Chapter 34 Atticus
THIRTY-FOUR
ATTICUS
I didn’t have a well-thought-out plan as I marched to Rawling’s. I’d demanded to be let in and given answers, and that was the extent of it. It surprised me when the door finally opened, as I’d assumed I was going to have to fight harder than I had.
Channon, Bardoul, and Holden walked past me as I caught sight of Rawling tucking away a dry erase board while erasing scribbled words on the surface.
“I’ve let you in, but you’re not exactly welcome.” In the past, Phelan wouldn’t have dared speak to me like that. And now he wasn’t putting up with my shit.
I had to respect my alpha friend for that.
“I’m not here to cause a fight,” I explained.
Oil and water. That was what Rawling and I were to each other. Discovering we were twins didn’t change that.
“I need to know what the fuck is going on between Rawling and Professor Shaw. Because at this rate, he’s gonna get kicked out, and if he gets kicked out, it’s gonna be shitty for me. It’s bad enough that people know we’re related.”
Phelan looked to Rawling.
Rawling looked at Jack.
And Jack looked back to Phelan.
They were having some sort of a conversation, one I was not privy to, and it was pissing me off. Rawling nodded.
“If we tell you what’s going on,” Jack said, “you’d better be aware that I can kick your ass now if you share any of what I’m about to tell you outside this room.”
“Got it.” It wasn’t the threat that had me agreeing. It was my need for answers.
Phelan was tough, but I could take him. I wasn’t so sure about Jack, though.
Not any more. Her bear had little control.
I was 50/50 with her, and the two of them at once?
Yeah, if they put their minds to it, I’d have no shot.
Not that I’d ever admit that. And I didn’t want to consider fighting Rawling. His wolf was a badass.
It was weird being here and being the odd man out. I’d always been the one wielding the power.
“Ha! Like you could take me,” I scoffed, hoping they didn’t see through my bravado.
Jack chuckled and shook her head. “Fine. Sit down.”
Phelan told me about Professor Shaw and how the man thought Rawling's godfather’s sister, Charlie, was his mate, Charlie being Rawling’s adopted mother. I was aware of some of the background, but he added details. But then Rawling pulled out the dry erase board.
It was a fucking evidence board like they used in crime shows.
Some of the items were erased and there were smudges, but I couldn’t make out what they’d deleted.
What remained was about Professor Shaw may have killed Rawling’s adoptive parents and gotten rid of Mika at Coach’s behest. Yikes.
I thought of all the times I’d been near Coach during archery practice and competitions.
I sank onto the couch. I’d assumed they’d messed up some assignment or had been caught cheating, though my attempt at creating that rumor and smearing Rawling last semester had blown back on me big time.
But they were talking murder twenty years ago and another last year, this time of a student, one I’d sat with in the dining hall.
I gulped. Now I really didn’t want to be seen with Rawling, because whatever the professor intended for him—and if Professor Shaw thought like me, he’d be planning his revenge—I might get caught in the crossfire.
But they solved the problem by saying they were leaving Sombertooth.
My moment of relief was followed by an emotion I rarely admitted to feeling.
Uncertainty and possibly sadness. I didn’t want Phelan to leave.
We hadn’t been getting along since he mated Rawling, but I was certain our friendship could be repaired. But now that would never happen.
Their decision shouldn’t have hit me that hard.
There had been so many nights I’d have done anything to have Rawling gone, or better yet, never to have arrived on campus.
But he was my twin, and while that didn’t make me like him, my wolf bugged me about him, saying we should get to know one another. Maybe even shift together.
Like heck that was going to happen.
Perhaps it was time to admit something I’d been hiding.
“Since you’re trusted me with some of what you know,” I glared at them because they were keeping information from me, “I need to tell you something.”
“Let me guess.” Jack tapped her lips. “You bullied Rawling before you were born.”
“No. Why would you say that?” We may have fought for space, but it was squishy in there with two babies.
Jack shrugged, but there was no malice in her gaze. She actually grinned.
“Just before you gave birth, Professor Shaw brought me into his office and we had tea and cake. Remember, I told you.”
Rawling’s brows shot up. “Gods, I forgot about that. He doesn’t give just anyone the tea-and-cake treatment.”
“I don’t like tea.”
“I’m not that fussed about it either.” Rawling didn’t look at me but studied the board.
“Awww, look at you two. You both don’t care for tea.”
“Shut it, Jack.” I tried to cover up a yawn. This was a new thing I blamed on donating blood to Rawling.
I rambled on about him telling me this story about a guy who’d pretended to be latent but was really human but the ring he wore made him scent as latent.” I paused, and none of the three would catch my eye.
What the fuckety fuck was going on?
“He made out it was a student years ago, but I was certain he was talking about you, Rawling.”
Again no one said anything, but Phelan edged closer to his mate.
“I am every bit the ass you think I am. I had hundred percent planned on exposing you as human, but then you had the baby and we discovered we were brothers, and it would have reflected poorly on me if the shifter community found out I had a human brother.”
And not just human, but one pretending to be a latent shifter.
“I can always count on you to choose the worst option,” Rawling said.
“You’re such a piece of shit,” Phelan added.
Denying it was pointless.
“Thank you for being honest, I suppose.” Rawling got up. “Your instincts were right.”
“What?”
The door opened, and that fool security guard poked his head in. Phelan told him everything was fine.
“You were human but you’re not, or you were latent but also human?” My brain couldn’t focus on what he was saying.
Rawling shrugged. “I can’t explain it all, but I scented human even though I’m a shifter. The ring protected my humanity from every shifter here." He pulled out four pieces of gold and lay them on his palm. “This was that ring.”
Wow. A magic ring? I picked up the pieces, running my fingers over the inscription that was too faded to read.
I had one like it, but without the inscription.
I never wore it, though. I wasn’t a ring-wearing guy.
It was at my parents’ house, and I told them that.
Apparently, today was Atticus oversharing day
Phelan took the four pieces. “Your parents must have given it to the orphanage when they handed Rawling over.”
“Rawlins must have understood its properties, and that was why he insisted I always wear it.”
“But to do that, he and Charlie must have known who you were. I think that’s conclusive proof.” Jack peered at the four broken pieces.
This was way over my head, and maybe I should speak to my folks. I hadn’t had a detailed conversation with them since Rawling and Phelan’s parents insulted them.
“I hate to admit it but you’ve handled the upheavals in your life better than I could have. I’m not brave like you guys.” This wasn’t like me, but I pressed on. “And as messed up as this sounds, I wish you would stay.”
Rawling huffed dismissively.
What was I doing? I should be encouraging them both to flee.
“If it weren’t for Eira, we probably would.”