Chapter 11 #2
Now, I was scared that if I said too much, she would get upset.
So I had said nothing, just staring at her until I finally lost my nerve and left.
I wasn’t positive what I kept expecting from her, except that she would hurt me.
Instead, she continued to fuck with my head, and every time that she showed some level of insecurity, it had me wanting to support her.
To protect her. To give her anything she needed.
I was not the person for the job, but I didn’t know what else to do.
Dakota’s gaze met mine as he offered me a challenging look.
I cursed under my breath, hating the man that had been one of my best friends for so long and knew me, knew my internal conflict.
With a small exhale, I bit the bullet, knowing I was going to regret my crossing towards the bookstore.
But I didn’t want to be left out of the circle of warmth that seemed to radiate from her.
I may just stand there staring at her, but I needed to at least be close in case she wanted to offer me some level of attention.
My heart shattered as her eyes moved to mine, as if sensing my closeness. Someone moved out of my way, quickly, looking panicked as I reached her. I knew I scared people on campus, but I couldn’t give a fuck. As long as I didn’t scare her.
Without saying anything to the others, I took a risk and gently pulled her from Dakota and against my chest. The guy gathering her books made a surprised noise, but I didn’t care.
People already fucking knew what was going on; I just needed to tell my father.
For now, I just buried my nose in her hair, and despite the tremble running through me, I held her tighter.
I didn’t feel affection for anyone except for her. Except for this.
Dakota oddly didn’t say anything, and I didn’t risk meeting his gaze.
I knew a challenging look could start shit between us.
When I pulled back, I saw a bit of confusion and hurt in her gaze.
I absolutely appreciated how apparent her emotions were.
For someone like me that was literally emotionally illiterate, it helped a fuck ton.
I resisted the urge to tuck her under my chin and wrap her up completely, keeping her as safe as I could.
“You left this morning,” she accused softly.
I had. Because I’d been goddamn terrified of the effect this little bitten wolf had on me.
I also knew that if I had watched this angelic being wake up in my bed, I would have never let her leave.
I would have kept her there, curled against me like a kitten. So instead I had left.
“I did, mon ange,” I murmured, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry.”
You know what I wasn’t sorry for? The calls I made about her fucking pack back home.
I wanted information on every single fucking person that touched her.
I wanted to know everything about my angel.
My small piece of beauty and paradise that I didn’t deserve in the least. My redemption on my broken soul.
I knew what I’d gone through before coming here wasn’t normal.
I even knew, in some part of my consciousness, that it wasn’t my fault.
It didn’t change the fact that my soul felt dirty and dark compared to her.
I didn’t want to taint her with my fucked-up nature, but I also didn’t want to let her go.
I would just have to give her… everything, and hope that it was enough for her.
Enough to keep her at least somewhat interested in me.
“What does ‘mon ange’ mean?” she asked curiously as one of the guys picked up her books and took care of the cost. We had a joint account as a blood-bonded pack.
I wasn’t positive how the other blood-bonded packs handled it, but we had figured this was the simplest solution.
It was also something we had never used until very recently.
“Later.” I pulled back gently, feeling a bit embarrassed at the nickname. “Have you gone to class yet today?”
“She’s in your Economics class,” Tore offered. Almost instantly I growled, thinking about all the motherfuckers that were in that class. All the bastards that would be looking at her. Then it occurred to me that she was, in fact, in Economics.
“Econ?” I arched a brow with curiosity, her eyes running over my expression with surprise. Probably because my emotions changed on a dime.
She shrugged, blushing, as if embarrassed by her interest. But fuck, I found that attractive as well.
There was no reason for it, and it may have just been wanting to know more about her, but I found myself intrigued by everything about her.
And simultaneously terrified that what I learned would only wrap me up in her web further.
I knew I needed to move my shit down a floor today, and we needed to have a conversation about switching floors because there was no way that was going to happen now.
I didn’t want anyone in Effie’s room, even temporarily.
The space carried her scent, and if other men smelled it, they could want her.
I wasn’t okay with that, even if I considered the men in question friends.
I just needed to tell them the deal was off when I moved some more of my stuff down today.
They would understand. They would also want to meet her.
I wasn’t ready for that. Effie was ours, and I hated that she was even out here right now.
I looked at Effie’s new backpack that Julian carried, holding her new purchases, and as we walked out of the store, I realized that she didn’t have a computer.
I had an extra, but I wanted to purchase her a laptop.
Well, I wanted to buy her a ton of shit, actually.
The woman deserved to be in silk. She deserved everything, and I hated that she hadn’t been treated like a princess her entire life. Like a precious possession. If I had her in my pack, I would have never let her go. Ever.
I dropped my hold on Effie as she walked next to me, her other hand occupied by Julian’s as Tore and Dakota walked behind us.
I wanted to touch her, but I found myself hesitant whenever I overthought it.
I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn’t have the balls to look at her.
Frowning, I ran a hand through my hair and adjusted my jacket, my eyes darting down to where she was wearing the jacket I had picked out for her.
That made me feel a bit better. Moderately.
Julian was explaining the buildings we passed, Arts and Humanities, followed by the Mythology and Histories department for wolf shifters, and all too soon, we were walking into the Business building. I pressed a hand to her back as I looked down at the schedule she was holding.
“I’ll be outside after class,” Julian promised as he kissed her forehead and departed after gently sliding her backpack onto her shoulders.
I fought the urge to steal it back from her because I knew the bruising on her body was bad enough that it couldn’t be comfortable.
I also didn’t want to alert the others to her injury; she had entrusted me with the information, and it felt wrong exposing that. I knew Dakota was aware, as it was.
Tore didn’t bother meeting my gaze, instead wrapping Effie up in a hug before retreating towards the nearby cafe.
I knew he didn’t have class until later, but the fucker was paranoid about her safety.
I’d be offended if I didn’t know that the concern was just natural to him.
Finally, Dakota pressed his forehead to hers, and I could feel his wolf push out around him.
I saw her nod as if they had mentally communicated, and I found myself annoyed by that.
Jealous, actually. He disappeared, leaving me with Effie, who looked up at me with a soft, affectionate smile.
Suddenly I was far more nervous than before, my heart rate spiking as I tried to not overthink this moment.
“My first college class,” she murmured hesitantly.
“It is,” I mumbled, feeling suddenly worried that maybe this wasn’t a good starter class.
I walked with her towards the door of the classroom and kept my hand on her back as we entered through the large doorway.
My gaze looked over the large windows and the snow that was still falling.
Small amounts of sunlight broke through heavy gray clouds, making it glitter like Effie’s porcelain skin. It was beautiful.
Immediately upon us entering, Ryder Bosu, the professor for this course, looked up from where he sat lounged at his large desk, ignoring the students walking in.
I nearly rolled my eyes at that. I liked the man—in fact, I even considered the brilliant bastard a friend—but he was an asshole, and a somewhat arrogant one.
Then again, I didn’t blame him, considering everything he’d done in his life, and so young.
I still didn’t understand why he was here in the first place.
Except right now, I wasn’t feeling very friendly towards him.
A growl nearly broke from my throat as his gaze passed mine and focused on Effie, her cheeks flushing as she came to a complete stop.
I paused, looking between the two of them, as she blinked, seemingly in shock.
I wasn’t positive if it was because of Ryder or something else.
Narrowing my gaze at the twenty-seven-year-old, I wondered what she was seeing in him. Why was I jealous? Better yet, why wasn’t I jealous? I had a million reasons to be. She hadn’t looked at me like that yet. She probably never would.
Did she recognize him? Was that why she was frozen?
I mean, he was considered one of the brightest economic minds in the country—it was how he had made his fortune and added to his family’s wealth.
It was also why he had already retired and was now teaching at SFU despite being one of the few shifters here that wasn’t a type of wolf.
By all technicalities, he didn’t belong here.
Yet here he was, catching my mate’s attention.
He sat up as Effie looked away, and I ushered her towards a seat in front.
I squeezed her hand gently before walking towards his desk, intentionally blocking his view of Effie.
His eyes flicked behind me, looking both confused and somewhat cautious, which was unusual for him. “Who is that?”
The man seemed almost shaken, hating that this was clearly a reaction that had to do with shifter shit. I doubt anyone else noticed, but considering it was my mate in question, it pissed me the fuck off.
“Our blood-bonded pack’s mate,” I explained firmly.
Something flashed in his gaze before he smoothed out his expression and nodded. He didn’t offer anything else and instead pulled some papers from his bag as I grabbed a chair and dragged it near his desk.
As a third-year economics major, I was able to aid as an assistant in the more basic-level classes for extra credit, so I was here to help with simple shit like tutoring and grading papers.
Right now, I was loving the fact that it kept me around Effie despite it usually being about occupying my extra time.
Finding Effie’s gaze, she offered me a small smile, still looking flushed, as I realized just how many men were staring at her right now. This was going to be hell.