonebook. “I’ll pick you up around four later, princess. Wait for me.” He smiled with his dimple popping and handed the phone back to Bella. She rolled her eyes upon seeing that Axel phoned his number under the name ‘Not A Prince, But Still Charming’.
“You call me,” Bella countered bossily as she motioned Axel to hand her his phone. Axel chuckled in amusement and handed his phone to her.
Unknowingly, Seth saw and heard them. He clutched his fists and went over from where the two stood.
“I’ll drive you home,” Seth suddenly said as he grabbed the phone from Bella’s hands and handed it back to Axel, startling Bella as he did so. Axel frowned at him, not liking him at first glance.
“Seth? What are you doing here?” Bella asked as soon as he saw him.
“I should be asking you that. What are you doing here?” Seth retorted, glancing at Axel austerely. “Class is almost starting and you’re here with this rogue. What’s your deal with him anyway? Do you even know he’s a son of a rebel? You shouldn’t be hanging out with such a bad influence.”
“How did you know that?” Bella frowned. “And who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I’m only looking out for you,” Seth replied and held her hand. “Let’s go.”
Bella pulled her hand away from his grasp. “I can walk on my own,” she said and walked inside the campus.
“Princess, wait!” Axel exclaimed and ran after her. Bella turned and faced him with a cold expression. “Your bag…” he said and he handed Bella her bag. He smiled at her reassuringly. “I’ll drive you home. I’ll pick you up later.”
“I’ll be waiting, then,” Bella said in a low voice and walked away.
Axel watched her back disappear into a two-story building, where her first class was. He walked back to where Seth stood and matched his glaring gaze. Seth’s eyes landed on the black French coat Axel was wearing. It was the exact same coat which Bella wore on their first date. His jaw clenched. His assumptions were all correct. It really wasn’t Bella’s coat, Seth thought. He wished he was wrong.
“I’ll be straightforward with you,” Seth began, keeping his voice calm, yet stern. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near my mate. Don’t make me do something you’ll regret. Leave our village and never return.”
“Your mate?” Axel repeated in disbelief and smiled sarcastically. “I heard a good news last night. That she rejected you.”
“You’ll regret saying that, rogue,” Seth snarled. His hands were once again curled into fists, unable to keep his temper at bay. “Bella is my mate, whether she agrees or not.”
“Don’t be nervous, I won’t steal her from you,” Axel replied calmly and smirked at Seth’s angry face. “After all, I can’t steal what’s already mine.”
Seth grabbed him by the collar, his burning brown eyes flaring with rage. “Stay away from Bella. You don’t know what I’m capable of. I can make you become slave if I say so.”
“Good luck with that, pal,” Axel smirked cockily and patted his back. “What my princess needs isn’t a pretentious prince anyway. She needs a slave, someone who can serve and treat her right. You don’t want to be a slave, do you? If becoming a prince means turning out to be like you, then, I don’t want to be one either.”
“You’re just after her wealth,” Seth hissed at him as he tightened his grip on Axel’s collar.
“Do you still not get it?” Axel pushed Seth away from him. “Bella is the wealth. I’m after her. I may just be a rogue in your eyes, but that doesn’t matter. Threaten me or whatnot, I don’t care. What matters to me is how Bella sees me.” Axel turned his back and went over to the car Bella lend him.
“She’ll never like you!” Seth exclaimed after him, his eyes filled with mockery.
Axel opened the car door and turned to look at Seth. “I’ll make her love me, then.”
He smirked at him, his eyes beaming with confidence as he entered the car. Seth could only glare at him, his ears red and eyebrows furrowed as he fumed with flaring madness. He gritted his teeth and his jaw clenched as he watched the black Rolls Royce disappear into the highway. Seth was enraged as he stomped his way back inside the campus. He was already late to class by the time he entered the classroom. The professor said nothing upon seeing Seth’s flaring eyes and fiery aura as he entered the room.
Seth sat on his seat and tried to calm down, but all he could remember was Axel’s arrogant smirk. He glanced at Bella who was just beside her in the middle row. She was already looking at him, her eyes cold, yet a glint of concern was there – enough to make Seth think that Bella cared for him. The sight of her somehow calmed his shivering nerves.
Meanwhile, as Axel drove down the road going to the boundary of Blackstone and Blue Creek village, he could not help but think of the words he said to Seth earlier. He could not just have said all those words out of anger, or out of pride. There was more to it, he thought, but what?
“No, no. I don’t like her, do I?” he said to himself in disbelief. “Do I? Sure, my pretty childhood friend grew up into a dazzling, beautiful lady that rarely smiles but when she does, she looks like the goddess of all goddesses. So what? I’m not one who falls for the looks. Because if I do, I would’ve fallen in love with my face a long time ago. Also, she’s so cold and sarcastic and short-tempered. Sure, I think that makes her interesting, but still.” He glanced at the mirror in front of him.
“Maybe,” he said, sighing in defeat, “just a little.”