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“I understand that, but you need to strike a balance. Otherwise, I’m going to have to fail you.”
“This is your fault! Your class is too hard! You set too much homework.”
I sigh loudly, frustration rolling off of me in waves. “My class is designed to challenge you and help you grow as a student. It’s not impossible if you put in the effort. I keep telling you this. I don’t know why you won’t hear me when I’m trying to help you.”
“You’re just singling me out! Everyone else is passing, so why am I failing?”
“Mahalia, I treat all my students fairly and equally. Your grades reflect your performance, not any personal bias.” Even if you are a massive nightmare in my life.
“This is ruining my future.” She throws her hands in the air in irritation. “I’m going to flunk out because of you. I don’t know what I’ll do then. I need this really-”
“Mahalia, I’m not the only one responsible for your academic progress. You should have been seeking help and resources if you were struggling.”
I see a glimmer of realization in her eyes, but she’s not ready to admit defeat just yet. “You’re a terrible teacher. I wouldn’t need help if you could teach me better.”
Are there tears pricking in her eyes? I don’t think I’ve ever seen the emotional side of Mahalia before. I don’t quite know how to handle it. I sit up a little straighter in my seat, wondering what words I can say to calm this situation down before it escalates out of control.
“Well, Mahalia, all I can say is that you need to strike a balance. You need to manage your time better. If you want, I can help you…”
At this point, she’s had enough. She flips me the bird and storms out of my office, slamming the door behind her. The confrontation is over, but the tension lingers in the room.
As I sit there, I can’t help but feel a mix of frustration and disappointment. It’s not easy dealing with students like Mahalia, but it’s my job to ensure that they understand the importance of their education and the role they play in their own success. Maybe one day, she’ll come to realize that I really have been trying to help her the whole time. None of this was for my own good.
With a deep breath, I decide to return to the task at hand. I reach for the folder containing the list of candidates, determined to review the next few profiles and make a choice at long last. Mahalia might have pissed me off, but that doesn’t mean I can put this off any longer.
As I open the folder and flip through the pages, I can’t help but let out a surprised gasp. There, staring back at me from one of the photos, is Mahalia’s face. It’s an unexpected revelation that sends a shiver down my spine.
What the hell are you doing here?
I’m intrigued. I can’t help but wonder how she knows the other wolves in the pack know her. We don’t know one another yet, but we all know the massive pain in my ass.
I can’t help but smile, a sinister curve of satisfaction curling my lips, as I contemplate Mahalia’s fate. She’s in for it now, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll never darken the door of this university again. The elders may have their concerns about my choice of a mate, but they never explicitly laid out the method by which we are to secure our new mate’s presence in the forest. After all, why should I spend my precious time trying to woo a human when a more direct approach is readily available?
The thought crosses my mind like a shadowy temptation. Why bother with elaborate schemes and attempts at courtship when I can simply take her by force? The power of persuasion may have its merits, but the primal instincts that lie within me, within all of us, yearn for a straighter forward solution. The idea really takes root in my mind, the thrill of the chase, the challenge of the hunt, it’s all part of the ancient instincts that have been ingrained in my kind for centuries. And in this moment, it feels like the most exciting course of action.
As I consider this, really consider it, I remind myself that the primary purpose of the mating round is to enhance our collective abilities and combat the threats we face in the forbidden forest. It’s a pragmatic approach, one that focuses on the greater good rather than personal desires or feelings. In this context, the emotional bond with Mahalia becomes a means to an end, a tool to help me and the other wolves in our fight against the Rift monsters.
I find solace in the fact that the bond doesn’t necessitate a deep and enduring connection. It’s a temporary union, a shared experience that serves a specific purpose. This realization eases some of my concerns about the potential challenges and conflicts that could arise from partnering with someone as headstrong and independent as Mahalia.
I mutter under my breath, my voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty, “It’s going to be a very interesting summer... If I really do this and go for Mahalia, then things are going to be... wild.”
She might be the only one strong enough to overcome these asshole monsters. I think about the rumors I’ve heard about the Rift monsters from other wolves. These stories have been shared in hushed whispers, around campfires, and during late-night gatherings, serving as a chilling reminder of the dangers we face—stories we all thought were fairy tales until the threat became a very real risk to all of us.
Some wolves claim to have seen the Rift monsters as shifting shadows, elusive and ever-changing. They speak of creatures that can move through the forest unseen, blending seamlessly with the darkness. There are tales of eerie howls and haunting cries that emanate from the heart of the forbidden forest. It’s said that these cries are the sounds of the Rift monsters, a foreboding warning to any who dare to approach. There have been reports of wolves vanishing without a trace, only to reappear days later, bearing the marks of a brutal encounter with the Rift monsters. These stories paint a grim picture of the creatures’ abilities to strike without warning.
But from what I’ve heard from the pack elders, the wolves that fought the Rift before me, have suggested that the Rift monsters can manipulate reality itself, distorting the forest’s landscape and confusing their prey. I don’t want to end up lost because of some Rift.
That’s why I need to make sure if I do pick Mahalia, it’s because of her strength and not because I want some kind of petty revenge on her because she’s made my life a living hell.
Yet, I do find myself going back to her picture endlessly. None of the other women seem to capture me in quite the same way. I don’t know how to handle it. If only I knew the other wolves in the pack. I could ask them what they think of Mahalia, to get a better idea.
Maybe to someone, she’s their sweet neighbor or their best friend. Maybe someone has a completely different view of her, and I’m about to have my eyes opened wide. That would certainly be interesting. I would like to know what other people think.
Or perhaps everyone finds her as irritating and frustrating as I do. Even in the photograph here, with her long dark hair almost hanging in her piercing blue eyes, there’s a defiance to her which makes my heart race a whole lot faster. There’s almost a dizziness overcoming me as I think about the prospect of spending a whole year with this woman. But it’s intrigue, it isn’t just annoyance which is really something.
Maybe I really will snatch this woman up and take her from her life, steal her away into the forbidden forest, and see if there is something that she can bring to the pack and the mating round. I don’t know what else I’m going to do anyway…
TWO
