Chapter Two Dylan #2
I looked back at him, and he winked. The way my stomach flipped at the gesture reminded me of how smitten I had grown to be with this man.
I may not have wanted a mate, let alone three, but Jackson and Hunter were showing me how amazing it was to have them.
Hunter chose not to have a mate when he joined the Enforcer Academy, but once the bond showed up, he threw that away and went head first into being a mate.
Jackson had been heartbroken after his mate rejected him and had no plans of taking him back.
Instead of sulking, he took this second chance to live again.
He hasn't left my side since we found out we were mates, and it showed me the reason people couldn't wait to find theirs.
"So? Can't you use those skills to take Lupe out when she isn't looking?" Sera asked him as they walked down the stairs.
No one outside of them knew Hunter used to be an Enforcer.
I looked around to make sure no one could hear them.
Hunter pushed a calmness through the bond that took over me, telling her he already checked, and they were fine.
I should've known he already took surveillance around them. Old habits die hard.
"No. It would draw attention to us. Teowulf would also catch my scent around his dead mate's corpse and come after me. There's a reason he is the combat master here."
I scoffed. "Not like I'd let him get a punch in with me pushing my astral power into you."
The feeling of pride rolled through the bond my way.
Hunter loved hearing me talk like this. "I wouldn't dream of having you fight my battles for me, love, but would you want me to watch her and report back?
Jackson and I don't have mentorship now that we are mated to you. Our evenings every day are wide open."
Well, that gave me some thoughts, but I wasn't sure how to answer. It would be nice for them to tail Lupe so they knew where the woman was during the evenings. But did I want to risk my mates getting caught? No. I selfishly needed them here or by my side.
"No. We will have to find another way to get some intel on her. Sometimes I wonder if I should go talk to Teowulf and see if he knows his mate sneaks around at night to abduct students who have Shadowborn in their family tree."
Once we were outside, I sucked in a breath.
The immediate feeling of being in my element washed over me.
Being outside around all the forest surrounding the academy helped my wolf settle down.
Jackson hung his arm around my shoulders as we started walking the grounds.
Feeling the warmth of his body against mine had me leaning into him for more.
A rumble from his chest told me he felt the same way about us.
I noticed my wolf had stopped pacing and laid down with her snout between her paws in the planes of my mind.
Some of the burden I carried was pulled away, and a sigh of contentment escaped my lips.
I felt Jackson chuckle and pull me closer to him.
His coffee and whiskey scent wrapping around me had me tripping over my own feet after I closed my eyes to breathe it all in.
I went from not wanting a mate to understanding how amazing it is to have one. Good work, Great Moon.
I looked around and noticed how everyone seemed at peace compared to us. There were people sitting around reading, doing homework, and some by the fire pit. All of them looked like they were having a great academy life.
Then there's me: the Alpha Shadowborn trying to take down the other Alpha Shadowborn.
While looking around, I noticed Sera walked along the tree line, but didn't go into it.
The idea of going for a run as a wolf came to mind when looking through the thick forest. Then the memory of the last time I was in that mess of woods came back to me.
The pang of all the emotions I experienced when I killed a student during a fight for Jackson, found out Hunter was my mate, and bumped into the students I later killed for trying to turn them into monsters came to mind.
So much happened that night. I didn't think I wanted to go through that kind of thing again.
Maybe going in there isn't the best idea.
"Where are we walking?" I asked Sera.
"Just the grounds of the school. We've been so caught up in the drama and school, I thought we could just venture around."
Jackson snorted. "That is an understatement."
Hunter bumped Jackson on the shoulder and gave him a look. "What? Don't enjoy having to fight your way out of places?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you get off on beating people into a bloody pulp. Don't you think you should get off more on this hot ass creature instead?" Jackson tilted his head toward Dylan.
Jackson chuckled when I smacked him in the chest with the back of my hand.
"I get off beating people into a bloody pulp for that hot ass creature. Get your facts straight," Hunter retorted.
Sera snorted, and I groaned. "How about we don't beat people into a bloody pulp over my hot ass self? That'd be great." *
Jackson leaned his head down to my ear and nipped it with his teeth . "You don't want us to stop that, baby girl."
I peered up at him and narrowed my eyes . "Oh yeah? Why's that?"
Both of them had a wicked grin on their faces, and I did not know if I wanted to hear what Jackson planned on saying next. Jackson let out a rumble from his chest . "It's our right to protect you."
"Fine. Then I'll do things myself."
This time, Hunter's chest rumbled. " You really don't want to do that."
" Ugh. Why?"
In unison, they said, " It's a turn on when you do it."
The smile that sentence created reached my ears. "Okay, enough fawning over me and my bloody streak. I’d rather not make people bleed."
Hunter smiled. "That's why it's sexy. You don't want to, but the moment you are pushed far enough, you will end the fight."
I bit my lip, and Sera was at my side to bump my shoulder. "I'm going to agree. You are hot as hell when you fight. You just have this aura of badass, and it just... suits you."
I lifted my brows at my friend, questioning why she did that silently.
She smiled at me in return. "No home, or anything.
I just agree with them. I'm not one to fight either, or think it's attractive unless it's two men fighting over you.
" Dylan made her lips form into a straight line to fight the laugh.
"Don't look at me like that! Your two men who will fight for you, and you cannot tell me that shit isn't hot.
These two would rip people apart if it meant you would be happy. "
"You want guys to rip people in half for you?"
Sera smiled, but then tried to hide it. I could see my friend wasn't sure how to word things right now.
It was funny to know her friend wanted that.
With the bubbly and positive nature Sera had, I'd never expect her to say such a thing.
Though...I had to agree it was hot to see my men protective of her, but it was also annoying.
If anyone deserved to have men fighting over her, it would be Sera.
Sera deserved men who would worship the ground she walked on more than anyone.
"No?" Sera suppressed a giggle. "Okay. Yes! After being rejected and told the one who did it wouldn't be showing up at the academy to fix things... it makes you want someone to fight over you…or at least for you"
This time, I bumped Sera's shoulders. "I know. You deserve that, too. I was just fucking with you."
Sera smacked my shoulder playfully but remained silent.
We walked around and looked at the other dorm buildings on the property.
Many were nice, and I paused a few times after thinking I wanted to introduce myself to some students from other species.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Professor Leahy, Wilcox's boyfriend, shaking his head after walking out of the Fae dorm.
All the beautiful wings the Fae had made me wish I was a Fae.
Some looked like butterflies, while others looked like dragonflies.
All were gorgeous colors, and none of them seemed to be ugly.
Part of me wanted to stop Leahy to ask him if things were okay because, last week, I noticed Wilcox getting aggravated more easily, which I suspect led to Lupe saying Wilcox may not have been the best one suited to teach Silas about Shadowborns.
I didn't care about the romance drama among the staff.
It was more about not wanting Silas to end up missing because Lupe decided he would be the best way to keep me in line.
Sometimes it sucks being a top bitch. People come out of the woodwork to destroy you.
We kept walking and eventually ended up passing by the Angel dorm.
Just like the Fae, I noticed there were color variations among their kind.
It made me wonder if it showed ranking or if it was genetic, but something else caught my eye that seemed more interesting.
There was a security guard looking sketchy while watching the dorm.
The man stood over six feet from my guess with a black buzz cut.
He stood watching the dorm and perked up any time someone walked out.
I noticed him in the treeline, and he ducked away any time anyone looked his way.
A prickling unease settled over me as I watched the man, though I reasoned it was likely his job.
"I wonder if there is any drama going on in the Angel sector?" I muse, pointing to the guard.
All three of them growled. Maybe they are getting the weird vibes from this guy, too.
"Why would a guard be trying to hide in the trees? They aren't usually stationed like that," Jackson told them.
"Should we tell someone?" Sera asked.
Hunter frowned. "Who? Lupe is corrupt, and that's a wolf. She will not care about that guy prowling around the grounds, watching students."
Hunter had a point. Lupe wouldn't do a damn thing. But it also made my stomach drop when Hunter mentioned that the guy was a wolf around the Angel sector. What if Lupe was trying to kidnap other species now? Maybe she needed another species' magic to complete her theory.
A sinking feeling went through my gut. Lupe was being super quiet since I killed Cole.
She had to be creating a new plan to finish what she started.
Lupe wasn't someone who would quit because of a setback.
No... It would make her push harder to finish the job.
That could mean trying to find other avenues to push the magic where it needed.
An angel's magic had to be potent, therefore creating a better chance at completing her theory.
"We need to find Lupe," I said before taking off at a run toward the school.
My mates and friend quickly followed behind me.
Jackson and Hunter's confusion went through the bonds, but I didn't have time to explain.
Lupe could be up to something, and I needed to stop it before it was too late.
If they catch Lupe in the act, it's all over.
I picked up the pace and made it back to the academy within a few minutes.
As I rounded a corner to the front of the building, I noticed Lupe get into a car.
My feet halted, causing the others to nearly slam into my back from the sudden stop.
"What's... going... on?" Sera asked, trying to catch her breath.
The way I growled, seeing Lupe getting into a car made Hunter wrap his arms around me to keep me still.
Where could she possibly be going? Blocking out all the noises around me, I tried to listen to Lupe say where she wanted to go.
Though garbled by the windows, I heard the word "Hollow".
Lupe must be going to Mystwood Hollow. It was the town nearby that students frequented to blow off steam on the weekends, which meant more people Lupe would have access to.
And claim for her plans.
"We need to get to Mystwood Hollow. Now."