HIRAM'S POV:
After deleting the message, I leave the room, making my way downstairs. Then I find my way to the basement, where Alex's guys are carrying out the instructions I gave.
As I step through the door leading to the basement, my fists tighten at my sides. I descend the stairs with my mind replaying June's trembling voice, and all I can think of is how lucky Victor is that Juniper needed me tonight. If not, I would be the one hammering my fists into his stupid face until I exhaust the hurt in my chest. It would never be the same as Alex's men doing it because with me, I may not know when to stop, and I would only send him to his grave early.
The air grows heavier with every step, and the scent of damp stone mingles with blood-Victor's blood, and this only lightens my mood a bit as the low thrum of voices becomes clearer.
Finally, I get to the bottom. What greets me is the sound of a fist connecting with flesh, followed by a muffled grunt of pain. I push the door open at once, and the creak breaks the tension momentarily.
Inside, Victor hangs limply in the center of the room, bound to a chair. His face is a mess-blood streaking from his nose, a cut splitting his lip, one eye already swollen shut. Around him, Alex's men stand, and before I can say another word, the one with the scar on his eye sends a sharp jab to his cheek, causing blood to fall from his mouth.
"Stop!" I command, and both men turn to face me, grounding their hands to their sides. I walk up to them, then pat them gently on the shoulder. "Great job." They both nod, taking a step back while I stand in front of Victor, who keeps groaning from the pain.
"Look at me!" I demand, gritting my teeth, my hands curling into fists.
Victor struggles to lift his head, his one good eye trying to focus on me. When he does, a flicker of recognition crosses his face, followed by something else-fear. He knows who I am now, or at least he thinks he does.
"Hi... Hiram, why?" he croaks, blood bubbling from his lips.
"Juniper Miles," I say without a second thought, and I watch his good eye widen. "The name rings a bell, right?" I ask, and I watch his breathing quicken, and fear totally consumes him.
I like the way he feels-at least he can get a taste of what June felt when he held her against her wish.
He stammers, shaking his head. "I... I didn't mean to hurt her," he tries to explain. "Lola told me... Lola said she wanted me... that she was just shy. She said June goes around exchanging sex for grades. She mentioned you, and how June is already getting herself acquainted with you, so I assumed she went around with my junior lecturers to get good grades in history, and..."
"You thought you could have her for yourself," I finish, my fists curled. Without thinking, I let my fist kiss his face, sending the chair back with a scrape, but it doesn't fall.
Lola Baker. Her name burns raw in my mind, but it makes me feel guilty-guilty that June is in this because of some obsessed student who wants me. She will pay for this regardless of her gender.
I watch as Victor struggles to regain himself.
"How many kids do you have, Victor?" I ask in a calm tone, but he doesn't answer immediately, which drives the anger I feel deep in my veins. "Answer me!" I yell, and he blinks.
"Three... why does that matter?"
I lean in closer, my eyes never leaving his, watching the panic flicker in his gaze.
"Because, unlike you, I actually care about the people I protect. Juniper is mine, and I will make sure she never has to worry about scum like you again," I say, trying hard to fight the anger beneath my skin, because I do not think he will survive another punch.
"To make things clearer. Juniper is mine. She is my girlfriend, and I hate when people touch what belongs to me, and you did. In my world, you deserve to die, but since you are not alone in this crime, I will make sure to drop by to your partner." I grab his collar, twisting it, a dark grin stretching across my face.
"Why am I telling you this? Because you can report me to the school, but it will do nothing to remedy your situation."
"You're a history teacher, right? So I'm sure you've read the myths, the ones about werewolves? About the rumors that wolves fund the government, and I am here to give you firsthand confirmation of history."
Victor's eye goes wide. I lean back, letting go of his collar as my words settle in the room before I add, "My last name is Howler. And you must have read about my ancestors in those little history books of yours. We've been running things around here for a long time."
I flex my fingers, allowing my claws to extend slowly, and I watch as he struggles against his seat.
"Do not fear. I love family too, so you won't be dying today," I say to him, running the claw on my right index finger on his cheek, giving it a small cut.
"My family owns about seventy percent of this city. And I'm sure you'd like to keep this filthy life of yours. But if you want to keep your career intact, you have two options."
Victor stares at me, his breathing quickening as he begins to understand the gravity of what I'm saying.
"You can either walk away. Go back to your beautiful family, your wife, and live in peace. But you'll have to send a resignation letter to the school immediately. No exceptions."
Victor shakes his head violently. "Please, Hiram... I'll never find another job. I can't..."
I don't let him finish. "You won't need a job," I say in a low tone. "Not when I file an attempted rape allegation. That'll be the end of your career. So, your best bet is to do as I say. Walk away, and maybe you'll get to keep your life."
Victor trembles, his face pale with fear.
"Please... Hiram... please."
I nod to the men behind me. "Take him away."
Without looking, I make my way out of the room. I rush up the stairs, then I throw on my shirt hurriedly, grabbing my phone, and checking through the contacts until I find Lola's name. I place a call to her at once.
"Professor Hir..."
"What is your address?" I ask, cutting her off. "I cannot sleep through the night, and I was wondering if we could meet for the night," I say to her, and she chuckles lightly in a seductive tone, which does nothing but make my stomach knot in disgust.
When she tells me her address, I end the call. Then I grab my keys, leaving the house at once.
When I arrive at her place, the door swings open almost immediately, and I can already tell what kind of night she intends this to be. Lola stands there, wearing a short nightgown that barely covers her. The fabric clings to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination.
I don't react. Not the way she expects, because I don't want her body. I don't want any part of her. Her appearance only disgusts me, and I want this to be over, but a part of me wants to let her have her fun before I send her into misery. She shuts the door behind me, not wasting a second before she's all over me, her hands clawing at my shirt with her body pressed up against mine.
I am stiff, but she doesn't seem to notice. She throws her arms around me, pressing herself closer, and I do nothing but watch her. I cannot even touch her back.
Her hands trail up to my neck, and she leans in, trying to kiss me, but I can't pretend anymore. I push her away at arm's length, gripping her. She stumbles slightly, but she doesn't retreat.
I fix her with an icy stare.
"I know about Victor," I say, and the smile on her face tells me she is thinking of another thing. "I know he harassed Juniper. And I know you're the one who pushed him to do it," I clarify my words.
Her eyes widen in shock, her mouth opening and closing like she's trying to figure out how to react.
"You're the one who told him Juniper wanted him. And now, because of you, she's been hurt," I continue, my voice laced with disgust.
"I... I didn't mean to hurt her. You gave her all the attention, and you never bothered to look at me." Tears hang in her eyes, but they do not move me.
"I want you to drop my class." My gaze doesn't leave her as I say this.
Her eyes narrow, and she shakes her head vigorously. "You can't do that," she protests, her voice rising.
"You can't just make me drop your class. You don't have that power."
I lean in with my mouth brushing against her ear. "I don't need to. You'll drop it willingly. Because if you don't, you will bear the consequences."
She freezes, and bumps sprout up her skin.
"You'll never have me, Lola," I continue, attempting to break her. "But worse than that-worse than never having me-is the fact that you'll fail my class. And you'll keep failing until you drop it. So, what will it be?"
I watch as she struggles to speak, then I let her go of her, walking away without another word.