Chapter 6 Jack
Chapter six
Jack
I walked into Supernatural Law and Enforcement, my feet automatically heading to the top of the room. Halfway up the stairs, I paused and stared at the empty chair where Kyren usually sat. Swallowing thickly, I turned around and jogged back down the stairs.
Julian walked in just as I found a place in the front row, right in the middle and in full view his probing gaze. He arched a brow at me but didn’t say anything. Instead, he set his briefcase down on his desk before pressing his glasses up on his nose.
I pulled my notebook out, though I’d barely wrote anything down in it.
This class was superfluous compared to the training they gave hunters before they could go into the field.
I’d taken to doodling more than anything, except the few times I needed to keep my mind from wandering.
Then I made a handful of notes, but nothing substantial.
My pen thudded against the wood side table of my chair, my leg bouncing restlessly. I’d gotten early to class, leaving me and Julian alone. Some days that would have been a comforting thought.
Not today. It was like part of me was waiting for Kyren to appear or not. Frankly, I didn’t know which one I was hoping for.
“Durand.”
I chewed on my lower lip, eyes darting from my notebook to the door.
“Jack!”
My head snapped up, meeting Julian’s green gaze. “What?”
He stood across from me, leaning against his desk. He lifted his hands and breathed in deeply. “Breath with me.”
I closed my eyes and did as he asked, focusing on the sound of his breathing. When we were done, I opened them, my heart still racing.
“Better?”
I shrugged. “Not really.”
“Maybe you should take some time—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I’m fine. I promise. I can do this.”
Julian stepped toward me, his hands in his pockets. “I just mean, no one would blame you for taking a few mental health days. You did just publicly break up with—”
“Jack!” The little witch from the other day, Tabby, skipped toward me. She glanced at Julian, who stepped back, giving me a pointed look before turning his back on us. “Did you decide to help us?”
I glanced between Julian’s back and Tabby. “Oh, uh… I haven’t, sorry.” I winced.
“Oh.” Tabby’s grin dropped. “I just assumed…” She gestured to the seats. “This is where I usually sit.”
“Huh? Oh!” I pushed up from my seat. “I can move.”
“No. No. Please.” Tabby waved me off. “Sit. I’ll just sit here.” She sat next to me and pulled her textbook and notebook out.
I licked my lips and nodded, peering up at Julian discreetly. Our eyes locked. Julian had already been watching me, his hands moving papers around on his desk at the same time. His eyes seemed to ask me a question.
Am I alright?
I nodded.
Whether or not that was true would remain to be seen.
I settled in for his lecture, planning on keeping my attention on what he was saying the whole time.
If I didn’t, I’d spend it wondering where Kyren was and what he was doing.
Why he hadn’t shown himself at the school since my announcement.
All things that would send me spiraling.
The rest of the class filed into the room. A few of the students glanced my way, whispering amongst themselves, but no one else came up to me the way Tabby had.
The witch in question was a diligent student. While the rest of the class couldn’t seem to settle, she was quiet and ready to learn.
“Alright, settle down.” Julian lifted his hands, mimicking lowering the volume. “I know it’s Monday and you’re still reeling from the weekend. But now we’re here to learn. So… turn to page thirty-six in your—”
The classroom door slammed open and in strode Tate. His large frame took up the entire doorway.
“Sorry, I’m late.” He held up his book and grinned. “Couldn’t find my textbook.” Closing the door behind him, he scanned the room before his eyes landed on me.
Julian cleared his throat. “I don’t believe you’re in this class, Mister…”
“Lovett, and I just transferred in. Had a disagreement with the chemistry professor.” Tate clasped his book in both hands, walking up the stairs to the row behind me. “Apparently, you set one too many fires and they kick you out. Who knew?”
The class laughed at his joke, while Julian stared daggers into the werewolf.
A hand touched my arm, and I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“You okay?” Tabby asked me just as Tate found a seat directly behind me. How that was possible was beyond me.
I swallowed and nodded quickly. Turning forward in my seat, I tried to ignore his presence behind me, the scent of gun oil and freshly brewed coffee drifting forward with each inhale.
Julian’s gaze lingered on the wolf and then back to me before turning back to the class. “Today, we’re going to discuss the logistics of what happens when you are deemed a threat to society and the hunters are called to take care of you.”
His eyes glowered over my head, and I knew exactly who he was referring to.
If Julian was trying to hide his disdain for Tate, then he wasn’t doing a very good job. Every single person in the room watched with bated breath as Julian basically tossed half-veiled threats at Tate with every other word.
Sure, he never called Tate out specifically, but you’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to feel the tension between the two of them.
“I don’t think your buddy likes me,” Tate’s voice rumbled in my ear. His body was so close I could feel his body heat against the back of my neck.
Forcing myself not to turn around and acknowledge him, I ignored his obvious plea for attention.
Of course, that didn’t stop him.
“Since Kyren hasn’t stopped pouting, I figured there was space for me to keep an eye on you.” His fingers twisted a strand of my hair hanging down my back.
Half turning my head, I whispered out of the corner of my mouth. “I don’t need you keep an eye on me.”
Tate chuckled. “Baby, half this room would love to see you dead or bleeding out. They might pretend to mourn you in public, but if there’s anything a supernatural loves, it’s a tragedy. And you have it written all over you.”
“Mister Lovett,” Julian barked out, causing Tate to straighten in his seat and letting me breathe again. “While I appreciate your attempt to not disrupt the class, it is lost on a room full of supernaturals who can hear the very blood flowing through our veins.”
“My apologies,” Tate quipped, and I just knew he was grinning his ass off by his tone. “Won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t.” Julian turned his attention back to his slide show.
Class went on without much disruption, though that didn’t keep Julian from shooting glowers in Tate’s direction every few minutes. And Tate spent more time leaning on the back of my chair than taking notes, like everyone else was trying to do.
Everyone else but me.
I could hardly think straight, let alone follow along with what Julian was saying. I was aware of every single breath Tate took. The heat of his body so close to me but not being able to actually touch him was pure torture.
Tabby leaned toward me, sliding a note across my notebook.
Want me to hex him?
I snort-laughed.
Julian’s eyes zeroed in on me, his lips pressed into a thin line. I mouthed sorry before scribbling on the note and handing it back to her.
I’m good. Thanks.
She smiled, returning to her note-taking.
When class was over, I didn’t know if it was better for me to linger behind so that Julian was there to act as a buffer or to dart out of the class like some coward. I was leaning more toward the buffer.
“See you around?” Tabby pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder, her long skirt swishing against her legs.
I nodded, noncommittal.
I actually liked Tabby. The fact that she was willing to hex Tate for me definitely put her higher up on my list of allies. I had a feeling that if I decided to let her coven study me, she wouldn’t make me feel like some kind of lab rat or freak.
Tate climbed over the seats and landed in front of me. “Thanks for not letting the witch hex me.”
I crossed my arms and cocked a hip. “It’s rude to read over someone’s shoulder.”
He leaned toward me until I could see the pupils of his eyes. “It’s rude to leave someone unread that’s had their mouth on your pussy,” he teased.
I jumped and covered his mouth. My own gaped, my face burning, eyes darting around the room to see who might have heard him.
“Can you… just… not?”
A warm, hot, wet muscle swept across my palm. I jerked my hand back, revealing Tate’s grinning face.
“Did you seriously lick me?” I swiped my hand on my jeans, eyes narrowing on him.
Tate’s tongue swept over his lips, playing with the lip piercing. “You didn’t seem to mind it last time.”
“Is this how you tricked her into bed the first time?” Julian stepped up next to us, his arms bulging where he had his arms crossed. “Pester her with inappropriate humor until she gives in?”
Oh, here we go. Let the pissing contest begin.
Tate turned to Julian, crossing his own arms. “No, actually. I let my boyfriend do the seducing. I simply reaped the benefits.”
“I don’t think that’s something you should be proud of.” Julian stared Tate down, the muscle in his jaw ticking.
Closing the distance between them, Tate peered down at Julian, almost a head taller than him. “Jealous? Or are you a homophobe?”
I opened my mouth to put an end to the conversation, knowing it was going down a road that was not going to make any of us happy and would likely blow Julian’s cover as a professor. Unfortunately, Julian spoke before I could.
“I would watch what you say to me, wolf. If you want to stay in my class, then you need to show me the respect I deserve.”
Tate smirked, leaning slightly toward him. “I am.”
I shoved myself between the two of them before Julian could do something stupid like shoot Tate in his stupid, smiling face.