Beyond and Wild

Chapter 9

Aderyn's POV

It's been three weeks since I started staying at the new place, and much to my surprise, I've found myself growing attached to the people around me. Bell has become a close friend; she's like the sister I never had, always there to lend an ear or share a laugh. The people in the household have taken care of me, making me feel important and needed, though I'm still clueless as to why these strangers are so kind to me.

Yet, there are two individuals who constantly irritate me: Lilly, the blonde girl with her perpetual smile and annoyingly perfect hair, and Dylan, the enigma who seems to take pleasure in scolding me like I'm some sort of child. Lilly is clearly infatuated with Dylan, but he brushes off her advances, remaining distant and aloof. His attitude towards me, however, is a different story; he's grumpy, irritable, and seems to think I'm weak and childish.

I'm sitting on the couch with Blake, a goofy grin on my face as we play video games. He's become a good friend too, always up for a joke or a bit of fun.

"Ha! Got you!" I exclaim, pressing the buttons furiously as my character defeats his in the game.

"Not fair! You distracted me," Blake laughed.

"Oh, come on, just admit I'm better at this than you are," I tease.

Blake chuckles, readying himself for a rematch. But before we can start, Dylan storms into the room, his grumpy demeanor ruining our fun.

"Don't you two have anything better to do than sit around and play games all day?" he snaps.

Blake immediately gets up from his seat, his demeanor shifting to one of respect. "Sorry, Alpha. We were just taking a break."

I frown, not understanding why Blake always addresses Dylan that way. "What's your problem, Dylan? We're not hurting anyone."

Dylan's eyes narrow as he looks at me. "You should be doing something more productive, Aderyn."

I scowl, my earlier joy evaporating. "Why do you always have to be such a buzzkill?"

"Just... grow up," he mutters, turning to leave.

Blake places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't let him get to you. He's always like that."

I nod, but Dylan's words sting more than I care to admit. Why is he always so mean to me?

Bell hasn't been around for two days, and I can't help but wonder where she is. She usually tells me if she's going out, but this time, she just vanished without a word. My curiosity gnaws at me, but I push it aside for now.

The phone rings, breaking my thoughts. I pick it up, and an unknown number flashes on the screen. I answer it curtly, my tone sharp. "Hello? Who is this?"

There's a pause before a voice speaks. "Aderyn, it's me. I need to talk to you."

"Don't call me again," I say firmly, hanging up before the caller can respond.

As I turn around, I find Dylan standing there, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised. "Who was that?"

"None of your business," I snap.

Dylan steps closer, his expression darkening. "If it's something that concerns the safety of this household, it is my business."

"How does it my phone call relate to the safety of your household?" I questioned annoyed by his whole existence. 

I scowl at him, my temper flaring. "Stop acting like you're in charge of me. You're not my keeper, Dylan."

"Watch your mouth," he growls, grabbing me by the neck, all of a sudden. His grip firm but it wasn't hurting me, it was as if he was holding himself back.

But I clawed his wrist and struggled against him, my heart pounding. 

"Let go of me!"

For a moment, his eyes flicker with something I can't quite place—regret, maybe? But he releases me, stepping back. "You need to be more careful," he mutters, turning and walking away.

I'm left standing there, shaken and emotionally conflicted. What just happened?

Later, Bell finds me in my room, her eyes filled with concern. "Aderyn, are you okay? I heard rumors that Alpha tried to hurt you."

"I'm fine, Bell. It was just a misunderstanding," I forced out a smile, hiding the truth. "I'm fine, Bell. It was just a misunderstanding."

She seems relieved but still tense. "I was worried about you."

"Where have you been?" I asked, trying to change the subject. "I haven't seen you for two days."

Bell fidgets, avoiding my gaze. "I was... shopping."

Her nervousness suggests otherwise, but I don't press further. We sit in silence for a while, the unspoken tension hanging between us.

As evening falls, I decide to go for my usual walk. The cool air and the familiar path bring back memories of my father. I miss him more than ever, especially now when everything feels so confusing.

The feeling of being watched sends a chill down my spine. I halt in my tracks, whirling around to confront the shadow that has been trailing me. It's Dylan, standing there with his hands in his pockets.

"What do you want?" I demand, my voice edged with irritation.

He shrugs nonchalantly, his expression an enigma. "Just wanted to walk."

We fall into step together, silence weaving a taut thread of tension between us. Despite the friction, there's an odd comfort in his presence that I can't quite explain.

As we walk, my mind drifts to the peculiar connection I feel with Dylan. It's as if an invisible thread binds us, despite the misunderstandings and unspoken words. It's intriguing, this unexpected bond, and I can't help but wonder where it will lead.

We eventually arrive at a small stream, the gentle murmur of water breaking the quiet. Dylan stops and turns to me, his voice softer than I've ever heard it. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Aderyn."

His words catch me off guard. I glance at him, searching his face for any hint of deception, but find only sincerity. "Then why did you?"

He exhales heavily, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I don't know. You just... you get under my skin."

A faint smile tugs at my lips, the tension between us easing slightly. 

"You're not exactly a walk in the park either, you know." I told him.

He laughs, a rare sound that sends a warm shiver down my spine. 

"Guess we're both a bit stubborn."

We stand there for a while, the stream's melody filling the space between us. It's a small bubble of peace amidst the chaos, and for now, that's enough.