Page 12 of Rising Luna
I stood up, despite the protest of my mates. I really didn't care that they wanted to keep me safe right now. This could put a bigger target on my back by Lupe. That thought only made me speak louder than I intended. "What are the teachers going to do about it? If there was another attack, that means the person behind it all is still out there. It started here at the school, too. Does that mean the person could be a student or a teacher?"
Lupe's face did not betray her by remaining stoic, but then frowned. "You pose a great question, Miss. Pierce. It is something we teachers have discussed. I assure you, we are looking into it."
I looked at Wilcox, and she nodded. She wanted me to know that what Lupe said was truthful. They would be looking into it, but how? Lupe had been doing this for a while now. Cole and his friends were turned before I got here. Would they even know what to ask or how to ask all the teachers and students to find out who was behind this?
"How are you looking into it? Cole did a lot of damage in a short period, don't you think? If he could kill five people without anyone realizing it was him until I stumbled onto it all, how many people are going to die before you find out who it is?"
Through the bonds, I could feel my mates' discomfort at how I was approaching this, especially Hunter. The man was trained to do this at the Enforcer Academy. I ignored them both, knowing I had to bring some kind of attention to Lupe. It would drive me crazy not to use this opportunity to make a small amount of difference. I may not have the right evidence to put Lupe away right now, but I could certainly make her feel some heat under her ass.
"Students are not privileged to the workings of this case, Miss. Pierce. I understand you did the school a big favor by bringing Cole and his followers down. However, this matter will be discussed and carried out by the staff, not the students."
The devilish grin that formed on my face made Lupe narrow her eyes. "My mate, Hunter, is an Enforcer. Surely, he could help with the investigation." The students broke out in murmurs at my exposition.
Hunter coughed behind me, and I felt his amusement through the bond, but also a little terror. I could have discussed this with Hunter before offering him up, but I thought it would be interesting to see how Lupe reacted to this, especially knowing the whole werewolf student body knew Hunter could join the investigation, since it was his job to do things like this.
Lupe smiled at Hunter. "Mr. Hawthorne is a student, Miss. Pierce. His previous employment does not override that."
Wilcox's eyes furrowed, and she stared at Lupe. I knew Wilcox didn't share the same sentiment as Lupe about Hunter. Lupe turning down Hunter's help should raise some suspicion. It shouldn't matter that Hunter was a student when he had experience with things like this. It would help the investigation,not hinder it. I noticed Wilcox's expression looking like the wheels in her head were turning. Maybe I was right, and it planted doubt in her mind about Lupe.
The students were also talking amongst themselves about it all. I turned slightly to see their faces, and they all looked as though they didn't understand why Lupe would turn down Hunter's help. I turned to face Lupe and gave her a smug smile. Lupe kept her blank face and motioned for me to sit down, but I remained standing.
"It shouldn't matter if he is a student. He has more experience tracking down those who break our laws than anyone here. I am aware that no staff members were Enforcers before becoming teachers here. Why would you turn down the opportunity to have someone with his expertise help you?" Dylan challenged.
Lupe's smugness returned. "The law at this school does not always align with the ones of our people. Here at the school, we have our own laws. One of which is students getting caught up in teacher affairs. As long as Mr. Hawthorne is a student at this academy, he cannot join our investigation. Have I made myself clear?"
Her tone dared me to keep going, but I knew I had lost this battle. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, knowing Lupe had managed to win this one. I flopped down onto my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. Jackson and Hunter gripped my thigh and pushed their support through the bonds. At least they understood how angry I felt about this. The way I boiled right now as I kept eye contact with Lupe only made her look happier. If I could, I would rush the stage and challenge Lupe right now. It wouldn't do anything to harm my chances of beating Lupe at this game.
"Now that we got that settled, I must move on. There will be a curfew set in place moving forward. We do not want to ruin therest of your time here, but we ask you all to return to your dorms by eleven pm." A roar of no's and griping filled the room. Lupe ignored it and continued. "I understand that means less time to mingle with your friends, but it is precautionary. We are also limiting time in Mystwood until the culprit is caught."
"Wait, is this for all students, or just us?" someone in the back called out.
That didn't occur to me. I assumed, because every person in the room was a werewolf, it would apply to everyone.
"At this time, we are requiring just the wolves to abide by these rules."
Another uproar from everyone. I joined them, along with my mates and Sera. Making only one sector of the school follow these rules was absurd. How was that fair to us? Lupe could have asked that wolf guard to grab one of the angel students! Setting up this curfew, knowing I had followed Lupe to Mystwood, could be her way of telling me I couldn't stop her while she poked around the school. This could pave the way for Lupe to find someone's power to break through the trouble she was having replicating her success with Cole and the others.
An Angel's power may not be what she is looking for. It's Shadowborns’ magic that can manipulate the bonds,mywolf reminded me.
Then what was up with that guard?
Probably something else nefarious going on in this school.
Well, that bodes well.
"Everyone!" Lupe's power flooded the room again.
I felt it brush against mine, nearly making me submit. Instinctually, I pulled on my wolf's power to fight against it. When the warming scents of coffee, whiskey, citrus, and cedar wrapped around me, I knew I drew on their power, too. I looked down at them, and they were tense as they glared at Lupe. Thebonds were feeding their power through all of us so none of us would bend to Lupe's will. Like she sensed me defying her, Lupe glanced down at me. I kept my stare on Lupe's cold, pale, gray eyes. Her body stiffened at first, seeing the unwavering hatred in my eyes, but then her body language changed to be more relaxed. She broke eye contact and motioned to everyone else with her hand.
"I understand your anger, everyone. It does not seem fair to you to have your privileges taken away like this. However!" Lupe yelled before anyone started their protests. "This perpetrator is only attacking our kind at this time. We wish to keep you all safe, and these are the measures we are taking for that to happen."
Someone must have held up their hand for Lupe to motion with hers to them. I didn't turn around to see who it was. I wanted to keep my eyes on Lupe. I hoped it would make her feel unsettled with me glaring at her during this assembly. However, when the person began talking, I found myself whipping my body around to look at him.
"What makes you think we can't defend ourselves?" Silas asked.
Not once did I think about Silas being in this room with us. After the events at Mystwood, I had forgotten about Silas being here. Seeing him join me in questioning Lupe warmed my heart. He could have chosen to remain quiet like many of the others here, but he didn't. Was this his way of getting back into my heart? Would that work on me? I thought about it, how it showed him wanting to stand up for what was right.
Hmm. It is definitely a step in the right direction. I still want to punch him in his face right now, though.
