Page 84 of Ava: Part One

“Mr Michelson, we have the Council visiting us in a few short weeks, and I have some missing young wolves. That’s the last thing we need. I have to inform their parents by the end of the day. I should have done it yesterday, but I was holding out that you would do the right thing—”

“Wait, are you actually sitting there and accusing me of having something to do with their disappearance?”

“Mr Anderson came forward with many witnesses, and I am inclined to—”

“You mean the weak, pathetic asshole who I’ve managed not to kill for three years conveniently came to you with a story in my final year at the academy? And you’re inclined to believe him for what reason?”

That was true. Jared had never taken his time here seriously and was a pain in the dean’s ass. He never followed the rules. He, on the other hand, needed the rules, the routine, to keep his control. He had never been in trouble a day in his academic career.

Dean Russell had the grace to look down as he shuffled some papers.

“I understand you and Mr Anderson have a history—”

“It’s more than that, and you know it. If anyone will meet their end at my hands, it will be Jared. You can write that down for the record if you haven’t already done so. But I will not sully my reputation or disrespect the Council by touching him before I am Alpha. Jared can try to ruin me as much as he wants, but the end result will be the same. He still has a year to live. I’m a patient man; I can wait.”

The dean knew all about their ‘history’, like everyone else. And they all knew Jared was on borrowed time. He wasn’t going to sugarcoat that.

The dean cleared his throat and then sighed.

“I will continue investigating the missing wolves, but you still broke the rules, Mr Michelson. You admitted to attacking another student; therefore, you must take the punishment. Please wait in the waiting room to be escorted.”

He swallowed. Without Shadow at his best, he didn’t know what he would be like at the end of it.

“How long?” he asked.

“Until Friday night. I’m sorry, I wish there was another way.”

He nodded. Four days and four nights. And Ava would be unprotected that whole time. For all he knew, this could have been Jared’s plan all along. Claire could turn up tonight and finish the job she started.

He was aware that, once again, he was prioritising the human, but he sighed and met the dean’s gaze.

“I want another Omega.”

“Are two not enough for you, Mr Michelson?”

“I have many needs,” he shrugged.

The dean frowned and looked at him before he sighed and clicked on his screen.

“Fine. I’ll put a request in now—”

“No need. I’ll have Ava Morgan,” he said as he stood up. “Thank you, Alpha Russell.”

He was out of the office and sitting in the waiting room before the dean could ask questions. He ignored Penelope’s probing gaze because the vampire had obviously listened in on that conversation and then linked his friends.

‘Guys? I’m sorry. You’re right, we are brothers, and I will tell you everything as soon as I get back. I’ve asked for Ava to be our new Omega; please protect her.’

‘How long did you get?’ Derek asked.

He paused before he answered.

‘Until Friday.’

He listened to the inevitable curses and felt the pain of his friends through their bonds. He had fucked up, and there was nothing he could say that could make this better. Two men who were as big as he was walked into the office wearing the Campus security uniforms. A vampire and a witch, powerful ones as far as he could tell.

‘Guys, I have to go. Derek, you’re in charge. Don’t let them hurt Ava. I’ll be okay.’

And he cut the link.

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