Chapter 16 – Cane #3
I scrub my palms down my face, mainly to give my hands something to do instead of punching Roberts.
He’s been getting more and more amused the longer Augustus keeps talking.
I’m at saturation point with both of them, but I’d never blatantly go against the vampire.
A shifter is another thing, and Roberts is intentionally winding me up.
If the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be doing the same.
I mean, it is pretty funny telling an Alpha who to welcome into their home and what to do period.
I take a steadying breath, accepting once again that my role in life is completely different from what I want out of it. “Of course, Augustus. What else can I do to help?”
I somehow manage to sit back down and be an active, if slightly testy, member in the discussion about how we proceed with the lockdown. We organize who does what, and who’s in charge, at least until Ballin storms out.
Roberts laughs again, standing up. “He lasted longer than I thought he would.”
Everyone follows Ballin’s quick exit and starts packing up. Callista collects all the glasses from the table. “I’m sure you’d be defensive if you were in his shoes.”
“Augustus wasn’t suggesting Ballin was responsible.” The grin on Robert’s face is as telling as the provocative tone he uses.
“He wasn’t, but he said the virus was born from magik. You would have turned to fur at any suggestion that the shifters were to blame.”
Roberts doesn’t argue, and I leave them chatting to catch up with Augustus. “I know you’ve been busy, but did you get a chance to have a look at the samples I sent you?”
He nods slowly, and the others all move closer to listen too.
I was hoping we’d have the chance to discuss the three students involved in the Sunday morning incident, but we’ve spent the better part of the day going over other equally important Thales issues.
Admittedly, I was also waiting for Ballin not to be around.
Considering a member of his House was involved, I didn’t want him to avoid taking accountability for their actions.
“I did. They were all under the influence of Whiteout, a psychedelic substance mimicking the venom of the Colorado River toad. Supposedly, the effects are immediate and offer a void-like experience, which, I must say, does not sound enjoyable in the least. They would have experienced hallucinations, increased heart rate, and by all accounts, a sense of defying gravity. In short, they would have felt powerful.”
“It’s nothing extreme, though, is it? It’s just kids being kids. They went to a party and got shit-faced,” Alpha Roberts adds, making me turn and stare at him.
Callista inserts herself into the small space between us, probably sensing that we are both getting antsier by the second.
“It’s more than that, and you know it, Alpha Roberts.
A party off Thales grounds is worrying, especially considering the reports of increased hostilities on the border.
But when you add in those kids involving another student, it’s a dangerous situation. ”
His mood changes in an instant. “No one mentioned another student being involved.”
“One of mine, I’m afraid. No harm done, but it could have ended differently,” Maddern says quietly.
I take the time to spell out the issues again. “Whiteout is coming from humans. We’ve got humans on the borders, and an approaching full moon.” I add the last part unnecessarily because the fact is, he’s already feeling the pull of the moon, like all Alphas do.
“It’s a recipe for disaster,” he agrees before his smirk returns. “Unless, of course, we’re looking at this all wrong.”
Augustus tips his chin up, intrigue building in his eyes. “How so?”
“The new girl. She recently came from their side of the wall, and now we’ve got shit going sideways.”
“She’s the student I was referring to,” Maddern adds.
And everything falls into place.
Roberts gets the irony before I do, and he aims for the door, talking over his shoulder. “And that’s why I’m thankful Cane will be watching over her.”
I sit back down as everyone clears the room, reading my mood better than I do. Here I was concerned for Roberts for being moon mad and off his game, when I should have been more focused on myself. I know better, I’m Alpha here.
The slipup in my focus is a pertinent reminder that we’re wolves too. Some beings think they’re more important than the moon, but she’ll forever rise above us and outshine us all.
My wolf stays in the background while I sort my shit out.
He sees things in more absolute terms than I do.
In his mind, we are what we are and never need to justify our actions or reactions.
Life would be easier if it were like that, but being a part of Quin-state is about living in a community.
Now apparently that includes babysitting humans on a full moon.
Interestingly, he lifts his head and growls a warning at the reminder that the girl is human. We’re on the same page there—humans are scum and responsible for so much heartache in our community.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I collect my things, flicking off the lights to the boardroom on my way out. The whole way home, I’m trying to figure out how to explain our new houseguest to my brothers.