Chapter 44
“What’s going on?” Phoenix asks as we pull into the parking lot at Woodhurst University. There are people everywhere. Even a few news vans and camera crews.
“I don’t know, but we should find out.” Hunter looks out from the back seat. “There weren’t any rallies on the calendar when we left. Not that I knew of. This type of thing usually has to be registered and approved.”
Sebastian pulls his obscenely luxurious car to a stop. We all climb out, following the crowd toward the quad where there’s a small stage set up. Caspian holds my hand. Sebastian stays close on my other side, with Hunter and Phoenix a few steps behind us.
I spot Evie near our building and make my way toward her.
The second she sees me, she’s running. Her arms lock around me in a fierce hug, but when she pulls back, her expression is pure anger.
“Where the hell have you been, Madison Grant? You just dropped off the face of the map. No phone call. Nothing. Not even an email. I’ve been worried sick.
Pack Douchebag said you were with them, but I didn’t believe that for a minute.
One more day, and I would have called the cops. ”
I’m surprised Pack Prescott covered for me, but I guess they’re the only ones who could have. They saw me get kidnapped, afterall.
“I’m sorry.” I squeeze both her hands in mine. “Girls’ night tonight? I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”
I hear grumbling from my men at the suggestion that I might spend a night away from them, but a stern look shuts them up. I’m not the girl to ditch her best friend just because she found her pack.
Someone jostles into Evie, sending her stumbling closer to me.
“Watch it!” she gripes.
The guy walks past without apologizing. Everyone seems eager to get closer to the stage, curious to know what’s going on. There’s an excited energy in the air that makes me wary.
“So, what’s all this about, anyway?” I ask, glancing at the crowd quickly filling up the quad.
“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Evie squeals. “You’re gonna be so excited. Or maybe disappointed.” She wrinkles her nose. “I know you wanted to find it yourself, but better someone found it than no one at all, right? The university is putting together a team to excavate, and I’m sure you can get on it.”
There’s a weird sinking feeling in my gut. “What are you rambling about, Evie? Spit it out.”
“The Prescott pack discovered the lost city of Ocearus.”
“What the fuck?!” My exclamation is so loud that everyone nearby turns to stare at us.
That’s when I notice Branson standing on the platform next to his father, who’s on the board, and the university president. Rodrick and Carter are right behind him with a few other faculty members from the humanities department.
Before they can start addressing the crowd, Hunter grabs my hand and storms right up onto the stage with me.
“Were you seriously going to claim Ocearus for yourselves?” Hunter jabs a finger at Branson’s chest.
“You’re back.” Branson’s face goes a little white. “We thought…”
“Dr. Anderson,” President Sherman scolds. “Mr. Prescott told me he was part of Miss Grant’s team in this discovery, and you tried to cut him out.”
“Like hell,” Hunter growls.
“Hunt.” I place a hand on his arm without thinking. The university president’s gaze drops to the spot where we touch. Shit. I know we talked about going public, but this is hardly the place or time.
“Mr. Prescott also told me an interesting story about the two of you.” The president narrows his gaze and crosses his arms. “Look, Hunter, we’ve known each other a long time. You’re my friend, and I respect you, but if there’s an—”
“We can talk about that later. This is about Ocearus.” Hunter scowls.
“Branson and his pack may have been present for the discovery, but this is what Madi’s dissertation is on.
It was her research that led to us finding Ocearus, as I told you when I first reported it.
And now, you’re holding what I can only assume is a press conference to announce the discovery without her.
If anyone is being cut out, it’s this brilliant woman at my side. ”
My love for this incredible man pulses through our bond, telling him without words how much I appreciate him standing up for me. I don’t need him to fight my battles. I’m more than capable of doing that myself. But it feels good to have his support, to know I don’t have to do this alone.
“Additionally, you can’t punish Madison for being my scent match.” Hunter’s voice is low, but firm.
“Scent match?” President Sherman rears back, his face a mix of shock and disgust. He looks at Branson. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“He didn’t know,” I say, speaking up for the first time.
“I had no intention of cutting Pack Prescott from the team. In fact, I asked them to fundraise for the excavation, but…” I pull my shoulders back, thinking of my Aunt April and all the people who belittled her, discredited her for believing Ocearus was real, including this man in front of me. “I want credit for what I discovered.”
I can almost see how hard President Sherman is trying not to roll his eyes, as if he thinks I’m some little girl throwing a tantrum. Academia is still a boy’s club through and through.
“Branson,” he drops the pretense and reveals his familiarity with the Prescott Pack, “will you confirm what Dr. Anderson and Miss Grant are saying?”
Seriously? He’s going to leave this up to Branson fucking Prescott. He’s going to lie, I know it.
“Branson’s biased,” I blurt. “We dated, and he has it out for—”
“Miss Grant! That’s quite enough.”
“Excuse me,” Sebastian says from somewhere nearby. I’m not sure when he came up on the platform or how long he’s been standing behind me, but his voice soothes some of the sting from President Sherman’s tone. Only a little, though.
He steps around Hunter and takes hold of Branson’s arm. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with Mr. Prescott for a moment. It’s urgent.”
Before anyone can protest, Sebastian drags Branson forcefully to the back corner of the stage.
“You can’t leave this up to Branson Prescott,” Hunter hisses at President Sherman the second Seb and Branson are out of hearing range. “You’ve known me for years, Andy. I wouldn’t lie about this. I told you the day we found Ocearus that it was Madison’s discovery.”
“And then you disappeared, after I warned you that we wouldn’t wait.
” He huffs and crosses his arms. “No one has been able to get a hold of either of you for weeks, right after you supposedly made the biggest discovery of your lives. And now, I find out you’re scent matches.
” He shakes his head and tsks. “It doesn’t look good, Hunter. ”
Seb and Branson walk back over, stopping any further discussion for the moment. I lock eyes with Branson and silently beg him to be decent for one fucking time in his life. Please tell him the truth. If you ever cared for me, please. For once in your life, don’t be a jackass.
Branson drops his head, looking at his shuffling feet. He almost looks… chastised. “It was Madi’s research that led to the discovery. She deserves the credit.”
I’m so shocked I stand frozen just blinking at him. Rodrick and Carter step up whispering to their packmate, and I’m pretty sure I hear confused cursing.
The university president dips his chin to Branson, even as he eyes Sebastian suspiciously.
“Very well,” he says, stepping forward and turning on the microphone at the front of the stage.
The crowd is growing restless, a few people yelling out questions. He raises his hands to quiet them, and a hush falls over the group as he begins speaking.
Hunter wraps an arm around my waist, and I notice curious looks from fellow students who know he’s the dean of anthropology.
He tenses under their gaze, and for a second, I worry he’ll let go, put distance between us, take back all that he said on the island.
He doesn’t, though. He pulls me closer to whisper, “I’m not going anywhere.
I’d give up anything and everything for you. ”
“Still, we could have probably found a better time to reveal our relationship.” There’s a teasing note to my voice, because I don’t really care what everyone else thinks as long as Hunter feels good about the decision we’re making. He’s what matters.
Seb wraps his arm around my waist from the other side, and I look up at him. “What did you say to Branson?”
“I just reminded him that it’s in his best interest to keep you happy.”
“You blackmailed him?” I whisper-shout.
He doesn’t answer in words, but the look he gives me confirms my suspicion.
“With what?”
“Oh there was plenty to choose from.”
“How…?”
Sebastian puts a finger over my lips and leans so close his mouth brushes my ear. “I did a thorough search on Pack Prescott back when you were trying to decide if you were going to stay with them or not. If you hadn’t left them on your own, I would have made sure they could never hurt you again.”
I’m dumbfounded. From anyone else, what he just confessed, and the controlling nature of his suggestion, would be a major red flag, but from my fishy, all I feel is warm and fuzzy. He cared about me even back then, when I was so unsure if my feelings for him were one-sided.
“I was always going to protect you, ocean. Even from afar.”
He kisses my temple, and I nearly swoon.
“…and now,” President Sherman says a little louder than whatever he was saying before, “I’d like to introduce the woman who made all this possible. Miss Madison Grant.”
I almost want to correct him and say Madison Anderson, but we haven’t talked about what name we’ll take as a pack. It seems obvious to me that Hunter’s our pack alpha, but that doesn’t mean we’ll take his name.
The university president holds out the mic to me as the crowd claps, and I step forward to share about the discovery I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little girl.