Chapter Fifty-Nine

The lecture creeps by at a torturous pace after that and I haven’t been able to keep still since half an hour into the lesson. It doesn’t help that it’s a particularly boring topic today, leaving me with few notes to jot down in the notes of my laptop. Adrian has no issue keeping himself occupied, no doubt making conversation with any other Wolves in the classroom with their interesting telepathic abilities. I would welcome a new voice in my head other than the one I have telling me that I should constantly be worrying about things, especially about what Adrian’s response will be to my question. I feel like a kid again, wanting desperately to hear my dad’s response to whether I can go to horse camp or not. Should a twenty-one-year-old adult feel like that still? I guess having a bodyguard my whole life means asking to go anywhere for the rest of my life.

The lesson finally ends and everyone stands up to exit, though I notice a few people remain seated while they slowly gather their things. I pack up the laptop and glance over at the other lingering students, noticing that Adrian hasn’t gotten up yet, either. He makes eye contact with the individuals, probably saying something to them silently, because they all nod and make to leave. I turn to stare at him, fidgeting with the strap of my school bag. Man, I really do feel like an impatient little kid.

He must be able to feel my eyes burning the side of his head because he finally turns to look at me, putting me out of my misery. Still sitting, he leans back onto the desk behind him and crosses his arms over his broad chest, observing me curiously. “Do you really want me to stay home while you go out?” He asks, his tone carefully modulated as to not sway my judgment.

I narrow my eyes suspiciously but nod. “Yes, I do. I’m not trying to ditch you or anything, I just think a few hours is harmless,” I say, trying to speak too much and give anything away.

His expression remains indecipherable, though he has a gleam in his eye. “You’re sure?” He asks again, raising an eyebrow. “And you think that I should hang out with Jasper while you’re gone?”

I tuck my lip between my teeth habitually. “I think it would be good for him to know that he isn’t alone, you know? He needs as much support as possible, and who is better than his friend, the Alpha? I think it would look good.” Nothing I’ve said is exactly a lie, each word carefully selected. I’m not sure if he can smell lies yet, but I’m not willing to risk it.

Adrian regards me with a peculiar look, keeping his imposing posture. He reminds me of a mafia boss in a movie I watched once, but way hotter. It’s easy to remember the scene that played out back at the house between classes, and it makes me almost want to call the whole evening off to spend it with him instead. Almost. I know why I have to stand my ground and follow through with the plan. I’m doing it for Jasper.

Adrian eventually shrugs a shoulder and stands up, reaching to take the school bag from my hands. “Fine, if you insist on going,” I stand up with him, preparing to leave the room that suddenly feels too empty. Even the Professor has left for the evening, leaving us completely alone. Adrian pulls me closer to him by the waist, holding me there with his immovable arms. He leans in just enough to tickle my lashes with his breath, making me wish he would come even closer. “But in return, you have to let me punish you when you get back.” His voice is a low growl in my ear, his eyes taking on the familiar dark look to them. It looks like he would eat me up right here if he could, and a big part of me wishes that he would.

Even though no one is around anymore, my eyes still dart to the side to double-check that no one can hear us. He scans me up and down, fully aware of what he’s doing to me beneath this big coat. God, the look that he’s giving me now is really making me regret my resolutions. I suppose that’s the point that he’s trying to make, though, which helps me remain grounded. “Fine,” I breathe, amazed that I can manage to form any words at all. The place where his hand presses against my coat burn through the layers, heating me up. “Do your worst,” I say, fixing him with my gaze.

His eyebrow jumps as he soaks me in, no doubt thinking about what his worst entails. He leans forward until the tips of our noses are touching, teasing me with his proximity. His lips are so close that I can almost taste them, which is driving me to insanity. “Good girl. Let’s get going now before Serene comes looking for you.” He pulls away without rewarding me with the kiss I desperately crave, leaving me to pout where he left me. I suppose it’s payback for leaving him to his own devices instead of skipping class to give in to our desires. Now he’s going to make me think about it all night.

I suck my teeth and follow him out, marching past him where he waits for me in the stairwell. He snatches my hand before I’m out of reach, caging my fingers with his own to prevent me from straying too far. I sigh and stop struggling, realizing that it isn’t going to lead anywhere. Even if he decided to keep walking all the way out to the car to drag me home, I would be helpless to resist without earning a broken bone in the struggle. “Asshole,” I mutter beneath my breath as we cross the threshold into the hallway, too late for him to pull me back inside.

He gives me a tense look from the corner of his eye that tells me I’ll regret that little maneuver later, but I’m looking forward to it. It will be more like a prize for me rather than a punishment. The tall guy from before the lecture is waiting outside in the hallway for us, giving a stiff nod as we approach him. I’d forgotten that Adrian asked to see him once the lesson was over. I’m just about to open my mouth to ask why, but Adrian cuts me another look before turning to address the Werewolf. “Syaoran, please follow Lydia and her friend as they go out shopping.”

I turn to gawk at Adrian in disbelief. “What? Why?” I interject, hoping that my heart isn’t pounding as loudly as I think it is. “Serene can protect me.”

Adrian looks down at me with a raised brow, his eyes burning like hot embers. “How so? She’s still in training so she can’t do much to protect you if someone did choose to attack you. She would be useless against a Vampire.”

I furrow my brow in confusion. Why specifically a Vampire? Is he worried about Vincent following us? Or maybe he’s concerned about those three Vampires from the Vineyard? But he said that we lost them before we made it to town, so surely that isn’t it. I turn to scan the hallways for Serene, hoping that she would be able to prove him wrong somehow. She said that she would be able to hide me at least, right? Even if she can’t physically protect me, it would be better than nothing.

Syaoran on the other hand, seems to understand the reasoning completely. “Of course,” He agrees, nodding once. “I won’t let her out of my sight.” The fact that he aggresses so quickly must mean that he is strong enough to fight a Vampire, which would explain why he was so eager to pick a fight with Vincent and his friends earlier. He certainly looks intimidating, so it doesn’t seem impossible. I don’t have much to compare a Werewolf's strength to, but I know how powerful Adrian is in comparison to a human.

I turn to argue with Adrian again, but a voice cuts me off from down the hallway. I turn to see Serene jogging around the corner with her backpack bouncing off of her arm. “Lydia, hey!” She greets me, recovering nicely at seeing the two Wolves. “Sorry, I’m late. Will you two be joining us?” She asks, gesturing to Adrian and Syaoran before glancing at me. She’s very good at hiding her expressions, so much so that she should look into acting.

Adrian gives her a once-over before shaking his head. “No, just him,” He jabs a thumb in Syaoran’s direction. “Lydia suggested that I stay home tonight.” He adds, looking at me from the corner of his eye pointedly.

I give Serene a pleading look, hoping that it isn’t too obvious. “Sorry, he won’t let me go alone. Should we reschedule?”

Serene smiles widely, waving me off. “Nah, it’s totally fine! We’ll just pick out a few things so you can get back. I know how much he worries about you,” She says, gesturing to Adrian. She turns back to Syaoran and sticks out her hand. “I’m Serene, nice to meet you. I hope you don’t mind shopping.”