Chapter 34

Anila POV

Sitting in Principal Rapport's office was a first for me. I’d half expected tall bookshelves and weird mysterious baubles, like how Professor Howl kept his classroom. Maybe a bronze statue, or a medal signifying some kind of service or power.

Maybe that was a bit…judgmental of me, to assume anything.

But who doesn’t? And moreover, it didn’t change my surprise when I came and walked into the room. The first thing I smelled was earth, followed closely by the refreshing scent of life.

Plants on top of plants on top of plants—not that I didn’t like plants, of course. They are beautiful and produce oxygen which we need—but I didn’t take Rapport to be a… plants kind of guy.

But here he was, pruning one of his bushes before getting started. His entire office was stuffed with greenery, it was all along the walls and crowded the windows. It even hung from the ceiling, and as I took a deep lung-stretching breath, I felt so calm by their presence.

Vines crawl up posts and droop from the ceiling, and flowers bloom next to the window, releasing their soft and sweet fragrances that waft throughout the office. Watching him as he watered plants, and fussed over a few injured leaves, the smile plastered on his face is enough for me to join in.

He took so much enjoyment from these plants.

I waited patiently for him to finish, making no noise, nor shifting in my seat. I was alone in here; Rapport having ordered Xaden to attend his last class.

“Principal Rapport…” I finally said, drawing his attention from watering a bonsai tree tucked in the corner.

“Yes?” His tone is endearing, like a grandfather paying attention to his rambunctious grandchildren.

“Are you going to be taking me out of my current classes?” I asked, deciding to cut right to the meat of it.

Rapport gave me a half-smile and moved to water the next plant.

“Is there a class or two you’d like to be removed from?” He volleyed.

My cheeks flushed from his question, and I stared down at my hands, thinking about the combat class.

“I don’t know,” I managed to say. “I’m pretty ignorant about all of this, as I’ve been told many times before.” My mind flitted to Harley and my cheeks flushed even more.

“Well, that is a rather good point, Miss Montgomery.” Rapport set his watering can down, and finally came to sit at his solid oak desk—something I definitely expected to see in here. “Your mother was a witch, and from what I have observed, she had passed on some of that talent to you.”

His smile fell, however.

“But your father is a mystery, and I’m thinking might be a shifter considering you have felt a mate connection to not one, but three other shifters. It’s unusual and my only thought is that both your parents must be part of this world.”

I shifted in my seat, suddenly feeling like I was being scrutinized for something I had absolutely no control over.

“It’s not like I wanted that to happen,” My voice trembled from the swelling emotions in my chest.

“Oh, Child, I wasn’t chastising you,” He clucked his tongue, drawing my eyes. His features are soft and understanding. “I just think you deserve a little extra attention, and we should make sure your courses suit your actual needs. Since we don’t know what your strengths, or weaknesses are, I wanted to take a look at each course and make sure it’ll benefit you.”

“What kind of courses do you suggest I take?” I found myself asking.

He tapped his chin as if he were lost in deep thought, and for a moment I could have sworn I saw gears turning in his mind before he finally gave a quick nod and a “That’s perfect.”

“What?” I blinked.

“Right now, you are taking a very low-level magic course. I’m going to place you in a more elevated class. Advanced Magic with Professor Howl,” he told me. “I’m also taking you out of History of Shifters so you can have a main focus. So, I’m putting you in Werebear History and Strength training along with Werewolf History 101.”

He started to type on his computer and my stomach flipped.

“Werebear and Strength Training is more advanced. It’s two courses in 1 and you’ll need the strength training course if you do happen to be a bear. It’ll make your first shift a lot easier.”

I frowned, a protest rising to my lips, “Why should I be in advanced classes? I’m only a first year.”

For the first time, he leveled me with his gaze, and I saw authority. Someone who knows things way beyond my comprehension.

“A first year that can multi-cast without losing focus. I was watching your chase for a bit earlier. Not even being in the presence of your fated mate made your focus stutter. We also don’t offer strength training for 1(st) year students. Most bears arrive at this school already semi-strong, and we don’t focus on strengthening that part of them until their 3(rd) year. They do a lot of training on their own growing up and considering you have no training; we need to get started on that right away.”

My displeasure must have been brandished on my face because Principal Rapport shifted forward in his seat.

“Anila, whether you like it or not, you are an immensely special person. There is nothing wrong with taking a little extra time to figure it out, right?”

“No…” I conceded, still unsettled.

While I sat in a thought spiral, Principal Rapport drafted my new schedule, and the supplies I will need to take these classes.

“Here you go, Miss Montgomery. Take this to Agatha Wills in the Bookstore, she will make sure you get the materials you need. You can also return the materials you got for your former classes as well.”

Tentatively I grabbed the paper, eyeing the list of materials, and my course schedule.

9 pm – 10:45 pm: Werebear History and Strength Training with Professor Tilly.

11 pm – 11:45 pm: Werewolf History and Sense Training with Professor Santina

12 am – 12:45 am – Lunch

1:00 am – 1:45 am MWF Mornings Only– Advanced Magic with Professor Howl.

2 am – 2:45 am – Free Period/Quiet Study.

3 am – 3:45 am Tuesday and Thursday Mornings Only – Introduction to Combat with Professor Atlas.

“You took me out of Geography?” I asked, confused.

He nodded.

“I feel you don’t need to focus on that course right now. The Werebear History and Strength training course is about 2 hours long, so I needed to make some room,” he explained. “Oh, and make sure you bring some gym clothes to your first class. You’ll need it for the strength training portion.”

I swallowed at the sight of my new classes.

“Do you need anything else?” He questioned, and as I looked at him, eyes brimming with uncertainty, his smile turned somber. “I know, it must be so overwhelming, isn’t it?”

The question made my throat tight, and tears wanted to spill from my eyes. Not trusting my voice, I nodded.

“It will get easier. You are in a particular situation; most know what they are by the age of three.” He leaned back in his seat, a frown marring his gentle face. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to go your entire life not knowing who or what you are.”

Gods, that understanding was something I haven’t had yet, and hearing it from the freaking principal of all people made me want to bawl my eyes out. Water threatened to spill down my cheeks, and before I could wipe them away, Rapport noticed them.

“Relax, Child. You are in good hands; I have made sure of it.”

I nodded again, sniffling and wiping my damp cheeks.

Rapport gave a dismissive wave, “Now go and collect your materials and get plenty of rest. Your new classes start tomorrow. If you need anything, my office is always open.”

He offered a cheeky grin, and despite myself, it lifted my spirits as I stride out of his office.

However, those spirits died pretty quickly when I laid eyes on my fated mate down the hall. Well, one of my fated mates. Zach was wearing a flirtatious smile, smooth-talking a woman whom he had pressed against the wall, his body leaning over her seductively as she giggled and blushed at his stare.

He was shirtless with his sweatpants, and I could tell he was fresh out of the gym.

The woman he was with twirled her hair around her finger before placing her hand on his chest, whispering some sweet and filthy things into his ear. I could tell by the way he smiled that he enjoyed what she was saying.

That was until his eyes locked with mine, his calm blue changing to raging oceans at the sight of me, and I turned around quickly, briskly walking back towards the elevator. My chest was tight, a simmering rage bubbling in my gut at the sight of him and her pawing over one another.

How dare she touch what was mine. I halt right in my tracks. Mine?

I don’t own anybody, least of all him. Why was I feeling this way? Even as I tried to fight against the foul emotions, the possessive need within me turned rabid at the thought of him being with anybody else. And that makes me sick because I have no right to feel that way about a person I don’t even know.

All because he was my supposed fated mate. All because of these tethers keening in my chest for him, Xaden, and Harley. Even Damien, though I’m not sure what that was even about.

Stupid.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

This whole fated mate thing was just plain dumb, and as I pushed myself forward and toward the door that led outside, I found myself seeking him out again over my shoulder, only to find that he was gone—the woman with him.