Chapter 43: Clingy Professor, Docile Bully

Chapter 43: Clingy Professor, Docile Bully

When it finally ended I was already mentally mapping the route to the library.

Nathan shoved his notebook into his bag and stood. "Should I wait and walk you over?"

"No, go eat. You're always miserable when you're hungry."

"I'm never miserable."

I gave him a look.

"I'm occasionally irritable," he corrected. "Which is different." He hesitated, bag over one shoulder. "Lucian, you're hurt. If those two decide to—"

"It's a group assignment, Nathan. In the library. In school." I kept my voice patient. "They're not going to do anything."

"They'd better not." He pointed at me. "If anything happens, beep me immediately."

I thought of Darius saying almost the exact same thing, with the addition of beep me, not Nathan. I'd nodded and said nothing.

"I'll be fine," I told him.

He gave me one last long look then surrendered. "I'm starving. Message me when you're done." He turned, then turned back. "Ryder especially. Watch him."

"Goodbye, Nathan."

He left, and approximately ten seconds later Ryder and Cade appeared at the end of the corridor, heading toward me with the easy, unhurried energy of people who had never once questioned whether they belonged somewhere.

Ryder spotted Nathan's retreating back and grinned. "Lucian. You didn't forget the meeting?"

"Would I?" I said.

He looked at Nathan. "Hey Nathan! How did defeat taste yesterday?"

Nathan stopped walking. Turned around. And very calmly raised his middle finger before continuing down the corridor without breaking stride.

Ryder looked delighted. Cade shook his head.

"He never learns," Ryder said cheerfully.

"Library?" I asked.

"Library," he confirmed.

We headed off down the corridor, and I remembered, just in time, to drag my foot.

We walked into the library and claimed the same quiet corner we used last time. It wasn’t completely empty today — a few other students were scattered around, but the silence was respectful, the kind that made you actually want to get work done.

We settled in, pulling out our laptops and notes. Thankfully, this meeting was just for final collating, reviewing, and submission. The heavy lifting had already been done last weekend. This should be quick and painless.

“You finished collating all our points, right?” Ryder asked as he slid into his seat, placing a cup of coffee in front of each of us. He had excused himself earlier to get them.

“Yeah, I did,” I replied. “I sent the final review link two days ago. You didn’t check it?”

Ryder and Cade froze. They exchanged a quick glance before Ryder let out a sheepish chuckle.

“We did! It was great,” he said quickly, flashing a bright smile. “Honestly, we’re good with whatever you put together. You’ve been killing it.”

I sighed and turned back to my laptop, fingers flying across the keys. “Alright then. I’ll finalize and format everything.”

For the next hour, we worked surprisingly smoothly. No drama, no slacking — just quiet clicking, occasional comments, and actual progress. By the time we were doing final checks, I was genuinely impressed. I had expected to carry the whole assignment, but they had actually contributed well.

My phone suddenly pinged.

I glanced at the screen and instantly regretted it.

Darius: Your class ended over an hour ago. Where are you? Back at the dorm?

I hadn’t told him about this group meeting. Definitely hadn’t mentioned I’d be working with Ryder and Cade after class.

I stared at the message, debating how to reply. Knowing Darius, if I told him the truth, he’d either throw a possessive fit or show up here in five minutes flat. He’d been extra clingy lately, and right now I needed to stay focused.

I decided not to reply and set the phone face-down.

“So… how’s it looking on your end?” I asked Cade.

He still wouldn’t meet my eyes. Ever since I thoroughly beat him during last week’s combat training, Cade had turned strangely docile and respectful. He avoided me like the plague and hadn’t thrown a single insult my way. It was weird… but I wasn’t complaining.

“It’s good,” Cade muttered, sounding relieved. “Ready for submission.”

“Great!” Ryder grinned.

My phone pinged again. Then again. And again.

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. I already knew who the culprit was.

Ryder and Cade both glanced at me suspiciously.

I picked up the phone and opened the flood of messages:

Darius: You read my message but you’re not replying.

Darius: Are you okay?

Darius: Is everything alright?

Darius: Reply me. Now.

Darius: Are you in danger? Should I come get you? Where are you?

“Moon Goddess,” I muttered under my breath. If I were actually in danger, how would I be replying to all these messages?

I typed back quickly before he decided to storm the entire academy:

Me: I’m fine. I’m busy right now. Talk later.

I had barely set the phone down when it buzzed again.

Darius: Busy? Where are you? At the dorm?

Darius: Talk to me. Now.

Darius: Don’t tell me you’re trying to cook. Don’t cook. I’ll order something for you.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. This man is actually insane.

“Who’s that?” Ryder asked, trying to lean over and peek at my screen. I tilted the phone away.

“Is that your lover?” he teased, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Ooh, do you have a mate?”

“No, I don’t have a mate,” I replied dryly, then added, “Yet.”

“Then who is blowing up your phone? Whoever it is keeps pulling all kinds of faces out of you,” Ryder pressed.

“None of your business,” I warned.

“Maybe it’s Nathan,” Cade muttered.

They both started laughing until I shot Cade a sharp look. His laugh died instantly. He let out a small, pathetic whine, I swear I heard his wolf retreating, and dropped his head, avoiding my gaze completely.

Satisfied, I looked back at my phone and typed a proper reply:

Me: It’s nothing like that. I’m not cooking. I’m finishing a group assignment with my partners. I’ll head back to the dorm as soon as we’re done. I’m fine.

I added the last part for good measure, then dropped the phone.

“Who’s submitting to Professor Rivera?” I asked, changing the subject.

“You should,” Ryder said casually, like it was already decided.

“No,” I refused immediately. After the way Rivera had crashed out over Darius, there was no way I was walking into her office. That was a trap with my name written all over it.

“Just do it,” Ryder insisted, trying to flex a bit of alpha authority.

“I said no.” I turned to Cade, locking eyes with him. “Cade, you can submit it, right?”

He swallowed hard. “Y-yes… sure. I’ll do it.”

I smiled sweetly. “Perfect.”

Ryder looked mildly annoyed that I had bypassed him so easily, but I didn’t care. I had noticed how Cade’s wolf reacted to my aura lately, and I wasn’t above using it when necessary.

A tiny pang of guilt hit me, but I shrugged it off. It’s not like he’s completely innocent.

“I’ll return these books to the shelves,” I said, gathering the research materials. “You two pack up. I’ll be quick.”

I slipped my phone into my pocket and headed deeper into the library aisles. After sliding each book back into its rightful place, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

“Lucian!”