Welcome to Seaman’s Cove, Part One (Adventureverse #2)

Chapter 1

My palms sweat as I sit outside Dr. Anderson’s office, waiting for him to call me in. It’s not the first time I’ve met with the dean of anthropology, but this will be the first time I pitch my thesis idea to him.

It’s an idea many people would call ridiculous, childish even.

As soon as word gets out, they’ll ridicule me just like they did my Aunt April.

She was the myth-chasing, eccentric oddity of the anthropology department—which is, frankly, a difficult role to attain in a group of madcap nerds who spend most of their time digging in the dirt.

She considered it a compliment. I can, too. I will.

The door opens, and Dr. Hunter Anderson looks out into the hall. My breath catches at the sight of him, nerves mixing with something else I can’t afford to acknowledge.

I’ve always admired Dr. Anderson. He’s intelligent, sophisticated and insanely attractive.

My admiration sometimes slips into infatuation, but I try my best to keep it in check.

As much as I may think I want him, who’s to say it’s not just a little hero-worshipping?

It’s certainly not something I’m willing to risk either of our careers to pursue.

Today, he’s dressed in brown slacks that hug his thick thighs and a fitted white button-up shirt that stretches tight as he moves. How does a middle-aged professor manage to stay in such great shape? I really want to know.

His hair is neatly trimmed, as if he just got a haircut. I wonder if he was trying to impress someone. No, nope, I can’t think about that. It doesn’t matter.

“You can come in now, Miss Grant.” His voice has that deep timbre that lights up every nerve in my body.

Keep it together, Madi.

This is probably the most important meeting of my anthropological career. It’ll determine the direction my research will take for the next several years. I can’t fall apart over an attractive alpha. Especially the dean of the department!

Dr. Anderson steps away from the desk, letting me pass into the room. Yeah, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s an alpha. Even though I’ve never scented him, since everyone at the university is required to take scent blockers. He’s just got that aura about him that screams alpha.

“Have a seat.” He motions to the two leather chairs in front of his desk before crossing to the other side and taking a seat himself.

His office isn’t large, but he’s made the most out of the space.

Behind him sits a window that looks out over a small courtyard.

Mahogany bookshelves bracket the frame, filled to the brim with everything from textbooks to artifacts, even a few photos.

In one picture, I recognize a younger version of the alpha with his arm around the shoulders of a lean blond man.

Standing on a black sand beach, they’re both smiling, their expressions free and unhindered by whatever stress causes Dr. Anderson to be so serious now.

A cough breaks the silence, and I realize I've been creeping on his personal artifacts too long. I claim the chair closest to the door. My leg bounces as I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. Dr. Anderson’s steady gaze is kind and professional, yet distant.

He leans back and crosses his hands over his flat abs.

Professors shouldn’t be as toned as this man.

“How can I help you, Miss Grant?”

My heart pounds in my throat.

“I decided on my thesis proposal.” I set the folder with my research on his desk.

“I’m glad to hear it. It’s already late in the semester.” He picks up the folder.

Before he can open it, I lean across the desk, half out of my seat, and set my hand over the manila folder. “Wait.”

There’s no turning back after he sees this.

He’ll laugh me out of his office. My hand shakes, and when I move to pull it away, my pinky brushes his thumb where he’s still holding my research.

I pull my hand back into my lap. I don’t know why I tried to stop him.

This is what I want to do my thesis on. It means more to me than anything else in the world.

It’s not just about honoring my aunt by continuing her research.

I’ve dreamed about this since I was a little girl.

The historical stories called to me like nothing else.

I sit back down with a small sigh. “Just… keep an open mind,” I whisper. “Please.”

Dr. Anderson slowly opens the file. His gaze dances around the page, lips turning down into a frown.

“You want to search for Ocearus.” His tone is flat. He glances up at me before quickly looking back at my research. “Here in Seaman’s Cove. If there was anything to find this close to civilization, it would have already been found.”

He should know better than that. Just a few months ago an entire temple was found under the desert in Ekdoti, just a few miles from the main city!

I mean, sure, two Woodhurst professors accidentally got trapped underground in said temple when there was a cave-in.

And they may have sorta-kinda formed a pack while they were on site… but so what?

“I know it sounds unfathomable, but stranger things have happened. All the ancient texts point to a cove along this coast. My Aunt April was close with her search, but I think she mis-translated—”

“No.” Dr. Anderson closes the file without looking at the rest of the papers.

Well, at least he’s not laughing.

“You’re an excellent researcher, Miss Grant. I have no doubt that you did the work, but I can’t approve this thesis.”

“Why not?”

He won’t meet my eyes. “It would be irresponsible as the dean of the department to allocate the funds you’re asking for to an expedition so—”

“Don’t say it.” I stand. “This isn’t crazy. I know what I’m talking about.”

“I wasn’t going to say that.” His tone is sincere, but he still won’t look at me. He shuffles some of the papers on his desk, then slides my research toward me. “Come up with something else. You’re a bright girl. I’m certain there are other things you’d like to study.”

“You don’t understand. This is—”

“Madison.” He stops me with a stern glare.

Why is that so hot? I’ve never seen him so serious. And he never uses my first name. He’ll call other students by their names, but never me. With me, it’s always Miss Grant. Gah, I need to get it together. The man just shut down my thesis without reading it, which is decidedly not hot.

“I’ve made my decision.” He gets up and walks to the door while I’m still reeling.

Nothing about this conversation has gone how I thought it would.

I was prepared for ridicule, but not this firm rejection.

I assumed he wouldn’t approve my budget, but I thought he’d let me pursue the topic still, probably with an air of indulgent dismissal.

That’s what I was expecting. But this…? I don’t know what to make of this.

Dr. Anderson opens his office door, a clear sign that this meeting is over. “I expect you to have a new proposal ready by next week.”

I walk out of his office in a daze. But with each step down the hall and away from Dr. Anderson, my shock builds to anger. Is he even allowed to reject my thesis without fully looking at my proposal, without giving me a single reason for the denial?

Fuck him. If he doesn’t want to approve my proposal, I’ll just have to find Ocearus on my own.

I don’t need Dr. Anderson or anyone else.

This isn’t some far-fetched dream. Ocearus was here.

Right here under all their noses, just miles from the university.

A city said to be made of monsters and filled with knowledge.

And I’m going to find it. With or without his support.