Page 24 of Burdens
As soon as I entered the training room, heads turned in my direction. When they realized who I was, their spines straightened and a hush fell over the room. It became quiet enough that you could hear the sound of my footsteps echoing in the room as I walked to the center of it.
The sound of a low whistle and murmurs broke the silence that had descended around us as I approached and took place in front of them. I even got a few wide eyes from some of the students standing right in front of me.
I’d been teaching at the Academy for almost ten years now and had gotten used to the reaction when people discovered what I looked like. I was younger than people who had filled my role previously, and I wasn’t oblivious to my looks. So I simply brushed it off like I’d always done and cleared my throat.
“Listen up, everyone,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear. “My name is Noah Brown. I’ll be overseeing most of your training here.” My eyes swept across the room, my gaze jumping from trainee to trainee to assess each of them until…
My stomach dropped when my gaze locked with hers. Her eyes slightly widened, recognition flashing within them.
No fucking way.
Even if she was mostly hidden behind the people in front of her, I instantly recognized her. The woman from last night was in my classroom. As a recruit.
Asmyfucking recruit.
This was exactly why I didn’t step out of my routine because things likethiswere bound to happen. Of course, the only time I decided to be selfish and do something for myself, the woman I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since last night ended up being one of the one hundred and fifteen initiates.
A snicker pulled me out of my thoughts.
My gaze darted to where it came from, my eyes landing on a blond recruit standing tall in the middle of the crowd, his arms crossed over his chest and an amused expression painting his features.
Not for long.
I stepped forward and the crowd parted for me. I walked up to him. His face fell. I leaned my face down until only a few inches separated us. My eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I just stared at him.
“Name?” I asked quietly.
His smile dimmed at my question. He must have thought I already knew his name based on the current expression on his face. No one was ever that important.
I kept staring at him and his throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Then he cleared his throat and said, “Williams, sir. Asher Williams,” he said, his voice slightly cracking at the end.
“Asher,” I started, emphasizing his first name. Recruits were always referred to by their last name, but in his case, I’d decided it would have to be earned.If ever. “Care to enlighten me on what’s so funny?”
He peered at the trainee next to him for backup, his eyes flicking back and forth between the brunet and me. He looked away, leaving him to his own devices. He brought his gaze back to mine and cleared his throat again. “It was nothing, sir.”
“Think of that next time you interrupt me. Got it?”
He shifted in his place and nodded.
I straightened and turned around, walking back to my previous position.
“Now where were we,” I said, all of the trainees’ attention back on me. I went over the basics—rules, schedules, and program expectations if they wanted to make it at the end of this.
I’d managed to do most of it without looking at her, but right as I moved on to the training part of today, I couldn’t help but chance a glance at the girl from last night.
Only to find her already watching me.
For two hours, I kept my attention away from her.
Or at least I tried to. But it inevitably kept going back to her every few minutes and I still didn’t know her name because I didn’t bother with introductions, too restless to get today over with.
I’d been standing at the back, observing the class as Avery ran them through defensive tactics before he finally let them pair up. To my discontent, Williams immediately beelined for her.
It looked like he pleaded with her for a few minutes before she finally relented and waved her hand before her, gesturing for him to lead the way. He gave her a flirtatious smile before getting into position.
She rolled her eyes at him and did the same.
He suddenly moved to close in on her, hoping to catch her off guard, but she managed to step out of his way. He laughed and I heard him whisper to her, “I see you like to play hard to get even in a fight.”
