Predators in the Pines
SCARLETT
Why, why, why…
Why me?
That was the only thought looping in my head as we all watched the Triumvirate and Kaiden walk toward the bus. The moment they got closer to the bus, every head in the vehicle turned. Eyes locked on me, some filled with pity. Others with curiosity, jealousy, or quiet judgment.
“I definitely know this is not a coincidence that she gets to sit with them,” someone whispered
As the four of them got closer, the entire bus went eerily silent. Lily and Milo turned to give me weak, wincing smiles like they wanted to comfort me but didn’t know how.
The bus became a graveyard the second the guys climbed in.
Their footsteps were heavy, and thudding.
I kept my eyes glued to the window, pressing myself against the glass like I could melt into it and disappear.
But I felt them. Four massive presences moving down the aisle.
Their combined pheromones hit me like a wave, pine and smoke, burning cedar, wild snow, and that strange clean rain scent from Kaiden.
A huge body dropped into the seat right beside mine.
Saint.
Relief washed through me so fast it made me dizzy. At least it wasn’t Kane or Rhys. Saint was… safer…..gentler.
I glanced sideways.
Kaiden had taken the very last seat by the opposite window, head already pressed against the glass, typing on his phone with his shades still on. Rhys sat in the middle of the row. Kane was next to Kaiden.
Weirdly, neither Rhys nor Kane was even looking at me.
Only Saint.
“Hi,” he whispered, voice a deep rumble that sent shivers racing down my spine and heat flooding my cheeks.
I looked up at him and managed a small, shy smile.
“Hi.”
He smiled back, soft, almost shy for someone so massive and leaned in closer.
“Missed you,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.
My face went even hotter.
Get it together, Scarlett O’Hara.
Professor Ryan stood up at the front, facing everyone with a stern expression.
“Listen carefully, all of you,” he said, voice booming. “The journey to Blackthorn Ridge is one hour and thirty minutes. There are rules you will abide by on this bus.”
Norman, seated near the front, couldn’t resist.
“What does it really matter? It’s just a bus ride.”
Ryan shot him a glare. “Rule one: no talking back to me. Rule two: stay in your assigned seats. No switching. Rule three: no fighting, no shifting, no pheromone games, keep it locked down. Rule four: if anyone feels a heat spike or aggression coming on, you report it immediately to me. Rule five:
phones on silent. No videos, or recordings. This is a school event, not your personal reality show.”
A few students groaned. Someone muttered, “Boring.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Rule six: anyone caught breaking these rules gets left at the next rest stop. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the forest. Understood?”
Mumbled agreements rippled through the bus.
Ryan sat down with a satisfied grunt.
The engine rumbled to life.
The bus began moving, pulling away from the school grounds.
I stayed quiet for the first ten minutes, watching the scenery blur past, trees, stone walls, the academy gates fading behind us.
Saint’s presence beside me was warm and solid, his thigh almost touching mine.
His scent wrapped around me like a blanket, snow and wild pine making my pulse flutter in ways I didn’t want to admit.
Then he leaned in again, voice barely a whisper.
“Did you miss me,” he repeated, softer this time.
I looked down at my lap, cheeks burning.
“…Yes,” I admitted quietly.
I felt him blush, actually blush, his ears turning pink. It was ridiculous how such a huge, dangerous Alpha could look so shy.
I gathered my courage.
“So… where have you guys been?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
Saint hesitated.
“I would love to tell you that, sweetheart,” he said gently, “but we can’t.”
I nodded, trying not to feel disappointed.
He leaned closer, nose brushing the side of my neck.
A small growl vibrated from his chest, low and hungry.
“Fuck… sweetheart, you smell so good.”
Heat flooded between my legs instantly. My pussy pulsed at his words. I clenched my thighs together, breath catching.
“P…please,” I whispered, voice breathless. “Not in here.”
Saint sighed, a deeply reluctant sound but pulled back.
I turned to the window, biting my lip hard as the scenery continued to blur past.
The bus kept moving.
And I kept feeling his eyes on me.
This was going to be a long ride.
****
To my surprise, the rest of the ride went on peacefully.
Saint didn’t touch me in any way that would cause me to get hot and bothered. He just sat beside me, quiet and solid, occasionally glancing over with that soft, almost shy look in his blue eyes. Kane and Rhys leaned their heads back and… slept.
Yep. They actually slept for the entire ride.
Kane with his arms crossed, mouth slightly open, looking almost peaceful. Rhys with his head tilted toward the window, golden eyes closed, breathing even.
It was strangely… normal.
And honestly? A relief.
I thought I’d be dripping wet and on edge the whole time from their pheromones or lingering touches, but they did nothing.
The ride was smooth, no bumps, no drama.
Even Kaiden didn’t look my way once. He kept his head pressed to the glass, sunglasses on, just looking out the window like the rest of us didn’t exist.
That bothered me more than it should have.
Did I upset him somehow?
Why were Kane and Rhys suddenly keeping their distance?
I’d braced myself for their usual intensity, but they gave me… space.
The bus finally slowed as we approached Blackthorn Ridge.
It wasn’t just a forest.
It was an ancient, sprawling wilderness, dense, towering trees that blocked out most of the sunlight, thick undergrowth, and an eerie silence that felt alive. The large iron gate creaked open automatically as the bus approached, revealing a winding dirt road cut through the trees.
Students pressed against the windows, murmuring in awe.
“Wow… it’s huge.”
“Look at those trees, they must be hundreds of years old.”
The bus drove deeper until the trees parted into a massive clearing. Dozens of unmade tents and camping supplies were already laid out in neat clusters. Fire pits, supply crates, and marked trails disappeared into the woods.
The bus rolled to a stop.
Professor Ryan stood up.
“Everyone out in an orderly fashion. Stay with your partner. No wandering off until we’ve done the headcount.”
We filed out.
I rushed to Milo and Lily the second my feet hit the ground, the three of us sticking close like we’d agreed. The Triumvirate exited last, towering, silent, drawing every eye in the clearing.
As they stepped down, three figures approached from the tree line.
The tallest one had cat ears twitching atop his head and a long, sleek black tail swaying behind him a feline shifter. The other two looked human at first glance, but something about their posture screamed predator.
The feline shifter stepped forward, smiling with too many teeth.
“Welcome to Blackthorn Ridge, students.”
His voice was smooth, almost welcoming… until his amber-slitted eyes swept over the crowd hungrily and predatory.
Then his smile sharpened.
“Try not to get hurt.”
The words hung in the air like a blade.
Students shifted uneasily. Whispers broke out.
The feline shifter’s tail flicked once.
“After all,” he added softly, “the woods here have a way of… claiming what they want.”
He turned toward the tents.
“Choose your sites wisely.”
And with that, the clearing suddenly felt a lot darker.
Even though the sun was still high in the sky.
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