Chapter 154 154. The new school

Chapter 154 154. The new school
Tabitha’s POV

Weeks pass and before I know it, it is time to start my school year at Kaelara University.

The brothers insist on driving me instead of Gerald, and I don’t argue. I glance at them while Luca drives.

“How have you guys been? You haven’t been home much.”

They exchange a look.

“We have been busy,” Luca says. “After that night our father has been obsessed with catching whoever stole his files.”

“Do you have any leads yet?” I ask as I lean back in my seat and try to sound casual.

Reed shrugs. “Nothing. And the old man’s been pissy all week. Every time he tries to reinstall the surveillance cameras in the mansion and around the estate, something conveniently glitches out. Maybe the asshole who screwed with the CCTV system isn’t some basement amateur after all. Maybe he actually knows what he’s doing.”

“It is probably the rogues,” Jace says. “Who else would do it? It’s just surprising that those pests are getting bolder. They usually hide in the shadows of this island. Like some roaches who just won’t die. Lately they have been involved in a lot of things as well.”

I turn to him. “What do you mean involved in other things?”

They exchange another look. Reed presses his lips together.

Maybe I pushed too far. So, I clear my throat and force a laugh.

“Uhm, you don’t have to answer if you are not comfortable with it.”

I don’t want them to get suspicious that I’m probing too much.

“It’s not like that,” Luca says with a sigh. “It’s just…” He pauses for a moment, his knuckles white around the steering wheel. “Do you remember the last time we came back from the cottage? We were supposed to stay there for a few days but had to return home.”

I think for a while.

“That time when you received news that someone died near the naval base?”

“A dead body was dumped at the naval base,” Jace corrects.

My face pales.

“Are you saying that the rogues are behind that? Too”

If that’s true, then I wonder if the rogues involved are part of Mario’s group. Or if there’s a different faction of werewolves lurking on this island.

“Most probably. But…”

“But what?” I ask.

“Maybe our old man was right,” Jace grumbles spitefully. “If the rogues are getting bolder and more meticulous with their plans, then that means someone is helping them from the inside.”

“You mean…?”

“There is a spy inside our pack,” Jace says.

The car slows and then stops in front of the university gates. Students are already streaming in and out of the entrance.

“Good luck, baby,” Jace says as he looks at me through the rearview mirror from the front seat.

“You’ll be fine,” Luca says while tapping the steering wheel.

After carefully undoing my seatbelt, Evren grabs my backpack and passes it to me.

“We’ll pick you up again, later.”

I reach for the door handle but before I can push it open, Reed shifts beside me.

“Hold on.”

I turn to him. “What?”

“I forgot something…”

Before I can ask what he means, he cups my jaw and leans in. His lips press against mine in a firm kiss that steals the air from my lungs. My eyes widen and I freeze for a second before instinct kicks in.

I pull back slightly. “Reed!” I hiss. “There are students outside.”

“So?” he asks.

I glance at the window again and spot two girls walking past the car.

“Someone might see!” I insist.

“Relax,” Reed laughs. “The windows are tinted.”

“That doesn’t make it okay!”

“The tinted windows cover us enough,” Jace pipes in.

Heat crawls up my neck. “You are all impossible.”

Chuckling, Luca leans over from the driver’s seat and presses a brief kiss to my temple. “Call us if you need anything, sweetheart.”

Evren reaches for my hand and squeezes it once before bringing my knuckles to his lips. “Be careful,” he says.

Jace twists in his seat and steals a quick kiss that leaves me breathless all over again.

“Go conquer your campus,” he says with a grin.

I finally manage to open the door and step out of the car. My legs feel unsteady as I close the door and start walking toward the entrance.

I don’t dare look back. I can feel their eyes on me anyway.

As I walk through the corridor someone suddenly appears beside me and I nearly jump out of my skin.

“Hey, Tabi!” Evelyn is practically bouncing on her feet. “So… first day, huh?”

“Yeah.” I try to smile but the corner of my mouth twitches.

She studies my face for a moment.

“Are you sick? Your cheeks look red.”

“Oh—It’s, uh, it’s the weather. It’s just a bit hot today,”

She hums and glances up at the sky as if to confirm my excuse.

“In that case, let’s hurry up to class before you faint in the hallways!” She excitedly tugs me towards the building where our first class is going to be held.

My new school life at Kaelara University goes well. I share many classes with Evelyn which makes everything easier. By my second week we are eating in the cafeteria when someone calls my name.

I look up and see Andrew walking toward us.

“Andrew!”

“Oh, it’s your hot friend.” Evelyn grins and gestures to the empty seat at our table. “Come sit with us,”

Andrew smiles and takes the seat, putting his tray on the table.

“Wow. Just wanna say that this campus is massive!” Andrew exclaims with a laugh. “It took us two weeks to finally run into each other.”

I smile at him. “How is the new school treating you?”

He shrugs. “So far so good,” he says. “Transferring in my last year is a challenge but Kaelara is not so bad.”

“Oh, so you are our upperclassman?” Evelyn asks as she sips her juice.

“Don’t make me feel old,” Andrew says with a smirk.

Evelyn lets out a laugh.

“How did you two even become friends?” Her eyes shift from me to him. “You are in different year levels.”

“He helped me with directions during my first year at our old school,” I explain. “Besides, we’re in the same department so I would see him at events all the time. Our friendship just sort of happened.”

“I see. So, you’re studying business as well?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Andrew nods and shoves some fries in his mouth.

Evelyn nods curiously and begins throwing some questions at Andrew as well. This sort of becomes a habit in the following weeks to come. Most of the time, I’d have my lunch with Evelyn, but sometimes, Andrew will catch us in the cafeteria and join the fun.

Before I know it, I easily adjusted to my new school.