Page 6 of Beginnings

“Really?” Connor’s eyes held a question and took on that intense stare he got when he was demanding an answer.

No way was I explaining I decked Shannon because I was jealous. I held his stare, my eyebrows dipping and my nostrils flaring. The weight of his power pressed down on me, pulling at my will, making me want to go to him, to wrap myself around him, nuzzle that strong neck and confess my darkest secret.

What the fuck...?

Now I snarled, and pushed back. Making my spine snap straight, I sat bolt upright and refused to bend to his will.

“That’s interesting.” A dark smirk curled his lips, one that promised he wouldn’t let the matter drop.

I didn’t know if he meant it was interesting that I hadn’t explained why I’d lost my temper or that I’d just defied the pressure of his alpha compulsion.

“Yes, well, Ember is now an adult and as of the end of today is no longer a pupil at this school. I need to wait for word of the other girl's injuries. If she is badly hurt I will inform the head of the agent training programme and recommend that Ember is dismissed into the civil training programme, instead. They will assess her there for her ability to maintain control, especially considering her history of assault during her time at this school.”

My gaze shot to her. I couldn’t help it. My palms began to sweat, my heart racing, but I bit my lip, I’d only make this situation worse by protesting my innocence.

Connor tilted his head and his eyes narrowed on me.

Oh gods, he could hear my heart race, probably scent my heightened emotions, too.

The civil training programme was really a way to ascertain if shifters could enter into human society and manage to live there safely; if they couldn’t control their shifts or anger and animal urges to hunt or kill, they were locked up...or destroyed.

A man walked in front of the window. I stiffened. The geeky teacher, Mr Blaze, I’d heard him called, glared at me through the window. The light reflected off his glasses making his eyes seem like they were glowing.

I swallowed. How could I have let Shannon get to me? Now I was going to have to grab my escape bag and run. There was no way I was letting them lock me up or put me down like a rabid dog. I shuffled, ready to bolt through the door.

“... furthermore, Mrs Winter, the past incidents were years ago when Ember first started here. She was protecting herself from bullies then—as I am sure she was doing today. Perhaps, for all your ability to run such an upstanding school, procedures on the proper way for the school to handle bullying should be revisited. And let’s not forget, the older pupils here are about to go through their Primis and tempers can fray easily…”

My attention snapped to Connor. Trust him to deliver an insult wrapped so tidily you think you should thank him. Mrs Winter looked like she was sucking a lemon. Her glasses had fallen down the bridge of her nose and she was giving Connor a really terrifying glare. He’d been leaning forward, hands on the big, old desk, but now pulled himself up to his full six foot five inch glory. Power pulsed again.

I tilted my head, keeping my face neutral. Even I wanted to cower from the pure dominance he emitted.

Mrs Winter tried holding eye contact. To give her her due, she managed longer than most female wolf shifters would with Connor; Mr arrogant alpha shifter extraordinaire. She eventually caved, though.

I would have smirked, but my mouth was busy hanging open. Normally, he gave me as much of a verbal roasting as Rawson did.

“.... and if any male is ever stupid enough to corner Ember and attempt to use his powers to hurt her again, if she doesn’t rip his throat out, then I’ll do it myself. Perhaps you ought to mention that in your report to the head of the agent training programme.” A growl rippled up his throat, his wolf near the surface.

I stifled a gasp. When I was sixteen, a senior, who had just gone through his Primis, attacked me. He had cornered me, yanked my skirt up and torn my panties before I could even comprehend what he’d done.

My stomach churned, and I swallowed hard at the memory.

By the time I’d pulled myself together enough to fight off my attacker, his dick was out of his pants. It hadn’t ended well for him, but I’d been the one hauled into this very same office to explain myself. Again, I’d remained silent until Rawson and Lyss had arrived. It wasn’t until I’d shown Lyss my ripped undies, the bruises around my neck where he’d held me, and the scratches on my hips, that I’d been exonerated from any wrongdoing. Connor had never mentioned that day. I didn’t even realise Rawson had told him, but it had obviously stuck in Connor’s mind. Gods knew it was stuck in mine.

Mrs Winter pressed her lips together and nodded hurriedly. I even felt a bit sorry for the hard faced cow. Having one of your past pupils come back and throw their powerful alpha vibes in your face must be a bit disconcerting.

“Good. In fact, I’ll even have a word with Mr Evans myself. He’s the head of the agency programme, by the way—and a good friend.” Connor stepped back, and the weighty pulse of alpha energy receded from the air.

Mrs Winter gave a little cough and pushed her glasses back up her nose.

I released a breath through my nose and rubbed at the goosebumps covering my arms. I hadn’t truly appreciated how powerful Connor was until just that moment.

“Of course, Mr Maxwell...”

I almost barked a laugh at Connor’s disgruntled face. He really didn’t like being addressed so formally, though he had taken Lyss’s maiden name not Rawson’s surname to avoid confusion. He had never known his true surname.

The door opened and Mr Blaze walked in. He met Connor’s gaze then immediately dropped his stare.

Yeah, no alpha vibes with this one. The geeky teacher stepped to the edge of the room, as far from Connor as possible.

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