Page 18 of Missing

"Look, I know this is confusing and hurtful," Melody continued, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "But you need to remember that Griffin's powers can be overwhelming at times, for both him and the people he touches. It's not about you being a monster or him hating you. It's about understanding and managing those intense emotions."

I sighed, trying to take in what Melody was saying while my thoughts continued to race. "I guess I just don't understand why he'd touch me in the first place if he knew how it might affect him."

"Maybe he didn't know, or maybe he couldn't resist," she suggested, shrugging her shoulders. "Whatever the reason, try not to let it get to you too much."

"Thanks, Mel," I murmured, feeling the warmth of her friendship chase away some of the darkness inside me.

The fact that Griffin had touched me left a chilling realisation in my mind: he knew my powers now. He had felt them, tasted them as intimately as if we were lovers. And yet I had no idea about them at all.

As my thoughts raced, I became aware of another emotion, one that caught me off guard. A deep, primal desire stirred within me, a need to be close to Griffin, skin against skin. My body craved him, wanting to straddle him and ride him until we both found release.

"Harper?" Melody's voice cut through the fog of lust. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah," I stammered, trying to shake off the inappropriate thoughts. "Just... processing everything, I guess."

"Take your time," she encouraged. "But remember, you're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together."

"Thanks," I whispered, grateful for her unwavering support. But as the lunch hour ticked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between Griffin and me – something dangerous, something wild. And I wasn't sure what scared me more: the fact he now knew more about me than I did, or the fire he'd ignited within me.

Chapter 17

Griffin Talesmen

There was something about Harper that seemed to draw me in, and I wasn't impressed. I didn't need a distraction, especially not now. But as she sat there chatting with Melody, her laughter and bright green eyes stirred up an unexpected curiosity inside of me.

Stop staring, Griffin, I told myself, trying to shake off the inexplicable pull towards her. I poked at my lunch, attempting to regain focus on the meal in front of me, but my senses were filled with her presence.

As I sat there, I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness wafting from Harper. It was like a heavy fog creeping over the room, filling every corner and weighing down on me. She pretended to smile at Melody, but it was clear that her mind was elsewhere. My heart ached for her, even though I didn't know her story.

I felt my body lean over to touch her hand before I could stop myself. The moment our skin made contact, electricity crackled between us, sending shivers down my spine. I quickly pulled back, cursing my impulsive action.

"What the fuck?" Harper looked at me, confusion etched across her face.

"Stay the fuck away from me," I replied, annoyed at my own inability to maintain control.

The fire coursing through my veins was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. It started in my arm, where I had touched Harper's hand, and it was spreading with a ferocity that both terrified and exhilarated me.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered under my breath, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. I had known she was powerful, but this? This was on another level entirely.

I couldn't shake the feeling that Harper was more than we bargained for. She wasn't the one we were looking for – she couldn't be. Her powers were too strong, too potent. If she were to become a central figure in our group, I doubted any of us would make it out unscathed.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, trying to focus on anything other than the burning sensation still coursing through my veins like liquid fire. The way her touch had ignited something in me... It wasn't natural. But as much as I tried to deny it, there was no escaping the truth: my body was betraying me.

"Griffin, what the fuck was that?" Dante's voice called out, cutting through the air like a whip. I could hear his footsteps approaching, rapid and insistent, as Orlando followed close behind. I sighed, knowing there was no escaping this conversation.

"Jesus, man, give me a second to breathe," I muttered, running my hand through my hair in frustration. Still, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude for their concern.

"Alright, you've got your damn sec," Dante retorted, his brown eyes flashing with impatience. "Now explain. Why did you touch her? And why'd you bolt like that?"

"Look, it's... complicated." I hesitated, unsure of how to put my jumbled thoughts into words. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the confusion that swirled within me.

"Complicated my ass," Dante scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Spill it."

Orlando remained silent beside me, his green eyes studying me intently. He was always the observer, patient and calculating. I knew he wouldn't push for answers but would wait for me to open up on my own terms.

"Fine," I relented, exhaling slowly. "I think Harper might be my mate."

Dante's mouth dropped open, shock colouring his features. "You're shitting me, right?"

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