Page 57 of Forsaken

Sean doesn’t just sit back and take Nathan’s advances though. He bares his elongated teeth. “Whatever you’re mad about, take it up with Gayle.”

“Okay,” Kinsey says, hovering with a pinched brow.

Nathan moves in closer, a dangerous spark in his eyes. “You probably see her more than me. It’s why you tried to sever the bond, isn’t it?”

Sean’s gaze flicks to me, complete betrayal searing through his eyes. What? Like I wasn’t going to say anything?

“Yeah, I know,” Nathan seethes. “How’s your heel feeling?” The smirk he gives Sean teases my lips upward into a smile, but the undercurrent of panic about shit coming to a head right here, right now, in the security wing, flips my stomach, acid sloshing against the sides.

Footsteps sound in the hallway, and Nathan finally steps back from Sean. They both stand there, eyeing one another as if they’d happily tear the other’s head off.

Jonah clears his throat. “Due to the circumstances, the security team thinks it would be best if Mia stayed here tonight.”

“Oh, no,” Sean replies smoothly, peering past Jonah to the Daybreak personnel. “I’d rather have her with me. You know how it can get, being mates and all.”

The two security guys accompanying Jonah glance at one another. Before they have a chance to talk, a cry comes from the waiting room. “Nathan? Nathan?”

My blood runs cold. Gayle’s blond hair bobs into view. She pushes past the burly security—including Jonah—and runs toward Nathan, flinging herself onto him. I nearly lunge at her, but Kinsey grabs my hand, centering me a little. However, my fingers still turn to claws in her grip.

This bitch better get off my man.

Nathan lets her hang there without reciprocating the gesture. She stays that way far too long for someone who’s not getting anything in return. I look away, attempting to help myself because the longer I look, the more I feel my wolf scratching inside me, pawing her way out. I grit my teeth, bearing down on my jaw to keep her inside.

My stare flicks to Sean, who’s also glaring at the scene. His shoulders are bunched, expression mildly irritated before smoothing out and turning his eyes to me. He walks over. Dread pumps through me with each step. When he’s at my side, he threads his fingers through mine, and I swallow the bile threatening to come up. Leaning over, he whispers, “I should’ve known it was Nathan who ran me out of the woods. I have your phone, Mia. The constant texts with him probably wouldn’t look good if they got out. Let’s play nice for everyone, don’t you think?”

I snatch my hand out of his grip. “No, I don’t think, asshole.”

“Play nice,” he growls again, baring his teeth like he’s attempting to pull alpha over me. It doesn’t work.

I stand my ground. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

A knock sounds on the wall next to the open door. It’s getting crowded in the small room. We all look as Lydia Greystone makes an appearance. My heart flip flops. She scowls at Kinsey, who gives it right back to her. The rest of us, though, give her space as she walks in. Peering around the room, her gaze catches on Nathan and me. She’s never at the academy, but she must have some knowledge of who we are because she picks us out like we’re long-lost enemies. “My students. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes. Kinsey’s jaw snaps shut, and I swear I hear a warning growl in the back of her throat. Kind of ballsy if you ask me, since Lydia is high in the Lunar pack. I don’t blame her for her reaction, though. Lydia tried to kick Kinsey out of the academy.

“You both must be exhausted. And here are your mates here to save the day. Excellent.”

Sean threads his fingers through mine again. No matter how much I want to tear my grip away, I can’t. Not with Lydia’s stare on me.

“We’ve had such a terrible field trip back home, haven’t we? First, Robert running away and his subsequent punishment before banning.” Her words echo in my ears. Punishment. Banning. We weren’t told about that. “Now this,” she continues. “We can only hope that Ms. Wells pulls through.”

“It’s worse than that, Lydia,” Jonah grunts. “Someone is trying to kill your student, Miss Adams.”

Lydia flicks her stare to me, eyes shuddered. I can’t tell if it’s because she doesn’t believe him or it’s for some other reason I’m not privy to. “Evidence?”

“Earlier, she and my mate were under the concert speaker and it fell.”

“Not an accident,” Nathan growls.

One of the Daybreak guards finally speaks up. “The fasteners were found to be cut.”

“And now the fire,” Jonah offers, like he’s trying to lead her to the conclusion she should plainly see.

“Not just a tragedy?” Lydia narrows her gaze, as if she’s trying to call Jonah out.

“Evidence of accelerant was found at the scene.”

Lydia turns her nose up. “You would think Daybreak Pack would’ve been better prepared while they host the Winter Solstice party this year. My students were supposed to be guests of yours.”

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