Chapter 337
WILLA
He smiled at me. "I just wanted to say don't listen to the noise, because in the end, that's all it is. Noise. I know you are a good person, Willa."
I blinked in surprise.
His words were artless, unrehearsed and sincere, a straight short to the heart. I was touched by the unexpected kindness.
Until then I had not realised how much it meant to me to hear someone else apart from my friends, say they didn't believe the rumours. That they believed in me.
For a second or two I was close to tears. It took me another second to get myself under control again.
"Thank you, Jamie," I said with feeling when I finally found my voice. "Thank you."
He nodded, squeezed my hand and was gone.
*********
The noise in the arena slowly quieted down as Dean Freeman raised his hand, motioning for silence.
"Students," he said into the microphone. "I have an important announcement to make. In a few days, we will have our annual family, student day."
There was applause. The dean waited for it to die down before continuing.
"For those of you who recently got admitted into the university," he said. "the family, student day is a day where Worchmount welcomes your families, parents and guardians to the school to see how you learn. To interact with your professiors if they so wish. People from different packs will be converging..."
I stopped listening to the dean and nudged Sienna who was sitting beside me.
"Sounds like fun," I said, raising my voice a little to be heard over the murmuring of the crowd.
She rubbed her arm absently.
"Yeah, I guess..." she said.
I was surprised to see her looking so gloomy, so unlike her usual sunny self.
"What's the matter, Sienna?" I teased. "Scared your parents would find out that you're flunking in school?"
Sienna looked at me, then away.
"I don't have any parents," she said slowly. "They're dead."
I clapped my hand to my mouth. "Oh shit! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I had no idea."
She smiled sadly.
"It's okay," she said. "I know you didn't know."
I brightened as a idea dropped into my mind.
"You don't have to miss out on the family, student day," I said. "My family will definitely be coming. They've been dying to see how I'm doing here. I want you to join us. That way you won't be alone. I'm sure they'll love you."
"Are you sure about this?" she said. "Don't you think I'll get in your way?"
"Nonsense! Of course you won't. The truth is I need you there. My brothers can be quite a handful. When we meet them, you'll see."
"Then I would love to!" she said.
Sienna smiled again. This time it was the real thing and it lit up her face.
*****
Later that evening, at Lucian's place, we got to talking about the dean's announcement. I was telling him about the places in Worchmount I would take my family to visit when I realized he wasn't listening.
I was lying across Lucian's knees with my hand in his lap. He was drawing patterns on my palm with one finger.
I closed my hand over his. He looked up.
"Penny for your thoughts," I said and grinned.
He smiled.
"I was just thinking..." he said and paused. I waited for him to go on. Eventually, he did. "My family will be coming for the family, student day this year. I think this will be the perfect opportunity for you to meet them."
I swallowed, heard a dry click in my throat. I sat up quickly. It suddenly felt like the bubble of happiness I had been floating in had burst.
Now I had been thrust back into the real world with a jolt. All that Lucian had said about his parent's prejudices about those who were not Lycan came rushing back.
"Lucian," I whispered. "Do you think that's a good idea? Maybe we should wait. I can meet them some other time-"
"And when would that be?" he said. "You are going to have to meet them sooner or later. So why not sooner?"
I bit my lip nervously. Lucian placed a finger under my chin.
"I know you're nervous," he said softly. "Maybe even a little frightened. I am too, if I'm being honest."
"What if they don't like me? Especially your father. You told me what he's like. I don't know if I can-"
He placed a finger across my lips. "Don't think like that. Everything is going to turn out fine. And I promise you, I will not allow anyone, even my parents, disrespect you, okay?"
I nodded but thought that either or both of Lucian's parents were certain to disrespect me.
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