by Marian Tee
No goddamn way.
Domenico might not give a damn about his pride or that of his pack, but Alessandro did.
In less than a minute, he was out of Kassia’s room, once again using her window to leave, and on his way to where the ambush was set to take place, an intersection far from the city, with only darkness and shadows as witnesses for what could be a bloody exchange.
Alessandro arrived just in time, his Lyccan senses allowing him to see everything even from afar. There were a dozen of them, and they smelled of cowardice and intoxication, a combination that Alessandro had always found repulsive. Even so, he didn’t let himself underestimate the threat they posed, having also smelled the weapons they had armed themselves with. Every one of them had guns, and each was loaded with silver-coated bullets.
Alessandro watched the group of Lyccans force Domenico’s limousine to a stop as they landed in front of the vehicle. The limousine’s wheels screeched as Domenico’s driver slammed on the brakes.
A second later, Domenico stepped out of the limousine alone. It was expected, and Alessandro knew his brother had ordered his chauffeur to stand down, a command that no Moretti soldier would be able to disobey without risking exile from the pack.
“What is your purpose for blocking our way?”
The other Lyccans laughed jeeringly at his brother’s polite tone, and one of them even mockingly imitated his tone. “Our purpose, Your Highness, is to rid the world of dogs like you.”
Domenico’s expression didn’t change, and neither did his tone. “I see.”
It angered the other Lyccan, who had obviously been hoping to see Domenico cower. He spat at Domenico. “Fucking dog.” When Domenico didn’t react, his fury turned into triumph, and Alessandro knew it was because the other Lyccan had realized all the rumors were true.
Domenico wasn’t going to fight.
The other Lyccan laughed. “Fucking wimp.” He spat at Domenico again.
Alessandro saw red.
Domenico might not be willing to fight, but he was.
The other Lyccan turned towards his companions. “Let’s teach this dog a lesson, boys.” None of them moved, fear flickering in their eyes, and he scowled. “What the hell? Didn’t you see? He’s nothing to be afraid of!”
He turned to face Domenico again, and that was when he saw Alessandro standing behind him.
Alessandro bared his teeth in a smile. “Perhaps this will make you feel fear.” He drove his fist into the bastard’s face, and at the sound of his cry of pain, pandemonium erupted, and the other Lyccans began firing at Alessandro and Domenico.
Either of them would be down for the count if any of the silver bullets hit them, but panic and fear made their opponents sloppy. In silent, mutual agreement, Alessandro and his brother worked in tandem, shifting into Lyccan form for added strength and speed. Twisting and leaping to avoid the rain of bullets, they loped towards the other Lyccans. They took the bastards down one by one, landing powerful kicks direct at the head to knock them unconscious with one blow.
When it was over, Domenico and Alessandro returned to human form and changed back into their clothes.
“You will ride with me.” Domenico’s words were more a statement than a question. Normally Alessandro would have bristled at it, but now he realized a combination of tiredness and anger had made him almost numb. He only nodded and listened quietly as Domenico followed protocol to ensure that the unconscious Lyccans they were leaving behind them wouldn’t wake up in a human hospital and their blood samples revealing their non-human lineage.
When Domenico finished his call, he looked at his younger brother, saying quietly, “Thank you.”
The words only made Alessandro bitter. “I’ve tried, you know.” He shook his head grimly. “I’ve fucking tried to understand where you’re coming from, but I just don’t see the goddamn point of making yourself look pathetic and weak even when you’re not.”
Regret darkened his brother’s gaze, but instead of answering him, Domenico asked in the same quiet tone, “Is this about Esmeralda?”
Alessandro wondered why he was even surprised that Domenico already knew about their sister’s trouble. “So you know she was suspended because of you?”
“Yes.”
Again, there was no apology, and Alessandro found himself exploding. “Why won’t you fucking fight? Why? Do you love Misty so much that you no longer love your own family? Your pack? Does your own honor no longer matter?”
“It does, Alessandro. It is for my honor that I’m doing this. It is because I love my pack, you and the rest of our family, and yes, it is because I love Misty that I am doing this. I know you believe I was…emotionally stronger before, but I wasn’t. My arrogance, my need for vengeance – all of it made me weak, and it was only when my wife disappeared that I realized the truth. And that is why I’m doing all of this. It may not seem so, but the penance I’ve subjected myself to is also meant to make me stronger.” Domenico’s voice turned steely. “I’m doing this to be strong for everyone depending on me—”
Alessandro cut his brother off, snapping, “Letting someone spit on your face will make you stronger?”
“Yes.”
“Bullshit.”
His brother didn’t flinch, and the patient expression on his face didn’t change. It was like talking to Buddha, Domenico powerful and resilient in his peace, and Alessandro’s fists clenched in vicious frustration.
Without looking at his brother, he told the chauffeur to stop driving, and only when he was out of the limousine did Alessandro force himself to relax. If Domenico had prevented him from leaving, Alessandro had a feeling the two of them would end up coming to blows, something he was determined to avoid as long as he could help it.
It was only six in the morning when he made it back to Kassia’s dorm room, using his Lyccan speed to escape detection. The room, however, was empty, making Alessandro frown.
“Kassia?” He still opened the door to the bathroom, even though his sense of smell told him that she wasn’t in it. He paused by the doorway as he caught the faintest scent of something terribly familiar. He stepped into the bathroom, and the scent grew stronger. He scanned the room with intense concentration, and his gaze eventually fell on the tank top lying discarded atop the sink.
He picked it up, and that was when he realized what the scent was.
It was the smell of her tears.
Alessandro gazed down at Kassia’s top, and his agile mind fit the puzzle pieces together until it painted a picture that made his face whiten.
Kassia waking up, thinking he would be with her, but again finding him gone—
Kassia calling his phone, but again finding her calls ignored—
Kassia crying—
Fuck.
The thought of Kassia hurting made Alessandro’s fingers close over the fabric, his grip painfully hard as he struggled to stay in control.
He would find her, would do everything to convince her that he wasn’t playing with her. And she would believe him, he told himself. She had to.
****
She sensed the professor even without seeing him. It was as if every cell of her body was programmed to sense his presence, with the way her skin suddenly tingled and her incredibly naïve heart started thumping erratically against her chest.
Kassia stumbled, and beside her Jacob swiftly pulled her back before she could fall. His grip on her hand was firm and gentle, protective and possessive at the same time. “You okay?”
Looking up into his eyes, she found herself nodding, and before she could think of what she was doing, she was already twining her fingers with his.
It was the first time Kassia had done something like it, and Jacob sucked in his breath as he struggled not to lose his cool. He had always had a crush on Kassia, and the thought that something might finally happen between them made blood rush to his groin.
“Shall we go?” His voice was thick with ill-suppressed desire.
Panic threatened to make
her lose consciousness, but she fought to stay calm even as her body rebelled against having another man other than the professor hold her hand. She was going to get used to this soon enough. It was just a matter of time, she told herself as she forced a smile on her lips for Jacob’s sake.
They started walking again, but they had only taken a few steps when Jacob remarked in surprise that Professor Moretti appeared to be heading their way.
“R-really?” She desperately kept her gaze trained on Jacob’s face.
Jacob nodded. “Yup. I didn’t realize he was also assigned to go with us for the day trip.” Around them, the buzz that usually surrounded the professor had started. The whispers, the sighs, and oh, dozens of phones clicking as the other female students took photos of the him.
Jacob suddenly stopped walking, forcing her to halt next to him. “What is it?” She tried to keep herself from sounding uneasy.
“I really think the professor’s about to talk to you. Are you in danger of flunking his class?” Jacob frowned. “You know you’re not allowed to attend today’s trip if you have a class where your current average’s 1.5 or below, right?”
Kassia bit her lip. Crap. Actually, she hadn’t known about that at all, and the worst thing was, her current average in the professor’s class might just be 1.5. Taking a deep breath, she mentally steeled herself before slowly raising her gaze to the professor.
Even so, the impact of his green eyes clashing with hers was like being struck by lightning, and her body trembled. She watched the professor’s gaze travel down until it rested on the hand that Jacob was still holding.
She saw his lips tighten.
Tears stung her eyes. He was just playing around, she told herself fiercely. He’s been playing with you from the start, and it’s time to accept it.
****
Alessandro’s jaw hardened as Kassia’s hand remained in the boy’s grip. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He couldn’t remember wanting anything as much as he wanted right now to snatch Kassia away from the human boy.
Kassia was his.
He cracked his knuckles, reminding himself that for the sake of appearances, he shouldn’t indulge his need to beat the boy into a bloody pulp. All he could afford to do now was to speak to Kassia, make her see—
Alessandro’s head snapped up.
It was that scent again.
Their eyes clashed once more. She looked away just as quickly, but it was too late. He had already seen her tears.
He had made her cry again.
Before Alessandro could even think about it, he was already slowing down. The distance between him and Kassia stretched. He watched Jacob assist her as she stepped aboard the bus, and he stopped walking completely. He could still smell her tears, and the knowledge that he was the reason for it pierced him.
Kassia found herself embarrassingly clumsy as she made it to her seat. Jacob took the seat next to her, and his nearness made her unconsciously stick closer to the side of the bus. Without thinking, she looked out of the window, and of course the first thing she saw was the professor. He was gazing at her, his handsome face unreadable.
Her heart ached. He was so beautiful, she thought miserably. Wasn’t that a clue in itself? That someone like him could never really be serious with someone like her, an ordinary girl from the country, someone whose own mother hadn’t cared about her?
The professor suddenly turned his back to her.
This was for the best, she told herself fiercely. She had to be strong. Even if he begged her to come back, she wouldn’t—
In the distance, the professor started walking away, and her thoughts came to a halt. Her heart stopped beating, her mind stopped working – there was just so much pain as the inescapable truth hit her.
See, Kassia?
Now, do you understand?
Your mother didn’t want you. So why did you think the professor would?
She squeezed her eyes shut before the tears could fall.
Stupid Kassia.
This was how little she meant to the professor.
****
You’re doing the right thing.
Five damn words, and he had been repeating them endlessly in his mind. Minutes turned into hours, but still he couldn’t make the truth in those words sink in, couldn’t shake off his last sight of Kassia. Her eyes squeezed shut, her body tense in the bus seat, and sitting so damn close to Jacob he was fucking sure that the human boy had to be shaking in excitement at how soft her body felt against his.
But even as jealousy threatened to drive him insane, Alessandro knew that wasn’t what was causing his restlessness, wasn’t the reason why he had been prowling inside his office in his Lyccan form since Kassia had left.
No, what was bothering him the most was the scent of her tears.
He had made her cry again, and even though he told himself it was for her own good that he was getting out of her life, he just couldn’t make himself forget.
He and Kassia were from different worlds, and his was fraught with danger and death. She trusted too easily and felt too much while he had learned to forbid himself to love. She deserved someone uncomplicated, not someone like him, a man incapable of trust.
Those were the facts.
Those were the reasons why walking away from her made it the right thing to do.
So why the hell did he still think he had just acted like a goddamn idiot?
His phone buzzed, and he couldn’t snatch it off the desk quickly enough, his heart thudding against his chest at the thought that it could be Kassia.
And it was.
Kassia: Thank you for everything, Professor.
Alessandro’s face whitened.
Just five words again, and yet this time its impact was a thousand times worse.
Five goddamn words, but they created a sense of desperation inside him like they heralded the end of the world.
And for him, this was exactly like it.
Kassia was saying goodbye to him, and it was like having the truth slap him in the face.
He hadn’t walked out of her life because it was better for her.
He had walked out of her life because it was better for him. The whole fucking time, he had blown hot and cold with her like an asshole. Over and over, he had made her fall for him only to push her away like a fucking coward, turning tail and running the moment things became too deep between them.
He…loved her, but he had blinded himself to his feelings, denying their existence in fear of turning into another Domenico.
And now…
It might just be too—
Alessandro didn’t allow himself to finish the thought. It was not going to be too late. It was not.
****
“It’s the professor again,” Jacob suddenly said under his breath. They were having lunch at one of the park’s on-site restaurants, their easels propped next to their table, and their works-in-progress temporarily put on hold.
She wished she could think he was joking, but of course she couldn’t. A ripple of excitement had jolted the crowd, and around her, the other girls had once again started babbling about the professor. Over and over, she heard his name—
Professor Moretti.
She wanted to cover her ears so she would no longer hear it.
It hurt too much.
Suddenly, he was there, the professor standing next to her table and Jacob’s. She forced herself to look up, and the pain at seeing his beautiful face was so tortuous it actually turned into numbness.
Kassia’s pale face and terrifyingly unreadable eyes made Alessandro stiffen in tension, but even so he fought to keep his voice level as he spoke. “Ms. Summers? I’m afraid I’ve received a call from your family. If I may speak with you privately?”
Kassia only nodded. “Yes, Professor.”
Her voice was so damn stiff, he was torn between wanting to shake her and kiss her into showing some sign – any sign – of life. But because all eyes were trained on them, and to those people he was only her prof
essor and Kassia his student, Alessandro could only be stiff as he said, “Please follow me.”
He led her to a private office inside the park, something he had called ahead for to make sure it was available for his use. He held the door open, and Kassia wordlessly stepped inside. He followed behind her, closing the door, and when he faced Kassia again, he found her still pale, her eyes blank, her body rigid.
“I’m sorry.”
The professor’s tone was almost…raw, and she panicked. Tearing her gaze off him, she desperately kept her eyes glued to the floor while telling herself that she had probably imagined it.
Alessandro fought to remain in control even as Kassia’s continued silence made him feel even more frantic inside. He would find a way to make her understand this was the last time he was going to hurt her. He had to.
When Alessandro started walking towards her, the urge to run away became stronger and her body started to tremble at the effort it took just to keep still.
“Kassia.”
She dug her fingers into her palms, using the pain to distract her from the bittersweet sound of his voice saying her name.
“Kassia, look at me, please.” When she remained unresponsive, he could no longer keep himself from reaching for her. He cupped her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Just like that, and tears started to prick her eyes. Why was she so darn helpless against this man?
“I’m sorry I made you wake up alone again.” His voice was hollow but determined. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to answer your calls again either. But I swear, Kassia, I had a reason—”
Her sense of hurt and injustice grew with each word, and she started to crack. “What is it going to be this time?” she asked unevenly. “Perhaps it’s your brother’s turn to have an emergency?”
Alessandro drew a ragged breath, knowing he would be better off lying but also unable to. This time, he wanted everything right between them. Everything. This time, he was ready to share the truth with her.
