\[Maverick’s POV\]
I watch as Serenity nods in agreement with my request, but even now I can tell that she is hiding something from me. Usually she would tell me everything, like I was her closest confidante, but here she was hiding things from me for the first time.
“Deal,” she says. “We should get going before we’re late for class.”
“You go ahead of me.” I say. “There’s something I need to do first.”
At my words, Serenity gives me a look of confusion, but she doesn’t question me, which also isn’t like her. This alone was proof that she was distracted.
“Don’t be late.”
It’s the last thing she says before she turns and disappears into the sea of students who are heading toward their classes. Once she is out of sight, I turn and begin to move, heading toward William’s office so I can have a word with him.
Although I knew that it was probably for the best that I be separated from Serenity and placed in the boys dorm, I just couldn’t stomach the idea of not being near at all times. Maybe it was a long shot to ask William to tell Rosco that there was no room for me, but I had to try.
When I reach my destination, I lift a hand and knock, then wait until the door in front of me opens and a very tired-looking William appears.
“Maverick?” He eyes me curiously as I examine his state.
“Did something happen?” I ask, spotting what looks like claw marks on his cheek.
“Nothing of importance.” He sighs, though his voice holds a bit of edge. “What brings you here so early?”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I continue to take him in, from his frumped-up white shirt to his unkept hair.
“Did you sleep in your office?”
At my question, a slow smile spreads across his face, making him look younger and more carefree.
“That,” he chuckles, stepping aside and motioning for me to enter. “Isn’t any of your business?”
Nodding, I head into his office and then take a seat so I can wait for him to do the same.
“Sorry if I overstepped.” I say now as he plops into his place across from me.
“It’s fine,” he sighs, leaning back and eyeing me. “Now, why are you here?”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to speak, but I find myself trying to find the right words to get him to go along with me. Since he and Rosco were related and Serenity was their princess, I knew that this would be difficult.
“Did you just come for my company?” William asks, snapping me out of my head. “I’m afraid to tell you that I don’t swing that way.”
“Don’t be gross,” I growl. “I’m here because of Serenity.”
“Oh? And what about her?”
“I want you to tell Rosco that there isn’t any room for me in the male dorms.”
There, my request was out in the world, and there was no backing out. Now it was simply a matter of figuring out a way to get him to go along with me and not say no.
“And why should I do that?” William asks, quirking the side of his lip. “Since the start, you should have been in the male dorms, but because of Rosco and Denali’s request, you were put in the same space as Serenity. However, with her parents here, there isn’t any reason for you to be there now.”
Wincing, I try to ignore the hint in his words, even if he was right. I didn’t belong beside Serenity, but because of my stubbornness, I managed to get there even if I was a nobody who appeared out of the blue one day and nearly killed her.
“There is,” I counter, pushing aside all my feelings of inferiority. “Serenity is my charge, and because of that, I should be beside her just in case...”
“Leave that to her family.” William says, cutting me off. “Rosco and I are more than able to watch over her just fine. You don’t need to worry.”
As William speaks, I can see his interest in our conversation disappearing, and when he reaches for a manilla folder sitting on his desk, I’m reaching out and grabbing it before I can stop myself.
“That isn’t it!” I snap and then immediately regret it due to William’s eyes darkening.
“Tell me,” he begins, leaning forward and narrowing his gaze. “What is the real reason you’re so insistent on staying beside Serenity. Is it because you’re mates, or is it because you want to be close enough to her to do what you want with her?”
Eyes widening, I take in the words that William is asking me. Sure, I may have had a few fantasies involving Serenity in the past, but my intentions are and always have been pure. She was like a beautiful flower that I watched bloom from a teenager to a young woman, and I didn’t want to tarnish that flower. Instead, I wanted to continue to watch over it, nurture it, and protect it for the rest of my life, even if it meant someday seeing her happy with someone else.
“I’ve never once thought of touching her.” I say quietly, my inferiority spiking again. “I assure you that I have and always will know my place.”
That was right. I couldn’t get ahead of myself just because Serenity wanted us to act like we were mates. It wasn’t like she actually cared for me. I was already aware that my feelings for her would always be one-sided, but to have it laid out in front of me so bluntly was still a bit...
“Hey.”
Snapping out of my spiral, I lift my gaze to William’s to find that he is giving me a look of annoyance.
“If that much makes you crash and burn, how the hell do you expect to stay beside her?”
Frowning, I don’t speak as I try to determine exactly what he means, and when understanding hits me, I want to punch something.
“She’s the princess of Emerald Moon, you know.” William huffs. “Do you really think the pack will accept just anyone beside her? No, the one standing beside her will need to have the proper pedigree to be respected. If you intend to be the one to stand beside her, then you’re going to need to be able to hold your head up high despite anything.”
“It really isn’t like that.” I say quietly, a stabbing pain hitting my heart. “I’m the only one who...”
“Sure,” William chuckles. “You really are oblivious, aren’t you?”
Oblivious? What the hell was he even trying to get at? It sounded almost like he was saying that Serenity cared for me, but I knew that was impossible; after all, I was nothing more than her bodyguard, and she was keeping things from me.
“It isn’t like that.” I repeat. “Anyway, we’re going off topic here.”
“Are we?” William counters. “You asked me to allow you to stay beside Serenity, but if it’s simply because you want to protect her, then I can’t help you. However, if it is, for example, a selfish reason, I may be able to work with you.”
“What?” I hiss in shock. “What the hell are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I don’t want the two of you to suffer what I’ve been through because of prejudice and a greed for power.” He responds, his eyes taking on a far-away look. “I already know that Rosco isn’t going to make things easy for you, so I’m willing to help a bit.” He continues, his expression shifting to a devious one. “Anyway, tell me, what is it that you really feel about our Serenity?”