April 14th: Ms. Porter challenged her teacher and disobeyed a direct order to be silent. Consequence: Two days of punishment carried out by disciplinarian alpha.
April 26th: Ms. Porter argued with the teacher about designation hierarchy. Consequence: blanket and pillow removed from room for thirty days.
There were pages and pages of similar statements documenting near-constant punishment sessions.
“What the fuck is a disciplinarian alpha?” I growled, accidentally snapping the tablet in two.
“I didn’t think the Academy was good, but I didn’t realize it was…” Ben trailed off, looking stunned.
“I’m going back up to check on her,” I said, throwing the tablet in the trash.
“She said she wanted space,” Theo said, although I knew through the bond he was longing to be with her.
“Don’t give a fuck,” I growled. “She’s alone and vulnerable and has been treated like shit by everyone, apparently. I need to make sure she’s okay.”
I stormed off, taking the stairs two at a time, only hesitating once I was outside her room, breathing hard with the anger and adrenaline pumping through my system.They hurt our mate. We need to end them.
My alpha and I were in total agreement. I needed to touch her, scent her, and make sure she was okay, but I couldn’t bring myself to barge into her room. It was obvious now why she didn’t want to be around us. Shit, she probably didn’t want to be here at all.
We could move her to the pool house if she wanted more space. The thought filled my chest with hollow despair and I sank to the floor, resting my back against her door. I already knew I couldn’t refuse my mate anything that would make her more comfortable, but the thought of being separated from her, of her not wanting to be near us, was agonizing. Just then, there was a click of a door handle, and I fell onto my back as the bedroom door swung open.
Josie peered down at me, confusion written all over her tear-streaked face. I scrambled to my feet and we stood in silence. I hesitated before opening my arms to her. She immediately launched herself into my embrace.
Relief washed through me. I didn’t know what had made her cry, but she wantedmeto comfort her, trusted me enough to seek my touch. I pushed away my fears that I would let her down, that I would fail to protect her like I had my sister. Right now, she needed me. It was the greatest fucking feeling in the world.
I gently picked her up and her legs curled around me tightly. Her head rested on my shoulder and she let out a long, shuddering breath, her eyes fluttering closed. Nothing would ever feel better than this, than having her safe in my arms. I lay down on the bed, arranging her so she was sprawled out on top of me, one of my hands gripping her upper thigh and the other rubbing her back in a gentle rhythm.
“Rest now, baby girl. I’ve got you,” I murmured.
ChapterFifteen
Josie
Iwoke slowly, feeling deliciously warm.
The sweet cinnamon roll scent I’d already started associating with safety surrounded me. A soft blanket was laid over me and underneath me was… I jolted awake fully, remembering that I had fallen asleeponCam.
“Shh, it’s okay. You’ve been asleep for about an hour,” he said, his hand resuming its soothing path up and down my back.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you. Am I crushing you?” I asked, biting my lip.
Cam snorted. “Baby girl, you could lie on top of me all day, every day, and not crush me.”
I blushed, pressing my face against his chest before trying to scoot off of him. No matter what he said, I was sure he’d be more comfortable if I moved.
Cam’s arms tightened around me.
“Please don’t,” he said, his voice almost pleading. “I need a few more minutes.”
My body melted with contentment as I settled back on top of him. I tried not to second guess everything and embrace my instincts like Sam suggested.
“We need to order more things for this room,” Cam said as he massaged the tension out of my shoulders. “It’s not good enough for you.”
“You don’t need to get me anything,” I murmured as I closed my eyes, holding back a whimper at how good his hands felt. I had only been here a couple of hours, but I already hoped these alphas would keep me. I didn’t want to come across as needy or high-maintenance.
“We definitely do, sweetheart. Need to get you everything you could need or want. If you don’t like the house, we’ll get a new one.”
He couldn’t possibly mean that, could he? I cracked my eyes open and took in his serene expression.
