Chapter 11
Rose
I can still feel my body reeling after my night in the theatre department with Gabriel. Or Professor Thorn. I don’t know anymore.
The pleasure was intense and exquisite, like nothing I have felt before. But walking away made me sober up. This is truly dangerous. My inheritance relies on the idea of my graduating from Wolfswood. And, if our affair, which has now been consumed fully, is exposed, it’s all lost.
The silly thing is that I don’t even care that much about the money.
I can, after all, go back to my old life in London.
But what I do care about is my parents. It would kill me if they found out.
If I were expelled for a known reason—sleeping with a professor.
They would never recover. And I would die of shame.
I’m thinking about all this walking between classes. My mind is spinning, and I’m caught in the memory of Gabriel’s poetry lesson in the costume room. The lines of the poem he wrote for me were so beautiful. I love the way we enjoyed our forbidden act.
My body still wants him, perhaps even more than before.
And my pussy is tingling with the echo of his touch.
Our connection is illicit, and that’s what makes it thrilling.
I know that very well. I’m his student, and he’s my professor.
And yet every moment with him pulls me deeper into a world I can’t resist, no matter the risk.
I round a corner, and Liam Carter appears. Even though he was trying to be nice at the tennis court, he’s the one who believes he’s superior because of his wealth.
He’s in his second year here, at Wolfswood. Even though Liam looks cute enough, there is just something about him that makes my skin crawl. It feels like he wants more than friendship from me, and I’m definitely not interested.
I don’t like that he feels that way about me.
“Rose, hey,” he says, and falls into step beside me. “How’s Wolfswood treating you? Those classes are brutal, right?”
Obviously trying to flirt with me. But he’s very awkward and bad at it.
“The classes are intense indeed,” I say, but my thoughts are still on Gabriel. “I’m managing, though.”
“You seem like you’re handling it. I mean, you’ve got this… presence. Hard to miss.”
His compliment seems to be honest, but it feels weird to me. He’s not like Gabriel at all. They don’t even compare. Liam is young, clumsy, and inelegant. Gabriel is mature, sophisticated, and incredible.
“Ummm… Thank you, I guess, Liam. Is there anything you need? Like some notes from class?” I ask, hoping to steer the conversation away from anything personal.
“Oh, God, no! I have my assistant take notes for me. I don’t bother with that kind of stuff.”
He talks so casually, and I don’t even think he understands what he’s saying. In the world of the ultra-rich, you have assistants who do the classes for you.
“So, we should hang out more, Rosie, you know? Get to know each other.”
“Please don’t call me Rosie. It’s Rose.”
“Huh? What? What’s the difference?” he asks me stupidly.
“So, what is it that you need, Liam?”
“There’s a student gathering tonight, and it’s different than the usual parties. It’s not like a boring mixer. Wanna come?”
At first, I hesitate a little. But his offer seems like a good one. It might be a great way for me to get to know some of the other students and make more friends.
“Sure,” I say, more politely than eagerly. “What kind of gathering?”
He winks at me, looking sleazy. “You’ll see. Meet me by the east gate at eight. You won’t regret it.”
I nod, and he lingers a little, maybe hoping for more. But my focus is only on my Gabriel. My professor.
Liam is kind, but he’s not Gabriel. Nobody is.
***
In the evening, the grounds at Wolfswood are cold and misty. I button my coat against the autumn cold and walk toward the east gate, where I’m supposed to meet Liam.
He’s waiting for me already. The logos on his jacket are discreet but still visible, even in the faint light. He’s dressed in a Gucci coat that screams old money.
“Are you ready for something unique?” he asks.
“Ummm… I guess it depends on what you mean by unique.”
He starts to laugh, even though I wasn’t joking.
“Come on!” he says and leads me through the grounds.
We walk past the manicured lawns to a secluded grove. There are a few trees here that stand like sentinels. The path is narrow, and the atmosphere seems off somehow. I can feel my stomach twisting with unease.
Soon enough, we reach a clearing. It’s lit by a single iron lantern that is casting long shadows. A dozen students stand in a loose circle, but they’re not wearing uniforms. Instead, they seem to have some kind of costumes on. Costumes that I’ve never seen before.
Long, flowing gowns or cloaks of dark red color. Masks and hats, in identical colors. It creates an eerie sight, resembling a scene from a horror movie.
“What’s happening here? What are they all doing? Are you going to… sacrifice me or something?” I ask, trying to joke. But I can feel my fear rising with each step.
But Liam laughs.
“Why? Are you a virgin?”
My thoughts fly to Gabriel and the countless things he’s done to me. I think about his cock in my mouth, and his cum all over my face, and how definitely I am not a virgin.
I don’t answer Liam’s question, and he takes it as an invitation. He slides his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. But I gently take his hand off me.
“So, what is this place again?” I ask as I watch the students in the circle.
Their faces are serious, and their postures are rigid. Cassandra Vane is among them, and her eyes narrow as she spots me. I feel like an intruder. My adopted roots are a stark contrast to their pedigreed confidence.
Liam nudges me forward.
“This is it,” he says, and he tries to take my hand. I know that he’s looking for a connection, but I don’t want it. I pull away gently because I am loyal to Gabriel’s touch.
The group forms a tighter circle, and a tall student, Marcus, steps forward. He’s holding a silver chalice etched with Wolfswood’s crest.
“We gather to honor the legacy,” he begins, and his words are formal, almost reverent. “To pledge our loyalty, our discretion, to the institute and its secrets.”
My unease grows. The atmosphere is heavy and cult-like. It’s far from the lively student parties I imagined.
They recite an oath, promising to uphold Wolfswood’s traditions, to guard its mysteries.
We, the chosen of Wolfswood, swear by the blood of our forebears to uphold the sacred traditions of this institute.
We bind our hearts to its secrets, etched in stone and shadow, never to be spoken beyond these hallowed grounds.
With our will, we guard the mysteries of power, wealth, and dominion, forged in the silent pact of those who came before.
We vow to protect the legacy, to shield its truths from unworthy eyes, to carry its burdens in darkness.
By this oath, we are one, bound by loyalty, sealed by silence, under penalty of exile and ruin.
My skin prickles, and the words crawl over me like a cold wind. Their solemnity is unnerving, almost otherworldly. The students’ eyes gleam with fervor, and their faces look pale in the lantern’s flicker. It feels like the oath has summoned a presence that watches us.
Marcus raises the chalice, which is filled with dark wine, and passes it around.
“Drink,” he says to the students. “Swear silence.”
The cup reaches me, but I hesitate. It feels so heavy in my hands. And so unnatural. I take a small sip, though, because everyone is watching me. The group nods. It’s a silent warning not to speak of this night, and I feel trapped. I am a part of a world I don’t understand.
“Pretty intense, right?” Liam says, trying to take my hand.
“It’s… different. What is this, Liam? Some kind of secret club?”
“It’s tradition. The elite students at Wolfswood have to keep the legacy alive. You’re part of it now, Rose.”
“I don’t know if I am,” I say. “They don’t see me as one of them. I’m the adopted heiress, and I was not born in this world.”
I keep watching the strange ceremony. Marcus holds the chalice higher, and its silver surface glints in the firelight. He steps toward the center of the circle, where a small fire crackles in an iron brazier.
His movements are deliberate, almost ceremonial, and my stomach churns with unease. I can feel something darker is coming.
“We seal our oath with sacrifice,” Marcus declares. His eyes sweep the group, lingering on Cassandra, who nods in approval.
Marcus unfastens his pants, and moves his hand to his cock. I watch as he begins to stroke himself, slow and methodical, right there in the clearing. I can’t even move, that’s how shocked I am.
But the rest of the students watch casually, unflinching, as if this is expected or sacred. Over on the other side of the circle, Cassandra looks very relaxed. She’s clearly pleased, and her satisfaction is the complete opposite of my horror.
Marcus moves his hand faster around his cock. I want to look away, but I’m frozen. I’m trapped by this ritual. He finishes with a shudder, and releases his cum into the chalice. The act is very profane, but the others treat it with reverence.
He raises the cup and pours the contents into the fire. The flames hiss and flare, and I can smell a sickly sweet scent. Then, the entire group of students starts to chant together.
“Bound by fire, sealed by will.”
I try to keep my composure, but I am beyond shocked. This isn’t just a pledge. It’s a twisted rite, and a secret these old-money heirs guard with their lives.
Cassandra is clapping, as if the act cements her place in this elite circle. Liam nudges me and tries to take my hand yet again. But I recoil. My body is rejecting his touch, and all my thoughts flee to Gabriel. He’s safe. He’s not like this.
At the center of the circle, Marcus wipes the chalice with a silk cloth and addresses us all.
“The legacy endures through us,” he says, and the group nods.
But I refuse to participate. This world, with its rituals and secrets, is a labyrinth I’m not prepared to navigate. And this realization shakes me to my core.
The ritual is over now, and the students are going back to their rooms. Liam walks me back to the dorms and continues to chat with me, even though I barely answer him.
“You’ll get used to it,” he says. “You belong here, Rose. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thanks, Liam,” I say, and quicken my pace. “But I need to get back.”