The moment I did, I froze in my tracks. Standing there was a woman, at least six feet tall and easily three times my size, her muscular frame in an all-black suit. She was pacing around the hallway, her eyes scanning the area.
I instantly knew she was the warden. We hadn’t been formally introduced to her yet, but the others had warned us about her. They said that after meeting her, we’d reconsider our decision to stay here-or even think about leaving the academy altogether.
She held a stick in her hand, tapping it menacingly against the palm of her other hand as she surveyed the surroundings.
My anxiety spiked, and my legs felt so numb and heavy that I couldn’t move.
When I heard her grunt, it jolted me back to reality. I quickly rushed to the side, squeezing myself into the narrow space between two antique-decorated cupboards.
It was dark there, and I silently prayed she wouldn’t see me. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to glance toward the bathroom.
I assumed she’d question why I had come here instead of using the bathroom in my own room. If I told her my room’s bathroom was occupied, she might follow me back to check it. Then she’d find drunk Lamar, and he’d get into trouble.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of seeing that idiot again. With so much going wrong in my life, I still had to deal with him, too.
Finally, the warden left, and I watched her disappear down the hall. I let out a deep sigh of relief but didn’t come out of hiding immediately.
However, the moment I stepped out and started sprinting, I hadn’t even taken more than a few steps before I came face to face with another problem.
If I hadn’t stopped in time, we would have collided-and that would’ve made her furious.
She narrowed her eyes at me, placing her hands on her hips, and then gave me a once-over, sizing me up from head to toe.
“And what are you doing here?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest and smirking, as though mocking me for being caught sneaking around on the ground floor.
“I was… using the restroom,” I stammered, gulping down my fear. My hands were clasped behind my back, gripping the test tightly.
It was Sage in front of me.
I hadn’t had a face-to-face encounter with her until now. This was our first interaction, and the way her eyes lingered on me, paired with her raised brow, made it clear she meant trouble.
“And why not in your own room?” she asked, tapping her foot impatiently against the floor. I guessed she was allowed to roam around freely since she was a top senior.
“Come on, answer my question, or I’ll have to ask Miss Warden to come check on you,” she said, tilting her head dramatically, her tone exaggerated and mocking.
“My roommate was using it, and I couldn’t wait any longer, so-” I began to explain, but I noticed her gaze drop to my hands.
Her expression shifted immediately.
I knew I was in trouble.
“What is it? What are you hiding behind your back?” she asked, her voice dripping with mockery and menace. The threat in her tone was clear, and I didn’t dare risk upsetting her further.
Norman:
“Emmet, just meet her once.” My strides were long as I chased after my brother through the open corridor leading to his sanctuary.
He had returned from the academy while I had just come back from the office after enduring a two-hour meeting. Mom had been blowing up my phone, pleading with me to convince Emmet to meet her.
“At least meet Demi and Davon,” I said. The moment their names left my lips, my brother stopped and turned to face me. The wind blew his coat and hair, making him look even more intense.
“Why? I don’t like kids, and I don’t like hanging around them. They’re loud and ask too many damn questions,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. Every time their names came up, Emmet’s attitude soured.
I couldn’t understand why, but he always looked uncomfortable when they were mentioned.
“Emmet, they’re our siblings,” I said, stepping closer to him. I hoped that if he looked me in the eye, he’d realize how much his behavior was hurting everyone. His attitude toward them was completely unjustified.
“And?” he shrugged.
“They’re innocent. Why are you taking your anger out on them?” I couldn’t grasp why Emmet was upset with Mom. She was a victim in all of this.
The last I remembered, when our parents were divorcing, he had begged Mom to stay. Dad had even allowed her to live in the guesthouse, but she chose to leave instead.
“I’m way past all that stuff. As for Demi and Davon, I don’t know what to say to them. They’re kids, and I have no idea how to deal with kids,” he said, sliding his hands into his pants’ pockets, his expression utterly nonchalant.
“Okay, I’ll be straightforward with you. Demi and Davon have been showing some behavioral changes. They’re becoming aggressive, especially for kids their age, and Mom wants you to tutor them.”
The moment I finished speaking, his jaw clenched visibly.
“Does she think that’s what I do at the academy? Tutor kids? They don’t even need a tutor; they need a babysitter. Is that what she expects me to become for them?” His tone turned sharper, prompting me to reach out and place a hand on his shoulder.
“Yes! Babysit them, spend time with them, and get to know their personalities. Also, start teaching them about our history and the werewolf powers we possess. Just meet them once, and you’ll understand what I mean,” I said, noticing a faint frown forming on his forehead. For a moment, it looked like he was finally considering my words.
“But I won’t force you,” I continued. “I’ll leave the decision in your hands. Just let me know what to tell Mom.”
I patted his shoulder and pressed my lips into a thin line before walking away.
I thought about heading back to my room to prepare some files for the latest deals when I saw Jessica sitting in the living room with Charlotte.
We had a fight in the parking lot of the hotel, and after that, I had ignored her entirely. So seeing her here was a surprise.
“Jessica!” I sighed exhaustedly.
She immediately stood up to greet me with a slight bow of her head.
“Come,” I said, shooting a harsh glare at Charlotte while calling Jessica to follow me. I had told Charlotte countless times to stay away from my guests. She was nosy, and if I ever caught her snooping around in my business, she’d have to face severe consequences.
Jessica followed me to my bedroom, and the moment she stepped inside, she turned to start talking.
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