Kazu-sensei didn’t even look at me. He was still glaring at Xander, waiting for some kind of response. Xander nodded enthusiastically. When his eyes shifted over to me, he snapped them back at Kazu, gave him some kind of salute, before scampering off and getting lost in the crowd. Any other prospects I might have had tonight were nowhere to be found. Either I wasn’t aesthetically appeasing enough to waste their time, or they saw what had happened and wanted no part in dealing with him.
Which I couldn’t blame them.
Kazu was the great White Wolf. He had a history of being a legend, even among the human villages. Cold, calculated, and ruthless — he did what he had to in order to protect the pack. How he wound up in a teaching position, I had no idea. He didn’t seem like the type that would tolerate teenagers he needed to train to be the next generation of brutal warriors that would one day embody their own myth.
I didn’t notice when Xander tripped over himself and face planted in the crowd. All I knew was Kazu was leading me out of the tavern, his grip tight enough to bruise. I bumped into a few people, but Kazu was too fast and my head was to muddled for me to issue some kind of apology.
By the time we were outside in the surprisingly chilly night, my heart had kicked up its speed and my cheeks pinched with…something. Shame, maybe, for debasing myself in such a manner. Embarrassment that Kazu witnessed it.
“Kazu!” a familiar voice called from the tavern doorway. “Do you need help with her?”
Kazu froze. His grip on me tightened even more, something I thought for sure was impossible. I winced, but I didn’t think Kazu even knew what he was doing.
He cut his gaze over to me and lifted a finger. “Don’t even think about going anywhere,” he growled.
In the entire time that I knew him, I didn’t think I’d ever seen him this angry before. Which didn’t make any sense because I hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, I had listened to him. I had taken his advice and was looking for someone of my choosing to lose my virginity to. I thought he’d be more supportive.
He marched over to another elite captain. I couldn’t remember his name, but I knew he had a reputation as a playboy among the academy crowd. Obviously, he’d never sleep with a student — at least, I assumed he wouldn’t — but he was nearly as charming as Captain Rainey, and nearly as good looking.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Kazu’s back remained rigid while the other captain looked like he was joking about something only then to pale, probably because Kazu was getting serious again. And when he was serious, he could be intimidating even to other captains.
After another moment, Kazu came back and grabbed me again, pulling me away as though I was a dog and he was taking me on an obligatory walk.
“Kazu-sensei,” I tried again. “I really don’t understand what your problem is. I did everything you told me to do —“
Without warning, he whipped around and stood directly in front of me. I was so surprised, I almost ran into his chest. Luckily, his hands clasped my shoulders, preventing me from doing so. It was like he wanted to keep me at an arm’s length from him, like he was disgusted with me potentially touching him even though he could clearly touch me.
“Remind me when I told you to knock back a couple of shots and offer yourself to a group of other drunks like some kind of idiot virgin sacrifice,” he growled, leaning closer to my face, probably so no passersby would overhear our conversation.
Not that there were any stragglers. It was close to midnight, and I was pretty sure everyone was where they intended to be for the majority of the night, especially with rumors of a Vrykolakas loose in the woods.
“Um…” Trying to think of a witty response was not going anywhere for me, especially considering my head was still filled with bubbles. Kazu-sensei was a master at popping them, however, so I was starting to come down from my high.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded to know.
He clenched his teeth together so tightly, I thought for sure he was going to combust. I took a step back, and he must not have realized it, but I managed to pull my hand away from his unforgiving fingers.
“I’m finding someone to take my virginity,” I snapped back. “As you suggested.”
Kazu flinched at my words but at least he didn’t argue with them.
“What are you doing?” I demanded to know, leaning forward. I was under no illusion that I could intimidate him, but something inside of me didn’t want him to think I was going to back down so easily either.
“I’m stopping you from making yourself more of a fool than you already are,” he said.
Before I could respond, the door to the tavern opened and a group of people spilled out.
Kazu sighed, and his face went slack. He was…exhausted.
“Let’s go,” he said in that same rigid voice.
“Where are we —“
“Shut up,” he repeated, grabbing my hand again. “Just shut up. We’ll talk when we get there.”
Matthyw
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Matthyw asked the second the heavy door closed and Adrya couldn’t overhear the conversation he was about to have. “Will you sell her off to the highest bidder like your heir, the future leader of this pack, is nothing more than a broodmare?”
Viktor narrowed his eyes before glancing down at his drink. He tilted it to the side, almost as though he was stirring it without using any sort of utensil. “What do you care?” he asked.
“I care greatly for this family,” Matthyw said. The fact that his father had to question it at all infuriated Matthyw, though he shouldn’t have to prove himself. If anything, Viktor should know the lengths he would go to for this pack, even if he didn’t understand the lengths he would go for her. “She is your heir, Father. She is set to inherit the greatest pack in the history of Aerafall, and yet, the way you speak to her, you’re ready to ship her off in favor of some minor alliance with some peasant pack that will never deserve her.”
“What do you want?” Viktor demanded through a growl. “You said you had to speak, so speak plainly. My daughter has left. You have the time you seek. Shall you ignore it in favor of lecturing your own Alpha, your own father?”
“So, now I’m your son?” Matthyw asked. “Just before, you said I had no right to call myself family because our blood wasn’t the same.”
“Matthyw.”
Viktor glanced back down at the drink. For a minute, Matthyw wasn’t sure if Viktor intended to throw it at him or drink it. On top of that, there was still this burning desire inside of him to defend Adrya. None of what Viktor said mentioned anything about the mark on her face, and that infuriated Matthyw. He knew Viktor had never raised a hand to his own daughter, and yet, that seemed to have changed since announcing his engagement to the impure bitch. Was she the one responsible for Viktor’s change in mood? Matthyw wouldn’t be surprised. Those with less would do anything at all to elevate their status. He would know more than anyone.
“The Marriage Law,” Matthyw said, deciding to let his frustrations go for the time being. “I’ve heard things. Adrya is going to be part of the first lottery as some sort of example.”