\[Serenity’s POV\]
“Leave that to me.”
Uncle William’s voice is filled with so much certainty that I truly believe he can seek out the answers that we so desperately needed. It was one thing to only have Maverick shift from that rogue to who he was now, but with more appearing, we really needed to know where they were coming from and what exactly it was that they wanted.
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Mahogany huffs, causing confusion to flash through me.
‘What do you mean?’
Although I had an idea, I was certain that I was just being paranoid, but the chances were pretty coincidental.
‘Your blood.’ Mahogany responds, confirming my biggest fear.
‘We don’t know for certain.’
‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ She huffs before slinking away.
“Serenity,” Uncle William calls, snapping me out of my head. “I think it’s best that you and Maverick head back for the evening.” He continues from his place on the ground, where he still cradles the woman he called Elise.
“What about these three?” I ask, letting my gaze shift to the twins, who sit silently.
“They can stay here with me for the time being.” He responds. “Now get going.”
“Before we go,” Maverick announces as I prepare to leave. “Will you keep Serenity’s secret?”
“Maverick.” I hiss, but he shoots me a look that says I’ve got this.
It makes my heart squeeze, and that odd feeling returns, keeping me silent while Maverick turns his attention back to Uncle William, who is watching us carefully.
“I’ll think about it.” He finally says. "No, go back to your dorms before I give you detention.”
Growling in annoyance, Maverick prepares to argue more, but I stop him, reaching out and wrapping a hand around his wrist. Where our skin touches, it comes alive with a delicious energy that takes me by surprise. Lifting my gaze, I examine Maverick’s face to see if he too feels it. However, I’m meant with his usual blank look that doesn’t give away anything.
“Come on.” I sigh, giving Maverick a tug.
He doesn’t fight me as I pull him out of the room, toward the living room, and out of Uncle William’s cabin.
The walk back to The Academy is a quiet one as Maverick and I both work to process our thoughts. Of course, this new development was a major one, not only for myself but also for Maverick. Those people certainly shared the same past as him, and if they could remember where they came from and how they became like he was before he bit me.
Stopping, I turn just in time for Maverick to ram into me, taking us both to the ground. Gasping, I find myself pinned beneath him as he tries to get his wits about him.
“Shit,” he hisses, the tips of his ears turning red as I realize I managed to catch him off guard. “Are you alright?”
“I am.” I respond. “But are you?”
Usually Maverick was always on his guard, and nothing phased him, but here he was actually rattled because of what happened this evening.
“I’m fine.” He responds immediately, his usual guard going up. “You just caught me by surprise.”
“Liar,” I huff, reaching up and grabbing his cheeks.
Where we touch is alive, and I can feel something awakening in me, but I know that I can’t let it show. If I gave any hint toward this awakening feeling, I would lose Maverick.
“Is it bothering you that there are more like you?” I ask, pushing aside my selfishness. “I know it must be a lot to process.”
“Actually,” Maverick says quietly. “There’s something that I haven’t told you.”
“What is it?”
As I speak, I dare to let my fingers trail up Maverick’s face so that the fuzz on the sides of his buzzed head tickles my fingers. Would this help relax him a bit more?
“When I touched that rogue, I saw something.” He admits.
“What?” I gasp, my eyes widening. “What did you see?”
“I was standing in a square, and there was a man addressing all of us.” He explains. “I think…” He continues, his eyes blazing with certainty. “That man was my alpha, and the ones I was with were my pack.”
“No way,” I squeak, shock rushing through me. “Did you see anything that may help us figure out more?”
“No,” he sighs, finally getting off of me. “And we shouldn’t be discussing such things here.”
Remaining in place, I watch as Maverick rises to his feet and then holds out a hand to me. It’s so damn normal that it frustrates me, but I take his offer and allow him to pull me to my feet.
“We need to get back before someone spots us.” He continues, starting to move. “Your uncle already said he’d help us figure out everything, so we can just wait for him.”
\[Elise’s POV\]
I sit on the roof of the school, watching the darkness, until I spot two figures heading out of William’s cabin. I already know that they are Maverick and Serenity since they were the very ones I was waiting for. Even though I knew that the gentle giant was assigned to Serenity to keep her safe, I still didn’t trust him enough to do a good job. That was why I would watch from the sidelines and intervene if I could.
Sighing, I lean forward, watching the two until Serenity stops and Maverick crashes into her. Eyes widening, I watch them fall to the ground and then stay in that position.
Frowning, I wait for one or the other to move, but when they don’t and Serenity even reaches up and touches his cheeks, I realize something.
“You naughty girl.” I giggle, feeling the tension between the two from my place. “Just wait until I get my hands on you.”
Jumping up, I give a stretch and wait until they finally get up and begin to move again. Only once the two are safely in the school do I head back inside so I can get some much needed sleep. At least, that was the plan, but my sleep is interrupted by images of feral beasts with saliva-soaked jaws and blazing red eyes. Their long claws dig at my skin while their guttural voices scream for help again and again until I finally give up on going back to sleep.
Cursing under my breath, I get up and head to get a shower. Once I’m stripped, I begin to pull off the bandage that is still wrapped tightly around my elbow. When it is out of the way, I find that the area where I was bitten hasn’t healed in the slightest.
“Shit.” I sigh, deciding it must be due to the type of wolf that bit me. “Annoying.”
After a quick shower, I get dressed and head down to breakfast, where I prepare to join Serenioty and Maverick, but neither are anywhere to be seen.
Sighing, I decide that they could still be sleeping and head to grab some food, then take a seat at the back of the room so I can see all who enter.
“Yo.”
The deep rumble of a voice comes as Forrest plops his large body down across from me, blocking my view entirely.
Huffing in annoyance, I scoot to the side, only for him to do the same.
“What the hell?” I growl, shooting him a glare. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I came to join you because you looked lonely, and now you’re trying to ignore me.” He pouts.
Frowning, I examine his face and am shocked to find amusement there. The dude was actually enjoying picking on me.
“I don’t remember asking you to join me.” I point out, peering around him. “Why don’t you go sit with your friends?”
“Aren’t we friends?” He asks, leaning to the side and blocking my view again. “After we bonded over fighting those rogues, how could you…”
“Shut up!” I hiss, reaching out and grabbing his face, so my palm blocks his loud ass mouth. “What do you think you’re doing?”
As the question leaves my lips, Forrest's tongue shoots out and licks my palm.
“Ugh!”
Pulling my hand away, I glare as the asshole in front of me laughs happily. I have to admit that he looks handsome when he’s carefree like this, but he was way too young for me.
“Listen, pipsqueak,” he says once he finally controls himself. “I need your help.”
“Help?” I repeat, raising a brow. “And what exactly is it you need my help with?”
“Well…”
He doesn’t get to finish his words before a girl dressed in all black with bleach blonde hair and thick eyeliner walks up to us. Smiling, she drops down beside Forrest, who grimaces.
“There you are!” She giggles, placing her bag on the table. “I thought you weren’t going to come this morning.”
Remaining silent, I watch the two together and instantly understand what is going on in front of me.
“Who is this?” I ask Forrest, drawing the girl’s attention to me for the first time.
“More like, who are you?” The girl asks, going on defense. “Forrest, did you ditch me for another woman?”
Smirking, I wait as Forrest gives me a pleading look. So this was what he wanted from me—for me to help him get rid of this grade A cling-on, but my help didn’t come without a price.
“Well?” The girl snaps, narrowing her gaze on me. “Who the hell are you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I say, getting up from my spot across the table and walking around to the other side so I can plop down in Forrest's lap. “I’m his girlfriend.”