Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
But not too much distance because I promised Nia I wouldn’t do anything to get her in trouble, and leave her vulnerable to Dagem or the alphas again. So in the end, I lurked on the fringes of their little popular group like a creepy, jerking-off-in-the-bushes stalker.
“And Edric,” she went on. We had just left History of the Dominions and were headed to the mess hall for lunch. “He comes off so hard and closed off, but when you get to know him, he’s actually quite sweet.”
Oh, yeah, he was real sweet when he was threatening me into scamming the alpha council out of millions, right after he tried to pressure Orion out of being my alibi.
“Orion too.” Nia sighed. “He opened up to me about his dad. Can you imagine waking up one day and realizing everything you know is a lie? His mom took off when he was little, and now he’s questioning that too. Did his mom leave because she suspected something or knew about his dad? Did she abandon him to be raised by a monster? Or did she not leave at all and... his father did something to her?”
Nia clasped her hands tight over her heart, eyes pained. “He’s in so much pain all the time, and no one else sees it. They don’t care because they’re too busy blaming him.” She shook her head. “I wish there was something I could do to help him. Be there for him like he’s been there for me in the past—”
“MINE!”
Nia jumped out of her skin. Spinning around, she shot back against the wall—chest heaving as she gaped bug-eyed at me.
The sudden hot flush of wolf-induced jealousy left as fast as it came. Clearing my throat, I raised my chin. “Apologies,” I said lightly. “My wolf isn’t a fan of how close you’re becoming to my fates. Not your fault of course, but it might be best to change the subject.”
“Oh... right.” Nia slowly peeled herself off the wall, maintaining the distance between us. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s cool. No one wishes my wolf would get over those alphaholes more than me.”
“Sure, but still.” She edged to the side, keeping me in her sights. “I could’ve been more sensitive. Especially because they’re only being so protective of me because of my wolf too.”
“Let’s go.”
We continued on to the mess hall, turning the conversation to our assignments. The alpha track workload was as punishing as it promised to be. Luckily for Nia, she was passing with flying colors and parades. Unlucky for me, I was failing everything.
“Are you going to do the essay?” Nia asked me. “I saw the one Raza handed back to you, and there was more red ink than black on that paper.”
I heaved a sigh. “She has it out for me, because she thinks I’m the one who slipped laxatives in her tea that night. Writing that essay is a massive waste of time, but if I don’t, she’s got an excuse to put me in detention.”
Nia dropped her gaze.
I thought she might say something, but then we joined the flow of students headed into the mess, and the conversation dropped.
When we went inside, Nia veered off to the dais and I dropped my stuff on an empty seat close to the front doors. Holly was by my side by the time I sat down, carrying a pot of that staff-only coffee.
She had to know who I was by then, but for some reason, she treated me as friendly as I treated her.
“Afternoon, Daze.”
“Afternoon.”
“How’d you sleep last night? That storm seemed to rage on forever.”
“I didn’t get any sleep, but that’s because I was enjoying it.” A true smile tugged at my lips. “I curled up against the window, drank chamomile tea, and watched the lightning race across the sky. That’s my kind of night.”
“You’re an old soul, Daze.” She poured me a mug while handing over the menu. “People your age won’t appreciate that now, but one day, you’ll find your kindred spirits.” Holly patted my shoulder walking away.
Even the lunch lady can tell I’m friendless, and she pities me. Is this rock bottom? Or will I know it by the bus I can’t catch?
“Mind if I move this?”
I raised my head at the voice. Nia placed my bag on the floor and sat down.
“What’s this? Why aren’t you sitting with the asshole, the other asshole, the flatulent asshole, the smelly asshole, and the smirky one?”
“Hmm. Is that Badr, Nyx, Edric, Orion, and Paxton in that order?”
“Couldn’t be anyone else.”
Nia laughed. “I’m not sitting with them because it’s time everyone went back to their own lives and stopped worrying about me.” Her smile dimmed, hardening around the edges. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I don’t need protectors. I never did, and I won’t start now.”