Chapter 3

OCTAVIA'S POV.

“Thank you,” I responded.

I exhaled slowly, trying to hold in every bit of pain I felt reeled into me. It was almost impossible for me to hold my stance; there was something about the blue in his eyes that drew out my soul.

“Your eyes,” I whispered. Most of us in the coven had shades of black and brown, but I had never seen a man with blue eyes before; perhaps that remained one of the reasons I couldn't stop myself from being attracted to his beauty.

“I'm sorry If I came intruding, it's just that you had been crying all along, and I happened to have noticed you got into a fight with some man. Is that your lover?” Zachary asked, and I couldn't help bursting into a loud peal of laughter, my entire sorrow gone at mere thought.

“No, he isn't, of course not all, and I am best friends, childhood friends really, and I don't see him in that light; I won't see him in the light of a lover." I try to reassure myself more than the breathtakingly handsome stranger who stood before me.

"Well, you seemed to be crying, and it looked so personal; are you sure you haven't fallen for your best friend?” He asked, leaning closer to me again. I slouched my shoulders, not knowing what to say.

But maybe he was eight. I always claimed I did feel nothing for Alan, yet when he called me a liar and passed me that nasty look I had never felt as pained as I had done at that moment.

“No, of course not; I do not like him; I have zero feelings for him; just somewhat personal, and I'm at fault; that's all I hate fighting with him." I explained,

A warm smile settled into Zachary's lips as he dabbed gently and softly against the sides of my cheeks while my cheeks flushed red.

“You didn't wipe your tears well, but now it's all done; do you want to talk about it? This fight with your friend?” He again lending me a listening ear, but my eyes remained glued on his soft lips, the look in his eyes and how he spoke

His pointed nose and dimples, which complimented his sets of teeth anytime he smiled; this was a lot, truth be told, and I had never gotten as swooned as I did this with this man in my life.

I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to stop time, keeping this moment between us frozen for long. Do I really want this feeling between us?

“I'm Octavia, by the way," I added in foolishly after realising I had my eyes lingering on him for way too long than necessary. I hastened my steps heading away from the corridor towards the crowd.

“Don't run from me; I believe we were making progress,” he called out from behind me, causing me to stop for a halt.

“What progress?” I asked with a teasing smile while tilting my head sideways.

“A lot of progress; I want to know more about you, Octavia; I am a wolf; I'm just like this; I would be honest and tell you I have no mate and I have no one I'm seeing at this particular time, but seeing you cry melted my heart, and after having this conversation with you, I think we would make a hood match octavia,” Zachary explained. A smile stretched upon his lips, and once again my eyes wandered off his lips.

“I don't think so; I'm a witch; you are a wolf; besides, we just met, isn't it?”

I asked, drawing a boundary line between us almost immediately.

“No, it doesn't matter; isn't that the essence of the entire thing? That we can coexist together? So why are you quick to split a line between us?” He asked me, and I realised this must be how I made Alan feel all through, putting a boundary between us.

“I'm not sure; the veil would be dropped tonight, and I don't think we would ever get a chance to see each other again, I explained to him.

He looked rather disappointed after hearing my words. I bit slowly on my lips, lost at any encouraging words, and at the moment I regretted being born as a witch or being made an anchor between our world and the one outside.

Only if things were different, only if this wasn't my identity, only if I was someone else, then things would have been different.

“How about this? I'll wait around. I noticed a huge tree with pots of ripe grapes. I'll wait there tonight after the ceremony, and tomorrow, if you do not come around, then I'll take it as your response to not meeting me again,” he offered. He really was a sly one, putting me in a tough position.

“You want me to lift the veil? You know how much of a risk it is.” I asked with a giggle.

“It isn't too much for love, right?” he asked, leaning closer to me. I felt my heart race.

“Your Highness” Janet called out to me and turned away almost immediately as she caught sight of Zachary and I.

“It's not what you think, okay?” I asked her slowly, and she nodded with a smile , we watched as Zachary made his way to Past us, sure to pass smiles at both of us.

“Please don't say a word of this to anyone, ever, please,” I pleaded, and she nodded once again.

“The elders of the coven are already seated; the rites have begun, but you were missing. I was asked to find you,” she explained. I nodded as we both laughed! made our way was the main grounds, my cheeks flushed red as I recalled the words Zachary had just spoken.

Did he just call it love?

He really did seem like a cheeky person, but the actual question remained the same: am I willing to lift the veil to risk meeting this handsome stranger?