Chapter 6
Andrew
“Another shipment of texts came in from the bunkers,” Jory announces, a glowing tablet in his grasp which he taps on.
It’s taken me months to get used to calling this man, whom I’d thought for years was a Major in the GBE’s soldier force, “Jory Timms.” He’d always been Major Tomlin to me, and all the students who’d passed through the academy since I’d been brought on as the token Cursed faculty member.
He smells like an Alpha more and more now, although his scent is still muted.
The drugs the rebellion had used on thousands of Cursed to disguise them as Betas and help them infiltrate the GBE ranks apparently lasted a long time, and took just as long to wear off once they stopped taking it.
I suppose that was the best way to go undercover safely.
“Good,” Willow’s smooth voice is approving. “Our people have finished removing the propaganda from the library, so we can fill in all the space.”
“What will you do with the books you’ve removed?” I ask.
Willow smiles kindly at me, her blue eyes calm.
“We are going to use them as teaching tools for future students,” she explains.
“We will not destroy our history, but learn from it.” Her smile widens.
“There will come a time when this era of oppression will be a distant memory, and we must not let anyone forget what was done to us.”
She’s so… assured. “You truly believe that.”
Her bead bobs in an affirmative nod. “I know it.”
“Here,” Caius, a man of few words, hands me back my tablet that he’d taken when I arrived this afternoon. “All updated.”
I blink down at the glowing glass, filled with images and text, ready for me to study.
We do this every time new information comes into the academy. I’m the first to get a look at it all, so I can help the students process during our sessions.
I’d been reinstated as the counselor, and the number of students coming to my office has more than quadrupled since before the rebellion took over.
Now that we’re being told the truth of our past, most have much more to discuss, try to work through.
I see individuals and packs, all of them far more free in their sharing than they’ve ever been.
No one wanted to come to my office with the GBE skulking about, but sessions were mandatory for some. Now that the GBE presence is gone, trust in me has increased.
It’s both pleasing and a burden.
I’m happy to help those in need, but… who helps me process all of this?
The newfound information, uncovering all the lies and deceit perpetuated by the global powers that be, is beyond overwhelming.
And I need to learn it all before the students are taught, so I’m mentally equipped for them to come to me about it all.
I think of Nyx, imagine what it would be like to come home after a long day and collapse into her waiting arms. Would we share all our innermost fears and comfort one another before making love for hours, uninhibited and free?
But then, it wouldn’t be just Nyx, would it?
Erich, the one person in this world who hates me more than Colton used to, would be there with us as well. And that male Omega, Zephyr, whose scent always lingers like the strongest perfume around Nyx, even though I never see them close together.
Those two follow her about like longing pups, Erich like a terrier who yaps at anyone that gets too close, and Zephyr like a big lapdog waiting for attention.
I suppose in this scenario, I’d be the cat, given my penchant for wanting to be near Nyx when it suits me, otherwise keeping to myself.
That isn’t fair, actually. I want to be with her all the time, but I understand how stressed she is. I can feel her confusion and disappointment any time I’m near her. Just as I feel the non-stop pining from Erich and Zephyr.
It’s all too overwhelming, really.
With a sigh, I turn off the screen of my tablet and tuck it under my arm. “I’ll get to studying,” I say before leaving the proverbial War Room and heading for the stairs.
There’s much to do and process. It’s better that I’m alone right now.