“He doesn’t get to speak to me like that just because he’s a wolf and I’m a squirrel.”
Rawling raised a brow as Bardoul staggered past with clean trays. “She’s talking about Professor Shaw. He’s been on a rampage recently.”
My mate had shifted for the first time a few days ago.When I relayed what had happened to my parents, Father said we had to get to the bottom of why the professor had not handed Eira back until Rawling called on his wolf for help.
I agreed but told him we were investigating and to hold off making a complaint to the school or the shifter council. He wasn’t aware the super-secret squirrel society was on the case.
Father said we should consider removing ourselves from the Sombertooth campus and doing distance learning. “You have to think about Eira.”
That plan showed promise, but I had to convince Rawling, who with his newfound shifter side, felt invincible.
“Until then, I’m paying for security guards, 24/7.”
But I hadn’t shared the news with Father that the reason Mika had been killed was kinda murky. If Rawling hadn’t found his wolf, I would have accompanied him to each classroom. Luckily, we both did archery, and I made sure I was with him when we strolled to the range.
But now that the security team was in place, my anxiety level lowered. My mate was irked by the presence of a guard lurking in the hallways and outside the infirmary, but I told him that was non-negotiable. If the professor had caught wind of our extra security, perhaps that was another reason for his foul mood.
Our next class was with the professor, and as we tucked into lunch, Jack slumped into a seat beside us.
“Knox is having a hard time with me having a bear.” Her hands were covered in paint because she was preparing for an art exhibition.
“He’ll have to get used to it.” I shrugged because what was his problem?
“I guess.” She stabbed a piece of carrot. “And if he doesn’t? It won’t be a huge deal if we part ways. He’s nice and all, but he’snot my mate. Not that I’m looking for my one and only. Not yet. Or perhaps I don’t have a fated one and have met him already.”
Rawling wasn’t paying attention, and I didn’t say anything. She didn’t need us to respond or give advice because it sounded as though she knew what she had to do regarding Knox.
“You have Professor Shaw next.”
“Yes,” we both replied.
“Good, we can hide at the back, because I heard him shouting at a student yesterday, and gods, he was losing it.”
Today was the first time either Rawling or myself had faced the professor sincethatday. He was sick the day after and sent an email telling his students what to read before the next class.
I’d asked Rawling if he wanted to skip the class, but he said we had to face him sometime.
Jack followed us to the classroom, asking about the reading assignment. I answered with a word here and there, but my mind was on Professor Shaw. He wasn’t in the room when we arrived, and we took or places in the last row. But he swept in yelling, “I’m in no mood for slackers. Anyone who hasn’t done the prescribed reading can get out.” His voice rose with each word, and I reached for Rawling’s hand.
The professor slammed his laptop on the table and glared at us as he opened it and projected the slides onto the screen behind him. The first slide contained the questions he’d asked us to consider.
“Blakesley, I suspect you’ve been prancing around in your newfound fur and haven’t done what I asked.” He leaned forward and glared at my mate.
I half rose, but Rawling pushed me back. Since he’d revealed his wolf, I was enjoying his increased strength. Memories flooded back of us in bed, and my cock swelled. Not the right time, though.
“You’re wrong, Professor.”
There was a collective gasp from the room. We never told a professor they were wrong. We might present an argument to counter what they said, but we were never so blunt, though the rumor mill had it that Atticus had confronted the professor after we got Eira from him.
Rawling’s beast was so new and fierce, and he hadn’t learned how to balance that disagreement and tamp it down to suit the situation.
I squeezed his hand, but he didn’t respond. Jack was on his other side, and she hissed at him to calm down. But Rawling allowed his wolf into his gaze. The students between him and the professor hunkered down.
“I did as you asked. What do you want to ask me? And when you’re done, I have questions for you, like why did you refuse to hand overmydaughter.”
Fuck, we’d be thrown out of Sombertooth for this, but maybe that was for the best. There were plenty of non-shifter colleges we could transfer to. But if this confrontation resulted in fur flying, we’d be hauled before the shifter council.
The professor snarled, and the students close to the door snuck out. Rawling had his head held high, and fur rippled over the professor’s arms, shredding his jacket sleeves. Shit, this was bad, and I got up and Jack did too. Rawling and I had every reason to be furious and wary of the professor, but it couldn’t end in their beasts fighting.
