Today was my first Infant Care session after lunch. I still remembered the young couple, Lily and Bill, who had asked me to look out for their son, William, and I forced my thoughts to stay there. I didn't allow myself to think anything else. Specifically of a coal-and-fire-eyed, six-foot something, pillar of aggravation.

Our sessions at the centre ended in the afternoon and it was time to head to our resting stations for lunch

Wolf and I exchanged glances as we sat glumly in our seats in the Hover, thinking about the 'detention' we'd received.

When we reached our resting stations, we trudged out slowly, unsure what to do. Freesia was throwing us what's-wrong-with-you? looks the whole time, but we stayed silent.

We followed everyone into the Common Cabin slowly, and almost as soon as we stepped into the large rooms, we were intercepted by a golden haired, maroon-eyed C'Riel. He stood in front of us, seeming almost angry even though the expression on his face was as stoic as wood.

"Your nutrition privileges have been revoked. You have been confined to your resting stations. Please leave. You will be summoned when it is time for you to depart for work." He informed us.

Wolf and I silently turned away, throwing apologetic looks to Freesia who was gaping at the two of us, shocked.

"We'll see you," I told her as we started to step away. She quickly caught my hand and leaned in to whisper.

"Would you like me to bring you anything?" She asked.

The fact that she was ready to go through such a risk just so that I didn't starve was...touching.

I smiled and shook my head.

"Thanks, but no." I told her.

She looked at Wolf who nodded his head in agreement to what I had said.

She threw us looks of pity before heading off to eat. Both of us trudged towards the elevators in silence.

When we got in we looked at each other and Wolf chuckled.

"I would say sorry, but you brought this on yourself." He said.

I half-heartedly slapped Wolf's arm and rolled my eyes.

Just as I was about to get off on my floor, he stopped me with a hand on my arm.

I turned to look at him, his eyes were stormy and there were furrows between his eyebrows, as if he were contemplating something and it made no sense to him.

"Why did you cover for him, Amour?" He asked me, his head tilting. There was no judgement in his question, only curiosity, and that was why I decided to answer.

"I felt like I owed him." I said, truthfully, my shoulders lifting and dropping in a shrug.

Wolf paused again, seeming to think about something.

"A little birdie told me..." He started, before shaking his head and stepping away back into the elevator.

This time, I caught his arm, stopping him.

"Told you what?" I asked.

He seemed to think about telling me and I couldn't refrain from expressing my impatience in the form of a raised eyebrow and the tapping of my foot.

He grinned before his expression turned serious again.

"Did he give you...food?" Wolf asked.

That was the absolute last thing I expected him to ask and I feel like the sudden change in direction of the conversation was going to render me cross-eyed from the whiplash.

I blinked a few times, trying to get my brain to catch up, while Wolf waited patiently.

"He gave me a fruit." I said finally.

Wolf's brows furrowed.

"Did you eat it?" He asked.

I blinked again. I could almost feel myself going cross-eyed.

"Yes." I said.

Wolf leaned forward, meeting my eyes with a serious look in his.

"How much do you know about C'Riel culture?" He asked me, his eyes remaining unwaveringly on mine.

"I don't..." My brows furrowed as I thought about it, "I don't really know anything about it."

Wolf leaned back, his face wiped clean of any expression, as if he was too shocked to even react.

He opened his mouth a few times before closing it again. Then he finally said, "Where are you from, Amour?"

I blinked. What did that have to do with anything?

I told him where I was from.

He stared at me.

"What does your father do?" He asked me.

I blinked.

"He's a teacher at our Educational Centres." I said.

"On Earth?" Wolf stressed.

I shrugged, "He...studied."

Wolf continued to look at me.

"Studied...what? Genetics? Molecular biology? Was he a scientist?" He asked, stepping closer to me and looking at me with intensity that had me raising my eye brows.

"Um...no," I said with an awkward chuckle, "He just went through his physics stuff in our cells."

Wolf stilled, his grey eyes piercing through me with understanding that seemed lost on me.

He then placed both his hands on my shoulders.

"Okay, Amour, listen to what I'm going to say carefully." He said.

I nodded, my eyes trained to his.

"We don't know everything about them, but we do know this. C'Riel are a highly private race. Even within themselves. They possess speed, eyesight and hearing that is better than us. The only possible weakness they have is their skin."

My brows furrowed, "Their skin?" I asked.

"Their skin is so sensitive, they are said to have the ability to touch one another and remember each other's fingerprints. They can sense out danger, the presence of the people they've touched, and their skin is said to be sensitive enough that sometimes even the sun can burn them."

That's why they're covered all the time.

I didn't realise I'd said that out loud until Wolf nodded in response.

"Skin to skin contact is the utmost privilege, almost an intimate gesture, that one C'Riel gives another; because it is through their skin that they can be harmed. It's why their suits are reinforced to protect them from anything coming in contact with their skin. Touching one another, in C'Riel terms, is said to display the trust they have in one another. "

"Like dogs showing their belly and trusting you not to hurt them." I said.

Wolf let out a startled laugh, "Sure. You can say that. Or you could say it's like giving another person a knife and a gun, while you're unarmed and handcuffed, with nothing to protect you."

Unease settled in me.

Now I understood why Rafe reacted the way he did this morning.

Still. I wasn't a disease. He didn't have to say what he did in front of everyone.

"What happened today makes sense to you now doesn't it?" Wolf asked.

I nodded slowly, worrying my lip.

"There's another thing," he said.

I looked up at him.

"Food." He said.

I groaned. "Don't remind me of food, I'm already-"

Wolf shook his head, "I'm talking about what food means to them."

Oh.

I nodded, letting him know he could continue.

"They don't worship a God exactly. The only thing sacred to them, is nature. It is their God. And anything provided to them by nature is considered holy. That's where food comes in."

"Food is holy?" I asked.

He nodded.

"So when he offered you that fruit, it usually means that he either respects you, or that you're special to him in some way, or..." Wolf's lashes lifted as he considered me.

"Or..?" I prodded.

Wolf let out a breath, "Or that he's pursuing some kind of relationship with you." He finally said.

I blanched.

"What?" I asked.

Wolf held up his hands, "Calm down, it could just mean friendship too."

I relaxed a little, feeling silly for having overreacted, "Oh. Okay."

"So my accepting it means...?" I promoted.

Wolf shrugged, "That you accept his advanced and mirror his intentions."

Okay. I accepted being his friend.

That wasn't bad. Except now it was, because I was mad at him.

"If he ever cooks for you," Wolf continued, letting out a huff of laughter, "Then he is definitely evincing interest in you. And I'm not talking about interest in being your friend. I'm talking about how he totally wants to get in your-"

I put my hand up, stopping him, "I get it." I said.

"Oh, or if he takes food from your plate...or gives you some from his, that definite means he's interested." Wolf said.

I rubbed my forehead, "Good Lord."

He patted my shoulder empathetically.

"I thought you said touching was the ultimate show of feelings or whatever." I asked.

Wolf shook his head, "He will let his parents touch him, doesn't mean he's interested in them."

I made a face at that and he laughed.

He patted my shoulder.

"Touch plus cooked food? Then you're the "One"." He said, making quotes in the air.

I snickered.

"So they have the "One" too huh?" I snickered.

Wolf's expression changed, "I'm talking about-"

Both of our communication devices made tones at the same time.

We reached for it and our eyes widened and we dashed to our rooms after quick goodbyes.

We had received a warning stating that we were yet to reach our rooms and further delay would result in extension in punishment.

Talk about spying.

______________________________________

It's not a dream promise, definitely an update. :)

My exams literally finished TODAY. More updates coming your way! ❤️

Also. How cool is this --->🦄

UPDATE: This cover and the two following them in the next two chapters were designed by @CitrusRush and gosh aren't they just beautiful???? Thank you so much love! <3