“But—”
“It wouldn’t matter if I didn’t know Alec was my student at the time or that I wasn’t his teacher when it happened. And all the horrors Professor Montgomery did to me would be portrayed as fabricated lies by the whore. Not only would I lose my job…again…but also the monster that made my life a horrific tragedy could walk freely.”
Sadly, this was the world humans lived in. In my world, which soon would be her world, things were settled differently. I couldn’t wait for the day when Belle was finally one of us so I would put an end to that fucker who hurt her once and for all.
I meant…so Alec would end him.
My gaze traveled to where I knew my brother was hiding. These feelings sneaking up on me, this overprotectiveness for Belle growing inside me with every moment I spent looking into her eyes…were treacherous.
“Alec will never hurt you, never let you be hurt.”
She snorted. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She didn’t know it yet, but once she chose a mate from our pack, he would be her protector and everything she needed. It was how we were wired. Swoon head over heels with our mates, unable to see anyone or anything else. Possessed and obsessed with them. A blessing and a curse all in one.
“It means exactly that. He won’t hurt you.” My gaze returned to her as if I couldn’t stay away for another second. “Neither will I...Professor.”
“Even if I believe you’re good people who wouldn’t hurt their professor like that, should I convince myself neither of you would get drunk at a party, blurt it all out, brag around?”
“You have my word,” I promised. “No one will ever know. I’ll help cover it up, too, so you can still be together.”
Her jaw fell. “What are you… It was a one time thing. Will never happen again.”
“You know as well as I do that is not what’s going to happen. He likes you.”Loves you to bits.“And I believe you like him, too. There’s no reason in my book why the two of you can’t be happy.”
“No.” She blinked and swallowed. Her gaze dropped to the open pages. “It doesn’t matter if I liked him. It’s wrong. Taboo,” she whispered, and jealousy stabbed me hard. “Besides, he lied to me. About not knowing me, about his age—”
“One day you will know why he had to, and these standards will no longer matter.”
Something flicked in her eyes when she looked back at me. “What does that even mean?”
The vampire’s stench filled my nostrils, suffocating me.Damn it, Alec. You couldn’t hold him back a few more minutes?
“Oh my god.” She hid her face with one hand. “Please, don’t see me.”
Anger pulsed through me. “You shouldn’t be afraid of that…Asher. Not when I’m here.”
She didn’t seem to be listening. Her hand moved away from her face, and she stole a glance up. “Oh my god. He’s just walked in. Kayden, please leave. If he sees me with you, I’ll get into so much trouble.”
“Professor Ferro!” The bloodsucker’s filthy voice penetrated my back.
I held my breath, my fists clenched so hard my knuckles went white. Then I tilted my body to the side, spreading my legs to the tiny aisle, hoping he would trip over my feet.
He threw me an obnoxious smirk as he glided away from my trap, then he lifted Belle’s bag and helped himself to the chair. What a dick!
“Kayden.” He glanced at the open book. “So eager to learn on your very first day. I’m impressed.”
I blocked my nose as long as I could. “It’s hard to pass the opportunity when one finally gets a decent teacher.”
His ugly mouth twisted with a full smile, fangs and all. I wanted to pluck them out of his jaw.
Belle, who was sitting as a ghost, pale and silent, since the blood sucker set foot in the place, cleared her throat. “You know each other?”
“We go way back,” Asher said grimly. “The Beastly twins have been my students from day one.”
“I see.” She grimaced. “Anyway, I was just explaining a few things and telling Mr. Beastly that he needs to refer to you from now regarding any further explanation.” She looked at me, her face stern. “I will no longer be teaching your class.”
“What?”She can’t just push us away while this bloodsucker has her all to himself.“No.”
