Chapter 163 - New Family

"She doesn't need to be terminated from this hellish atmosphere, Mrs. Bonita. I am gonna take her out of this school along with my Eva. These kids did nothing wrong to deserve all this shit happening to them." Holding her arm tighter behind, he sounded very firm with glistening black eyes gawking at the lady.

Clara was surprised to hear such a bold confirmation from that man as she rolled her eyeballs. Besides, immediately perceiving his touch, she evidently understood that he was a wolf disguised in the human world...just like her! The man was trying to protect her from getting exposed by gripping her arm tight.

But the fact which shocked her to the core was that he was Eva's father, which means, she was the daughter of a werewolf! Baffled with the realization, she fidgetingly lowered her face down.

"Err, umm, Mr. Ri-Ricci... why are you dragging your daughter in this mess? I...I do believe that she will be a sm-smart kid..." She was stuttering anxiously, trying hard to divert the conversation.

"Mrs. Bonita, I had assumed you to be a sensible teacher but you have proved me horribly wrong. You all knew about the bullying that was happening to Clara but still supported the crime instead of teaching those kids a strict lesson? Just because she doesn't have any family by her side that doesn't give anyone the right to torment her mentally and physically! I... just can't blame those kids because the major culprits are you all who are nurturing the sins." Frowning his eyebrows, he sounded very stern, with his blazing dark eyes fuming in wrath.

Clara slowly raised her small oval-shaped face and looked at his grimace painfully. Her eyes were swelled up in tears and she was biting her lips to stop herself from crying out. It was the very first time, a grown-up man was standing up for her in that heinous environment that was driving her emotional turbulence. Slowly, the rage that was storming in her heart returned to a serene state, and the thick furs that started to coat her arm disappeared gradually.

"Mr. Ricci, why do you even bother about this girl? Do you even know what she did?" Fretting her nose bridge, she sneaked a glance at her before snapping out. "She broke the arm of a kid and she is in a critical state right now. And...she isn't even embarrassed about her wrongdoing--"

"Wrongdoing?" A canny smirk escaped his bright face when he lowered his eyes down and stared at Clara's small face. "I think she is much kind enough to let her stay alive. If I had been in her shoes, I would have probably killed her because she dared to touch my Eva. That's why I am beholden to her." Hearing his immense support, a small pleased smile appeared on her face as she stared back at him.

She swirled her eyes in disbelief, taking a deep sigh out. "Mr. Ricci, I can't believe you are taking this kid's side? You are a grown-up man and you must know the limits we are bound with!"

"I am a grown adult but I am not greedy unlike you all. Just for the sake of the funding, you people quietly sat back and watched a kid getting harassed by her own classmates. You people are the reason why the world has turned so disgraceful to live in." Steve had a dark, skeptical expression on his face while he declaimed those words in an intense tone. Slowly, he held her small hand tighter in his bold grip and stared deep at the woman.

"Mrs. Bonita, starting from today Clara is not alone anymore. I regret that my daughter should have let me know about all these much earlier. But...we will be her family and I bet, she will be a ton times happier than striving in this awful environment. I will transfer both the kids from this school so today will be their last day here. And from now on, try to be an honest human being rather than living as a greedy, miserly person. Have a nice day." 

"He-Hey, Mr. Ricci how can you be so disrespectful to talk with a woman like that..."

Before she could complete her irked response, Steve boldly gripped her small arm and walked out of the room leaving her fuming in wrath alone.

As both of them walked out holding hands in hands reaching the giant hallway passage he halted his motion and slowly unleashed his grip on her hand. Softly he turned around and saw raising teary swelled up big eyes, small Clara was looking at him from behind looking much bereaved from her expression. 

Glancing at her, Stevan smiled with a saddened gaze in his dark eyes and knelt down on the ground before her petite body. "Are you alright?" In a timid voice, he asked her.

Suddenly, the tears that she had been holding in desperately started streaming down her pale cheeks as she started sobbing bitterly lowering her eyes down. "No...No one ever asked me...this... hic... No one ever... hic..." 

His heart was aching hard to see the small child weeping helplessly before him. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and tenderly wiped her tears with the piece of cloth. "I can understand, you have suffered through a lot... All I can say is sorry...on behalf of this world who has been so merciless to you..."

"Hic..." She continued grieving.

"As you must have already sensed, I am a wolf too...just like you, Clara. You know, life hadn't been kind to me either but I didn't give up. I continued striving and finally, I am blessed today with a beautiful family. I had to hide my real self from my children and the world because...we can't expose our true self before these humans. And... that's the reason I stopped you today from attacking her. You were intending to ravage her, don't you?" He frowned his eyebrows, speaking in a gentle note.

She slowly nodded her head to his query, making a guilt-prone expression on her face. 

"Clara...your powers are awakening up. To continue striving in this world, you have to learn to get a grip on your abilities. You can't attack any human storming in anger since it's a threat to our existence. But... I am proud of how you stood up for my daughter because bullies are needed to treat them with their own medicine." His cheerful assurance made her smile widely as she stopped crying.

Tossing a kind smile he fondly held her left cheek and whispered to her, "Clara, since you must have already understood that my Eva is different from the rest of the kids, so many evil beings would come after her and the thought about it puzzles me a lot.

I can't predict the future...but if... someday I fail to stay by her side when she needs me the most, you have to fill up that space and hold her strong in your embrace. We are all a big blessed family now and I will be always counting on you...okay?" 

She firmly nodded her head in assurance and grasped his arm with her tiny palm. "Yes. I will take care of her, uncle. It's my promise." Hearing her bold pledge, he softly patted her head as their eyes sparkled in bliss amidst the mild sunrays, looking at each other. 

...

While heading back to the class, Clara was glancing out of the giant balcony and suddenly watching a sight, her feet stopped in awe. She saw Eva heading upstairs towards the large terrace which was a forbidden area for the kids to visit! 

"Wh-What the hell? Why is she going up there?" She wondered anxiously in fear.