Page 98 of A University of Betrayal

“What ishedoing here?” another voice interjected, but then they disappeared from my ear, because I had already reached what looked more like a garden.

An old fountain, decorated with stone wolf heads and surrounded by red-colored flowers, cascaded into the fountain and drowned out all other sounds. I could only hear the birds that lived in this part of the forest.

It was a lively forest, more than just lively. Not like other areas of Blairville.

The sun filtered through the thicket behind the house, which I had had to walk through on a narrow path, even though I could have just used the entrance via the driveway from the road. Butthisroad felt more familiar.

In that very moment of realization, I cursed myself. This feeling was out of place. I didn’t want to be reminded of that time.Never again.

And yet it happened the moment I stepped up the steps from the paved garden and came to a halt on the equally stony terrace right in front of the double wooden door of the manor house.

I remained motionless, listening to the lapping of the water in the background, the chirping birds and the guys in the garden who had continued their game. It sounded exactly the same. Only there had been fewer people on the property back then.

The pack had gotten bigger. I knew that many new Senseque had come to Blairville with their offspring, especially in the last two years.

The door opened and Alarik stepped out.

I tried not to let my surprise show, because he was usually in his university office at this hour, just like Nickolas was in the hospital. It was the reason I had comenowand not later, and I wondered if the Alpha was here too, and if maybe I should go back and meet Mia somewhere in the woods.

Just the thought of running into the Alpha caused an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Everyone knew he was capable of binding us to him if he felt like it.

It was called the Alpha bond. Anyone who possessed the Alpha gene was able to use it to bind their packs to them and ensure loyalty. This depended on the strength of the Alpha bond.

“Julian.” Alarik looked like he’d been expecting me, which confused me even more. “You’re here for Mia, am I right?”

“What else...” I sighed and looked around, checking that no one was overhearing us, which happened here more often than one would like. Back then, we children had always eavesdropped on each other. Emely had been the best at it, while Nash had been the best at disappearing. And then there had been Kieran Wheeler, the slightly older, gruff guy who had always come up with the best games for us. But I hadn’t seen him for a long time now, not even on campus.

Had he moved away? Would Emely have told me about it? I mean... he was like a third brother to her.

“It would resemble a miracle if you wanted to join the pack,” Alarik sighed, walking past me while gesturing for me to follow him.

“Good thing you know me,” I confirmed in a firm voice, and followed him through the paved garden.

Images flashed through my mind of how, when we had been little, we had built a tent here out of blankets and benches, full of pillows from Emely’s room. It had been night and the older ones had been on a dangerous hunt. Afterward, Nickolas had almost torn us apart, but Alarik had defended us, as he always did with those who were weaker. His hopes for this town were definitely too high.

I bit my lower lip. So many memories that held more power over my emotions than they should.

“It must have taken a lot for you to come here.”

Alarik looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze.

“It did,” I confessed honestly.

“I think your sister appreciates that.”

“Where is she?”

It made me uneasy that I hadn’t seen her yet. Mia knew I had wanted to pay her a visit.

“Emely’s helping her move in.”

Move in.

I stopped in the middle of the stony path that led us around the house. And Alarik knew.

“She’ll live here until your father has raised the necessary finances to afford a house in our territory,” he said. “I already offered help, but Graham still avoids taking on debt.”

“He wanted to repurchase our old house,” I replied with suspicion.

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