Chapter 15 Pushing Buttons
Sienna
I woke up to a persistent, soft knocking on my door. I groaned, burying my face in the pillow, but the sound didn't stop, and my irritation finally flared.
"Wait! I'm coming!" I shouted, stumbling out of bed. My legs were still heavy with sleep as I tripped toward the door and pulled it open.
I gasped when I saw Sev standing there. He actually had a soft smile on his face for once but it died the second his eyes traveled down.
His jaw clamped shut so hard I actually heard it, and he immediately averted his gaze, staring intensely at the hallway wallpaper.
That was when the cold air hit my skin and I realized, with a jolt of horror, that I’d fallen asleep in that damn lingerie. My mouth dropped into a pathetic 'O' as I looked down; the robe was completely wide open, leaving me basically on display.
Heat rushed to my face with such force it felt like a fever. In a panic, I slammed the door shut right in his face.
"H-how can I help you?" I stammered through the wood, my heart hammering.
"I... well, I was intending to escort you to the Academy myself this morning," he said from the other side. His voice sounded strained, tighter and more formal than usual.
I nodded stupidly, as if he could see me through the door. "Sure. Fine. I'll be down in a minute!"
I didn't even bother with a shower. I just scrambled for the nearest outfit, fumbling with buttons and zippers in a frantic rush.
The silence inside the car was so thick I could practically hear crows cawing in the distance.
Mentally, I was beating myself up for being such a coward this morning. I had him right there, caught off guard and clearly affected, and what did I do? I slammed the door in his face. I should’ve just reached out, pulled him into the room, and made an absolute mess of him.
Okay, maybe that was a bit wild. But still.
I was so lost in my own head that I didn’t even realize we’d reached the Academy until the car stopped.
Before I could reach for the handle, Sev was already there, opening the door for me with that effortless, frustratingly composed air of his.
“Thank you,” I muttered, stepping out onto the pavement.
I was about to say something else—anything to break the tension—when a voice called out his name. It was a soft, melodic sound, so sweet and perfect you’d think it came straight from an angel.
And for some reason, it made my blood run cold.
“Basti!” she called out, practically floating toward us from the entrance.
Elizabeth.
A soft, genuine smile spread across Sev’s lips the second she reached us. “Hi there, Eli.”
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted copper. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one special enough for a nickname; he had an "Eli," too.
I stood there like a ghost, completely discarded while they fell into a conversation that didn't include me. His full attention, the attention I had been starving for, was directed entirely at her. He didn't even bother introducing me.
Fine. If I was invisible, I might as well be gone.
I turned on my heel and left. Fueled by pure frustration, I somehow navigated the halls until I reached the classroom, where I practically ran into Cole.
“There you are!” he said, flashing one of those easy, boyish grins. “Where’d you disappear to yesterday?”
“I think I ate something bad,” I lied.
He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “I feel you. Did you take anything for it?”
I nodded, even though the only medicine I needed was to stop being so pathetic. “Of course. I—”
Before I could finish, a hand clamped onto my arm. I was spun around, not with a jerk, but with a firm, steady pressure that forced me to face whoever had followed me.
Sev.
What did he want now? Why didn’t he just go back to his precious Eli?
“Why would you leave just like that?” he demanded.
“A-Alpha!” I heard Cole stammer from behind me, sounding like a total fanboy.
I rolled my eyes, the jealousy in my gut twisting into something sharp. “You seemed busy,” I said, my voice dripping with fake politeness.
I didn't wait for him to respond; I just peeled his hand off my arm like it was a piece of unwanted lint. “Well then, Alpha.”
I marched into the room without looking back. I knew I was being a brat, and I knew I was self-sabotaging because I loved the man, but jealousy is a nasty little monster that doesn't care about logic.
“You actually know the Alpha?” Cole whispered as we slumped into our seats.
“I’m stuck at his place. He’s my brother’s friend, so I’m basically his charity case for the time being,” I muttered.
“That’s amazing! Living with the Alpha sounds like a total dream.”
I shot him a side-eye, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “You make it sound like he’s your type, Cole.”
He let out a fake, strangled cough. “Of course not.”
He went quiet so fast it was hilarious. I’ve lived around enough people to have a pretty fine-tuned gaydar, and right now, it was screaming Target Detected in my brain.
Fine, my fault for missing the signs when we first met. It didn't change anything for me, but clearly, he was keeping it under wraps, so I wasn't going to push him.
The lecture began with an Introduction to Werewolves, which sounded redundant until the professor actually started speaking.
“Two millennia ago, the Moon Goddess created the first of our kind to defend against our natural enemies: the Vampires,” the lecturer began. “Since then, we have built civilizations hidden from human eyes. Some have integrated into human cities; others, like our pack, chose the strength of seclusion.”
I’d spent my whole life being told I was a werewolf, but listening to the history, I realized I actually knew very little.
We moved on to a simulation regarding wound healing, comparing the regeneration rates of human and wolf forms. It was a reminder that despite our strength, we weren't invincible.
Since I was nineteen and still without a wolf, I could only watch. I felt like an outsider as the others inflicted small cuts on themselves to test the acceleration serums. The speed at which they mended was nothing short of miraculous.
“Wow,” I breathed as we finally filtered out of the lecture hall.
Cole smirked, his earlier awkwardness gone. “Impressive, right? If you want, I can give you my notes. My sister tutors me at home, so they’re pretty detailed.”
“That would be a lifesaver!” I felt a genuine spark of excitement. I actually liked learning this. “Hey, can I visit your place? We should have a sleepover!”
Cole’s face lit up at the idea, but before he could say yes, his gaze drifted toward the parking lot. His expression shifted instantly. Following his eyes, I saw Sev leaning against his car, arms crossed over his chest, waiting.