Chapter 18

Dylan

M onday morning came too fast for Dylan's liking. As usual, the clock moved slower on Monday, and the day felt longer as she sat in her seat and listened to her teacher's drone on the topics. Etiquette class especially went by slowly since it was the day's first class, and the information was pretty boring. Today, it was more about networking. This was supposed to be toward the end of the semester, but Professor Lunapei thought it was something she would need to touch on throughout the semester instead of one large section. Something about learning it a bit at a time was proven to be more effective within memory than just covering these things all at once. Today, it was about Building Genuine Connections. This topic was something Dylan already knew but didn't know it could be broken down into ten sections. The first part of it was to tell personal stories. So, they had to get together with a partner and discuss a personal story. Dylan was all about that since Jackson and Serafine were in the class. The bad part about it was that the professor decided to choose the partners.

Dylan was paired with Camilla.

Dylan refuses to move for Camilla and makes the queen bee move to the front of the class. It was difficult to make it seem like she could put the past behind them and move forward, but she didn't need a lecture about it from the professor. Dylan smiled sweetly and asked Camilla if she would like to go first.

"No, thank you. I don't know what the perfect story is like at the moment. Can you go first?" The smile on her face told Dylan that the bitch just didn't want to talk to Dylan.

The energy it took not to roll her eyes and growl was astonishing. She wanted to use her power to make Camilla submit and force her to talk first just to show Camilla she wasn't the one to mess with. Instead, Dylan took a deep breath, counted to ten, and thought of something she wouldn't mind sharing.

"I guess I can talk about the first time I ever shifted. I know everyone's stories vary on how it happened, and maybe it would be cool to share how it works with Shadowborns."

Camilla forced a smile on her face. "That sounds wonderful!"

It's the venomous perkiness. I so badly wish this was combat class so I could rake my claws across that face.

Maybe we will get lucky, and Teowulf will pair us up with her later today.

One can only hope.

"I was around ten years old. All Shadowborns need the full moon for their first shift, just like anyone who isn't. This moon was the Hunter's Moon. My father thought it was so fitting since I was the most dominant of my siblings, and Hunter's Moons are all about the hunt. We have this awesome cliff on our territory that overlooks a lake. My dad had the whole pack go up there, and we waited for the peak of the full moon for me to try. Everyone around me shifted at once, and I remember thinking, 'Gods, how am I supposed to do that?' I looked up at the moon and just felt our Goddess's light shine on me. I was bathed in the moon's beam and felt the tingling of the magic sweep over me. The moment I felt my wolf stir inside of me once the moon called out to her, I leaned my head back and howled. Then came the bad part, right? The muscles slid out of place, reworking to become the wolf. My bones pop, and the pain just pushes through me until I'm nothing but a screaming mess on the ground. I smelled my pack around me, all of them pushing in their encouragement and love through the pack bonds to keep me calm while my body went through the change. The next thing I knew, I was up on four paws. I couldn't believe how amazing it felt to be in my wolf's skin that night. All I remember is running through the woods alongside my pack for the first time. Then," Dylan laughed and continued, "my wolf decided she wanted to try her astral form. Doing it the first time you shift as a Shadowborn is never a good idea. The magic hasn't fully settled yet, so it can go bad if you are under the wrong alpha and can't control your wolf. I went through a cave wall! I forgot it was even there. I was going to climb up this hill, and my wolf tried to go astral to go through a tree, and instead, I fell through the rock and landed in the cave. My whole pack had to stop and search for me because they thought I had gone further down the cliff and on the beach. My parents found me about half an hour later, and I was just trying to regain my solid form. It was great. No one ever tried astral as I did, so they sometimes call me an overachiever during our hunts."

Camilla looked bored when Dylan was finished. She looked at her nails before Dylan cleared her throat. Camilla forced her smile before she spoke.

"Awesome story! You are a really good storyteller!"

"Thanks," Dylan said flatly.

"I guess it's my turn."

"Yeah, it is." Dylan tried to make her tone slightly brighter, but it was useless. Camilla didn't bring out the best in her, no matter how hard Dylan tried not to let the wrench get under her skin.

"Hmmm, what story can I share to help us connect?" Camilla tapped her chin with her pointer finger. "Oh. I know. It was my first night here at the academy. Many people were having a bonfire, like the one we invited you to, and you so rudely stared at my man."

Dylan just smiled and let the jab at her go. No matter what Camilla said, Jackson was hers. It didn't matter that Dylan stared at him that night. It was for a reason. The Goddess was at work to tell them they were mates.

"I remember seeing Jackson's beautiful smile across the flames. I was still heartbroken about my mate rejecting me, but his smile improved my day. Our eyes connected, and I couldn't believe the butterflies he had given me with just one look. I thought the Goddess was at work telling me she was sending me a wolf that would make me forget about my mate entirely. He walked over, held out his hand, and asked if I would like to take a walk with him. I, of course, agreed. We walked through the woods for a bit, asking each other questions to get to know each other. Then, like a lightning bolt hitting the sand, he pushed me against the tree and lit everything on fire with the way he caressed and kissed me. Ugh. How I miss his hands and lips on me."

Dylan kept her composure and hid her hands under the desk so Camilla didn't notice she was white-knuckling to keep herself from ripping her pretty dark brown hair from her head.

"I totally didn't care that our first time was against that tree. The amount of times he made me orgasm," She let out a breath. "I can get wet just thinking about it. Actually, we thought for sure that the mate bond was just delayed or something, so he carved our initials in that tree. It's still there. You should check it out sometime." Camilla winked at her.

Dylan heard Jackson's throat snarl and the chair squeaking against the floor. She looked over to see Jackson stomping his way over to them, and Dylan barely had enough time to enter their bond and push for him to stop. Thankfully, Jackson stopped at Dylan's desk, glaring down at Camilla. Jackson's power filled the room, and Camilla lowered herself in her seat and bared her neck to Jackson while not meeting his eyes. Dylan grabbed his wrist, pulling him closer to her so she could run her hand up his arm.

Jackson, she isn't worth it.

That is NOT how it happened. She is spreading lies. I kissed her that night. That is all. I didn't carve our fucking initials into that tree!

I didn't believe her for a second, Jackson. She can say whatever she wants right now. We can't allow her to win.

Jackson looked into her eyes, and she could see the soft glow of his wolf. You know she means nothing to me, right? You are my everything now. I am so sorry for giving her this power by doing anything with her before I met you.

Dylan yanked him down to his knees and looked into his eyes. The sorrow that she saw made her heart break. Did it annoy her that he had slept with Camilla before they met? Hell yes. She should have taken the possibility of finding her mate earlier more seriously so she, too, wouldn't have been with anyone before Jackson, but she was not about to allow this dumbass she-wolf to make Jackson feel like shit about giving in to the urge to have sex before mating.

"Jackson, you have nothing to apologize for, so stop it. I promise that I am not mad about your transgressions before me, just like I know you are not mad about my transgressions before you."

Lunapei was now standing in front of them on Dylan's left side. She was growling, and it made Dylan not want to look at the woman. It could have been because she announced to the whole class what this little dominance battle was about, or it could have been directed only at Camilla. With Dylan's luck, it could be both, and then she would be in trouble for something she didn't even cause.

Please, for the love of the Great Moon, tell me it is just because Camilla decided to be a bitch.

"Miss Adler, would you please explain to me why you decided to harass Miss Pierce and Mr. Fastolf with that ridiculous story?"

"I was just explaining to Dylan here that she isn't the only one who thought she was mated to Jackson. Just because the mating signs haven't shown up yet doesn't mean they won't. Mate signs are delayed in wolves all the time!"

Jackson snarled so loud it covered the one that came from Dylan's throat. She heard another growl somewhere but didn't dare to turn to look. A feeling in her gut told her it was Hunter, and she really didn't have the time to deal with that right now.

"That's a damn lie, Camilla, and you know it. That's not what happened that night. You are just trying to provoke my mate into a fight over me because you can't accept the fact we are not True Mates. Which means I will not take you as a mate."

Camilla jumped out of her chair so fast that she slapped Jackson across the face. Dylan saw red and lunged. Jackson's arms wrapped around her, saving her from falling over since she was still in the desk chair.

"Miss Adler, please report to Professor Lupe's office immediately. I will meet you there after class."

Camilla stomped her foot, gathered her things, and stormed out of the room. Lunapei looked over at Dylan and Jackson with an apologetic smile.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Pierce and Mr. Fastolf. We will discuss with all of the teachers in our division to see to it that Miss Adler no longer bothers you. If she does without our knowledge, please inform us so we can act accordingly."

Dylan and Jackson nodded. Lunapei turned toward the rest of the class. "Let this be a lesson when dealing with relationships before mated pairs are found. It is not easy to fall for someone who is not your true mate. You will learn the hard way that it will end very badly for you if you do not accept that someone is not your fated mate. I understand how love can cloud someone's judgment and sometimes twist it to make their objective the only one that makes sense, but I assure you, that is not how mate bonds work for our kind. The Great Moon has created the perfect mates for all of us. She is a fair god when it comes to finding the ones that make us whole. It is rare for anyone to go a whole lifetime without finding at least one of their mates. It may take time, but you will find that person. Do not get lost in someone who is not yours. It will lead you to a madness that will end you and your wolf."

On that note, Lunapei dismissed the class. Serafine immediately ran up to Dylan and hugged her. "Girl, I don't know how you stayed so calm! I'm so proud of you. Any other dominant would have killed her for even mentioning the fact she had touched someone's mate."

"It's fine. If the Great Moon is as amazing as I believe her to be, I'll be paired with her in Combat class."

Dylan spent the rest of the day keeping her eyes peeled for Camilla in the halls and even in the dining hall during lunch. The queen bee kept her distance and either didn't show her face or managed to keep her eyes from looking over Dylan's way. It brought Dylan a little joy knowing Camilla was told to keep away from her and Jackson since she wanted to put it on display that she had a relationship with her mate before she arrived at the school. In her eyes, it wasn't anyone's fault that they got together before either of them knew Dylan was Jackson's second chance mate. No one would have been able to predict that since second chances were very rare, especially in males finding another female. Sure, the school was filled with more males than females when it came to the werewolves, but it still didn't happen often.

When it came time for combat class, Dylan was geared up and on the mats before anyone else. She remembered what Serafine mentioned to her the other day in her room. Overconfidence could be an issue when in her wolf form. If that was the case, today could be a breakthrough day if Teowulf allowed her to spar. Since her skills were better than average, he didn't think she needed as much training as others.

When Dylan noticed Camilla walk onto the mat, Jackson and Serafine flanked her sides, talking about their lessons that day. Their eyes locked, and Camilla narrowed her eyes at Dylan. Instead of being her normal mature self, Dylan decided to wave her fingers at the she-wolf and flashed her a bright smile. The eye-roll she gave said it all.

"I wonder if Teowulf is going to go through more defense positions today or have us spar," Serafine asked, stretching her muscles.

Dylan and Jackson realized they probably should be doing the same and then joined her. Jackson was stretching his arms when he responded. "If I remember the syllabus correctly, this week is about applying the things we were taught for the last two."

Dylan smiled, her teeth showing. "Excellent. I need to let out some tension."

The jolly combat master walked out of the building and approached the mats. Dylan practically jumped in her spot as he addressed the class and said they would be paired up today for some sparring. Yet again, the professor chose the pairings, and Dylan was matched with Camilla. Dylan looked over to the man, and he gave her a wink. He knew what went down between them; this was the opportunity for them to get their frustration out on each other. Dylan bounced her way over to the designated area and waited for Camilla to stand on the other side. For some reason, Dylan thought Camilla would complain about being paired with her, but to her surprise, the she-wolf was just as happy about the arrangement as Dylan was.

They waited for the whistle to blow, and when it came, Dylan noticed Camilla began her shift into her wolf. Dylan shook her head before calling on her wolf and felt the magic of the change sweep through her veins. She pulled on Jackson's power to give her a boost, which her mate gladly pushed into her. Dylan was in her wolf form for at least three minutes before Camilla, and she patiently waited as she assessed her opponent. Camilla was not bigger than Dylan in her wolf form. Camilla was lean but a few inches smaller in height and width. This could mean Camilla was agile enough to be faster, but with Dylan being more dominant and mated, it could make her faster or at least as fast. Being mated made every wolf stronger, and Camilla was not yet.

Camilla wasted no time and dashed across the mat toward Dylan. While she lowered herself to the ground, Dylan waited until the last second so she could push off the ground and jump over Camilla. It confused her wolf, and she didn't have enough time to lift herself to catch Dylan's exposed stomach, so Dylan was safe when she landed on the ground and then turned her body to face Camilla again. The she-wolf charged again, snapping her jaws at Dylan's body when she got close enough, but didn't manage to grab onto anything other than fur. Dylan waited Camilla out and allowed her to burn through her energy with this tactic. If Camilla was fast and strong enough, she could have taken out chunks of Dylan, which would have opened her up to bleeding to death since there would have been too many wounds to close at once. Dylan evaded a fair few of the attacks, but she knew this was Camilla's way of showing anger toward her.

The perfect time came when Camilla tried to leap onto Dylan's back and sink her teeth into Dylan's neck. Dylan rolled in time to knock Camilla off her back, and Dylan pounced on the she-wolf's body before she had time to right herself. Dylan wrapped her jaws around Camilla's neck, exerting enough pressure to show Camilla that she had won the match and could kill her if she chose. Camilla whined and tried to use her back paws to push Dylan off her, which only sunk Dylan's teeth further into her neck and broke her skin. The taste of Camilla's blood in her mouth roused her wolf, and the power she wielded spread out around her. Camilla then turned her neck enough to show her submission. Dylan let go of her neck, threw her head back, and howled in victory.

Dylan wasn't stupid, though. She kept the power rolling off her to keep Camilla in place. The whines that came out of the she-wolf were almost embarrassing. Teowulf blew his whistle to end the match, and Dylan stepped back to allow him to call out the winner.

"Excellent match, girls! Those were some outstanding techniques. This match goes to Dylan Pierce! Everyone gives her a round of applause."

Camilla rolled onto her paws, lowered her head, and growled. Teowulf reached out and smacked her on her snout. "Dylan won, fair and square. She is dominant over you, and you will show her respect moving forward. If you choose to get out of line with her or her mate, Miss Pierce can, and most likely will, end your life, as is her right. Be warned, Miss Adler, no professor here will stand in Dylan's way."

With that, Dylan howled again, and the others who had won their matches joined in.

One problem down. No more queen bee to ruin my time here.