Page 83 of Ava: Part One

“Talk to us, Zeke,” Derek urged.

Zeke looked over at the little human who had caused all his problems, still in her healing sleep, and then back to his friends.

“I can’t,” he answered.

Myles shook his head and started walking out of the bedroom.

“The dean is coming after lessons. He’s heard some concerning reports he wants to speak to you about,” Myles said as he reached the door. “The place reeks of human and blood. I suggest you take care of that before he comes or meet him at his office.”

When Myles was gone, he looked at Derek.

“We’re brothers,” Derek said sadly.

“And I’m not your Alpha. I can’t.”

Derek shook his head as he left the room as well.

He walked back to his bed and covered Ava properly. What the hell was he going to do now?

Chapter 59

Zeke sat in his car in front of the administration block, still unsure of what he would do. A week ago, he would have handed Ava in with no problems, but now...

He risked his life for her. That hadn’t been just Shadow’s decision; he had willingly run headfirst into the cursed forest without a thought about his welfare. He hadn’t thought about becoming Alpha or avenging his mother and the other members of his pack that Jared had gotten killed. He hadn’t thought aboutDerek and Myles, the only members of the pack who treated him like family more than his actual blood.

It had been him. His decision. The moment he had known Ava was about to die, nothing else had mattered. Their bond gave him no choice, but that didn’t matter anymore. Even if he rejected her, it was clear that he would still get messed up. She was in his blood. Part of him. She was his. And that was a painful realisation.

Only half an hour remained until training finished, and the other students would come out and see him. He wasn’t in the mood to listen to their gossip, so he sighed and got out of his car. He was still weak from the silver that running here had been out of the question, and he needed to conserve whatever little energy he had gained back. He knew what his punishment would be, and Shadow had retreated to recover, so he would not be much help to him.

He paused briefly at the dean’s door before he knocked and entered. Penelope sat in her usual spot, but her eyes were already glued on him as he entered. She would have sensed him coming, and he could tell by the look in her eyes that she had questions.

He gave her a respectful nod as he stopped in front of her desk. He didn’t mess with this one if he could help it; she was just as scary as the librarian.

“I’m here to see the dean if he has a moment,” he stated politely.

Of course, the dean would have a moment. Alpha Russell never kept him waiting. But this was the one time he wished he could have another moment to think things through.

Penelope picked up her phone and informed the dean of his arrival. As expected, she told him to go straight through.

Dean Russell put his paperwork aside the moment he walked in. He could tell by the stern set of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders that this wasn’t going to go very well.

“Take a seat, please, Mr Michelson.”

He did as he was told and then looked directly at Alpha Russell.

“You were absent without permission. You know the rules, Mr Michelson. No matter what business you must attend to, you need my permission,” Alpha Russel said curtly.

“I understand. I apologise.”

He wasn’t going to make up bullshit to get out of this, but he wasn’t going to provide information that wasn’t asked for, either.

“Given that we are still searching for Miss Claire Hubert and her friends, and a report has been made against you for attacking another student, is this all you’re going to say on the matter? That you apologise?” Alpha Russell growled.

“I did attack Miss Hubert on Friday but left her well with Mr Anderson. Perhaps you should speak to him about her whereabouts.”

Even if he told them that Claire had attacked Ava, they would never believe him. The infirmary thought he was fucking with them when he took Ava in; they would not confirm his story. It seemed like Jared had left that part out, too, because the dean hadn’t mentioned Ava.

The dean growled and banged on his desk, but he pulled himself together quickly. Even now, when he was the one in trouble, they still had to think twice about angering Shadow.

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