(Elio’s POV)

"Elio, there is an assignment I want your opinion on. Can you help me with it?" Wendy spoke. She added an innocent and sweet, "Please~" at the end. I, whose mind was preoccupied by someone else, nodded. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it. Mine and my wolf’s entire focus was on Myra and only her.

"Sis, you shouldn’t let them wait," I heard Wendy talking. My eyes were locked on Myra’s back. She didn’t turn around or even look my way and walked off just like that. My brain was wired with complicated, suffocating thoughts.

Wendy took my arm, guiding me to her room. It was a few paces away from Myra’s.

"Uhhh~ ... ohhh, can you wait outside for a few seconds. I forgot something, I’ll be real quick," saying this, she quickly pushed the door open slightly, went inside, leaving me behind. From the crack, I could see a few things scattered here and there.

’Phewwww~ .... I kinda lost my composure there,’ Leo spoke, sighing heavily. ’But what can I do? She has been avoiding us, and that was hurtful.’

Neither he nor I have ever behaved like this in front of anybody. Usually, both Leo and I are calm and rational, no matter the situation or the person. But Myra~ ... she is the only variable in our lives. The only exception. The only person who makes us lose our sanity, our calmness. She makes us irrational, emotional, vulnerable and whatnot.

Maybe it is because of the mate bond, or maybe it is my own feelings. I don’t know, I can’t tell. But this type of thing, I haven’t felt this much desperation, hunger, wildness, yearning for any other person ever.

From the moment we first met, the moment I laid my eyes on her. The way my heart thumped in my chest. The way her smile mesmerised me. The way her voice made me tingle. I have liked her since then. But this isn’t just like anymore. So, is it what they call love? Am I ... in love with her already?

My ruminations were cut short by the sound of the door clicking open from the inside. Wendy unlatched the door, leaning against it, she chimed, "You can come in now."

When I stepped inside, I noticed her room was neatly organized. ’She must have cleaned it all up,’ Leo remarked.

"Why don’t you take a seat?" she suggested.

"It’s alright. Where is your assignment?" I uttered. I didn’t find it appropriate to settle down. ’Good thing I left the door ajar,’ I thought.

"Uhhh~ .... it’s~ .... I will bring it to you," she said, her voice came out low. Even without me reading her face, I could tell she was damn nervous. She must have worked really hard on her project.

She walked to the canvas, whose face was on the other side. She asked me, "Can you close your eyes?"

"Huhh? Why?" I asked, my tone filled with confusion.

"I want to see your unfiltered reaction. Okay, hmm?" she said. Thinking of it as an artist thing, I obliged and closed my eyes. "Don’t open it until I say so~ .... Ohk?" she added.

"Okay, I won’t," with my hands on my back, I answered, standing straight.

For a few seconds, I could only hear the faint rustling sounds of her small footsteps. My mind once again jogged back to Myra. How close we were just a while ago. How soft her skin felt under my touch. Whenever I get the opportunity, I should talk to My~r .... "Elio, you can open your eyes now," Wendy spoke abruptly, breaking my chain of thoughts. Her voice came out from a rather close proximity.

I snapped back almost immediately. Slowly, yet steadily and what I saw made me speechless, dumbfounded even. I forgot to make even a single sound.

"What happened? Do you~ .... do you not like it? Is it not good?" she asked with caution and anxiety.

I inquired for confirmation, still not being able to wrap my head around what was in front of my eyes, "This is~ .... is this m~e?"

’Why would she make your portrait? Are you thinking what I am thinking, huhh?’ Leo commented. ’Does she like you or something, Eli?’

"Umm~ ... yes," she spoke softly, hesitantly. "Our professor gave us all an assignment to draw a portrait of someone of the opposite gender. I took the liberty of drawing you and used you as my muse. Did I made a mistake, did I overstep?" she queried, tentatively. Then, I heard her murmur to herself, ’I should have asked him first.’ Her hands were fidgeting.

Her words made us both sigh in relief, ’What were we thinking, hahh? It’s just a project assignment. No need to overreact.

"No, no. You didn’t overstep at all. I was a bit stunned to see it, that’s all. It’s~ ... the portrait looks commendable, really well made. I can see you put a lot of effort into it. Well done, Wendy," I replied, smacking the back of my head inwardly. ’What are you thinking, Leo. She is Myra’s little sister. Which makes her my sister as well. Don’t put such words in my head again,’ I reprimanded him.

"Really?" I could feel tension easing from her body as her shoulders visibly relaxed. Her eyes crinkled as well. "You saying this makes me a lot more confident. You know, sketch making is the one subject where I struggle. So, I was really nervous about whether it turned out right or not," she told me. "But your words assure me. I can proudly submit it. You know what, I haven’t shown it to anybody. Just you and Myra sis."

"You showed it to~ .... Myra?" I repeated. "How did she react when she saw this?" I blurted out without thinking, my voice a bit impatient. I wanted to know what she felt when she saw it. Was she happy? Was she jealous? After all, Wendy, apart from being her sister, she is someone from the opposite sex.

"Yeah, she is the first person I have shown it to. Just like you~ ... she was dumbfounded too, haha," she said. "Anyways~ .... Elio, there is something I need to give you~ ..."

"Something for me?" I queried.

"Yeah~ ...." She kept the canvas on her bed, walked to her desk, and took something out of the drawer. "Here~ ... this is for you," she extended her hand, while she tucked the strand of her hair behind with the other.

It was a mini portrait of me, properly framed, smiling brightly. "This is~ ..." I hesitated. I had a feeling that I shouldn’t accept it.

"Take it. I made it for you as a gift. For the past few days, you have helped my family and me so much. And~ .... you are a special friend to me. So, I just wanted to do something for you. It’s my thank-you gift. Please accept my sincerity," her words were laced with earnestness.

To Be Continued . . . . . . . .