Page 11

Bastian

A fter our conversation last night, today drags by. I planned to talk to Rachel in English but Liam foils that plan. The minute we get into the classroom, he drags us to the far end of the room away from where my Firefly sits hiding behind a curtain of ebony hair. The blonde-haired girl sitting next to her, Maya I think, keeps shooting daggers at me every time I look that way. When class is dismissed, I hurry into the hall leaving the sourpuss behind. I spot her weaving between bodies about halfway down the hall.

“Hey! Rachel! Wait up,” My shout draws her attention, and she turns to look at me.

Only instead of coming to me, or at least waiting for me to catch up, she lets out a squeak. She turns around, bolting down the hall, out of my line of sight. Feeling dejected I turn to head back for Liam only to find the man himself standing just behind me with a look that could kill.

Well, at least I can blame her running on him.

It’s not the kindest thought, but at least I don’t feel so rejected by my mate now. Liam and I head to meet up with Lucas and Derrick for lunch. After I’m done eating, I throw my trash away and rush back for our next class. As I hoped, I find Rachel already in class, but to my dismay, not only does she have Maya but a new addition as well. I don’t know her name, but from the look she’s giving me, she knows me.

Has my Firefly been talking about me?

That thought is enough of a consolation prize, and I make my way to a spot far enough away from them to make her friends stop glaring at me. Minutes later Liam joins me and Math quickly begins to feel like a repeat of the morning class with me trying to catch Rachel’s eye and her friends shooting daggers at me in return. By the end of class, I’m just ready to go back to my room and come up with a better plan because today was a total failure. Liam follows close behind me as we make our way out of Harold Hall and head towards the boys dorm.

When we arrive back at our dorm, we head in opposite directions towards our respective rooms. Once I'm alone in my room, I begin to unravel the events of today. By the time I’m done with homework, my plan to get Rachel’s attention has formed. Tomorrow will be a success, I’ll make sure of it.

Waking up on Thursday morning is easier than I expected. I get ready for my day and eat breakfast with an extra pep in my step because today I’m not taking any chances. I have a plan and single-minded focus. Step one of the plan, I need to be first to Self Defence. The second I’m dismissed from Creative Writing, I speed out the door and down the three flights of stairs separating me from my next class. When I burst through the doors, I know that I’ve succeeded. The room is completely empty. I make a beeline for the guys’ locker room, and after quickly changing, I post up against the far wall to watch and wait for my Firefly to enter.

Minutes drag on like hours until finally the door to the female locker room swings outward and my Firefly flits into the room. She’s wearing a fitted, long-sleeved, black shirt and a sleek pair of workout leggings. I have to swipe the drool from my mouth when I catch sight of her ass in those pants. Knowing how Professor Rains partners us up, I make sure to stealthily position myself by my Firefly so she won’t be able to avoid me all class. Any time anyone starts walking in our direction, I glare at them until they wisely change direction, leaving me the only person within ten feet of her.

“Alright, class! Sparring time! You know the drill. Partner up,” Professor Rains chirps.

“Looks like it’s you and me, Firefly,” I say behind her.

She jumps at my voice, and I mentally chastise myself. I didn’t mean to scare her. I never want that.

“Where did you come from, and what’s with the nickname?” She scowls at me and it’s so fucking cute.

“It fits,” I tease her. “You’re just like a firefly, you brighten up any room and you disappear the second I take my eyes off you, but man are you pretty to look at.”

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the blush on her cheeks before Professor Rains interrupts whatever sassy comeback she was no doubt going to flay me with.

“Alright! Warm up! Everyone stretches before we move into sparring. There will be no pulled muscles in my class.”

Rachel flicks a glance at me, and I smirk before stepping to the side and starting my stretches. She fervently ignores my existence the entire time, but I can’t take my eyes off of her. Now that I know what she is, and that she forms mate bonds through touch, the layers and gloves make sense. She appears to be doing everything she can to prevent her mates from sealing the bond.

Too bad for her that didn’t work with Lucas.

She finally plops down on the mat a few feet away from me and starts stretching her arms over her head before folding forward to reach for her toes. The fabric clings to every curve as she moves, her back arching just enough to make my tiger purr. I mirror her movements with ease, shooting her a lopsided grin every time we make eye contact. When she twists to one side, I see a wince of pain shoot across her face.

“You’re gonna pull something if you keep forcing it,” I murmur, amusement lacing my voice. “Breathe into it.”

Rachel huffs but adjusts slightly, exhaling and leaning deeper into her stretch. “You’re surprisingly wise for someone who spends most of his time flexing in mirrors.”

A shocked chuckle escapes me. “Self-care comes in many forms.”

Before Rachel can offer another sassy come-back, Professor Rains claps her hands together, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet.

“Alright, everyone! We’re working on defensive techniques today. Specifically, escaping from unwanted contact. For this drill, your goal is to avoid being touched for as long as possible. And for our first demonstration…” Her bright blue eyes sparkle as they land on Rachel and I. “Rachel, Bas! You two are up.”

Rachel exhales slowly as she pushes up to her feet, shaking out her arms.

I hop up next to her and give her a slow, knowing smile. “You ready, Firefly?”

“Always,” Rachel says, adjusting her gloves.

Professor Rains claps again. “Rules are simple: Bas, your goal is to make contact. Rachel, yours is to dodge. No shifting, no powers, just pure reflexes. Let’s see how long you can last.”

Rachel barely has time to set her stance before I take a step forward, hands loose and unthreatening. I crowd into her space just a little before stepping back and setting my stance.

“I’ll be nice,” I tease. “Give you a three-second head start.”

Rachel doesn’t need it.

The second I shift my weight, she moves, slipping just out of reach as I swipe for her shoulder. My fingers brush the air where she had been a heartbeat ago.

I can’t help but huff out a laugh. “Alright, okay.”

I try again, faster this time. Once again, my Firefly ducks away at the last moment, twisting out of my reach.

For the third time, I think I have her only at the last second she drops into a low roll and pops up behind me.

The class chuckles at my failure, but I’m undeterred.

“You know, I was supposed to be the one helping you improve, not the other way around,” I call out to her.

She replies with a sexy smirk. “Guess I’m just a natural.”

“Or maybe you just don’t like being caught.”

She falters, just slightly, at the quiet truth in my words. And in that fraction of a second, I see my chance. I move fast. But Rachel is faster, ducking just in time to avoid my outstretched fingers. Instead, I catch the end of her ponytail but let it slip through my fingers as she spins away from me.

Professor Rains lets out a loud, delighted squeal. “Oh, I LOVE this! Keep going!”

I sigh, shaking my head, but take my position again and meet Rachel’s gaze from across the mat. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“You’re predictable, you know that?” She volleys with a sassy shrug.

She’s so damn sexy when she’s sassy.

My grin only widens. “No, Firefly, I’m persistent.”

She wiggles her gloved fingers at me, a silent challenge. “And I’m still winning.”

“Alright, St. James. You win this round. But next time? You’re mine,” I say with a sigh.

Professor Rains claps her hands and does a little excited jump before calling the next pair up to spar. I stand next to Rachel against the wall as we wait for the end of class. The moment Professor Rains dismisses us, Rachel doesn’t wait. She’s already booking it to the door without a backward glance. Of course, I follow her. She’s not getting away that easily. I catch up to her in the hall and corner her.

“What are you so scared of, Firefly?”

“You. Tigers don’t share. I heard your fight with Lucas.”

“That was before I knew what you were. I didn’t think sharing was an option. I thought it was him or me. Now that I know better, you’ll never have to worry about us fighting over you. I wouldn’t dream of keeping you away from your other mates.”

She looks up at me with wide eyes and I can’t stop myself from tucking her hair behind her ear. I’m not even trying to touch her like I have been for the past two hours. I just need to see her beautiful face without her silky waves in the way. But the second I make contact, I feel the bond snap into place. Our souls merge, and our animals dance together in my mind’s eye. I’ve never even seen her fox form, but I can see it now. She’s gorgeous and so damn happy to join my tiger for a split second, I can’t breathe.

A tiger is now prowling down the side of her neck. My tiger's pride bubbles up inside of me as we take in her very obvious mark, everyone will know she’s mine. I look for my mark and see a beautiful four tailed fox running down my forearm and wrist. Its head lands on the top of my hand between my thumb and index finger. Never in all my life have I considered getting a tattoo. But never in my life have I seen a mark as beautiful as this, I’m in awe.

When I focus back on my Firefly, I can tell she’s seconds away from bolting like she did with Lucas, but I can’t let her slip away without at least trying.

“I know you’re ready to run, Firefly, and that’s okay. Just one thing before you go. Will you go on a date with Lucas and I tomorrow night? You don’t have to answer now, but if you want to, meet us in the lobby of the boys dorm tomorrow at six.”

She bites her lip and I have to fight the groan that wants to slip free.

My mate is so damn sexy.

“I’ll… I’ll think about it,” she finally says and I smile.

It wasn’t a no.

“That’s all I ask, Firefly.” I take a step back, giving her the space she needs to escape.

She doesn’t waste a second, fleeing down the hall. But just before she disappears through the door, she glances back. And that one look is all I need.