Blood Legacy Chapter 126: 124. I can feel that you're in pain

My sister's twinkling laughter reached me, casually drawing my attention as I quietly walked a few paces behind them.

I watched her lovingly snuggle against Estefany's side, like a little cub desperate for its mother's affection as together they walked to their first period.

I sighed and hugged that notebook closer to my chest, feeling that sinking pit forming in my stomach as I let myself remember that heartbreaking expression painting Estefany's face earlier in the parking lot.

Something must've happened. I needed to get to the bottom of this. I didn't know how or why, but I could swear that I had felt her cry for help. She didn't say it but I did feel it. I could feel that she wanted to. I don't know if that was my connection with the pack, the one that made me feel it. Maybe my connection with her and the rest of them was still growing, even though my bond with their Alpha was slowly shattering. But I know that I did feel it. I heard it. Loud and clear. And I could tell that Darius had felt it too.

I pushed past the door and entered the classroom where my first period was being held, not surprised at all to notice that the teacher was already in there.

He gave me a not-so-pleased look and shrunk a little under his disapproving stare, tightly holding my stuff as I hurried to get an empty seat as fast as possible.

I briskly walked down the row and looked around, my heart sinking little by little as I lastly noticed that there were no more empty seats left; except for one.

And that one was right next to Nathan.

*Crap.*

A strong sense of deja-vu hit me as I nervously made my way straight towards it, struggling not to show an ounce of emotion or even discomfort.

Only the moment I reached it and our gazes inevitably met, a stunned gasp threatened to part my lips as I finally noticed the way he looked. The state he was in.

There were purplish bags under his now dull and lifeless eyes, contrasting that visible red rimming them. His hair was more unkept than ever, stubble peppering his jawline, making him look so incredibly...broken.

But that burning disdain and callousness brimming in his green gems as he looked up at me were the ones that made me steel myself in and refrain myself from reacting, schooling my expression into one of pure indifference as I placed my things on the desk and calmly sat down.

He didn't say anything and neither did I, struggling to focus instead on what our teacher was saying, for once, casually taking notes or trying to solve those equations he was writing on the board by myself.

But I could feel his eyes on me. That nervous bounce of his knee. The way his hands mildly trembled as he incessantly played with his pen or twirled that phone with his fingers, over and over again.

Yet I remained silent. Determined to ignore him for the entirety of our classes and move on with my day. He was exhausting enough as it was. I didn't need to stir him. Try and have a normal conversation with him because I knew that it would've had a disastrous outcome. I knew him. Way too well to know that he would've immediately tried to push me away. Maybe even hurt me, just so that I would keep my distance and leave him alone.

It was painfully obvious that he was already doing it to his own packmates, if I were to judge by the way his future Beta kept throwing worried glances our way. That constant buzz of his phone as he kept receiving texts from hell-knows-who.

He was hurting and that was exactly what he did whenever hurt. Pushing everybody else away.

*Same as I did, actually.* I almost laughed at the thought. We were so alike it was almost fucking gross. Bordering abnormity.

Maybe that was even why we didn't work out in the end. Why fate chose to break us apart like that, resurrecting my first soulmate instead. The one I was originally meant to be with.

We didn't fit. Nathan and I. We were way too toxic for each other. From the very beginning. And only now I was finally starting to realize. Now that I had Darius and that I had felt how perfect he was for me. How complete he made me feel, and loved and wanted. How natural our bond felt. Like it was supposed to be there. Like we were supposed to be together.

It didn't feel that way with Nate. It never did. Because there had always been this small limp in our gait, this unseen force weighing us down whenever we tried to make it work. We were never meant to be and it showed. A perfect mismatch. A passionate and tumultuous tempest we were. A wrathful hurricane. And now, it was finally over. The waters were calming, making room for peace.

It was time for us to move on. Even our bond was saying it. That was why it was slowly dissolving by itself. Little by little. We were trying to break free from each other. And it showed.

**

I spent the next three periods we had together still sitting right next to him, purposely choosing that chair next to his even when I actually had other seating options as that miserable and scornful expression continued to mar his handsome face.

I knew what he felt. I felt it too. It was all out there, streaming through the thin thread of our bond like a flowing waterfall. He hadn't even bothered to hide it away. Or maybe he hadn't even realized that he was doing it. It didn't matter which one of the two it actually was.

I could feel it. And I knew what he needed. What his soul actually craved for.

I calmly sat there in my seat as the classroom had already started to empty, feeling his gaze stealthily flowing in my direction. But he remained silent, refusing to utter a single word to me.

I patiently waited until there was no one left but me and him, offering him a single glance before I rose myself to my feet and gathered my things.

I stepped into the row and he followed, my lips spreading into a tiny smile as I started to walk, hearing his footsteps trail right after me.

I exited the classroom and walked down the hallway, paying enough attention to notice if he was still following or not.

He was, fortunately.

I left my stuff in my locker and then waited for him to leave his too since they were relatively close to each other, my nerves spiking a little as I wasn't entirely sure if he would've kept following me from then on. But he thankfully did. So I set my course to the cafeteria, careful enough to stick close to him, however not close enough for him to feel crowded.

Just two classmates, a boy and a girl, heading in the same direction. Two...acquaintances if you will, casually walking at the same pace.

I eventually entered the spacious hall and headed straight to the serving area, grabbing a tray for myself.

He didn't grab one for himself and I immediately took notice of that, so I piled up enough food on my own, for the both of us.

I thanked the serving lady and then headed straight for the outside area since it was so nice and sunny today.

His packmates- *our friends*, were already there, all huddled up around a single table. But I didn't bother going there, fully knowing that he would've immediately left my side, had I even dared.

So I settled for the loneliest table around the area and made my way towards it, covertly observing him as he sat next to me, however still not uttering a single word.

I didn't try to push him either, conveniently placing that tray in the middle where we both could've reached out for something to eat.

Which was exactly what he did within the following moments.

He didn't bother throwing me a single glance, his stance however slightly more relaxed as he picked up a fry and then fished out his phone, loading up a game and starting to play as he casually ate.