Page 20 of Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Chapter 20

Atlas

T he silver-haired man’s eyes darted between me, Caden, and Karrick on the bed. His nostrils flared, no doubt catching the mingled scents in the room.

“I received word of the attack,” he said, his deep voice rumbling through the small space. “As an Alpha and one of the school board, it’s my duty to investigate when one of the students is harmed.” His piercing gaze settled on Caden. “And who might this be?”

I felt Caden’s hand tighten around mine. “This is my... friend,” I said carefully. “He’s here with me to check on Karrick.”

The alpha’s eyes narrowed, and I could practically feel the disapproval radiating off him. “A witch,” he said, his tone making the word sound like a curse. “I see.”

The vampire investigator cleared his throat. “Mr. Faolan, perhaps it would be best if you and your… friend step outside for a moment.”

I pulled Caden toward the door, making a wide berth around my father. Even though he was my kin, I made sure to keep myself between him and Caden until we were out in the hallway once more. My heart raced in my chest as I leaned against the wall, panting as if I’d been holding my breath the entire time.

Caden’s fingers trembled in mine as we stood in the hallway, the tension from the room still clinging to us like a heavy fog. I could hear his heart racing, matching the frantic rhythm of my own.

“Atlas,” he whispered, his blue eyes wide with fear. “Who was that? Why did he look at me like that?”

I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “That was... my father. The Alpha of our pack.”

Caden’s face paled, making his freckles stand out even more starkly against his skin. “Your father? But he seemed so...”

“Cold?” I finished for him. “Yeah, that’s just how he is. Especially when it comes to...” I trailed off, not wanting to voice the truth we both knew - that our relationship was forbidden.

Before I could say more, the door opened, and the vampire investigator stepped out. His dark eyes swept over us, lingering on our joined hands.

“Mr. Faolan, your father wishes to speak with you. Alone.”

My stomach dropped, but I nodded, knowing I had no choice. I turned to Caden, cupping his face gently with my free hand. “Wait for me here, okay? I won’t be long.”

Caden nodded, his eyes still wide with worry. I gave his hand one last reassuring squeeze before reluctantly letting go and stepping back into the room.

My father stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense as he gazed out at the campus grounds. The vampire investigator had discreetly excused himself, leaving us alone with an unconscious Karrick.

“Atlas,” my father’s voice was low and controlled, but I could hear the underlying anger. “What exactly is going on here?”

I straightened my spine, trying to project confidence I didn’t feel. “I told you, Father. Karrick was attacked. I’m here to check on him, as any friend would.”

He turned, his silver eyes flashing dangerously. “And the witch? Is he just a ‘friend’ as well?”

My heart hammered in my chest, but I met his gaze steadily. “His name is Caden. And yes, he’s my friend.”

My father’s lip curled in disgust. “Do not lie to me, boy. I can smell him all over you.” He took a step closer, his imposing figure looming over me. “You reek of him. Of witch magic and... other things.”

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to back away. “What I do, and who I’m with, is none of your concern.”

His hand shot out, gripping my arm with bruising force. “It is very much my concern when the future Alpha of our pack is consorting with a witch!” he snarled. “Have you forgotten everything I’ve taught you? Witches are not to be trusted, let alone... touched.”

I wrenched my arm free, anger bubbling up inside me. “Caden is different. He’s not like the witches in your stories.”

My father’s laugh was cold and humorless. “They’re all the same, Atlas. Manipulative, power-hungry. They’ll use you and discard you without a second thought.”

“You don’t know him,” I growled, feeling my wolf stir beneath my skin.

“I don’t need to,” he snapped. “I’ve seen enough in my lifetime to know better. This ends now, Atlas. You will cease all contact with that boy, or there will be consequences.”

I stepped back from him. “Then do your worst,” I spat, anger getting the better of me. “If being pack leader means giving up my mate, then find somebody else.”

My father’s eyes widened, his muscles tensing as he ground his teeth. Clearly my words had struck a chord with him. He knew I was serious and using the mate card definitely got his attention.

“This attack,” I said, gesturing to Karrick, “wasn’t just on my friend. It was on every monster race in this school. The board is trying to separate us from the witches. The magic professors tell them to fear us and the other professors tell me the same stories you’ve always told me. Already they’ve announced plans to segregate the entire school by next year.” I stared at him long and hard. “Is that what you want, father? A war? Because the way you and the witches are acting, that’s all we’re going to get.”

He growled, the sound echoing through the room, reverberating down to my very bones. “We have always been at war,” he snarled. “Our kind had to fight tooth and claw to get what little freedom we have. Our family has sacrificed too much over the centuries to become influential. And even then, we are nothing compared to the lowest of witch families.” He stepped closer, his hulking form towering over me. “And now you’re fucking one of them. Our enemy.”

“You’re blind,” I said, refusing to back down. “Blinded by hate and prejudice. A union between a witch and a werewolf, especially from two extremely influential families, would be seen as a chance for peace and equality.” I gave him a good once over, scoffing with disgust. “All you care about is power and tradition. You don’t care about me, my future, or the man that I’m falling in love with?—”

The words barely left my mouth before a white-hot pain erupted in my left cheek. I felt dizzy from the impact, staring at the floor to regain my balance. The taste of blood filled my mouth as I looked back up at my father, his hand still quivering in the air in front of me.

“How dare you speak to me like that,” he snarled. “I raised you to respect me better!”

I shook my head, unable to help the grin pulling at my lips. “No. You raised me to be an Alpha, a fearless and compassionate leader.” I reached up, wiping the blood away from my lip. “And now I see that you lack those qualities.”

“So that’s it? You’re going to choose that little piece of shit over your own family?!”

Anger flooded through my veins, and I barely managed to hold it back. “He treats me better than you ever have. So yes.”

Turning away from him, I headed for the door.

“You’ll regret this when that little faggot turns you into his slave!”

I ignored him if only to stop myself from killing him on the spot. There was nothing more I had to say to him. He would not be swayed and neither would I. My path was the future and his… it was full of hate and prejudice.

“Don’t you walk out on me boy!” he snapped, grabbing my shoulder.

I caught his hand in mid-air easily and twisted his wrist until I heard a sickening crunch. He jerked his hand back, howling in pain and staring up at me with those Alpha eyes full of anger and fear.

“If you touch me or my mate again,” I growled, my gaze never leaving his. A kind of determined chill filled my body as I stared him down. “I will put you in an early grave, old man.” I paused only for a moment. “Considering this my resignation from the pack.”

I slammed the door behind me, my heart pounding in my chest. Caden was waiting in the hallway, his face etched with concern. He reached for me, his fingers ghosting over the bruise forming on my cheek.

“Atlas, what happened? I heard shouting...” His voice trailed off as he took in my appearance, his blue eyes widening. “You’re bleeding.”

I caught his hand, pressing it against my face despite the sting. His touch was cool against my flushed skin, grounding me. “It’s nothing,” I muttered, though we both knew it was a lie.

Caden’s brow furrowed, a spark of anger flashing in his usually gentle eyes. “Did he hit you?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Caden’s free hand clenched into a fist, and I could feel the air around us crackling with his magic.

“I’ll kill him,” he whispered, his voice low and dangerous.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, despite the gravity of the situation. “Easy there, Caden. It’s been taken care of. I promise.”

Caden’s expression softened, and he leaned against me, his hands balled up in my shirt. The Elder Council investigator stepped out from around the corner, his eyes flashing to my split lip. For a moment he looked concerned, but when I gave him a stiff nod, he seemed to understand.

“Well, I see things here are going about how I expected them to,” he sighed. “Either way, I wanted to ask you both one last question. Do you know who might be responsible for this?”

Caden and I both looked at one another and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. Rowan Hargrove. He had a vendetta against the pair of us, but even so I could find no reason for him to attack Karrick. I wasn’t even sure Rowan knew who Karrick was.

“I’m sorry, sir,” I said. “I really don’t know. At this point, it could be anyone that wants to see the school torn apart.”

“Unfortunately,” he replied, “that’s not enough to follow through with an arrest. However, it does corroborate the note we found at the scene.”

“Note?” Caden asked, looking up. “What note?”

The investigator reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small piece of paper. He held it out so we both could read it easily.

A monster deserves a cage. These attacks will continue until these beasts are removed from the school permanently.

“Any idea who might’ve written something like that?” he asked, folding it up and putting it away once more.

“No,” I said.

Caden just shook his head. “It… It could be anyone in the magic program, student or teacher. We’re taught to distrust anyone who isn’t a witch.”

“We’re taught the same thing,” I added. “That witches are dangerous and only want us as a magical battery.”

The investigator nodded grimly. “That’s what I was afraid of. This kind of deep-seated prejudice doesn’t manifest overnight. It’s been brewing for a long time.”

He glanced between us, his expression softening slightly. “You two... you’re different. A witch and a werewolf, together. It’s rare, but not unheard of. Perhaps you could be the bridge this school needs.”

I felt Caden tense beside me, no doubt remembering the hostility radiating from my father. “I don’t know if we’re ready for that kind of responsibility,” he said quietly.

The investigator smiled sadly. “Sometimes, we don’t get to choose our battles. They choose us.” He straightened his jacket. “I’ll continue my investigation. In the meantime, stay vigilant. And... stay together. You might be safer that way.”

As he walked away, I turned to Caden, cupping his face gently. “Are you okay? I know this is a lot to take in.”

Caden leaned into my touch, his eyes closing briefly. “I’m scared, Atlas. Your father, the attack on Karrick, this note… it feels like the whole world is against us.”

I pulled Caden closer, wrapping my arms around him protectively. His scent - a mix of green things and earth - filled my senses, calming the rage that still simmered beneath my skin.

“I know,” I murmured into his hair. “But we’re stronger together. We’ll figure this out.”

Caden nodded against my chest, his fingers curling into my shirt. When he looked up at me, his blue eyes were filled with a determination I’d never seen before.

“You’re right,” he said softly. “We can’t let them win. We can’t let fear and hatred tear us apart.”

I smiled, feeling a surge of pride and love for this brave, beautiful witch in my arms. “That’s my mate,” I said, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“But… Atlas?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you… uh… will you stay with me?” he asked, those blue eyes fixed on mine. “I just… don’t want to be alone right now. And I don’t want you out of my sight.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Taking his hand in mine, I led him toward the opposite end of the infirmary where we could slip out the back door without being noticed.

“Of course I’ll stay with you,” I said. “As long as you like.”