Dark Shadows

CHAPTER FOUR.

"Moon goddess, why do you choose to punish me this way?" Megan murmured to herself as she walked inside the empty classroom.

Zain was inside working on his MacBook. Megan looked faintly amused, and dropped her shoulder bag. So Zain could afford to wear a decent suit after all?

"Good morning, Sir." Megan studied him. As far as she could see, he was only an arrogant man full of pride, and probably struggling with finances.

Zain looked up at Megan. There was something about her, a lot of things about her that didn't make sense to him. He just couldn't connect the dots. "How does it feel to qualify for the Olympics?"

"You still can't figure out how I did it?" Megan smiled. "One second you're talking down on me and the next second you sound impressed."

"I'm impressed." Zain's voice was deceptively calm, but his eyes narrowed, and darted around the room. "Jordan.."

Megan's heart skipped. What about Jordan again?

Zain continued studying Megan's reaction. "She shouldn't be your competition, Dream Chasers ought to be your competition and rival, Dream Chasers and every other gymnasium except Ocean. Don't waste your time fighting unnecessary battles. Choose your battles wisely."

"Why is no one answering the question?" Megan snapped.

"What question?"

"Why exactly is Jordan not on suspension?"

"The same reason why you got away with your rebellion in the past."

"There wasn't a single time that I wasn't punished for the mistakes I made, and for my disobedience."

"You call that punishment?" Zain closed his MacBook. "I went through your records thoroughly, the only punishment that would have been fair is your expulsion from the academy."

"Why do I have the feeling that you do not like me?"

"Because I don't like you."

"Unfortunately, you do not call the shots here. And your opinion doesn't matter."

Jordan walked inside the classroom, looking at both of them. She wondered what discussion they were having, and prayed silently that Zain hadn't become Megan's 'stan.'

Megan looked at Jordan briefly, then back at Zain. "Your absolute favourite student!" She grinned and held out her hands. "I hope she's keeping your bed warm."

Zain tightened, his face darkened. He sputtered. "Mind your choice of words, else you will regret it."

Megan shrugged. "Whatever!"

She had come to pick an artwork of her performance last week. The academy had decided to honour her with very expensive artwork. After picking up the artwork she forgot in class earlier, she turned to leave. She stared at Jordan. Jordan avoided her gaze and looked away.

Jordan however had a change of heart and ran towards the exit door, and blocked Megan's way. Megan frowned. "What do you want, Jordan?"

"Congratulations," Jordan managed to say.

"Is that coming genuinely from you?"

"Yes."

Megan frowned again. "Damn you! You steal everything that's not nailed down."

Okay, another sore spot. Megan sure had a lot on Jordan. "I know you, you can't deceive me."

Jordan's face grew warm. "I, um, may I please know how I have deceived you or anyone?"

"Few days before the audition you saw me training, you stole my moves, modified them and sampled them during the audition without acknowledging me. You made everyone believe it was your originality and I copied." Megan sighed. "Just get out of my face, I don't have any business with you."

Jordan's face grew red slightly, as if embarrassed.

"Stay away from me!" Megan said, then left the classroom.

Jordan looked around the classroom. A thought ran into her head. Maybe it was time to try and bond with Zain. She walked up to him and greeted. "Good afternoon, Sir."

"How can I help you?" Zain questioned without looking at her.

"I'm inviting you for lunch..."

"Stop it." Zain didn't let her finish. "Do I look like Maleek? What makes you think I will be interested in having lunch with you, or anyone in this place?"

"You don't need to be harsh, I was only trying to be nice and get to know you better, you recently started working here so..."

"Thank you for the kind gesture. Please leave."

Jordan left the classroom quickly without looking back. She was too embarrassed.

Zain scratched his hair in confusion. He felt helpless. First, they were disturbing from home. He was to find the special one before the next full moon and start working towards fulfilling their duty.

He also needed to find his mate and get married. Fulfilling his duty would take a lot, and he wasn't assured of coming back alive.

Marriage was important to him, he needed to produce his beta while he still had time. A beta that would be leading Atena pack while he remained here and tried to destiny.

***

It was midnight and the rustling of scrubs and dry leaves could be heard across the entire woodland, as Atena wolves raced to their pack boundary. They had been notified about the rogues that had come to disturb the serenity of their pack.

They howled, making long and loud cries of anger. It was like the sounds of wounded animals with blood spurting out from the gash.

Taking the lead was Zain. It was a good thing he came to visit home, the last time his pack was attacked he was away. However, the special one with a duty to perform had come to fight for her people. He only hoped and prayed to the moon goddess she would come tonight, he needed to find her.

Zain scooted as he kept a long distance from the shifters, indicating he was faster than them. Apart from his speed, he was also a wolf tracker.

Getting to the border of their pack, they stopped at their track when they felt the presence of the rogues. Zain roared and the rest did the same thing since they couldn't catch sight of the rogues, only their scent.

"Stay put." Zain's mind linked her adherents and they all gathered, surrounding him while they walked gradually to the end of the border. "I can smell them, make a ring circle!" He commanded and they did as they were told.

They made the ring circle, and Zain was left to meander around the circle, trying to get a stronger feel of the whiff he was sniffing.

Just about time, a rogue jumped out from his hiding and the rest did the same. They came out in circles, surrounding the rest of the Atena shifters.

The rogue made his first attack on Zain who was already fully prepared.

The rogue nudged Zain's neck but he was fast enough to scuff his face with his claws. Not giving the rogue a chance to regain his stance, Zain clenched tightly on the rogue's fur and made a straight stance on his paws before dragging him harshly.

After hours of fighting, Atena shifters killed majority of the rogues, and the remaining ones retreated. It was until the early hours of the morning that the war ended. One of the wolves in Atena pack was badly wounded. Atena wolves went back to their pack and gave treatment to their own.

After the attack, Zain couldn't stay longer, he paid homage to the moon goddess, gave instructions, then left. He had serious business to seal in the human world.

***

Zain drove inside the building slowly. He even pretended not to know where to park. When he finally did, Avara came down from the car, and he did too.

"I recently acquired this property from the government, you will enjoy this place," Zain bragged.

"Thanks," Avara said as she surveyed the area. "Nice doing business with you," she smiled.

"Since you will be shutting down the mall, what do you intend to do with the building?" Zain asked.

"Pleasure salon," Avara answered excitedly. "I intend turning here to a women's beauty salon. Please do invite your spouse to come here to get her hair done. And also for her nails, lashes, makeover, pedicure, manicure and massage. I'll give her a good discount."

Zain nodded without saying a word.

Within seconds, Megan came out of the mall with her two closest friends. Her smile disappeared when her eyes met Zain's.

Avara turned red as Zain stared directly at Megan.

Megan and her friends walked past them without uttering a word. Zain turned to look in their direction, with hints of shock in his eyes

"Do you know them?" Avara questioned out of curiosity.

"They are my students!" Zain exclaimed. He pouted like a forgotten child and folded his arms.

"You must be a terrible teacher," Avara laughed.

"Nice doing business with you, Miss Avara," Zain said. "I'll be on my way now."

"Come on, be a gentleman. Could you please give me a ride?" Avara smiled.

"Of course. After you."

Zain dropped Avara off in her apartment. It was a small but fine place. He sped off the moment Avara came down from his car.

Avara knocked on her door and walked to her window to whisper. "Charlotte, open the door."

Charlotte's eyes jolted open. "Avara?" She called out.

"Yes. It's me. Open up."

Charlotte reached for her phone and checked the time. It was exactly 2 pm. She stood up and rushed to the door to open it.

Avara walked inside her living room, and sank into the sofa. Her hair was rumpled and her eyes were tired.

"Why? Why are you at home by this time of the day?" Charlotte questioned, closing the door.

"I sealed a good deal with Zain Adolphus today."

"Congratulations, even though you don't look happy."

"He's a fine man. I like him."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "How did you meet him?"

"I came across his real estate website on social media." Avara unbuttoned her shirt. "The mall is at a good site, it will fetch us good money."

"Then why did he sell it?" Charlotte asked.

"Oh no, honey, he didn't sell it. He only rented it out to me. I wouldn't be able to afford it if he wanted to sell it," Avara explained. "He is wise. He would have regretted his decision if he sold it."

"Have you quit at the factory?"

"I submitted my resignation letter last week. Yesterday was my last day there."

"The list for the pleasure salon is ready." Charlotte handed Avara a small notebook.

"Charlotte!" Avara screamed after her eyes caught the total amount. "Thirty million? Where will I get that amount of money?"

"How much do you have?" Charlotte looked at Avara sternly. "Let's start from there."

"I paid Zain Adolphus six million for a year's rent," Avara answered. "I am left with only eight million in my account."

"You made me quit my job because of fourteen million?" Charlotte looked at Avara, fuming with anger. "So you had only fourteen million in your account and told me to quit my job to co-manage your so-called pleasure mall? What kind of salon will you set up with eight million?"

"A beauty salon..." Avara struggled to speak, "for women."

"Dare me not." Charlotte was filled with rage.

"Don't!" Avara fired back. "Do you have eight million? I guess no, yet you stand here right in my face talking down on money I want to use and set up a business for us, with this ridiculous list of yours." Avara tossed the notebook on the floor.

"You told me you had enough millions in your account to open an exotic beauty shop."

"Fourteen million is what, excuse you?" Avara stood to her feet. "You know what? You can leave my house now and go back to your billionaire job."

"You are joking. You made me lose my live-in nanny job," Charlotte began. "You made me homeless! Next, you want to kick me out to the streets, you can't do that!"

"I can and I will."

"I will sue you."

"For what exactly?" Avara laughed at Charlotte's naivety. "There was no legal signing or agreement, honey. I can kick you out and get away with it."

"Nice one," Charlotte calmly said. "It was nice meeting you."

Avara stood looking at Charlotte, without saying a word or making a sound.