Page 23

Lucas

I ’m still riding the high from receiving the best gift I’ve ever gotten when I hear a voice that instantly makes my blood boil.

“Yo, foxy momma, how you doing? Ready to ditch this loser and take a shot on a real man?”

My jaw clenches so hard I worry about cracking my tooth. I don’t turn towards him right away. If I do, I may lose what little hold I currently have on my wolf and I don’t want to scare Rachel.

“Walk away, Trent,” I growl through clenched teeth.

I feel Rachel tense beside me, her bond pulsing in fear. Torn between comforting my mate and confronting the asshole behind me, I choose the former and move towards Rachel. Stepping closer to her, I shield her with my body while keeping my back to Trent. She’s my priority here and I won’t let that prick anywhere near her ever again.

“Didn’t realize you were a guard dog, Barker . Makes sense though.” Trent’s voice is laced with a cocky arrogance that makes me want to unleash my wolf on him.

“Trent,” I say, turning towards him, my voice low and menacing, “I’m telling you for the last time. Walk. Away.”

“Why?” He snickers, stepping closer. “Scared she’ll finally realize she deserves better than some scholarship slum?”

My vision goes red.

“Lucas…” Rachel’s soft voice echoes around my head but it’s not enough to calm my wolf who is practically foaming at the mouth in rage.

“Come on, man,” Trent taunts, getting even fucking closer. The cocky smirk on his face is just begging for me to lay him out. “Let’s be real here. You and I both know she’s too good for you so just let her come with…”

A feral growl tears from my throat, so low and guttural that Trent’s smirk finally falls.

“ Run”

Trent’s eyes widen, the scent of his fear mingles with the rancid odor of him pissing himself and it all only eggs my wolf on.

“Shit,” he mutters under his breath, finally realizing that he fucked with the wrong wolf’s mate.

My wolf surges forward, claws pushing through my fingertips, my vision sharpens, and instinct takes over. Before I know it I’m on four legs and locked onto Trent’s quivering form.

My wolf is big, even for a shifter. Pure white fur ripples over powerful shoulders, and my ice-blue eyes lock onto my prey like a missile. I know what I look like when I shift. I’ve heard all the nicknames, ghost wolf, glacier fang, storm eyes, and most of those were from my pack. But right now, I don’t care what anyone calls me. I’m just hers. Her protector.

Hunt. Protect. Destroy.

Trent takes a stumbling step back before he morphs in an explosion of brown fur and limbs. His kangaroo bursts free and is a blur as he bounds off on those powerful legs.

Smart move but you’re still not fast enough, rat boy.

I catch up to him in seconds and nip at his heels as he frantically surges forward. Only a second before I pounce on him, I feel her. Her worry, her anxiety, her fear .

Fuck, I caused that.

Skidding to a stop I let the bouncy asshole go and turn back towards my girl. When I get back Rachel is still standing right where I left her. I shift back to human form and her emerald eyes lock onto mine. My muscles are so tight they feel like coiled steel; my hands still tinged with the faint tremble of claws barely sheathed. Sweat clings to my back and my shirt is damp from how hard I’ve been breathing. I don’t even know how I made it home without shifting again.

The moment I’m back on two legs her fear fades and my wolf settles.

“Lucas…” Her voice is soft but the concern slices right through me.

Shit. I fucked up.

“H-he’s gone right?”

“Yes, Moonbeam, he’s gone. I’ll never let him touch you again.” Pulling her into my chest I wrap my arms around her and hug her close. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

“You didn’t scare me. He did.” She assures me. “You were only protecting me, thank you so much, Lucas. I love you so much.”

My heart clenches at her words, the warmth in our bond soothing the last of the lingering rage.

“Fates, Moonbeam…” I breathe in her scent, burying my face in her hair as I hug her tighter. “I love you, too. Always.”

I feel her body relax against mine, her tension finally easing. The bond between us has settled and I no longer feel her fear, but I don’t miss the lingering wisp of worry floating between us.

“What is it, Moonbeam?” I ask softly.

She pulls back just enough to meet my eyes and chews her bottom lip.

“Lucas… What if Coach finds out? Isn’t there a no fighting rule?” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle Coach.” I try to reassure her.

“Okay,” she whispers. “Just please don’t get in trouble because of me.”

“Trouble’s worth it if it means keeping you safe,” I murmur, kissing her softly.

When we reach her dorm, I send her off with one last passionate kiss goodnight and make my way back to the boys dorm. Entering the front door I make my way over to the small cafe in the back corner to grab the snacks I was tasked with bringing to Liam's party. I’m perusing the offerings when the back door closest to me opens. Turning to see whose entering the building I lock eyes with none other than Trent fucking Hopper.

My wolf chuffs in pleasure when he audibly squeaks and darts back out the door before it can fully close. Snacks secured I make my way back up to the dorm to start Liam’s movie marathon.

Monday, I wake up to someone pounding on my door. Wiping my bleary sleep filled eyes, I make my way out into the living room to find Derrick standing just inside the front door.

“Dude, what did you do? This says you’ve been summoned for a disciplinary meeting with the dean in an hour.” Derrick hands me the piece of paper in his hand.

“Shit what time is it? This paper says the meeting is at two. Did I really sleep all day?” I shake my head still trying to clear the fog from my brain.

“Yeah, man. I tried to wake you up earlier, but you were dead to the fucking world. Rachel called. She’s worried about you. I told her I’m sure you’re fine, but clearly, she knows something I don’t.” He eyes the paper in my hand.

“Fucking Trent ,” I snarl. It has to be that fucker stirring up shit after yesterday. I swear to God if he comes after my mate again, yesterday will be a dream compared to what I do to him.

“The fuck did he do?”

Shaking my head, I turn back to my room. I know D wants to help, but I don’t have time for it right now. I’ll have to explain everything to everyone when I get home. I didn’t want to ruin the party last night; that’s the only reason they don’t already know. I hurry to take a shower and get dressed then make my way over to the admin building where Dean Harold’s office is.

Sitting in the dean’s office facing off with him and Coach Mace is like being stuck in a pressure cooker. The walls feel like they’re closing in around me and the air is thick with tension.

I sit in the uncomfortable leather chair, my leg bouncing uncontrollably. The afternoon sun filters in casting shadows across the room. Coach stands just behind Dean Harold, arms crossed, and jaw set tight. He hasn’t said much since we walked in, but the disappointment rolling off of him is suffocating me.

“Lucas,” the dean sighs, adjusting his glasses before looking back down at the folder in front of him. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this. We’ve got a serious problem.”

I grit my teeth, keeping my mouth shut even though my wolf is pacing in frustration.

“Benching you for one game is the easy part,” Coach finally speaks up. “Hitting another student, even in self-defense, is against the code of conduct. You know that.”

“I didn’t hit him.” I mutter, jaw tight.

“Don’t lie to me boy.” Coach grits out at me. “He had the bruises to prove it this morning.”

“I didn’t hit him,” I repeat through clenched teeth. “I shifted and chased him a bit, maybe I nipped at his heels. But I never laid a damn hand, or paw, on him.”

“Lucas,” Dean Harold cuts in, his voice soft but serious. “Regardless of the details, whatever happened between you and Mr. Hopper was enough to land you in hot water.” He flips through a couple of pages in the folder before looking back at me “Someone has submitted an anonymous report.”

“A report?” I question, my stomach drops, and I feel myself begin to sweat.

He nods, his expression grim. “They’ve claimed you are a danger to the other students.”

My jaw clenches so tightly that my teeth ache.

“A danger?” My voice may be a whisper but the growl beneath it is impossible to miss.

“They’re suggesting you’re… unstable. They’re concerned you can’t control your wolf.” The dean chooses his words carefully as if he’s attempting to talk down a dangerous assailant.

“That’s bullshit,” I bite out.

“Lucas,” Coach Mace speaks again, his voice softer this time. “It doesn’t matter what I know, what we know. It’s what the board sees. And right now? It doesn’t look too good for you.”

“We’ve launched a full investigation,” Dean Harold continues. “We’ll be interviewing witnesses, reviewing security cameras, and asking for behavior reports from all of your teachers. Until we have the results, you’re on thin ice.”

“How long?” I ask, even though I already know I won’t like the answer.

“Two weeks.’ The dean says with a grim finality. “We’ll have the results by then. But in the meantime…”

“One misstep,” Coach warns, his eyes hard. “And it’s immediate expulsion.”

My heart plummets.

Two fucking weeks.

“Understood,” I mutter, my voice hollow.

“Lucas,” the dean’s voice cuts through my racing thoughts. “We’re doing everything we can to give you a fair shot.”

It doesn’t feel like a fair shot.

“You’re dismissed.”

I don’t wait for another word pushing out of my chair. I turn for the door.

“Barker,” Coach calls after me but I don’t stop.

I can’t stop.

The walk back to the dorm is a blur. My head pounds, my thoughts racing a mile a minute.

Danger? Unstable? Me?

I’ve trained my whole damn life to be in control. I’ve never hurt a single person who didn’t deserve it. And now… one mistake, one screw-up and I’m gone. I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard to get and all over a piece of shit oversized rat who thinks he has a right to talk shit to my mate.

By the time I reach the dorm, my body is practically vibrating with frustration. I push the door open and step inside without looking up. I stop dead in my tracks when I realize they’re all here.

Liam, Bas, Derrick and even Rachel.

Her emerald eyes meet mine instantly, concern and warmth radiating through our bond.

I can’t do this right now.

“Lucas?” Her soft voice wraps around me, soothing me in a way only she can.

But it’s not enough to calm the storm inside. I don’t say a word. I can’t. I just push past everyone and stop at my bedroom door.

“Moonbeam… I-I’m sorry. I just need a minute.” I push the door open and step inside closing it softly behind me.

The moment I’m alone I shatter. The weight of everything that just happened crashes down around me and a sob tears free from deep inside of me. I lean against the door, my head falling back as I drag in a shaky breath.

Two weeks. Two weeks, and they will know the truth. I can make it two weeks.