Chapter 12 #2
Ryder took in the determined set of Caedmon’s jaw before nodding sharply, standing and all but dismissing us as he turned back to the desk. I swallowed, feeling awkward as Caedmon led me from the room, and I had to will myself to not look back because I could feel Ryder’s penetrating gaze on me.
I was distracted enough as we left that I was authentically surprised when Caedmon pulled me down a hallway we passed, pressing me against the wall.
My breathing hitched as his hands came down on either side of me, trapping me without touching me.
I very much wanted him to touch me. I didn’t feel panicked as I assumed I would, being cornered.
My heartbeat slowed as his magic surrounded me, that dangerous edge under his skin only making his closeness that much more appealing.
My face felt flushed, and my magic was sparking in a combustible manner from Ryder and now Caedmon.
Magic that I wasn’t used to. Magic that didn’t feel as familiar as usual, my wolf letting out a soft whine of confusion.
I’d never reacted to anyone like this in my life, and within twenty-four hours, I’d met five men that all seemed to elicit intense and confusing responses.
Unpredictable. Change.
I didn’t like this. I didn’t like this at all.
I loved it, and that scared me.
“Effie.”
I blinked, trying to clear my head as a tremble worked through me.
“Mon ange.”
Nope. Still wasn’t happening.
“Effie.” Caedmon’s voice was harder and colder, snapping my attention to him as he gripped my jaw firmly yet gently, making me look him right in the eye.
My head tilted back as I examined the way his green eyes ate up my expression, concern and a cool, clinical nature intermingling to create a confusing mix that I found oddly intoxicating.
What was wrong with me? Seriously?
“I’m sorry,” I whimpered, worried he would be mad at me. His hand instantly loosened, panic filling his gaze.
“Nothing to apologize for,” he soothed. “I don’t know how to help you, mon ange. What can I do?”
I looked at him, realizing he was still not fully touching me as I voiced my quiet suggestion. “This is going to sound ridiculous… but can I have a hug?”
Yes, I knew it was silly.
I had loved my hug with Tore today, and I wanted another, specifically from Caedmon.
Shock seemed to filter through his gaze, and in a quick movement, he had me gathered against him, his large arms anchoring me against his muscular body.
My fingers gripped his shirt before sliding around his neck, loving the way that his large arms tightened around me.
I didn’t even mind the slight bit of pain in my ribs, because this superseded it completely.
This relief. I had no idea how long we stood there, but eventually I let out a slow breath and shivered, running my nose against his chest. His chin was on top of my head, and I felt completely covered by him, the two of us wrapped up in one another, sheltered from the overwhelming world outside of this hallway.
“Caedmon? Effie?” Julian’s voice sounded concerned as the man holding me stiffened. He didn’t move away—luckily, for my fragile ego—but he did pull back slightly, offering Julian a look that I couldn’t see.
“Everything okay?” Julian asked almost cautiously.
I hesitantly looked at his expression, wondering if he would be mad at Caedmon holding me like this.
I mean… he had kissed me, right? Yet the concept of him being upset didn’t make sense to me at all, and his face was void of anything but concern, making me wonder if yesterday had even happened. Well, also this morning.
No. Both of those had very, very much happened.
“Yep.” I clung onto Caedmon as he let out a soft rumble and buried his nose in my hair again. When a warning bell rang, I jumped and he stilled me, separating us slightly as Julian continued to stare at us with confusion.
“Ready to go to your next class?” Julian asked, offering me a hand. I looked at Caedmon, who just nodded and then stepped back. I took Julian’s hand and followed him out from the hallway.
“Are you going to be back at the dorms later?” I asked, looking back at Caedmon. I wasn’t ready for our moment to end. Not yet.
“Yes.” He nodded immediately. “I need to move some of my stuff back.”
I blushed. “I may have left my comforter in your room.”
He flashed a small smile, looking down at his shoes momentarily. “Good.”
Then he was gone, and Julian shook his head, smiling. “You know, Effie, I’m a bit jealous. Now he’s going to expect you to sleep in his room every night.”
I looked down, a smile pressing on my lips. “Yeah?”
“How am I supposed to sleep with you now?”
“You could join us,” I immediately answered, and found myself embarrassed.
Oh yeah, Effie, that’s a normal response. I felt a twinge of awkwardness and embarrassment because of what I had just suggested. In true Julian fashion, though, he let out a deep chuckle and wrapped an arm around my hip, pressing a kiss to the side of my head.
“Maybe I’ll do that, preciosa,” he mused and murmured something else under his breath. I didn’t catch that part, though. Instead, I was overwhelmed by the fact that he was willing to do just that… to join us. That concept had me feeling a flush of heat that felt dangerous to both of us.
“You look flushed,” Tore mentioned. “You feeling okay, lil bit?”
I jumped, surprised by his sudden appearance as I flashed him a hesitant smile. “Yes, just sort of a long morning.” Filled with a bunch of emotions that I wasn’t prepared to handle at all. Tore examined my expression and nodded slowly.
We left the building, walking towards the humanities department as I asked, “What classes do you guys have today?”
“Graphic design,” Tore said. My brows jumped with interest, because did that mean he was majoring in that? I absolutely loved that concept. I didn’t know much about graphic design, but I wanted to know more.
“Is that your major?” I asked softly. His nod had me wanting to ask more, because there was a slightly unsure nature to his expression. Did he not like his major? Did he like it but thought it was embarrassing in some way?
“I have Physics in the next building over,” Julian explained.
I found something almost sad, or maybe thoughtful, in his gaze. I squeezed his hand in response as we entered the larger, slightly older building that we’d been walking towards.
“Dakota will be here after class. He had a meeting, but make sure to wait for him,” Tore said after a few moments of us walking towards my class.
It was odd how they almost predicted my thoughts, and I absolutely loved it.
I had been wondering where he was, but more so I had been wanting to know where to go after.
As we reached the door to the classroom, I met the eyes of the professor up front, a young woman that offered the three of us a somewhat surprised look.
Tore and Julian said goodbye to me, much like earlier, making me almost let out a dreamy, stupid sigh as I watched them walk away.
When I turned back into the classroom, the teacher looked away, but not before her surprise registered once again.
I walked into the room and found a seat a few rows back, on the far line of desks against the window looking out at the lake.
How did anyone focus on class with views like this?
I tensed slightly when someone sat right next to me, my eyes flicking up to find a young woman who was now somewhat familiar.
The red-haired woman from the restaurant stared back at me with a copper gaze that seemed far more relaxed and well-rested than the night before.
Hadn’t this been a freshman class? I’d thought she was older, but I guess that had been an assumption.
Her entire energy was filled with strength, and there was a haunted edge to the way she looked at things.
Almost a palpable jaded view. Not that I could blame her—everyone has had different experiences in life.
For all I knew, she had it worse than me.
She adjusted her baseball cap, pulling her ponytail tighter as she offered me a hesitant smile. “Hi.”
“Hey,” I offered with a shy smile. “You’re from the diner yesterday, right?”
“Yep.” She put out her hand. “Ruby.”
“Effie.”
I met her hand as I again tried to feel out what type of wolf she was, but I was unable to determine it by the time I pulled back my own.
She wasn’t fenrir or anything like the guys, but whatever she was, it was full of power.
There was energy running under her skin, and it felt like a wolf, but once again, that didn’t feel like the right term for it.
“Oh, I think the entire school knows your name by now,” she teased lightly, almost looking sad. “First found mate to a blood-bonded pack on SFU’s campus. I’m surprised they haven’t let the media on campus for that shit yet.”
What?
“Mate?” I echoed.
Was she saying that I was mated to the guys? I mean, first found mate… to the blood-bonded pack. Considering I only knew one blood-bonded pack, I had to figure that was what she was saying. The thought of being their mate gave me so much joy and contentment…
…Only to be crushed by the disappointment and realization that they hadn’t told me.
Why wouldn’t they have told me? Because it wasn’t the case?
Or because they didn’t want me to know because then it would mean they had to accept me?
Or reject me? My wolf ignored my inner ramblings and began jumping around in excitement.
Ruby’s eyes widened. “Please tell me I am not the one breaking this news.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it, before frowning. “I don’t know. I mean, no. Yes. Sorry, I’m just a bit confused because they hadn’t said anything. But how would you know that? You’re saying they are my mates?”
Her jaw clenched as she ran a hand through her ponytail before muttering, “This is none of my fucking business.” She met my gaze and winced. “I’m sorry, Effie, just ignore me.”