Page 73 of Moon Cursed

“See!?” I threw up my hands. “That’s exactly what I said to Nia. I’m both thankful for her help, and want to kick her over the gates at the same time. It’s very confusing for me.”

“Hmm.” He shook his head, then crossed to the bits of metal and glass that used to be my phone. “The good news is the secret store has plenty of phones and desktops. These will be easy to replace.”

“What is this secret store you keep going on about?”

Paxton winked. “Not telling.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. What did you think about tonight?”

“What didyouthink?”

“Honestly?” I hopped up on my desk. “I loved it. The students had really good ideas, and I could tell the leaders were listening. Even Magnus couldn’t come up with a logical explanation why corrupt police forces or separate clans are such a good thing, so he blustered and insulted his way through it—making himself look dumb as shit.”

Paxton barked a laugh.

“And...” I sobered. “I saw what you saw, Paxton. A couple weeks ago, Tracy was on the edge of doing something very desperate and dangerous that would’ve ruined her life, all because of what Melisent said. Omegas feel so without hope or help, they take justice into their own hands.

“But instead of that, she confronted her monster, ripped him to fucking shreds, and made Marahearher. We did that.” I smiled at him. “You and me. And that feels pretty good, even if Ash shuts down the forums for good.”

He sighed. “I want to say she can’t, but damn sure Callum isn’t coming back, and the sun clan needs an overhaul most of all. It’s the worst, most oppressive clan for omegas, and it’s no mystery why withhimas the leader.”

“Oh, well, don’t worry about that,” I said, kicking my feet against the desk. “He’ll be dead soon.”

Paxton looked at me, brows high. “So fucking hot.”

I was once again thankful he couldn’t see my blush.

“Alright, gorgeous, come with me,” he said, making for the door. “There’s something else I can help you with, but we’ve got to hurry.”

“Help me?” I hopped off and jogged to catch up with him. “Oooh, are you taking me to the secret store?”

“No.” Paxton bumped my shoulder, and that weird thump rocked my brain again. “I’m not taking the headmistress to our stash of contraband.”

“Who is our!”

Pressing his fingertips together, Paxton mimed locking his lips and throwing away the key.

I left the water boy to his secrets, and trailed him through the hall. I didn’t know where we were going, until the bumping bass hit my ears.

“You’re taking me to detention?” I asked as he stopped in front of the door. “Have I been naughty?”

“Absolutely.” Paxton leaned on the doorjamb, his teasing smirk quickening my pulse.

What the hell is wrong with me? We settled this a week ago, I’m not into Paxton like that. We’re just friends and barely that, so if you’re trying to rev me up and point me at him, stop it.

My wolf didn’t even stir. She was fast asleep like the Nia tranquilizer shot her in the ass. She was asleep a lot these days, which made it very hard to blame this on her.

I eyed him.Well, it’s not like it’s a big deal that I find him attractive. Paxton is a handsome man— Okay, he makes handsome men want to put a sack over their heads and call it quits. Paxton is Adonis personified, and if I hadn’t seen him turn into a wolf myself, I would’ve thought he was secretly a demigod son of Adonis.

It’s just a little crush,another voice said.A little crush never hurt any—

“That’s why you need to cut all this weak and whimpering bullshit, and wolf up, Volana.”

Crush gone.

“Excuse me? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you lettingthem”—he pointed at the door and the party happening on the other side—“get away with stuff like this. Look, I get it. Ash blew in here, showed you up, and got in your head. You started thinking that if you want to be a real headmistress, you have to be like her—always cool, controlled, professional, and aloof. But, Volana, you’re not a real headmistress,” he blared, blowing heat into my cheeks. “You’re twenty years old, you haven’t trained, studied, or earned this job in any way, and you haven’t even graduated from the school you’re running.

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