Theo was struck.
Hard.
She thought no one had noticed, but so far, Finn had mentioned something about it. And now, Zeke too. She knew her crush on Eric was something so deep that she couldn't help but gaze at him subconsciously most of the time, but she had no idea that it was so obvious.
It hasn't been two days since she arrived here, and two people already know!
She tried not to give Zeke that satisfaction of seeing her panic from his words, but the few seconds she had spent silent, and probably, the stiffness of her shoulders had given her out.
Zeke's curl turned into a full smirk. He shook his head in amusement, "You finally shut up,"
Her hands fisted at her sides.
"Now, Hellcat, you're gonna do exactly as I say, or else..., Well, I'm just gonna have to destroy your little relationship with Eric. I wonder how awkward it would get for him when he realises you have a crush on him,"
Theo trembled slightly. This could ruin her friendship with Eric. Even though she's always wanted him to notice her, she also tried so hard all these years to hide it from him, especially now that she figured out he was gay.
Theo scoffed, "That could have been true, but unfortunately, I'm only attracted to women and unless Eric suddenly grew something I'm unaware of, then no, I could never have a crush on him,"
"That could be true," Zeke took a step toward her, eyes gleaming with a hidden agenda, "But the fact is you're gay, like a few other guys around here. And you are deeply in love with Eric Pendragon. Would you like me to prove it?"
Prove it? How would he prove it? "There's nothing to prove, because nothing is going on," She retorted.
Zeke stopped in front of her, "Oh, really?"
Theo stepped closer too, their chest brushing against each other. She had a cunning, flirty look in her eyes and her palm rose and rested on his chest,. the heat from him had her holding in gasps, "Yes, because why would I be gay for Eric...when there's something much hotter right in front of me,"
She watched his Adam's apple bob, and then he instantly withdrew as though he had been burnt.
Bingo! She almost smiled.
"What happened?" She smiled wickedly, "Scared of a little touch? I thought you were the only Alpha in this room and could do whatever you want,"
Zeke stared at her deeply and she couldn't tell what he was thinking this time. She could still feel his chest against her palm, and she subtly hid her hand behind her to hide as it trembled.
"You're an interesting person," Zeke remarked, "I'm going to have so much fun with you, Hellcat,"
"Don't call me that!" She snapped.
"Hellcat," He repeated leisurely, happy to watch her vex.
"You're infuriating," She turned around and tried to climb her bed, missing his smirk.
He was right behind her, gripping her arm. She gasped and whirled back to face him.
"What do you want?"
The look in his eyes had changed, and then, his gaze shifted to her chest for a few seconds. She knew he was staring at the pendant again, "Does...that piece of jewellery really belong to you? You didn't take it from a female relative or something?"
She eyed him, "Why do you care about it so much?"
"Because I have been...," His eyes burned and he looked conflicted with himself, "That can't be yours," He let go of her, "I refuse to believe it,"
"Then don't," she retorted and turned around to climb her bed
He suddenly seized her by the shoulder, forcing her body to turn around and lean forward. Theodora came slamming into that solid wall that made you his chest, and her hands flew up instinctively, pressing against his firm chest.
His eyes caught hers, a shadow in his eyes, "It better not be yours, Hellcat,"
She pushed against his chest, but she didn't even shake, "Or what?"
"Or you're my mate, Hellcat,"
Her eyes widened.
"And we both know we'd die a thousand times before we agree to be each other's mate. So for your own sake, return that pendant to whoever owns it, before I go feral and sink my teeth deep into your neck to the point where you will never recover. Got that, Hellcat?"
Her breath was heavy, "Let go of me,"
His grip hardened, "Don't tell me what to do,"
"Don't tell me what to do, either!" She bit her lips till she almost drew blood, "You have no right over me, nor what I wear. What's mine, is mine. So you can take your little...claim elsewhere, okay?"
"As long as that pendant remains around your neck, I can't!" He snarled.
"The pendant will remain on me, and you will!" She snarled back, "Moreover, what do you want people to think of you mark me, Huh? That we are really mates, or something? Or we are dating? Snap out of it, Zeke. This is Gravemont Academy, you'll face punishments far from what you've ever been through,"
Zeke wasn't moved at all, "Gravemont won't touch a strand of my hair,"
"If you dare to do anything to me, I'll be the one pulling out your hair, understand?" She thundered, then shoved him back, adding a bit of wolf so he actually stumbled back.
Zeke's jaw ticked. It's been a long time since someone stared into his eyes this long without looking away. He took a slow step forward, "You've already been cornered, Hellcat,"
"You think you can corner me, with your baseless threats?" She shoved her hands into her pockets, hiding her trembling fingers from sight again.
His lips twitched, "I don't think, I know,"
Her pulse jumped, seeing the look in his face turn into something darker, but she didn't relent, "Try it, then," She pushed.
Zeke's head tilted a bit, and his gaze dragged down her face, lingering between her lips and her throat a little too long before they found her eyes again, "You're too proud for your own good, Hellcat,"
"And you're too sure of yourself, you're too arrogant, too annoying. You're everything I hate,"
He chuckled, a low vibration that brought a funny feeling to her stomach. When he replied, there was a rougher edge to his voice, "Careful, Hellcat, you keep talking to me like that and I might start wanting to see how far that bite of yours goes,"
She froze. He smirked again, pleased with the look on her face.
"And you can keep pretending, Hellcat," He continued, "Pretend that you don't look at Eric like he hung your Moon,"
Her throat worked.
"But as long as that pendant remains on you, I'm gonna make sure that when you look at someone again, it won't be him that you see,"
Her breath hitched, and she didn't know when she took a step back, "You're insane!"
"Probably," He murmured, "But it doesn't change the fact that it has already started,"
She glared, "What has?"
He began backing away, and she almost bit her lips, trying to keep her eyes on him and not let them wander further. She could see his towel loosening around him, ready to slip off any moment, and Seraphina was such a perv. She wouldn't stop muttering crazy words that made Theo want to pull out her ears, and at the same time, want to actually walk over to Zeke and pull off the goddamned towel herself.
"You'll find out, Hellcat," There was a promise in his eyes.
Just then, the towel loosened and it was on the floor the next second.