I had my morning run with Finn and Roisin. It's been a while since we enjoyed such a carefree run, and I really savored it. Yet, it's been almost a month since I last saw that lady. I don't want to admit it, but I find myself wandering around the city, hoping to bump into her. But it's as if she's disappeared completely.

Brigit seems to sense that I'm feeling this way, though I haven't confessed it to her or even to myself. So, after the run, I decided to actively search for her. I tried to ignore these feelings, but I was only fooling myself.

With a deep sigh, I grabbed the shirt hanging from the hammock at the back of our place and headed inside.As I entered the house, I saw Rhyian and Brigit preparing our food in the kitchen.

"Hey, Alpha, good morning!" Brigit greeted me cheerfully. I must have given her a look that said I wasn't in the mood for small talk because she chuckled and walked over to embrace Finn instead. I didn't bother to respond and made my way to my room to take a shower.

My room is on the second floor, with a balcony overlooking the shore and the forest. It's nothing special—just a bed, a side table, a lamp, and a study desk. It's painted in royal blue and white, and the house sits on a cliff, surrounded by old trees that keep our home hidden from view. I stripped off my clothes and walked to the bathroom.

After adjusting the shower temperature, I glanced at myself in the mirror, checking if I needed to shave. There was no need just yet. I stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash away the sweat and fatigue from the run.

"Oh, are you guys ready for school?" Rhyian asked as she sat down next to Roisin. I glanced over at them while slipping on my helmet.

"I'll meet you on campus," I said, firing up my bike. With that, I sped off toward the university, eager to get there.

"Well, I guess he's made a decision," Finn remarked as he settled into the driver's seat of his car.

"Is it really?" Brigit asked, adjusting her hair and smiling at Finn in the rearview mirror.

"It must be hard to keep yourself together, knowing your mate is just around the corner, and you decided to snub her. Now you can't find her anywhere. Must be frustrating," Roisin said, glancing over to Rhyian while grinning.

"Well, let's hope we'll still see her around. We can't be sure yet, right?" Rhyian said, glancing around at her friends.

"You're right. Diarmid hasn't confirmed anything. Maybe it was just an infatuation. I remember he was annoyed when he first saw her. Maybe we misunderstood the situation," Brigit added.

"Let's see. Buckle up, everyone. Let's go," Finn said as he started the car.

I headed to my locker and stowed away my books and other essentials. As I was organizing my things, my phone buzzed with a notification. Probably Joshua—he and I have our first class together, and we'll need to catch up before the class start. After closing my locker, I decided to head to the bench outside to check the message.

It was from Joshua, letting me know that he and Leroy were on their way. I put my phone back into my bag and glanced around the campus. I saw a few of my classmates and waved at them before sitting down on the bench near the parking area.

The peaceful morning was suddenly interrupted by the loud roar of a motorbike. My heart skipped a beat as the distinctive sound reverberated through the air—this was the same bike I remembered from before.

A chill ran through me, my hands turning cold and clammy. I stood up and walked toward the noise, my steps quickening as I approached the parking lot.

There he was, clad in a sleek black helmet and a matching black jacket. The world seemed to narrow down to just him as I whispered,

"Jaimes..."

I heard her before I saw her.

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My jaw tightened at the sound of her uttering another guy's name. My gaze swept the area, searching for her. And there she was, just a few steps away, looking painfully beautiful in front of me. Her long dark hair framed her face, her soulful eyes catching the light. Every feature of hers was etched into my memory.

I bit my lip, struggling to keep my emotions in check. The urge to claim her, to mark her as mine, was almost overwhelming. I cursed silently, knowing I had been a fool to let her slip away the first time.

Straightening my back, I fought to control myself. I could feel my eyes shifting to a darker blue, the telltale sign of my inner turmoil. Taking a deep breath, I removed my helmet, revealing my face. I needed her to see me—me, not some shadowy figure. Her reaction, or lack thereof, made my jaw clench. The realization that she was so close yet so distant was almost unbearable.

I blinked rapidly, my mind racing to catch up with reality. The world seemed to spin for a moment, and I gasped, realizing how foolish I must have looked. My heart pounded as I staggered backwards, feeling the edge of the bench press against my back. Slowly, I sat down, trying to steady myself.

He was still there, his piercing gray eyes fixed on me. It was him—the guy from the café. How on earth had I mistaken him for Jaimes? The realization made me flush with embarrassment.

I looked at him again, struggling to recall his name. It was on the tip of my tongue, but his intense gaze made my thoughts scatter. My throat tightened, and I found it difficult to swallow. Just his gaze made me feel warm, as if his eyes were physically touching my skin.

I bit my lip and turned my gaze away, trying to regain my composure. The warmth of his stare was almost tangible, and it left a lingering heat on my skin.

I could hear him moving around with his bike, the sound of metal and leather mingling with the low hum of the engine. My anxiety spiked as I noticed him walking toward me. I stole a quick glance and saw him hop over the barricade separating the parking lot from the bench area.

Panic surged through me, my heart racing as he drew closer. What was he going to do? My mind whirled with a mix of confusion and nervousness as I sat frozen on the bench, unable to look away from his approach.

"Arwen..."

His voice, deep and smooth, cut through the fog of my thoughts, causing me to snap back to reality. I found myself dumbstruck, staring at him with wide eyes. The name he uttered sent a jolt through me, but it seemed my voice had decided to hide somewhere out of reach.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, his tone filled with genuine concern. His gaze, so intense and penetrating, only added to my nervousness. I felt exposed under his scrutiny, as if he could see straight through my thoughts and insecurities.

Just as I struggled to find my voice, my phone vibrated violently in my bag, breaking the spell of my shock. The sudden noise yanked me out of my daze, and I fumbled to retrieve the phone. My fingers were clammy and unsteady as I pulled it out, hoping that the distraction would help me regain some composure.

I glanced at the screen. It was a message from Joshua, reminding me of our upcoming class. I looked back up at him, my cheeks flushed and my heart still racing. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath and gather my thoughts.

"Uhm, yes... hey you," I managed to stammer, my voice coming out more awkwardly than I'd intended. Internally, I cringed, screaming at myself for how dumb I sounded.

He smiled, a hint of amusement flickering in his gray eyes. It was as if he could hear my internal monologue, and his smile widened, revealing a trace of mischief.

"Yes, it's me," he said with a touch of playful resignation. "I guess you forgot my name."

I noticed a flash of disappointment in his eyes, as if he was hurt that I couldn't remember him. My face turned a deep shade of red, and I tried to recover, but I felt like I was sinking deeper into the quicksand of embarrassment.

"Oh no, no, I do know you," I stammered, pausing as if the name would magically appear in my mind. The seconds ticked by agonizingly slowly, and I could see the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his lips, as if he was trying to hide his amusement at my predicament.

"You are... Diarmid, right?" I blurted out, finally feeling a surge of triumph as my brain decided to cooperate.

Diarmid's eyes softened, and the smile on his lips turned into a genuine one. "Yes, that's right," he said with a nod. "Glad to see you remember. It's been a while."

Relief washed over me, and I gave a small, sheepish smile back. "Yeah, it has. Sorry about that. I guess I've had a lot on my mind."

Diarmid leaned casually against the barricade, his demeanor relaxed. "No worries. It's not every day you run into someone who's completely discombobulated by your presence."

I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "Well, you certainly have a way of making an impression."

He laughed softly, the sound warm and inviting. "I suppose that's one way to put it. Are you sure you're okay? You seem a bit... flustered."

I took a deep breath, feeling more at ease with his relaxed demeanor. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a bit of a moment there. Thanks for checking in, though."

Diarmid's gaze softened further, and he gave me a reassuring smile. "Anytime. If you need anything or just want to talk, let me know."

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and awkwardness. "Thanks, Diarmid. I might take you up on that."

As he turned to walk back to his bike, I watched him go, my heart still racing but now with a sense of relief rather than panic.