Page 6 of Let Us Prey
With this familiar embarrassment playing on repeat in my mind, I sourly watch my new students shuffle into the classroom. As usual, there’s nothing remarkable about any of them. Maybe a few of the wolves hold promise, but the rest of them may as well be prey for how intimidating they are.
Prey...
Angrily shaking myself back to the present, I notice a pack of boys jostling each other in the back row, laughing like the hyenas they are. Their fighting moves are clumsy and exaggerated, executed in ways that best highlight their pathetic biceps more than anything. A nearby group of vapid girls watch the show, smacking their gum and twirling their hair with long, plastic nails. I don’t even care what animal these bobbleheads are.
Something mindless, probably. Like piranhas.
Noticing the bell is about to ring, I stand and stalk to the back of the room to lock the door. I have such little patience for these kids anyway, and absolutely none for any who think it’s acceptable to show up late to my class. At this point in my life, I should be leading warriors in battle, not showing pampered minute-men how to not prematurely shift.
Just as I reach for the knob, the door flies open, smacking me in the forehead so hard my wolf thinks we’re under attack. Realizing how ridiculous it would be for the professor of Shifting Studies to lose control of his shift in class on the first day of the semester, I force myself to calm the fuck down.
Breathing in through my nose like Bash taught me, I focus on the clumsy twat who just burst into the room like her trust fund was on fire. She couldn't be more of a Barbie Doll if she tried. Bleached blonde hair hangs down to her waist and her sky-blue eyes are wide with fear as she shakes under the weight of my scathing glare.
I open my mouth to tell her to turn her designer heels around and march herself to a different classroom when suddenly, I scent her. Now it’s my turn for my eyes to widen, although it’s more in disbelief than fear.
Ok, maybe a little fear too.
Not that I’d ever admit to it.
How the fuck did this girl end up here? Not just at Apex, but in my classroom. Of all the classrooms in all the universities in the world, she had to walk into mine.
I'm fucking screwed.
“I…I’m so sorry... " she mumbles before cocking her head at me, repentance replaced by blatant curiosity. “Are you related to Bash, by any chance?”
Rolling my eyes, I ignore the idiotic question. Everybody knows my brother, most on an extremely personal level. “Take a seat, Blondie,” I growl, pointing at the last empty desk in the front row—directly across from mine, of course. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time after class to spread your legs for your new boyfriend, Sebastian.”
Her classmates break into wild laughter at my comment, with the hyena pack and shrill bobbleheads cackling the loudest. Shock and embarrassment blooms on the blonde’s no doubt cosmetically enhanced face, but I dismissively spin on my heel and stride toward my desk.
Sitting heavily in my chair, I almost fall out of it again as I realize the girl has tailed me, her smooth features twisted in scalding rage. “Excuse you?!” She snaps, slamming her books down onmydesk as if I couldn’t snap her pretty neck with my thumb. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Bash is myfriend.He’s offered me protectionhere at Apex, againstanyonewho bothers me.” This last point is accompanied by a sharp glance in the peanut gallery’s direction, effectively silencing them all.
I slowly rise so I tower over her, the wooden monstrosity between us creaking in protest as I lean forward. “I don’t give a flying fuck how you know my twin, Blondie. All I care about is making it through this sorry class so I can beat the shit out of less worthy alphas in the fighting ring that carriesmyfamily’s name before I drink myself to sleep. So kindly sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up so I can live my life.”
Fully expecting her to respond with more lip, I’m surprised—and oddly disappointed—when she snatches her books to her chest and takes a step backward instead. “You…you’re aRomulus?”
Oh, does that scare you, sweetheart?
I bare my teeth, letting my wolf flicker over the surface, immensely satisfied when her pale skin pales further. “Sure am. And my favorite meal... " I take a deep inhale, my fangs elongating involuntarily at her delicious scent. “Is rabbit.”
She squeaks and practically leaps over her tiny desk and into her seat, big eyes wide and watchful, although not as fearful as I would like. In fact, her voice is impressively steady as she addresses me again, “My name is Delores Drew, not Blondie…Sir.”
Ah, so this is the infamous Delores Drew.
It takes every ounce of self-control to not bend this girl over my knee. Not only has she talked back to me—in front of a bunch of pups—but she did so asprey.Just how a prey animal ended up here at Apex is beyond me, but this is clearly a personal test, and I am determined to rise above it.
Although I don’t mind being called Sir…
Dutifully refocusing on my job, I walk to the whiteboard on the side wall, praying no one can see the chub I’d sprouted during this little exchange. “Listen up, losers and wolves,” I begin, making no attempt to hide my contempt. “I only have one rule in my classroom, and it’s easy, so even your pea-brains should be able to retain it.” Snatching a red marker, I turn to the board to write it out as I speak. “I’m. The. Motherfucking. Boss.”
“Sir?” An unfamiliar female voice pipes up, and I wrinkle my nose, immediately deciding I don’t like being called that by anyone but Blondie. I turn to find one of the mindless girls—definitely a piranha—raising her hand like an elementary school moron, loudly snapping her gum as she looks at me expectantly.
“That’s Professor to you, Tuna Fish,” I snap, secretly pleased when I see Delores hiding a smile behind her hand. “And what part of ‘I’m the boss’ invited your unwanted input?”
It’s the mark of pure privilege that this girl simply huffs, as if I’m the one wastinghertime. “It’s just…shouldn’t you bepunishingDD for the way she spoke to you, Professor?”
I snap my focus back to Delores, noticing her gaze flitting between me and the others, as if trying to determine who is the bigger threat.
“Look atme,”I command, my jaw tensing as those big blues widen in fear. I’m suddenly unsure if I enjoy seeing that response in her or not, but I’ll save that revelation for another time. “Doyouthink you should be punished,DD?”
