It was just like any ordinary trinket at first glance, but with a closer look, Camelia noticed it. Three small teeth, shaped perfectly.
Her fingers tightened around the bracelet, tracing the intricate markings on each tooth. She couldn't be sure if the teeth were human or animal because of their shape. They had probably been hand-shaped because of how they were used.
She made her way to her room, still staring at the bracelet with curiosity. She thought it was strange for such a young girl to have something like this at all.
Reaching her room, she dropped the bracelet in her side drawer, deciding to toss it out later when she remembered.
She slipped out of her clothes and entered her bathroom. She took her sweet time bathing, lathering herself up in soap, letting the hot water wash her skin clean.
She missed this. Taking a hot bath was what she truly needed after everything.
After finishing, she stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her chest. She slipped into a white nightgown and sat on her bed, drying her hair with a towel, an opened book in one hand.
She looked deep in concentration, fully absorbed by the content of the book.
A knock came at the main door some hours later, disrupting her concentration. She frowned slightly as she took her eyes away from the book, glancing at the clock on her side drawer.
10:45 pm.
Dropping the book on her bed, Camelia stood up and went downstairs to answer the door. She opened it slightly and peeked out, seeing Dart, her face immediately lighting up.
"Hi," Dart waved at her.
"What are you doing here this late?" she asked as she opened the door to let him in.
"I wanted to see you," Dart said, his eyes looking everywhere else but her.
Camelia smiled, wanting to tease him.
"Why? Did you miss me that much?" she teased playfully.
"I was worried about you, and I thought you might need company," he said, locking eyes with her.
Observing his face with a calculative look, she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Did you have a fight with your dad again?" she asked.
When they were kids, Dart would usually run away from home and come here whenever he had any problem at all.
Dart scratched his neck nervously, the tips of his ears turning red when his eyes drifted down to her bosom.
"So what if I did?" he asked, immediately taking his eyes off her. "I know you're not going to chase me," he added confidently.
Camelia sighed at his remark.
"Come on." She waved at him to follow her, heading back to her room.
She immediately got back on the bed, picking up her book again.
When she noticed that Dart wasn't making any move to climb onto the bed, she raised her head to glance at him.
"Are you just going to stand there all night?" she asked, raising a brow.
They always slept on her bed whenever he was here for a sleepover. But this time, Dart was hesitating to get into the bed like it could kill him.
"I think I'll sleep on the floor," Dart announced.
He strode over to her wardrobe to retrieve a blanket without waiting for her reply.
Surprised by his action, Camelia sat up.
"Why?" she asked, confused.
"Because we're adults," he said, taking one pillow from the bed.
"We can't sleep on the same bed, not with you…" his eyes roamed through her body briefly.
The nightgown she had on was plain and simple, stopping just above her knees, but he could clearly make out the shape of her curves under it.
"Looking like that," he said, completing his statement.
Camelia's eyes widened slightly. She looked down at the nightgown she had on. It wasn't revealing at all.
But maybe he was right. She hadn't given it much thought before, maybe because she had always seen him as the little boy who approached her in her backyard on one rainy day, becoming her best friend.
"Good night," Dart said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
He was already lying down.
"Good night," she said back softly.
Closing the book in her hand, she set it aside and reduced the side lamp instead of turning it off. Dart didn't like sleeping in a completely dark room, hence her action.
The room fell into complete silence. Camelia closed her eyes, waiting to fall asleep.
"Cami," Dart called, his voice low.
It was the nickname he always called her, just like the one she always called him.
"Hmm?" Camelia answered softly, turning to her side, her face facing the direction where he was lying.
"Have you thought about trying to find your mate?" he asked.
Camelia stilled.
Him asking her that particular question was unexpected.
"I haven't given it much thought, but I hope if I do find him by any luck, he's from a completely different pack," she replied quietly.
"Hm, I see," Dart said simply.
Her wolf had mentioned that she had already met her mate. She wondered who it might be. She didn't interact with any other male wolves besides Dart, and she knew he couldn't be her mate.
At that moment, her mind drifted to Ian.
She wasn't sure about her future mate, but she was sure of one thing. She was in love with that vampire, and that was all that mattered.
....
Spoilt, bratty, bitchy, entitled…
The words could go on and on describing the kind of person Sophie Thorne was.
Born with Alpha blood, she couldn't help but see every other girl as cockroaches.
Mere insects meant to grovel at her feet and worship her like a goddess, so she couldn't tolerate it if someone stood up to her.
No, she wouldn't even let it happen.
"Let go of me, Sophie, please," an almost crying girl begged as she was dragged by the wrist by Sophie.
Sophie dragged the girl into her room, ignoring her pleas as she shoved her to the floor and shut the door.
The girl's face turned to horror when she saw the closed door. She immediately got on her knees.
"I didn't sleep with him. I swear," she said, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes.
Just the previous day, Sophie's ex-boyfriend who had been away studying finally came back. The girl quickly discovered he was her mate after seeing him from a distance. She had been foolish enough to confide in Sophie about it.
But Sophie's advice, or rather order, was for her to reject him. The girl tried her best to avoid him the rest of the day, but as fate would have it, he was her neighbor, and it didn't take him long to finally notice her.
"Oh really…" Sophie said, clapping slowly. "Wow, I didn't know you were such a slut and apparently a liar too."
"No, I didn't—"
The girl's explanation was cut short as Sophie slapped her hard across the face. Her cheek instantly turned red, her face snapping to the side.
Her hand flew up to her struck cheek.
"What do you take me for, you cunt?" Sophie snarled at her.
"But he's my mate," the girl said, her voice breaking.
Sophie snickered, bending down to the girl's level.
"He was mine, and I don't bloody care if he's your mate, you're not having him," she declared, finality in her voice.
"And also, you don't want to make me use unconventional methods. Because trust me, I can make you disappear just like my mother made old little Mrs. Bishop disappear—"
"You can't decide that," the girl muttered lowly, cutting her off.
"What?"
"I said you can't decide what happens in my life," she repeated. "What do you think gives you the right to walk over other people, you entitled, condescending bitch!" she yelled.
Sophie gasped, her face twisting with rage. She raised her hand to slap the girl again, but someone caught her wrist this time.
Her eyes widened when she turned and saw Dart standing there.
"Leave," Dart ordered calmly.
The girl immediately stood up and ran out of the room without glancing back.
Now left alone with his little sister, Dart's face darkened dangerously.
"What did you just say about Mrs. Bishop?"