Page 28

Lucas

F riday couldn’t decide if it wanted to be chill, or a disaster. I was holding out hope for a chill day, but between the school's investigation looming over my head and the revelation about Rachel’s mother, I wasn’t feeling lucky

Liam and I decide to take her to the campus cafe for a little lunch date. Something low key and fun before the weekend. I don’t realize how much I need this time with my twin and our mate until I get to the cafe and see them seated together at a table for three. Rachel is wearing a fitted black tank top and a cute pair of denim shorts. All four of her bond marks are at least partially on display. Her dark hair is pulled back in a messy braid, a few strands catching the light like silk.

It does my heart good to see her finally dressing the way she wants, shedding the shame and the layers her father unfairly heaped on her.

I let out a low whistle as I approach the table. “Look at you, Moonbeam. You look like an angel with the sunlight coming through the window behind you.”

She giggles and smacks my chest as I lean down to give her a peck on the cheek. “Laying it on pretty thick today, aren’t you?”

“You complaining?” I tease back.

“Oh, woe is me, my mate likes to compliment me and make me feel beautiful. Whatever will I do?” She puts her hand on her forehead and flops back in her chair for added dramatic effect.

I take my seat, chuckling at her antics, and take a sip from the drink waiting there for me. They’ve already ordered and have my favorite cafe meal, a chicken salad sandwich, bag of chips, and big slice of carrot cake, sitting here waiting for me.

Liam reaches over to swipe one of my chips and I bat his hand away with a snarl. “Paws off, you could've gotten your own.”

“Why would I?” he asks with a smirk. “You always have the best snacks.”

“You two are weird,” Rachel giggles.

“We’re twins, Moonbeam,” I say. “It’s in the agreement we signed before we shared the womb. Shared insults, snacks, family… mate.”

Liam raises a brow. “You suggesting we share her right now? Cause I would be so down for a quick trip back to the dorm.”

Rachel’s cheeks turn a deep pink, but I don’t miss the hunger in her eyes. I don’t think she minds that idea too much.

“I mean,” I say leaning in close enough for my breath to fan across her neck. “We’ve never tried the whole twin sandwich fantasy…” Goosebumps race down her arms as she shivers slightly. “But I can promise when we do, there’ll be nothing quick about it.”

She shifts in her seat crossing her legs and letting out a breathy laugh. “I swear you live to rile me.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Liam says with a dark glint in his eye. “Personally, I like seeing my mate all hot and bothered, wanting me.”

“You mean us,” I add petulantly

“Can I please eat my sandwich in peace before you two start a public sex scene?” she asks, adjusting in her seat again. “We can revisit this sandwich idea later… when there aren’t so many witnesses.”

I glance out the window trying to rein myself in before we get kicked out of this cafe for public indecency. That’s when I see him enter the cafe, the same kid that came to get D when his dad was here, and he’s bee-lining straight for us.

“Shit,” I mutter, hanging my head.

If the dean is summoning me early that can’t mean anything good for the results of the investigation. The guy comes to a stop directly in front of our table but instead of addressing me like I expect him to, his attention is on Rachel.

“Rachel St. James?” He waits for her nod before continuing. “You have a visitor requesting your immediate presence in the dean’s office.”

Rachel glances at us, obviously confused and afraid. I don’t even try to suppress the protective growl rising from my chest.

“We’re coming with her,” Liam declares.

The kid’s adams apple bounces like he wants to protest, but he doesn’t. Rachel gives him a tight nod and rises to her feet. She’s pretending to be calm, but I can feel her truth in our bond. Liam and I fall into step beside her and we make our way to the opposite side of campus.

We take a shortcut across the parking lot and as we approach the admin building we see a man pacing out front.

Ranger St.James

I may have already had the displeasure of meeting him, but if I hadn’t, Rachel’s fear in the bond would be a dead giveaway. In a full suit, he would be the picture of a perfect business professional if his hair wasn’t sticking up all over the place.

I know the moment he catches sight of us. He stops mid stride, turning to face us. His eyes glint with something malicious and everything about the way he holds himself screams cold cruelty.

“What the hell is this?” He snaps the moment we’re in ear shot. “You have some nerve to be gallivanting out and about like this.

Rachel steels her spine. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I am your father,” he snarls. “And I have every right to check on my investment. I do pay for you to be here, you know.”

“That’s all I’ve ever been to you, an investment,” her voice is firm and strong despite the storm of emotion assaulting the bond.

“Yes, and a failed one at that. I see you’ve broken every rule I’ve put in place for you. You’ve bonded with four males and proudly display your marks like a common whore. Like you don’t care who sees you or how it reflects on me. You will be coming home with me now, it was obviously a mistake to allow you to come here.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You stupid little slut.” He steps forward towards my mate but Liam and I take a step forward and position ourselves between her and her father.

“Shut the fuck up,” Liam’s voice rings out deadly and low.

Ranger’s dark chuckle sends a chill down my spine. “You boys think you can protect the little bitch. Good luck, she’s just like her whore mother and I won’t have that depravity tied to my good name…”

The air shifts.

Rachel takes a step forward putting herself between my twin and I. I turn to tell her to step back when Ranger’s body explodes. He lunges forward in his massive orange and black striped tiger form, fur on end, eyes wild with rage. I’m sure we’re all dead as I reach for my mate and my twin to pull us all back when a piercing roar rings through the air.

Derrick lands in between us and Ranger, in his glorious green and gold dragon form, swatting him out of the air mid leap. Ranger goes flying, landing hard against one of the nearby lamp posts causing the metal to warp and bend.

The crash draws attention from almost every direction. Students and staff peek out of windows and doors, everyone keeping a healthy distance from the obviously pissed off dragon currently standing over my mate. He brings his large dragon face down to her level to check her over and when he’s sure she’s unharmed, he turns his focus back onto Ranger.

He’s shifted back to two legs and is looking a little worse for wear. His suit is crumpled and he seethes with rage. When he stands, I notice he even has a slight limp.

“This isn’t over,” he snarls pointing a trembling finger at Rachel. “You’ll all regret this. Every last one of you.”

“I already regret being your daughter,” she fires back.

Before he can retaliate the dean stumbles out the front door of the admin building looking frazzled and confused. His shirt is wrinkled, tie askew, and his glasses slip down the bridge of his nose.

“Mr. St. James!” He calls, clearly overwhelmed with the situation. “There was no authorization filed for a visit today. I was not informed you were on campus, this is a violation of academy protocol. I must…”

“You think I give a fuck about your damn protocols?” Ranger shouts cutting Dean Harold off. “Your school is a fucking joke. If this is what you allow to happen on your campus, you should be fired. She’s a disgrace just like her mother.”

That’s my final straw, I step forward ready to break his nose when Derrick shifts back to human form. He steps forward directly into Ranger’s space.

“I suggest you leave. Now.” Derrick’s voice is low and deadly, laced with his dragon’s hiss. “Or next time, I might dent more than the lamp post.”

For a moment it seems like Ranger is going to argue. His mouth opens and closes a few times, like a fish out of water. He must think better of it though because he turns and marches into the parking lot. We all watch as he climbs into the driver seat of a black SUV and peels out of the parking lot.

Dean Harold approaches our group, wringing his hands. “Miss St. James, I-I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was on campus, I assure you I never would have allowed that to happen if…”

“Yeah, well you need better security, or better training protocols, because it’s your student assistant who came to get her. You’re lucky we were already with her. I hate to think what would have happened if he had confronted her alone.” My words are said with a growl, my wolf still riding me hard after our mate was in danger.

Rachel presses in close to my side placing a hand on my chest. “Hey, look at me.”

She waits for me to comply, before continuing.

“I am fine, we are fine. Thanks to you, Liam, and Derrick, Ranger never stood a chance of getting me. And since when am I ever alone lately? If it isn’t one of you three or Bas, I’m with my girls. I’m stronger now and I am never alone. Remember?” She lifts the dog tag from its place hanging around her neck and something inside me releases.

I gather her in my arms and pull her into a crushing hug. Within seconds I feel arms surrounding us and I know it’s our pack. I’m not sure when he got here but I even feel Bas wrapped in our group hug. We are safe. We are never alone.

Dean Harold clears his throat and we all turn our attention back to him. “Would you like to file a report? This was entirely inappropriate and if you file a report we can open an investigation into how this happened.”

Derrick pulls out his phone and steps away to make a call. I can just catch his quiet words. “Dad. I need you. Now.”

He hangs up and his eyes turn skyward. We don’t wait very long, only a few minutes have passed when the wind shifts. Flying so fast he’s hard to track, Mr. Ashford soars in from the north. His majestic navy-blue and gold dragon form has people all around us pointing to the sky and gasping in awe. He lands in a vacant corner of the parking lot, wings spanning nearly the width of the lot, scales shimmering like molten armor, before quickly shifting and striding our way.

Rachel presses in closer to my side and Liam’s arm wraps around her from the other side. We stand together as one pack waiting for Mr. Ashford to fix this, to help us protect our mate.

He stops in front of Dean Harold and levels him with a piercing glare. “This ends now, Andrew. No one threatens my son’s mate. Not on my watch and I would expect not on yours either. But obviously I was wrong.”