Chapter 15

Dylan

A little over a week had passed, and Dylan noticed everyone had given her the side eye as she passed them. Jackson kept her tucked under his arm more often than not because everyone's gaze was on her at all times. It felt as though they thought she would go feral at any time and kill them all. It annoyed her to no end that this was how people responded to learning more about Shadowborns.

Dylan, Jackson, and Serafine all sat at their normal table at breakfast the following Friday from that day in Pack Magic class. Dylan wasn't happy about having to attend her one-on-one with Lupe. It would be her first since Lupe thought it was necessary to give Dylan the first Friday off after finding her new mate and having a fact about Shadowborns circulate through the school. It would be her learning how to control her wolf and even her Shadow Wolf magic to become a better fighter. This was why Silas rejected her; it would be good for her to learn. That didn't mean Dylan had to like it.

While feeling everyone's gaze on her, she felt her wolf pace inside her mind. Part of her felt she needed her wolf just below the surface in case anyone did decide to attack. There was some doubt the school would allow for such a thing, but that didn't help Dylan's mind ease at all. Werewolves were unpredictable assholes until they were all mated. This room was filled with males who were more agitated than normal because their mate was known to them and not by their side, and females who were either pining after their mates or hoping the males in the school were possibly their mates. Dylan noticed some girls would try to touch the guys in the hallways a few times just to find out. Sometimes, they didn't even touch other wolves, just other guys in the school, so the void inside of them would be filled.

They had already finished eating, but Dylan noticed Serafine watching everyone in the room and frowning.

"It's like every werewolf in the school has to watch you as if you are going to shift into your Shadow Wolf and force them to bow down to you," Serafine said before shaking her head. "I can't wait until Monday when we start sparring with one another more freely, and you can wipe the floor with everyone. Maybe it'll teach them that you control yourself, and they don't need to be afraid of you."

Dylan growled and rolled her eyes. "Doubtful. It's like everyone here would use that just to hate me more."

Jackson put his hands over hers and opened their bond up to her. She felt his calmness spread through her, and her wolf relaxed. She looked into his green eyes, and he smiled at her. He put the image of him kissing her forehead, and her chest rumbled, feeling his touch. They tried to keep their relationship behind doors so others wouldn't grow resentful of their complete bond.

Thank God for soundproofing in the dorms. She thought to herself, as it was the only place they would open, touch, and kiss each other.

I heard that. We can always squeeze some time in our room before your one-on-one.

Dylan thought about it and shook her head; I wanna spend time with Serafine. I don't want her to feel like I'm abandoning her or something.

"I don't think they fear you," Serafine tried to lie, but Dylan looked at her, and she cracked immediately. "Well, maybe they don't fully fear you. Maybe you make them nervous!"

Dylan laughed. "That's not much better, Sera. I don't want to make people feel nervous or afraid. Maybe they are a little afraid, so they leave me alone. But that's it. I don't want to be treated differently because I am a Shadowborn."

Hunter sat down at the table's far side and looked at them. "No Shadowborn ever has been able to make people feel safe. Shadowborns were feared—and still are. Many hate Shadowborns and want them all eradicated from our planet."

Jackson growled. "Are you one of them?"

Dylan's turn was to push through the bond to calm Jackson down. He was better than he used to be, and being around other males didn't set him off. Jackson shows his possessiveness only when Hunter is around and tries to keep Hunter at a distance. The problem was Hunter was a dominant male. He wasn't afraid of Jackson, so he often tended to be around Dylan.

Hunter raised an eyebrow at him. "If I were, do you really think I would keep sitting at your table?"

"Why are you always at our table? You've been here for over a week and haven't talked to anyone yet. Always sit by us." Jackson said through his teeth.

Hunter looked at Dylan. "She intrigues me."

"And that means?"

"It means I haven't met a Shadowborn like her. Those I have met are quite arrogant, which is why so many people fear them. I believe she is the first I have met who doesn't want to exert her power over others to the point where they want to take over the werewolves entirely."

Dylan growled at him. "I have learned the history of my people, and not many chose to act like that. You have it twisted, Hawthorne."

He tilted his head at her. "I have been around for quite some time. I thought you Shadowborns were eradicated. I find it interesting that you are not only a Shadowborn but also from a pack of Shadowborns. How is it that you and your pack have not been known to every pack for all this time?"

"We haven't been hiding if that is what you are implying. I don't know why non-Shadowborns aren't being told of our pack. That isn't my problem, either. I was taught about our breeds, and I have no issue with anyone who isn't my kind."

Hunter smirked. "It does appear you treat everyone the same until they give you reason not to be. That's refreshing. Most Alphas are opinionated."

"Alphas have to be flexible, or the pack will not thrive. Like the shadow our wolves phase into, we must be ready to change and adapt to everything around us. I may have opinions, but I keep them to myself. That is how my father runs our pack, and that's how I plan to continue to run it once I take over the pack."

He nodded." As you should. That is a great way to run a pack and keep them safe. That still does not answer how your pack has not been known to every pack."

"Go ask my father. I have no idea. We recently had a party with other packs. The Monarch's pack was not part of it, though. I don't know why. I was invited to it because I was an unmated female! You tell me how it is possible that people do not know we are Shadowborns!"

Black dots were swimming before her eyes when she was done yelling at Hunter. The annoyance rose each time she explained herself when she felt there was no need to explain. No pack has stated they were not aware her pack consisted of Shadowborns. They weren't hiding from anyone that she knew of. All the packs that came to the gathering to meet possible mates were aware of her pack. At least the Alphas were because they wouldn't have allowed her pack to be a part of it if they did not want Shadowborns meeting their wolves.

This is stupid.

Maybe we need to ask Father why this person thinks we are not registered as a Shadowborn pack.

That might be a good idea.

"Good to know that the other packs seemed aware of your status. I will need to reach out to my Alpha about this then. I wasn't aware that your pack was a Shadowborn pack."

Jackson glared at him. "Why is it your Alpha's business that there is a Shadowborn here? I don't understand why that would be important to you."

Hunter flashed him a full-tooth grin. "My Alpha is the Monarch."

Holy shit on a cracker.

Dylan felt a presence walk past her, and she turned her head to see Camilla looking over at Hunter. "I wouldn't try to be friendly with this one. She will take anything that is yours away from you without even apologizing."

Dylan laughed and grabbed Jackson's hands so he wouldn't do anything stupid to her. She shook her head and gave Camilla a pitying look. "He was never yours, Camilla. The Great Moon decided he was mine when she created us. If you need a crash course in mate bonds, you may want to talk to our professor so your understanding of something so complex is broken down to you better."

Camilla snarled and lifted her hand back to slap Dylan. Dylan was off her seat and in Camilla's face before she could move, grabbing hold of her wrist so she couldn't move.

"Listen here, Camilla Adler. I would think about what you are about to do and ask yourself if you want to go through with the consequences." Dylan let her power loose, and she watched Camilla wince as she fought to keep her gaze locked on Dylan's eyes.

It was turning into a dominance fight. Dylan considered how it would look on her if she allowed it to continue. The last thing she wanted was to look more out of control and be stuck here longer than she wanted to be.

"If he hadn't already marked you, I would have challenged you for the right to bond with Jackson," Camilla spat.

"That would have been the worst mistake of your life." Dylan's tone was laced with venom.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caught Dylan's attention. She turned to find Lupe glaring at them. Dylan let go of Camilla's wrist but kept her wolf and power where they were, so Camilla knew she would continue this if she were given permission.

"If I understand what I just heard correctly, I must intervene before this turns bloody." She turned to Camilla. "Jackson Fastolf is not your mate. Over your time here, I have seen you touch him frequently. You two may have shared a connection during your time here, but it did not create the connection of a mate bond. Due to this, you will not attempt to touch Mr. Fastolf again, nor will you bother this mated couple for the possibility of a mate bond. The Great Moon has already made it clear that Mr. Fastolf and Miss Pierce are mates, and you are not the female for him." Then she turned to Dylan. "Miss Pierce, thank you for handling this situation without bloodshed. If Miss Adler continues to attempt to cause a problem with your mate bond with Mr. Fastolf, please alert a staff member immediately." Lupe turned back to Camilla, and a wave of her power smacked into Dylan. She knew it was more toward Camilla, but Dylan still bowed her head and sat down to show she understood where her place was at this time. "Miss Adler, I need to speak with you privately."

Dylan kept her eyes on Jackson, who was smirking at her, and reached out to her through their bond.

I would have loved to see you wipe the floor with her over me, Jackson rumbled in her mind.

Oh yeah? Turn you on a little bit, knowing you have two women fighting over you?

He laughed inside of her mind. No. Not because two women are fighting over me. More like seeing you going boss on a dumbass over me.

Only eyes for me?

Only for you.

Good. I'll take care of any woman who tries to touch you.

He growled and touched her face through their bond. I don't know how, but that is extremely sexy.

Dylan shook her head and glanced at the clock above them. It was getting too close to the time for her to get to her one-on-one. She sighed heavily and looked back at Jackson.

"I should head toward Lupe's office for my one-on-one. Hopefully, she is done chewing out Camilla before I get there so I don't have to deal with her again today."

"Want me to walk you there?"

"No, I'll be fine. Why don't you hang out with your friends or something? You haven't left my side much. I'm sure they'd want to see you."

He groaned. "I guess I should. I can just see them making jokes about me being whipped, though."

They both stood up, and Dylan bumped him with her hip when he got close. " You kind of are, though."

"Shhh. Can't have everyone knowing that."

Dylan laughed and ignored the feeling of Hunter's stare. She struggled to keep her head forward, knowing she would stare into his eyes when she turned toward him. She wanted to know his issue with her but knew it would be best to leave it alone. He had already told her why he found her fascinating, which was more than enough reason to keep conversations with him to a minimum.

I have too much going on already to get tied up into more of a mess.

Dylan knocked on Lupe's office door and heard shuffling inside. Dylan held her breath while waiting for her professor to open the door. She silently hoped that Camilla would not be on the other side. As much as she knew she could win a fight between them easily, it was not something she felt like dealing with at this time. She just wanted to complete her classes and then return home. It's been an amazing experience for her since she found a mate who accepted her for who she was, but she still did not like that she was at this academy instead of at home.

Lupe opened the door and smiled at Dylan. "Right on time, Miss Pierce. Thank you for joining me. Today's lesson will not be in my office. In fact, I believe we should meet where the combat class is held moving forward. Let's walk there together."

Dylan patted herself on the back, thinking about having her combat gear on for breakfast so she wouldn't have to return to her suite. Jackson relentlessly flirted and used their bond to make her want to skip class and have their own fun together. It took more willpower than she cared to admit not to run back to the suite and give in to him. But like any other school, RISE took tardiness and missing class seriously. If she wanted to pass her classes, she needed to attend them and be on time.

"How is the bond between you and Jackson? I hoped he would be given a new mate from the Great Moon. I was afraid we would lose him to the darkness in his soul from what she had done to him."

It took effort not to growl at the mention of Jackson's ex-mate. It bothered Dylan, knowing the girl had willingly rejected Jackson every semester for the past two semesters because she disliked something he could not control. Possessiveness came with the territory regarding the males of their species. Was it annoying? Sure. Dylan could live without Jackson snarling at every male who came too close to her. However, it also showed how devoted he was to her and how he would protect her against everyone if it came down to it. She even noticed him growling at females who got too close to him.

"It's going well. It's definitely an adjustment since I am not used to sharing my mind with someone so intimately, but it's shocking how quickly the learning curve is with that."

Lupe chuckled. "Yes, I agree."

Dylan looked up at her teacher and focused on her neck. With all the hair on her head, it would be easy to overlook a mate mark. However, it still made Dylan angry that she wasn't paying attention to detail. It didn't surprise Dylan to see a mate mark on the professor's neck after her comment, but it did since she almost expected all the teachers here to be rejected mates.

"Yes, Miss Pierce. I am happily mated. To Professor Teowulf, in fact."

"Well, I would not have expected that one."

She chuckled again. "No one ever does. Based on how you responded, you would not expect it when looking at us."

"Well, I don't know. I guess I never paid attention to who has a mate mark and who doesn't. I'd love to say the Great Moon works in mysterious ways, but that's a load of crap. She has a plan for people, and there's no deviating from it. Mates complement each other. I used to think that was a load of crap, but then I got one of my own."

"Mr. Fastolf has certainly brought out the best in you. I've seen you around since your bonding, and I must say, you look stronger, more confident, and even calmer."

Dylan thought about it, and Lupe was right. She has felt stronger, more confident, and calmer. Though, Jackson hasn't changed much. He was a little calmer but somehow more possessive.

"Since you are mated, can you answer this for me? Why is Jackson still so possessive? I thought being mated helped with that."

"Usually, yes. Mr. Fastolf has some demons he needs to conquer before the bond will work properly for him. His last mate did not help him feel like he was worthy of a mate bond. I was present during her last visit. Somehow, she believed his possessiveness was something he shouldn't be. It is normal for the dominant to be possessive of his mate. She is his to cherish, love, and protect. It baffled me until I learned her other mates were submissives. Are they devoted to her, cherish her, love her, and protect her? Yes. But not in the same way. Jackson would approach the problem before it was even a problem. Much like how he is responding to Mr. Hawthorne."

"That's the other problem. I'm not sure what is happening there either."

"Hawthorne seems interested in you. I cannot tell if it is because he is another mate of yours or because he is wrongfully interested in being a mate of yours. Unless he touches you without consent or he is your mate and the mate bond presents itself, there isn't much any of us can do to assist this rising issue. Please, do reach out to me if he becomes a problem."

"I will."

The problem with that is she foresaw Jackson losing it on Hunter, and it turning into a dominant mate or a fight for the right to mate with her. No teacher was going to stop it.

Oh yippee. That is my luck.