Chapter Ten #2
“Let me be very clear about this. The person who donated the money wanted to stay anonymous. And anyone that has made the claim that they gave the money lied. We expect all our students to uphold themselves honorably. While we focus on rank here, we do not claim the achievements of others. The Alpha that gave the money had specifically asked to stay unknown and I will keep my word to her. But if this continues or if I find out anyone is trying to use this gift to get special treatment, I will be forced to reveal the donor.”
I sighed. At least he was warning me. I looked at Wendy and she looked relieved. I smiled at her and she smiled back, giving me a thumbs up. “That’s good, right?” She whispered, and I nodded. Hopefully, people will stop trying to use this to their own advantage.
“If there is anyone trying to claim the donation, please come to me, and I will handle the issue personally. Thank you and have a good rest of your day.” Vince’s voice disappeared and Wendy turned back to me.
“Thank you again, Alpha Amy.”
“It’s just Amy, Wendy.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket as it rang.
“Mom, yes, I found her. Yes, I thanked her. No…” She looked at me and asked. “You’re not mad, are you?”
“No.” I laughed. I pulled the phone out of her hand. “Mrs. Sandlewood. Hi, it’s Amy.”
“Oh, hello dear. I know you wanted to stay anonymous, but Wendy helped me get the cards ready.” I could hear a soft sigh. “She wanted to thank you personally.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that your daughter was one of the students getting the money?”
Mrs. Sandlewood sighed again. “To be honest with you, I was embarrassed. I wasn’t able to give her everything she needs.”
“Mrs. Sandlewood, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. You should be paid enough that your daughter shouldn’t have needed the money. Or the food plan should be included with tuition like it used to be. There is no shame in needing a little extra support, and I am in the position to help.”
“Thank you dear. I truly mean it.”
“There are no thanks needed. I would have given Wendy a little more if I had known.”
“That isn’t necessary.” She chuckled. “We are just so thankful as is.”
“Well, I hope you have a good night, Mrs. Sandlewood.”
“You too dear.” She hung up the phone, but I dialed a number before I gave it back to Wendy.
“What’s this number to?”
“Me, that’s my number. Call me or text me if you need any help.”
“Why are you being so nice?”
I remembered the story my mom told me after we left the school. The one where Mrs. Sandlewood stood up for my father and talked to the dean at the time in letting him stay after all the drama with Vince. “Your mom stood up for my dad when he was in trouble. Helping you is kind of like a repayment.”
“But you don’t have to.” Wendy tried to refuse.
“I know. It’s not that I have to, it’s that I want to.” I smiled at her. “Everyone can use a friend, can’t they?”
Wendy froze. “You want to be my friend?”
I laughed. “Why is that such a surprise?”
“I’m unranked.”
“And why does that matter?” I poked her rib. “Ranks don’t matter to me. Only people.” I heard Nina scoff, and I turned back to the group of girls that had grown quiet. “What?”
“Alpha Vince said that anyone that had claimed they gave the money was lying.” Nina stepped closer. “That includes you.”
“I never claimed I gave the money. Wendy said that I did.” I just looked at her with a bored expression.
“If you are having such a hard time with this, go talk to Alpha Vince. Now, I would really like to pay for my food and be on my way.” I pushed past the group and paid for my things before leaving.
I made it back to my room, and just wanted to collapse.
I dropped my bags at the door, took off my shoes, grabbed the bags, and put everything away.
I left the sushi to have for dinner and put the rest into the fridge.
I grabbed my laptop out of my bag and set it up to watch a show while I ate dinner.
Once I was finished eating, I took a quick shower and crawled into bed when I remembered I had to call the king.
I groaned as I pulled myself out of the bed to the safe.
I punched in the code and unlocked the lockbox inside, and grabbed the phone.
I crawled back into bed with both of my phones.
Ronnie had saved his number into my main phone, so I had to get the number off one for the other.
I saved the number under King Rowan, pulled my main phone in, and then dialed.
I was hoping he wouldn’t pick up. I checked the time, as the phone rang for a third time and realized it was nearly midnight. I winced as the phone call connected and a deep voice, rough with sleep, answered. “Hello?”
“Hi.” I nearly smacked myself.
“Amy?”
“Yes, sorry I didn’t realize how late it was.”
“No. It’s okay.” I could hear him settle.
“Did I wake you?” I bit my lip as I waited for his answer.
“Yes. But it’s fine. I told you to call me.” I closed my eyes, and I could picture him topless, settling against his headboard, and I nearly drooled. Keep it together. “Amy?”
“Sorry, yes, I’m here.” I rushed out. “What did you say?”
He chuckled. “I asked how the rest of your night went.”
“It was interesting.” I told him about Nina and her friends and he growled. “I have to ask this. Why does Nina say she is going to be your mate?”
“Because she is brain dead.” His answer made me laugh. “She thinks that because she is an Alpha female, she is in the running to be my mate.”
I snorted. “That can’t be true.” His silence was surprising. “Seriously Rowan?”
He sighed. “I’m the last of my kind. And I need a mate.” He groaned. “The council has been pushing for me to select a mate from the Alpha and Beta females that are still mateless. But I don’t want to.”
I grew quiet and Nix let out a howl in my mind. “Why not?”
“My Lycan thinks his mate is still out there. He refuses to accept anyone else. And I agree.”
“You do?”
“Yea. I mean, it’s every wolf's dream to find their mate. And…” He trailed off and coughed. “It’s stupid.”
“No, tell me.” I pushed.
“I assumed you noticed you can’t smell me.” He hesitated.
I pushed up against my headboard, smacked my mattress. “Yes.” I was louder than I meant to be, and he laughed. “I noticed. Why is that? I thought I was going crazy.”
His voice was filled with amusement. “My scent makes unmated she-wolves go crazy. Lycan males have to learn how to cloak their scent from an early age before they are allowed to go near regular wolves.”
“Ah.” I leaned my head back. “That makes so much sense. Does it change after you are mated?”
“It does. Once my scent combines with my mates, it turns softer, and then I don’t have to hide it.”
“That sounds tiresome. How are you supposed to find your mate, then?”
“Well I smell them, and I know. Plus, once I know who my mate is, I will get her alone and I can stop cloaking for her to realize I’m her mate.”
I nodded my head, and Nix gave another sad howl. What’s wrong?
He’s not our mate.
So…
I like him. Her answer was soft, but then I reminded her of the other wolf we saw during our run today and she perked up a bit.
“Amy?” Rowan’s voice was a little soft, and I snapped back to the conversation.
“Sorry I was just talking to my wolf.” I shook my head. “What happens if you don’t find your mate?”
“The council has given me until the end of the school year this year.” He huffed. “They say I have been single for too long. That I need a queen to balance my anger. If I haven’t found my goddess given mate by the end of this year, I have to choose one.”
“But that’s not fair.” I tossed out and this time his laugh was so sad.
“Life isn’t fair sometimes.” Rowan sighed again. “Anyway, this has turned sad. Let’s talk about something better.”
“Like torture?” I tossed out, and he laughed again, this time lighter.
“Exactly.”