Chapter 24 Possessive
Phoebe
Wolfsbane.
Ms. Tina was explaining its effects on us werewolves. As I already knew, wolfsbane is incredibly debilitating to our kind. Yet, its existence serves a purpose in human industries, so we can’t just wipe it off the face of the earth.
From a distance, I could feel Finley’s gaze darting between Tyra and me, like he was monitoring us. It was unnerving, the constant tapping of his pen on the desk matching the rhythm of my heartbeat as I waited for the lunch bell.
Lunch was always my sanctuary. In the bustling cafeteria filled with laughter and chatter, I had found a small, quiet table in the corner. Armed with a plate of roasted beef and soy sauce, I reveled in the solitude. No one watching, no comparisons. Just me, my food, and a rare moment of peace.
But peace didn’t last long.
“Hey, mind if I sit here?”
Startled, I looked up. Adonis stood there, his usual smirk replaced with a neutral expression, glasses perched on his nose. I blinked, trying not to show my surprise.
“You... Adonis?” I asked, my tone cautious but not cold.
He shrugged and, without waiting for permission, slid into the seat beside me. “Yeah, it’s me. Sorry if I made things awkward yesterday. Let me guess—Finley’s already given you the rundown?”
“He explained,” I said evenly, though suspicion crept into my voice. “Should I be worried now?”
Adonis wasn’t exactly known for being friendly, and from what Finley had shared, he’d struggled to fit in at Livingstone.
He opened his lunchbox, revealing a far more appetizing spread than mine—pasta smothered in red sauce, chunks of meat, and a generous sprinkle of cheese. The aroma wafted between us, and I couldn’t help but swallow.
“Want some?” he asked, catching my stare.
I quickly shook my head. “No, thanks.”
“Sure? I mean, you’ve been eating that same roast beef forever.”
I frowned, feeling both embarrassed and offended. “I’m fine with my food, thanks.”
Adonis chuckled, then dug into his lunch without saying much else. This quieter, less overbearing version of him was... unexpected. It wasn’t like he was trying to force a conversation, which I appreciated.
My brief moment of gratitude was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Phoebe! Adonis!”
Finley strode toward our table, his gaze flicking suspiciously between the two of us. “What’s going on here? Lunch together?”
I swallowed the bite in my mouth and nodded. “As you can see.”
Adonis grinned lazily. “Just having lunch, Finley. Want to join us?”
Without hesitation, Finley plopped his tray down and pulled out a chair. “Honestly, I got bored sitting over there. Besides, I figured I’d rather be here than stuck with those noisy people.”
It was a lame excuse, and we both knew it. His fidgeting betrayed his nerves—probably tied to whatever had happened between him and Tyra earlier. The tension between them was thick this morning, but I had no idea why.
“So, how’s the food here?” Finley asked, clearly trying to ease the mood.
I shrugged. “I like it.”
“You don’t mind me joining, right?”
“Not at all,” I said with a small smile.
He grinned. “Good. Guess I’ll be sticking close to you.”
Adonis leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a faint smirk like he was enjoying the situation. I, on the other hand, felt increasingly awkward. When did I become the center of attention for these two? I just wanted a quiet lunch, not whatever dynamic this was.
But before I could make sense of it, the air shifted. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I didn’t need to turn around to know who was standing behind me.
“Phoebe.”
That deep, cold voice sent a shiver through me. My heart thudded painfully in my chest.
I tilted my head up slowly. And there he was—Hayden, his expression unreadable, his icy sky blue eyes flicking between Adonis and Finley before finally landing on me.
“Hayden,” I managed to say, keeping my voice as steady as possible. “What’s up?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he glanced at the empty seat beside me and sat down without waiting for an invitation.
“I wanted to remind you about our duo training,” he said.
“Duo training?” I echoed, confused. “But that’s not on today’s schedule.”
“I thought we’d get a head start. Unless you’re too busy?” His tone was casual, but the way his eyes lingered on Adonis and Finley said otherwise.
I felt my cheeks flush. “I’m not busy,” I mumbled, hoping he’d drop the subject and leave. But, of course, Hayden stayed put.
The tension at the table grew thick enough to cut with a knife. Finley fidgeted, his usual cheer dimmed. Adonis, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease, even amused, as if the whole situation was a game for him.
“So,” Adonis said, breaking the silence, “how’s training going?”
“That’s none of your concern,” Hayden snapped, his tone sharp with authority.
“Hayden!” I glared at him. “There’s no need to be rude.”
He turned to me, his gaze softening just a fraction. For a moment, I thought I saw something—something deeper than jealousy—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual cold demeanor.
“We’ll talk later,” he said quietly.
I nodded, unsure of what else to say. Inwardly, I braced myself for whatever conversation was coming.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, I shot to my feet. “I have to get to class.”
“I’ll walk you,” Hayden said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
I wanted to refuse, but I knew it would only make things more awkward. So, with a resigned sigh, I let him follow me out of the cafeteria.
As we walked, I stole a glance at him, trying to read his expression. “Hayden, what was that about?” I finally asked.
He didn’t respond immediately, just kept walking beside me. Then he stopped and turned to face me, his gaze intense.
“I don’t like seeing them getting too close to you,” he said bluntly.
I blinked, caught off guard. “They’re just friends. We’re teammates. We were only having lunch together.”
“Maybe,” he murmured, his voice softer now, “but I still don’t like it. Especially Adonis.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. This side of Hayden—the possessive, vulnerable side—was new to me. And for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, it made my heart race faster than ever.