\[Serenity’s POV\]
The next day, I stand outside of The Academy, staring up at the star-filled sky. After agreeing to join the disciplinary committee with Eleanor, I discovered that our first act would be patrolling the grounds after curfew to make sure all the students were in their dorms as expected. Even if it was a hassle to have to do something so irritating, I owed Eleanor since it was partly my fault she got in trouble.
“Are you sure about this?” Maverick murmurs, draping his jacket around me. “You really don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
“It’s fine.” I respond, pulling his offering around me so that his scent envelopes me.
Sighing, I close my eyes and try to imagine that it is his arms that are wrapping gently around me instead of fabric, but I knew there was no way that would happen. Since Maverick was with me out of his sense of duty for what I did for him, there was no way he would see me as anything more than his charge, which was fine until recently.
Opening my eyes again, I shift them to the man beside me, taking in his side profile, which is just as handsome as every other inch of him.
There was something kind of old-fashioned about the way he carried himself. He was a gentleman through and through. Not to mention the odd accent that mixed with his words was something you would encounter in the past if that made any sense.
He was different, very different from the men that surrounded me, and maybe that was part of what drew me to him.
You see, my biggest secret was that I was developing feelings for my bodyguard. It was a secret I couldn’t reveal to anyone, especially my family. I was certain that if I let slip that I was falling for Maverick, my father would replace him immediately.
“Something wrong?” Maverick asks, causing my face to flush. “Maybe we should...”
He doesn’t get to finish his words before the sound of footsteps reaches us, and Eleanor comes skipping up.
“Hello!” She calls happily, waving a hand. “Glad you could make it. I don’t know what I would have done being alone with complete strangers.”
Although she tries to act as though it would be a problem, it is clear from her ill-at-ease attitude that she would have been fine.
“Where are the others?” Maverick asks, his voice dripping with annoyance. “This wasn’t some type of trick on your part to get Serenity alone, was it?”
“A trick.” Eleanor repeats, her eyes flashing with anger. “Do you really think I would give up on my personal time for a trick?”
As she speaks, the sound of more footsteps reaches us, drawing all of our gazes forward to find a group of six making their way toward us.
From their rough dispositions and their piercings, it is clear that they aren’t willingly part of this committee, and it makes me wonder exactly what my uncle is up to.
“Yo,” one, a large fella with dyed blue hair and piercing dark eyes, calls. “What do we have here?”
Closing the distance between us, he begins to take me and Eleanor in, ignoring Maverick entirely.
“Looks like we’ve got some chicks joining us, fellas.” He chuckles, leaning forward, so he is hovering over Eleanor. “What did ya do to get roped into this?”
“I recognize her.” Another chuckles. “She body-slammed Vanessa in the cafeteria.”
“Serves her right.” The first laughs. “That bitch is always sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Remaining silent, I watch as they laugh over the whole ordeal.
“Hey,” Eleanor calls when the noise goes on too late. “Are you boys just going to joke and talk amongst yourselves? Don’t you know it is rude to treat others like outsiders?”
“Are you suggesting we pay attention to you, Pixie?” the first asks, giving Elanor a look of hunger. “If so, I’m not…”
“Sorry,” Eleanor beams. “You aren’t my type, handsome.”
“Not your type.” He repeats, raising a pierced brow. “And what might be your type? Maybe one of my buddies, or...”
“Nope.” She shoots back immediately. “I’m into older men with brooding personalities.”
For a moment, I freeze as I take in Eleanor’s words. Why in the world did it seem like she was referring to someone I might know?
Frowning, I find myself wondering why that even mattered to begin with and why I was feeling like I wanted to know more about her again.
“Older.” The first goon chuckles. “Well, you look like you can’t be any older than thirteen, so that means we are older, right?”
“Hm, by age, maybe.” She agrees. “But by personality, I’m much older.”
“Could we please just get on with our mission?” Maverick growls, clearly growing bored with the back and forth. “We didn’t come here to bullshit.”
“Right, right.” The first goon chuckles. “I guess first things first, we should give introductions. I’m Forrest, and this guy is Hayes.” He continues, motioning to the other guy who had spoken. “Behind us are Elliot, Tork, Rogue, and Waylon.”
As he speaks, he nods toward the guys standing behind him in order.
“Strange names.” Eleanor murmurs. “You can call me El.”
“Nice to meet you, El.” Forrest says. “And what about your friends? Do they have names.”
“They’re…”
“Maverick and Serenity.” Maverick responds before Eleanor can continue.
Nodding, Forrest looks from Maverick to me with a look of amusement in his eyes.
“You must be her guard dog.” He says, fixing his gaze on Maverick. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to snatch your girl from you.”
“I’m not concerned with that.” Maverick argues. “Scum like you won’t…”
The rest of his words get lost as a howl rips through the air around us, causing a shiver to race down my spine and goosebumps to erupt on my skin.
Turning, I watch as a much too familiar wolf rushes toward us and then leaps, aiming straight for me.
“Move!” Maverick roars, grabbing me and pulling.
Gasping, I feel the fur of the beast brush against my skin as I barely avoid getting hit.
“What the hell is that?” Forrest growls as the beast comes to a halt and then fixes its large, red gaze on me. “I’ve never seen something like it before.”
“Rogue.” I whisper, recognizing it instantly. “But a mutated version.”
In my life, I had only ever seen one like it, and when it bit me, it turned into Maverick. Did that mean if I gave this one my blood as well, it would turn human?
Considering, I try to remember when the last time I took my dosage of antiserum made by Tristan. If it wasn’t completely out of my system, it wouldn’t work.
As I consider, the beast lets out another howl and moves, aiming for me once more.
“Don’t just stand there!” Maverick growls, pulling me against his body. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No.” I respond evenly. “We need to catch it.”
“Catch it?” Eleanor repeats, listening to our conversation. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No,” I say evenly. “Just trust me.”