The Crow and The Wolf

Chapter 8

8.

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The weather today was undeniably cold and all Valeria wanted was to shrink back in her bed and just disappear for a while, even if it was for a moment, she would cherish that moment. She wanted peace and to listen to the sound of the leaves dancing with the cold wind outside but no, she was in a class that she didn't want to take in the first place.

Valeria wouldn't consider herself a genius, she wasn't that good with numbers at all. She liked anything that required theory work, long essays, drafts, and lots of reading, so obviously, history and business were her favourite subjects. But her parents wanted her to at least take up a subject that had numbers, but she didn't think they would insist on physics.

Even after her father's disappearance and her mother's wilting mind, Valeria still carried on with the subject, knowing that even though both her parents were gone, she would do it for them, for him.

"Today's experiment is very simple actually," Mr Lonc stated.

"You and your partner will write a report based on the results you get from the experiment in front of you. Each group will receive a circuit board and a resistor as well as a voltmeter device," he said this while walking around each table, placing the needed equipment on them.

"You will first assemble the circuit board correctly according to each diagram as instructed on the paper and then you will calculate the amounts of volts running through the circuit. You will do this three times placing resistors in various locations and before you get any ideas, the results aren't all the same. So you can't cheat, I'm talking to you Lincon," chuckles filled the room as Mr Lonc walked back to his desk.

"I will come around to check on your progress, and the report is due next week, so please start now and use your time wisely,"

Looking around the room, Valeria was confused. She didn't know where to start or what to do and yet everyone in the class had already started moving around their boards, connecting cables and fastening screws.

When she glanced down at their own board, all she could see were items she had no idea went.

Her gaze drifted back to the other students and she noticed that the partners two tables away from them were already taking notes, her eyes couldn't help but widen at their pace, amazed at how they built circuit boards in under three minutes while she was still struggling to distinguish the difference between a resistor and a voltmeter.

She looked away only to meet the Beta's eyes.

Her cheeks flushed and Valeria clenched her fist in annoyance, glancing away from him, knowing that he was undoubtedly aware that she didn't know what she was supposed to do.

And her assumption was right as she caught him in the corner of her eye, trying not to smile and she couldn't help but sigh and roll her eyes in defence.

"Valeria," he said getting her attention, she hummed in response.

"Do you want to start setting up the board?" he asked, and she could hear the amusement in his tone.

Valeria ignored it and gave him a nod, watching as he picked up the wires and connected them to the board's metal poles. She took two screws and peered at the board, unsure of where they should go. She shook her head and set them back down before taking a small machine with black and red dangling cables attached to it. She guessed this to be the voltmeter but still not knowing what to do, she placed it down as well.

"I think it's better if I take the notes down and you set up the board," she sighed, fiddling with her fingers as he attached the final wire.

He pursed his lips and looked at her for a minute before he said, "You have no idea what's going on, do you?"

Valeria rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Of course, I know what's going on, I just think it's better if we assign roles, mine being the note-taker and yours being the electrician,"

"You mean I do the work and you just watch?" he asked with a smug grin she wished she could wipe off.

"Yes-No, I mean no," she cringed.

"Just admit that you don't know, there's no shame in that," he shrugged with a small grin.

"I do know, I just have better handwriting and it will look great for the report,"

"That is irrelevant to the lesson," he pointed out.

"Well you're irrelevant," the words come out faster than her brain could process.

Valeria met his eyes and she couldn't see what hid behind them, just a void.

"You still do that," he stated.

"Do what?" she asked not meeting his eyes.

"Speaking without thinking," he observed her quietly before inhaling deeply and turning to the board, "Take notes."

They continued to work in silence until Mr Lonc told them to start packing up and that they will be given a chance to work tomorrow.

"I'll come to your place tomorrow after class to start on the report," he said before getting up from his seat and leaving the classroom.

The bell rang and she found Nicco outside waiting by her tree, "What are you looking at?"

Nicco sighed, "I'm looking at my mate having a conversation with the Beta,"

Valeria gave a slow nod and looked at the two males from across the lot and she couldn't help but focus on the second-hand male. His red hair seemed to be wet and unruly, his pale skin making it pop. She was looking at him for so long and as if he could feel her eyes on him, he turned and met her eyes and she felt weird...the feeling confused her...she was cold but at the same time warm.

His eyes were green and vibrant, she could see the fight he was having with his wolf, the way the tinge of yellow would appear and disappear into the green orbs.

He looked away from her and back to Zachery, "Do you know what they're talking about?"

Nicco nodded "something about meeting the alpha, very important,"

Valeria hummed,  taking one last look at him before leaving and heading back home. She passed Mr Edgar's home and it was still deserted and empty.

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