9.

“Are you surprised?” Dominic asked with a smirk.

Selene couldn't believe this guy. It wasn't like they were getting into a contract marriage or anything. It was just a partnership. What has contracts got to do with all these?

“I don't really understand how being your Martial arts partner requires a contract.” She frowned at him.

Dominic loved the look on her face. Finally, he annoyed her with something and counted it as an achievement.

“You know, I am the most sought-after guy in this Academy. I need to bind you with a contract to avoid you going out of bounds.” He explained.

“Going out of bounds? How?” She asked and he facepalmed.

“Are you dumb or what? Look at me from head to toes, then look around and see how the girls stare at me,” He ordered and Selene found herself doing as he had said.

She could see how the ladies stared like they were going to eat him whole. The way some guys stared at him made her think they were bisexual. Like why the heck would a guy stare at his fellow guy that way?

“Do you understand why I want us to sign a contract now?” He asked.

Selene sighed. “May I see the terms of the contract?” She asked.

“Sure.” He opened it.

Selene took it and went through it with wide eyes. What game did he think he was playing? After going through them all, she snapped her head in his direction.

“This is absurd!” She snapped.

“What? Are they too difficult for you?” He asked.

“Look, Dominic, I don't know what you're up to and I don't like it. What sort of contract forbids me from touching you but allows you to touch me? And look, we are to stay 5 feet apart from each other. How is that going to work when we are partners and have to train together?” She asked, getting annoyed a bit.

She wanted to get all these over with and return to where she had come from but the guy was making things pretty difficult for her and delaying her progress.

“We can train in the same room and still not go close to each other. What else do you want from me aside from that?” He asked.

“Huh?” She arched her brows.

“You need to stop this pretense, Selene. You and I know you are happy we got mated and want to use the Martial arts stuff as an opportunity to get close to me. I don't like girls and worst of all, I don't like you at all. You're not my type and on top of that, you're annoying, so I want to make sure that plan of yours isn't accomplished,” He said and took a pen.

Selene couldn't believe her ears. Why was he suddenly being so annoying? She wanted to yell at him but recalled that she was supposed to be nice and win him to herself. She took a deep breath and forced a smile at him.

“If you aren't happy with my contract, you can go meet Mr. Ethan and tell him you want to switch partners.” He suggested.

Selene shook her head. “I'm okay with it, Dominic,” She answered.

She took her pen and checked to see how long the contract would last but found nothing. “How long is this contract lasting?” She asked.

“Until I say it's over.” He replied nonchalantly and she sighed.

She signed it and pushed it to him. He did the same as well and took it.

“I'll go make a copy.” He smiled slyly and walked out of the class.

Selene sighed and massaged her forehead. She wondered what exactly he was up to. Was he aiming towards something or he just hated her?

“It seems you and Dominic are cool now.”

Selene turned to where the voice came from and met the cat eyes of a pretty brunette.

“I don't know what you mean.” She rubbed the back of her head.

“Well, at the dojo yesterday, I saw how he snubbed you when you wanted to sit in the same place with him. I also saw his expression when the two of you were paired as partners. He looked like he couldn't wait to kill you,” She laughed and Selene chuckled. “I was about to tell you that you'd get used to it. He is like that to everybody except Bryce, his acting Beta of course. But it seems you two are now getting along. Nice.” She smiled.

“We aren't getting along, Naya.” She answered.

The girl gasped. “How did you know my name?” She asked.

Selene cleared her throat, looking for any excuse to give. Her eyes went to Naya's notebook and she smiled. “It's written in your notebook.”

Naya chuckled. “Oh,” She laughed again. “For a second there, I thought you were some sort of magical being,”

Selene smiled.

“You're Selene, right? Got your name when you introduced yourself to the class.”

Selene nodded. “Yes, that's my name.”

Naya furrowed her brows like she was in deep thought. Selene already knew what was in her mind. From the first time she set her eyes on Naya, she knew the girl was intelligent as well as inquisitive. And no one needed to tell her the question she was going to ask next.

“Why does your name sound exactly like the moon goddess's?” She asked.

“Is the name “Selene” rare?“ She asked.

Naya chuckled. “Of course it's rare. You're the first person I'm meeting with such a name. I thought it belonged to the moon goddess alone.” Naya whispered.

“I don't think things work that way.” Selene expressed with a smile.

“I know but do you think the moon goddess would love her name getting shared like that? Considering how powerful she is, I don't think she'd like that.” Naya explained.

“Well, I think she wouldn't mind. She is an easy-going person.” Selene sighed.

“Stop talking like you know her too well, or do you know her? Have you met her before?” Naya asked with an interesting glint in her eyes.

Selene didn't answer. She just smiled.

“I love your company, Selene. Wait… is it okay if I call you the moon goddess since you literally have the same name as her?”

“Hehe, I don't think that's a good idea.” Selene chuckled nervously.

Naya shrugged. “If you say so. How about we exchange contacts? We're friends from today and I hope we become besties one day.”

“Friends? Besties?” Selene asked.

“Yes, of course. Did you think I didn't have an ulterior motive before talking to you?” She scoffed playfully. “Let me have your number.” She requested.

That was when Selene realized she didn't get a phone. She facepalmed internally and made a mental note to get one immediately after school.

“How about you give me yours instead? I'll give you a call.” She smiled at Naya.

“Sure,” Naya giggled and reached into her bag for her pen. When she got it, she tore a piece of paper from her notebook, wrote her number and handed it over to Selene.

“Thanks.” Selene smiled and dropped the number in her bag.

Naya was about to say something else when Dominic entered. He had been watching them from the window and seen how they discussed. When Selene had smiled the other time, he felt his wolf purr in excitement. At one point he wanted to connect with her wolf to see if she was truly his mate but he couldn't get a link, which made him curious.

The sparks were there, the attraction was present but why was there no link?

Selene looked up at him and he threw her copy on the table.

“That's yours. And make sure you keep it well. Mere looking at you, I have a feeling you're very careless with stuff. You couldn't save yourself from some bullies, I wonder how you're going to save this from getting torn.” He scoffed and sat down.

Selene sighed and forced a smile. “Thank you.” She dropped it in her bag and took her notes to prepare for the next class.

After school that day, Selene walked into a phone store and looked around.

“How may I help you, Miss?” The receptionist asked.

“Um… I'd like to purchase a phone.” She answered with a bright smile.

“What product do you want?” The receptionist asked and Selene sighed.

She tried to think of something but nothing was forthcoming.

“I don't really know. Just give me anyone you know is nice.” She requested.

“Alright then.” She smiled and typed something into her computer then picked up a pen, wrote something on a paper and handed it over to Selene, then pointed at a man, who stood opposite them.

Selene nodded and took the paper to the man. He glanced through it and smiled at her before leading her to where the best brands were located.

“What's the name?” Selene asked.

“Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It just got released and I'm sure you'll love it.” He replied and she nodded.

“How much does it cost?” She asked.

“$1.199.99, ma'am.” He replied.

Selene nodded at him, dipped her hand into her bag and brought out her credit card. He took her to the cashier and she made the payment. After confirmation, and a few registration for her number, she left.

When she got home, she took the phone manual, studied through it and did as instructed. When she was done, she typed in Naya's number then gave her a call.

“You called like you promised!” Naya exclaimed from the other end.

“Yes, Naya. Did you get home safely?” Selene asked.

There was silence for a while before Naya finally answered. “I didn't go home. I stopped somewhere.”

“Why? Were you sent on an errand?” Selene asked.

“I wish,” Naya sighed. “I want to have a bit of fun before heading home. Mother won't let me do anything when I'm home and would only take me to additional training which she refers to as “etiquette class.” Naya replied, mimicking her mother's voice which got Selene laughing.

“I already know where you're headed. It might be for your own good, though. After all, you're training to become Luna.” Selene cooed.

“I know that but it's excessive. Sometimes, I just want to leave my own life, make my own mistakes and do some crazy things,” She expressed and Selene sighed. “How about you, Selene? You're training to become Luna too. Is your mother like that?” Naya asked.

Selene went mute.

“Selene?” Naya called.

“I'll hang up now, Naya. Just remembered I have something urgent to attend to.” She said and didn't wait for Naya to say anything else before ending the call.

She sighed and picked up the contract papers. She couldn't believe Dominic actually made a contract with obnoxious conditions. She stood up, transformed into her normal self and appeared in the magic realm.

“Moon Goddess,” Marlene bowed. “It's been quite a while.” She smiled.

“Yes, it has. Are you well?” She asked.

“Here isn't the same with you gone but I'm coping and hoping you'd come back soon.” Marlene replied.

“I'll definitely come back soon.” She smiled and disappeared, reappearing in the meeting room.

The gods weren't in the room.

“Artemis,” She called and the lady became visible.

“Come on, Selene.” Artermis groaned with an eye roll.

Selene laughed. “Stop complaining. You turned invisible on purpose to trick me but I caught you as always.” She beat her chest proudly and Artemis rolled her eyes.

“I won't deny you're pretty good at sensing things,” She said and Selene nodded. “How's it going with Dominic?” She asked.

“Not good. The guy is a tough nut to crack.” Selene sighed and sat down.

“He's proving difficult now but he might fall helplessly in love with you later.” She replied.

Selene scoffed. “That's not going to happen,” She said and brought out the contract. “Take a look at that and tell me if it's ever going to happen.”

Artemis took it and her eyes widened when she read the content. “What does he take you for exactly? A weak baby?” Artemis laughed.

“That's not even the point,” Selene sighed. “He wants nothing to do with me at all!”

“If he doesn't want to yield, we'd have to push him to.” Artemis smirked.

“How?”

“I have a plan, and it's a very drastic one.”