Chapter 39

Anila POV

My muscles were even more dead by the end of class.

I was exhausted and sweaty, hair clung to my forehead as I sluggishly gathered my things. I caught sight of Harley chatting with Professor Tilly. As soon as my eyes landed on him, his eyes found me. I offered a warm smile, thankful for the help he offered today.

And that he didn’t touch me.

If he had touched me, It would have felt wrong. Like I was betraying Xaden for some reason. But also, my body was thrumming with so much pressure and tension I was afraid I would pop at the slightest touch. That sexual need has only coiled within me tighter, and I needed Xaden to release some of this pressure if not all of it. I glanced at my phone, frowning that Xaden had not replied yet—despite having read it.

I slung my bag over my shoulder before exiting the classroom.

“Hey there,” A soft, warm voice tickled my ears and my eyes shot towards Xaden, who was waiting for me just outside class.

Butterflies bloomed in my chest, spreading to my fingertips as I threw my arms around his neck.

“Xaden!”

There was an elated cheer in my voice, and his arms wrapped around my waist. Relief flooded through me as all the thoughts of everything and anything evaporated from my mind. The feeling of being wrapped up in him was soothing—the wound-up pressure of tension within me starting to uncoil each second his warmth fell into my skin.

“I’ve missed you,” I breathed into him, basking in his scent. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

His hair was bound back in his slick-back, green eyes tired as big bags hung beneath his eyes. He mustn’t have slept well either.

“As am I, Anila. I got caught up this evening with… business.” He left it at that, but as I pulled back and saw the lingering frustration on his face from whatever happened, I decided not to pry.

Instead, I cupped his face, pulling him into a kiss. His lips melded with mine which brought me perfect bliss, and nothing could tear me away from him at this moment. I felt his shoulders relax, as some of his own stress melted away.

My body relaxed against his and for the first time all night, I felt… normal.

I breathed in his scent, letting it fill me to the brim.

“I don’t have many classes today. I was thinking we could go to the library and together.

I could think of a lot of other things I wanted to do during my free time today, and they all consisted of Xaden being naked. But the idea of discovering more about my mother, and maybe even myself, was too tempting to pass up.

“I would love that,” I said in a low tone, for his ears alone. “But I still have another class before I have any free time,” I told him.

He nodded, pulling me close to him as he walked with me toward my next class. The walk was short and quiet, but it was a nice quiet. Neither of us felt the need to fill the silence with pointless conversation.

When we got to my class, he kissed me tenderly and possessively, like he was telling the whole world that I was his and only his. Butterflies assaulted my stomach and I wanted so much more of him. But I knew my desires would have to wait.

I was pleased to see that Becca was in my werewolf history course and when she saw me walking into the classroom, her eyes lit up and she waved me me over to sit beside her.

“What are you doing here?” She asked happily as I sat down.

I slid my schedule across the long table and toward her.

“My schedule got changed,” I explained.

When she read the schedule, her eyes widened in shock.

“You’re taking advanced classes?” She asked in awe. “Already?”

I nodded.

“Principal Rapport thinks it’s for the best,” I said, shrugging. “I don’t really understand it all fully. But I think it’s because I could literally be anything and he wants me to be as prepared as possible.”

“But advanced magic?” Becca asked, furrowing her brows together. “I heard that’s even more difficult than any advanced class at this school.”

“I was practicing magic with Xaden earlier and Principal Rapport was watching me,” I told her in a hushed tone. “He was impressed that I was able to do more than one spell at a time.”

Her mouth hung open in shock.

“Seriously?” She gasped.

I could tell she had way more questions for me, but classes started, and we both drowned ourselves in our work. Werewolf History was taught by Professor Santina. She was a young teacher with long black hair with blonde highlights and big blue eyes. She was obviously a werewolf shifter and she even shifted to show us her large black wolf which also had streaks of blonde in its coat of fur.

She left the room to shift back so she could change into her clothing before returning. I was in awe of her immediately. Most in the class had already completed their first shifts, but those of us who hadn’t were more than impressed and clapped for her upon her return.

“Because this class is only 45 minutes, I’ve broken the curriculum down a little differently. Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays will be history lessons and Tuesday and Thursday will be Sense training. Wolf senses are our most powerful aspects so it’s important we learn how to use that skill to the best of our abitlies.”

From there, she went straight into the history of werewolf shifters, and I took pages of notes.

By the time lunch rolled around, my stomach was growling hungrily. I skipped breakfast, so it made sense that my body was mad at me.

Xaden met me outside the dining hall, and we grabbed some lunch together. After we ate, Xaden suggested we head to the library right away to get started.

I couldn’t help but groan; I was tired, and my muscles ached. Not to mention I was sweaty and felt gross after my workout with Harley. But I also had the combat course later and showering now would be pointless.

“Maybe we should do this tomorrow?” I suggested. “I smell disgusting.”

Xaden’s eyes darkened and he gave me a playful smirk as he leaned closer and to my utter shock, he sniffed me. My cheeks flushed from the gesture.

“I think you smell delicious,” he breathed, his tone dropping to a whisper.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I shoved his face away.

“Seriously, Xaden,” I chuckled. “I’m gross.”

“I beg to differ,” he said, wiggling his brows. “And I’ll show you just how not gross you are.”

“It’ll be fun to see you try,” I smirked. “Okay, fine. We will go to the library.”

We both stood from the lunch table, laughing as we put our trays in the dirty dishes bin and then I grabbed his arm and pulled him along with me.

It must have been strange seeing me lug him around behind me, but whenever I glanced back at his face, all I could see was the dreamy gaze that so often hazed his face when he looked in my direction.

It made my heart flutter.

As we made it to the library, I was enthralled by the vastness of it. It was simply huge, like a mall for books. Every wall was covered with bookshelves, stretching high into the air. The vaulted ceiling was true to the rest of the castle-like architecture, with a stained-glass window at the far end. It’s a depiction of a woman dressed in white, with gleaming hair and rays of moonlight shining down onto five people below her.

“Is that the Moon Queen?” I asked, pointing at the window and remembering what Agatha at the bookstore had said about her, not to mention the smut she had given me. The smut I quite enjoyed.

“Yeah, this school was built a long, long time ago. It’s got a lot of archaic things such as that decorating the halls.”

We come to the reception desk where an older man had his nose stuffed inside a tome. His hair was long and gray, tangled in various knots. His shirt was buttoned in all the wrong spots, leaving it crumpled and revealing a stained white undershirt beneath it. The bags beneath his eyes say he hasn’t slept a wink in at least forty years.

I couldn’t help the mad wizard vibe I got from him as I approached the counter.

“Hello,” I offered, peeling his scratchy gaze from his tome to my face. “I was wondering if I could take a look at old student records?”

His bloodshot eyes narrowed.

“Who the hell are you?”

I blinked, stunned “A-Anila. I’m a new student.” I showed him my I.D. which glowed along my arm, but he dismissed me with a wave.

“No. First-years can’t look at student records,” He snapped.

Xaden growled, “Since when?”

The old man’s eyes moved to him.

“Since right now. My library. My books. My rules, wolf-boy.”

I blanched; my god was this guy always this rude? I certainly didn’t appreciate the tone, but I didn’t mind digging through records myself, even if I did have to wander aimlessly around for hours on end just to find the right section.

Xaden, however, was not giving ground.

“This is the school property; you are employed by Principal Rapport to provide students with the knowledge they request. Do I have to report to him that you can’t seem to perform your job in your old age?”

The man scoffed, “You think he owns these books? I do. It's my collection, brat. If you can’t respect my rules as I make them, then get the fuck out. Both of you.”

“Wait!” I whined. I can’t believe this, why was this happening? “Please, I need to know more about my mother, and this is the only place I can look,” I begged, hoping he would give just a little.

His eyes leveled with me, before moving to Xaden with a sneer.

“Maybe I would have been more open to helping you if it weren’t for your rude company.”

I kept my face still, but inside I was fuming. Fury rose in me like bile in my throat.

Before I burst, and before Xaden lashed out and made this even harder to deal with, I snatched his hand and marched right out of the library.

I could always come back later, alone if that man preferred. I needed to find something out about my mother, and I knew this was the place to do it.

As we exited, I dropped Xaden's hand and ran mine through my sweat-soaked hair.

“Well, that was a bust.”

“I’m sorry.” Xaden started, “He and I never got along. I didn’t think me being there would impede your investigation so much.”

I waved him off, “It’s fine. I’ll come back later. I appreciate you jumping to my defense.” I offered a warm smile, which Xaden only half returned.

“I’ll go to Rapport and see if I can get him to do something.” He moved towards me, his hand cupping my cheek before placing a hot kiss on my lips. “I have to go now, though. I’ll come to you tomorrow evening, okay?”

He bent toward me and brushed his lips lovingly against mine. My heart swelled from our contact and butterflies took flight within my belly. I was never going to get used to kissing my mate. His tongue tangled with mine, dancing rhythmically. Heat coursed through my body as my heart thumped in my chest wildly.

The kiss ended too soon, leaving me breathless and wanting to much more. He gave me a quick wink before he turned and walked away, leaving me alone.

As I made it back to the dormitory so I could change into some new gym clothing before my combat course, I felt the ghost of Xaden’s lips on mine, and I couldn’t help the goofy smile on my face. As I neared the elevator, the smile began to faulter once I caught sight of Zach pawing at another girl.

His eyes found me immediately, flashing a smile that pierced my heart and ignited that jealousy again.

But I wasn’t going to let it bother me; I couldn’t let it bother me. So, I forced a smile in his direction before I walked into the elevator. I turned to the panel and pressed in my section before my eyes found his again. He remained unmoved, staring at me, as the doors to the elevator shut.