98 Chapter 97: Reunited

Having Nina back was a relief, she thought. She wouldn't feel all alone anymore. She had missed the pack a lot. It was hard to leave everyone behind and come so far away. But she had no other way. But now that Nina was here, she felt much relieved. Now there would be someone on her side during her training hours- someone who didn't look at her like she was worthless. Elize broke away from the hug and took a long good look at her friend. Her heart filled with joy as she saw the readhead beam at her.

"Haha. I'm more so. I missed you kid." Nina said, patting her head. "You really should have told me before you left. You had everyone worried for a moment."

Elize nodded guiltily. The fact that she hadn't said her goodbyes to the pack had bothered her a lot once she had settled into the classes. When she saw other wolves from the same pack having fun together, she had felt jealous. She had often thought about sending Nina a fire message. She felt that she owed her at least an explanation after all that they had gone through together. But sending a fire message was impossible since she had lost her magic and everything in the academy was so hectic and tiring that she had kept postponing asking her friends for help.

"I'm sorry. I was not in a great place mentally." Elize apologized.

"It's okay Elize. I understand." Nina said shaking her head. Looking around, she asked, "How did you find the academy so far?"

Elize sighed. A very good question. But where should she start from? She thought, before finally settling on the greatest issue. "The seniors here are so mean. Especially that Lang Jin." She complained.

"Jin? What did he do?" Nina asked, surprised.

"Don't ask." Elize said, looking at the spot on her hand where a purple bruise still remained. She had worn a long sleeved t-shirt today, in order to hide it. But suddenly she remembered the cause of it all. She continued, " And then there's this weird Kelpie here. He keeps on hitting on me."

"Prince Irving?" Nina asked, 

"What? Prince?!" Elize asked, shocked.

Huh. That explained his arrogance. The entitled bastard thought that he had a right to everything. 

"Yeah…he misbehaves with you?" Nina asked in an irritated tone.

Elize hesitated before answering. She knew that Nina was quite protective of her, since she was her future Luna and all.. The she wolf might do something uncalled for, if she wasn't careful with her words . And seeing the Kelpie's nerve wrecking power yesterday, she knew it would be suicide if the wolf decided to go against him. 

"Well…" Elize said, after thinking for a while. "I don't know if you can call it misbehaving but yeah. He's always so cocky."

She shrugged, trying to make as light of it as possible. 

"Tch! That stupid Kelpie. He makes my life difficult here." Elize murmured to herself in irritation, forgetting that wolves had a really good sense of hearing. 

"Don't worry kid, now that I'm back I've got your back." Nina said, patting her back.

"I'll need that. I hate being human." Elize whined, taking hold of her friend's hand.

Nina squeezed her hand in assurance. She smiled, taking something out from inside her jacket. 

"Here, I have something for you." She said, extending a black box towards her.

"What is it?" Elize asked, taking it form her.

She shook the square shaped box, hoping to know what was inside. But sadly she couldn't hear anything. 

"It's an early birthday gift. " Nina said, grabbing her index finger suddenly.

She looked at her friend in confusion. In the blink of an eye, Nina made a cut on the tip of her finger. Elize winced in surprise, pulling her hand away from the girl's grip. A single drop of blood came from the tiny wound. 

"This is your key. Smear the blood here." Nina said with a wink, pointing towards the the center of the box.

Key? Elize wondered if the box was magical by any chance. She did as she was told, slowly placing the single drop of blood on the spot that Nina had pointed to. To her surprise, the box started crumbling like ash. Small gray particles, that was once the box flew away with the soft wind that was blowing away from them. In its place lay a neatly rolled paper wrapped with a thin red ribbon. On top of it was a thin chain made of gold, with a lone white diamond hanging on it. She beamed happily. 

"You're a gem!" Elize exclaimed. Looking at the thin necklace in awe, she said, "This must be expensive."

"It's.....not from me." Nina said awkwardly.

"Huh?" Elize asked, trying to open the rolled paper.

"Aileen passed it on..to give to you." Nina replied reluctantly.

Hearing the head witch's name, Elize paused. She didn't want to open the paper anymore. She had suddenly lost all interest. 

"Oh…." Elize said, pushing the chain into the small pocket of her jeans.

"She seemed sad. Did you have a fight with her?" Nina asked, looking concerned.

Elize sighed. A fight? No, It was way more than that, but she couldn't explain it to Nina right now. "Well I'd rather not talk about it." She replied with a tight smile.

Nina gave her a sympathetic look. Elize shrugged back. 

"Oh I almost forgot." Her friend said, changing the topic. "Brandt wanted me to tell you that he misses you a lot and that he hopes that you'd come home soon."

"Haha ." Elize laughed, remembering the pestering little kid who insisted on sticking to her side all the time. "I miss that kid. How's everyone back home?��� She asked, suddenly missing the place she had left behind.

"Everything is good for now. Zack's grandfather has gone back and the Luna is taking care of the pack with the help of my father." Nina replied.

Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted towards her- the smell of forest and honey. It smelled exactly like how Zack did. Her heart started beating fast as a response to the stimulation. She. It was not possible that Zack was here. He was supposed to come in two days. She looked around the ground in confusion. She could see the students standing in groups and talking to each other like they always did before the arrival of the seniors. But how much ever she looked, she couldn't find the one person that her heart longed for. Maybe Nina's arrival had made her miss him more, she thought.

She said shaking her head, "I think I'm going crazy here. I miss him so much that I can even feel-" 

Elize stopped mid sentence. Her eyes grew wide in shock. On the edge of the ground was Zack, walking towards the group of students. Behind him was Lang Jin and Eun Ae. Heads turned, as other wolves also started noticing the presence of a newcomer. So she was not hallucinating! Elize thought to herself! Zack was really here!

'Zack?!' She called out through the bond. 

Her heart was beating so loudly against her chest that she thought that the whole ground could hear her at that moment. 

'Zack?! Is that you?' She called through the bond once again, unable to believe what was happening.

Hearing no response, she turned towards Nina with wide eyes.

"Is that really him?! Am I hallucinating?!" She asked frantically.

Nina laughed, seeing her reaction. "No silly. He's here." She said shaking her head. 

Elize couldn't believe it. He was really here! Zack was finally here! Her mate has returned to her!

'Zack? Baby?' She called out through the bond again.

This time, Zack turned towards her, his eyes lighting up instantly as it landed on her. 

'Elize…' He reached out through the bond, warmth gushing through the link.

'You're back!' Elize exclaimed, stepping forward.

"Elize, wait. Not now." Nina said, suddenly grabbing her arm.

Elize turned back in irritation. Nina looked at her in sympathy, but refused to let go.

"What do you mean?" Elize asked, clenching her jaw.

'It's dangerous Elize.' Zack's voice warned through the link. 'Let's not be hasty. Your identity…'

"But-" Elize protested, trying to yank her hand free.

Seeing that Nina didn't budge from her stance, she turned towards Zack with a pained expression.

'I promise I'll make up for it.' He pleaded, sounding guilty.

'I don't like this.' Elize replied, suddenly on the verge of tears. 'I missed you so much. I want-'

'I know baby. I'm barely holding on myself.' Zack said, his emotions flooding through the bond.

Elize sagged against her friend in defeat. His was not fair, she thought to herself.

"It's for your own good." Nina whispered, finally letting go of her arm. "Hold on Elize. Your safety comes first." She patted her hand empathetically.

Elize nodded halfheartedly. She looked towards the group of students now gathered around the three senior wolves. Zack was standing in the middle, his gaze still on her. 

'I love you.' He said longingly.

Elize smiled and nodded back. 'I know.' She replied.

There was so much that she had to tell him, so much that she had to ask. She had to apologize for everything that she had done to him. But I guess it can wait, she thought to herself.

"Everyone say hello to your seniors." Eun Ae's voice rose.

She could hear some of the girls squeal excitedly as Zack waved at them. Elize narrowed her eyes at the group. 

"C'mon, let's go." Nina said, tugging on her arm.

Elize pouted, looking at the reaction of the girls in jealousy. She wanted to shout at them and maybe make them all go blind. How dare they look at her man!

"I'm telling you that this is a bad idea." She said, gritting her teeth.

"It's going to be fine." Nina said, pulling Elize behind her as she walked towards the crowd.

Elize let herself be dragged, following her friend reluctantly. As she came closer to the group, she could see that Eun Ae had a hand wrapped around her mate's arm. She guessed that they must be friends. But touching him was out of the question! 

"Bitch." She murmured under her breath jealously.

"Hmm?" Nina asked, cocking her head to the side in confusion.

"Nothing." Elize said, narrowing her eyes at the girl who she had looked up to, till yesterday. She crushed the paper in her hand in anger, imagining it to be be a certain someone's neck.