Page 40 of Alpha's Hated Mate

When I told Saffron what needed to be done, she didn’t say anything at all. She just nodded and got out of bed to shower. Aswe dressed, however, she started adding in her two cents. “Dean Fowler,” she said. “We need to talk to him and maybe Chad and Yarra. We’re going to need more than just the two of us if we’re going to find them.”

So we’re on the same team. It feels good to have her by my side as we walk across the campus to the main building. I catch the glances of several students passing by on their way to class, but no one approaches us. I take her hand as we walk and silently dare any of them to step up to us.

No one does. We make it to the faculty building unfettered. As we approach the hallway where Dean Fowler’s office is, I spot Nadia standing by the posting of the dean’s list.

“Nadia?” It just hit me that I haven’t seen her since everything happened. As soon as I say her name, she looks over at me and smiles. Her eyes jump to Saffron, and her smile falters a little.

“Hey,” she says. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I—? Where have you been? Goddess, don’t you know what’s going on?”

She gives me a sore, apologetic look. “What are you so pissed at me for?”

“Nadia, I haven’t heard from you for a full day. I thought . . .” I stop myself. She looks healthy and whole. Wherever she was, it passed by her. “Where were you the night of the party?”

She shrugs. “I never made it. I was running late getting ready, and by the time I left . . .” She looks over at Saffron. “Needless to say, I stayed in my dorm and locked the door.” She pauses, her eyes still analyzing the both of us. “I thought all the Scarlets ran off into the woods.”

“Not all of them,” Saffron says. “We’re about to talk to Dean Fowler about a plan to go get them.”

She scoffs. “Just the two of you? Was this your idea, Saffron?”

“No,” I say, a commanding tone in my voice, “it was mine. Is that a problem, Nadia?”

She stares at me in shock, then shrinks back slightly. “Of course not.”

“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

I open Dean Fowler’s door, and we walk in. As soon as it’s shut, Saffron laughs. “I like it when you’re commanding,” she says. “We should have told her about me being her Luna.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s focus on why we’re here.”

“Right.”

Dean Fowler’s receptionist is sitting at her desk. She looks up from her computer. “Hello. Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but it’s urgent that we speak with the dean. Is he in?”

“He’s in a meeting with the Robertsons right now.”

“All the more reason for me to see them. Please. It’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Of course, Mr. Vaultmore. You can go right in.”

She seems pleasant, but I catch the look she gives Saffron as we pass by. I’m sure if it wasn’t for me, she’d probably never have let us through.

Dean Fowler is sitting at his desk with Professor Robertson, Chad, and Yarra gathered around him. Everyone looks up at me as I enter the room.

“Mr. Vaultmore,” Dean Fowler says, his voice raised in surprise. “Come in. Please.”

We both walk in, and the dean clears his throat. Yarra’s face lights up and she rushes past me to Saffron. “Oh, thank God,” she says, hugging me. “I was so worried about you after the assembly. Are you okay?”

“Better than okay,” she says with a sly smile, then a little softer. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

“We’re in the middle of a meeting,” Fowler says, “I hope this is important.”

“It is, and I suspect what I have to say is relevant.”

“What’s on your mind?” Chad said. He’s standing next to the desk with his arms crossed, but despite his body language, he actually looks more interested in listening to what I have to say.

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