Her White Wolf (The Academy of Amazing Beasts Book 1)

by Melody Rose

  I debated whether I should make some type of cutting remark to be a boner-killer and ruin the moment, but I didn’t want anyone to misconstrue that I was jealous over what was happening. Why would I let them have that power when they already acted superior about everything else?

  When I spun around to make a decidedly undramatic exit, the carpet suddenly jolted like it was pulled out from underneath my feet. I managed to catch my fall, so I didn’t look like a complete fool. I realized that I had the bad luck of stepping on another one of Lydia’s fucking silky negligees. It seemed like outside of her classes, her wardrobe was strictly made up of high-end, ultra-sultry lingerie. I was so pissed off that I don’t remember if I stomped the life out of her paper-thin slip out of mindless rage or irritated intention.

  Great, now they were going to think that I was some sort of voyeur pervert that got off on watching the upper class get it on.

  “God… fucking… damn… piece… of… shit… burn… in… Hell!” I packed all the best curse words into one long string of pure anger and was almost out of breath after speaking my mind. I directed it all at the flimsy fabric on the floor as though it owed me rent.

  “Ah, hear the lamb’s blood go!” Lydia bucked her hips, driving her soft, admittedly toned butt across Theo’s crotch. I bet it was a real power move to show just who was boss instead of a move to take in the moment. That is unless she thought part of the romantic ambiance was to bad mouth another girl just to get herself wet. I actually didn’t think that was out of the realm of reason. Maybe that’s how the upper crust served up their dirty talk.

  “Oh, shut your mouth for a change, Tongue Snatcher,” I spat out and grinned widely as she realized I was radiating too much energy and fire to be conquered by her spells. It took some real effort, sure, but it was worth it.

  I continued, on a roll that even the two most popular mages in Bouclier couldn’t slow down. “Where are all those unoriginal jabs about my so-called lamb’s blood smell? You’re clearly full of shit because you haven’t mentioned it the whole time.”

  Lydia’s relaxed posture straightened, and to my shock, she pushed against Theo’s chest as though he had dealt her the devastating blow. “Are you going to let her talk to me like that?!” she shrieked in a shrill voice, way more high-pitched than I’d ever heard before. It bordered on unattractive, and I enjoyed that more than I should have.

  Theo gripped Lydia’s wrists, and while it’s difficult to tell what’s foreplay versus fury with Theo, I could tell by his flashing eyes and stern expression that he wasn’t in the middle of seducing her.

  “What’s gotten into you?! Do you think that I speak for her, Lydia?” He released his grip and flung her willowy arms away from him as though disgusted with her. “To be quite frank, I don’t know why either of you is here, and I have no desire to wile my time away with the two of you if you’re going to engage in tedious drivel. If you’re both going to stay, I’m sure there are much better ways to share our time together.”

  He must have expected that was going to get a couple of highly offended expressions because he was just as ready to do without that idea. It was as though a threesome was just a bored whim of his that he could satisfy with a snap of his fingers, so he wouldn’t twist our arms over the matter.

  “If not, I would highly appreciate it if both of you would take your leave so that I may return to my studies.” He sounded more passionate about that alternative, and I began to feel guilty for making a scene at all. He had masterfully handled the situation to paint both Lydia and me as interferences to his precious academics.

  I didn’t have much else to say, and even though I felt a little wrong in arriving unannounced, I wasn’t going to admit it out loud with Lydia in the room. I nudged the negligee away with my foot so that I wouldn’t have to worry again.

  “Fine!” I yelled out. “That’s honestly all I came here for! I just wanted to ask about a class, but I don’t need an education in… whatever this is… so forget I was even here and just get back to it, for all I care!”

  I rushed off so I wouldn’t have to hear any excuses or put-downs, but once my back was turned, I smirked when I heard some distant bickering between the two. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was secretly glad that I had crashed their romantic tryst. I must’ve really spoiled the mood, but I couldn’t just do that every time they got together, and anyway, it wasn’t my job to monitor whether Theo was hooking up with Lydia instead of being available for me. I wasn’t his keeper, and he never showed any interest in me beyond some mild teasing, so I didn’t know what I was so bent out of shape over all of this.

  I claimed that I wasn’t bothered by what was happening, but I was lying. I really did want to explore the idea of Theo and me getting along. Maybe I even wondered if we could get further than just tolerating each other. I saw no way of that happening if he was bumping uglies with Lydia because the girl hated my guts and would probably seduce him into terrorizing me even more than he already did.

  I guessed I’d just have to accept the obvious fact that Theo saw me as gum stuck to his shoe, inconvenient and lowly. Even though it wasn’t difficult to make that case intellectually, I was dizzy with confusion and didn’t know how to process the last several hours. What was clear is that I’d have to get off this floor before either Lydia or Theo discovered me and decided to unleash hell.

  28

  Joan

  I must have been operating on pure adrenaline when I hustled out of Theo’s room because once I shut the door behind me, I felt completely drained. My legs seemed like they were made of lead, and I had to struggle to get one foot in front of the other so that I could make it one floor down and escape to my room.

  My muscles were getting weaker every minute, and I winced with each step down the staircase. I wished that I had that damn teleportation magic that the advanced mages had because this ate away at all my energy. At certain points, I thought I would faint, and I was horribly uncomfortable. My back had broken out into a cold sweat, my stomach was in knots, my heart pounded, and tears began to fall. How could I be so stupid? What’s more, how could I be crying over someone who was my worst bet at Bouclier?

  Finally, I was at my floor and saw my room from a distance. With aching hamstrings, I dragged myself to my dorm’s door and crumpled onto the ground. I cupped my hands and tossed my head into them, no longer capable of holding in my emotions. My chest heaved with ragged breathing, and the trickle of tears got bumped up several notches to a wet, salty downpour. I babbled senselessly into my palms and asked myself a bunch of inaudible questions, essentially lecturing myself for my poor choices. When my throat started to hurt and I had to stop, I heard a concerned bark.

  Aurelius! Wow, what a terrible familiar mother I was! In all of my selfishness over feeling sorry for myself, I had temporarily forgotten the whole debacle in the forbidden garden. A rush of ecstasy burst in my heart as I realized that my furry companion was safe and sound. I had to wonder how he managed to get out. Had Chef Douglas put everything right again? I would have to thank him. I was always looking for more excuses to cook, and I had an extra reason to help with dinner if he had rescued everyone from their unfair confinement.

  I wiped my slick hands on my robe and then stood up, less shaky now that I felt strengthened with the enthusiasm that Aurelius wasn’t harmed. I opened my door and heard delighted panting before I even felt my adorable familiar leap up on his hind legs and plant his paws onto my stomach. I ruffled the fur on his head to reassure that I hadn’t forgotten about him, but he already seemed to know that I was over the moon about being reunited. I got the sense that he wasn’t hungry since he was cooped up with the best cook in Bouclier, so I didn’t worry about fetching him any food. No, it would be best for us to go for a walk so he could move his legs and I could clear my mind. I did want to wash my face first, though, so I’d be presentable and not draw any unwanted attention to myself.

  When I walked in, I noticed that there was a bowl of wa
ter that began to refill itself as well as a plate of untouched jerky that looked tasty, but Aurelius was probably finished eating. I admired his discipline in not taking more than what he needed. My broom was also laid down on a velvet cloth as though it were an expensive artifact, and beside it was a polished black box that was left open.

  I knelt down to inspect what was inside and realized that it was an old-fashioned handkerchief. I wrung my hands nervously when I saw that it was embroidered with “TvB,” and even in my disorganized brain, I was able to figure out those were Theo’s initials. I rubbed my hands once more against my robe to make sure my hands were fully clean, then I picked up the fine cloth.

  It was obviously very feminine with a pretty cherry blossom print, so I had to imagine that Theo had actually put some thought into this and wasn’t just giving me some throwaway from his personal collection. I also didn’t think it was originally designed for Lydia because it seemed too cutesy for her femme fatale aesthetic. I decided I wouldn’t use it, not because I was pissed off, but because it looked too nice to soil with my tears. Most of those were gone now that I was relieved about Aurelius. When I got ready to fold it lovingly back where it was, I paused and stared at the calligraphed note at the bottom of the box.

  In black ink, elegant handwriting on thick paper stock scrawled out the message, “Sorry.”

  It wasn’t exactly poetic, but in a way, it was artfully done. It must have taken a lot of courage and the decision to put pride aside to write an official apology. Didn’t he know that I could hold on to it for safekeeping and whip it out whenever I felt he needed to be reminded that even he could be apologetic? This was way more valuable than the last time he blurted out his wrongdoing in the dungeon because that could have just been a mindless reflex.

  I smiled softly despite my hectic day and delicately placed the handkerchief back on top of the notecard. I didn’t want him or anyone else to see it and take it away from me, so I went to my dresser and hid it with my undergarments. Some wise soul, I guessed Nascha because it would have been weird for any other Bouclier staff to magic my unmentionables to my room, had realized I would need them for my prolonged stay in Lemuria. I would have pretty weirded out if someone had taken it upon themselves to choose what I’d wear, but transporting what I already had was actually thoughtful. Other than that, though, I was restricted to robes. I’d have to ask Becks one day if I wanted a wardrobe overhaul.

  Sure that my little secret was secure because no one would want to admit to rifling through my panties, I nodded with satisfaction at Aurelius and whistled.

  “Here, boy. Let’s get out of here and stretch out our legs, what do you think?”

  He yelped in glee and bounded over to me, nuzzling my leg in happiness about the suggestion. I noticed that he was getting a lot more resilient because he didn’t seem traumatized from today’s outrageous turn of events. He was getting a better sense for what was truly dangerous and when the two of us were mostly safe. I guessed the fact that he could transform into a terrifying shadow beast when situations escalated too far also helped.

  We took a long, meandering way around different castle corridors since I only had two classes, and then when I turned my wrist over to check my chrono-sigil’s color for dinner time, I saw that a bit of yellow was popping up. I didn’t want Chef Douglas to feel rushed without my help, so I quickened my pace with Aurelius padding along, happy to match me.

  I stepped into the dining hall, and goosebumps suddenly popped up on my arms and neck as I scanned the entire room to find Chef. There was no sign of him. I pushed the swinging door to enter the back of his serving counter and didn’t see him preparing any spells either. While I knew that he had his own life and couldn’t be expected to hang around the dining hall all day, I didn’t think it’d be like him to be too far away with the academy’s mealtime closely approaching.

  “Chef?” I cupped my hands and spoke through them to amplify my voice. My question rang throughout the hall in a concerned echo.

  “Pssssssst!” I heard a hissing sound sail toward me from the direction of the green door to the garden and wondered if someone was still trapped behind it. Maybe I could let them out, and they could give me some answers.

  I walked over toward it and then noticed it was the enchanted doorknob calling me over.

  “Hey! Joan here again. What’s going on. Is everything okay?” I wondered if it actually had a name, and I thought I may as well ask. “I also never got your name last time. I was in such a hurry to get lunch started!”

  The metal twisted into a smile briefly at my polite question but drooped down into a saddened frown. “It lifts my spirits to see you again, young maiden. As for my name, I was not given one when I was animated, but you may call me the Green Man. I regret to inform you that I am the bearer of bad news. Everything is most decidedly not ‘okay,’ as you would say!”

  He continued in an anxious tone, “Against my wishes, I was designed to keep creatures and beings who are not official students behind my door. Theo demanded this stipulation to avoid any of the garden’s vibrant colonies ‘bleeding’ into the academy, as he would put it.”

  My sentimental feelings for Theo and his kind note stretched thin after hearing all of that.

  “That’s awful!” I remarked sympathetically. “Everyone in there doesn’t deserve to be pent up, and I’m sure they just want to live in peace in the garden, anyway. It’s so beautiful. What does that mean for Chef Douglas, though? How is he doing? He’s not technically a student. And what about everyone else who is. How’d they get out if Theo shut you behind him?”

  “Unfortunately, Chef Douglas falls into the category of impermissible creatures, particularly because he is a faun who originally came from the enchanted woodlands,” the Green Man explained somberly. “It was Abelard who brought him in, but since the Headmaster has been absorbed in his studies, he hasn’t noticed how Theodore wields his authority, nor the types of laws and barricading spells he’s designed to shape the academy as he likes it.”

  The Green Man heaved a sigh that made its metal parts creak. “As for the other students, most have been able to teleport to their rooms after hours of concentration. Luckily, I can perceive what happens on either side of me, so I can report about such matters. There are a couple of stragglers in there, but Chef has been able to make sure they’re well-fed.” It nodded calmly to try to make the best of the situation. “Since I can allow you to activate me from here and Theo has not invalidated you as an opener, you can now free everyone. I am certain that they will be grateful, and it is a happy occasion that you came here when you did.”

  I nodded and delicately curled my fingers around the knocker and rapped it with just enough pressure to make a clear sound. The Green Man swung backward, and in a matter of moments, two frazzled students ran out without a word to exchange with either of us. My hair whipped back at the speed from their frantic sprint.

  So much for undying gratitude.

  I was dying to find out how Chef was holding up, so I rushed in to announce that I had come to set him free. However, he really didn’t seem like he was in a bind, and in fact, he was leisurely playing a flute as he sat next to Petra on a boulder. She seemed mildly amused by his performance and relaxed on the grass, plucking grapes from the three decorative bowls he must have summoned for her. I guessed that he wanted to make sure that she had enough options.

  A brigade of brownies tried to zip past the door and into the world of Bouclier students, but some type of invisible force field zapped them. They recoiled like a dog with a shock collar, shook their fists, and yelled out that they’d make whoever did that pay. That must have meant that they were willing to pick a fight with Theo. I wondered how that would work out for them.

  “Are you… okay?” My question fell flat and wasn’t dripping with concern like I thought it would be. It was hard for me to feel like this was torture for Chef when he seemed to be enjoying himself so much. He must have fed all the students by now and expected Th
eo would eventually relieve everyone from being stuck in the garden. The whole scene was way more mellow and light-hearted than I would have expected, and Aurelius went back to his usual habit of running around and sniffing everything he could.

  “Oh?! Oh! Well, hello there, little lassie!” he exclaimed and shook his head, then placed his flute down to show he wasn’t going to goof off once I showed up. “I wasn’t expecting ye, to be honest. I would’ve thought Theo would be the one to make the lot of us apologize then let us free, that I did! Ye standin’ tall and breathin’ fine after ye little scare?”

  I was shocked by how laid-back he was by Theo basically kidnapping me and dragging me to the dungeon. “What do you mean my ‘little scare’? You didn’t think I would get chomped on by an ogre? Is that why no one with authority at Bouclier intervened and stopped Theo?”

  Petra shrugged and smiled tightly as though she wanted to opt-out from this awkward discussion. Maybe she didn’t want to stick her neck out too much and get turned to stone again if she spoke up about Theo. Chef’s ears twitched frantically even though he tried to keep a straight expression, an effort that seemed really difficult since he looked like he had to swallow rambunctious laughter about my whirlwind ordeal. He cleared his throat and then explained himself.

  “Well, missus Joan... I don’t mean to make light of yer troubles, no, I don’t. It’s just that we employed creatures at Bouclier know what a short fuse the young master has, and we’ve all still lived to tell the tales. Yavo and Irk can tell ye all about it some time. Master Theodore talks up a great, big storm, that he does, but that doesn’t mean he has any blood on his hands. After all these years, his threats have been hot air, that they have.”

  I guessed I was a little glad that someone saw the redeeming value in Theo, and it cheered me up that maybe I wouldn’t be judged that I had my own questions. After all, before I had admitted to Rebecca that I might have had the smallest crush on him, she seemed ready to clobber the uptight mage to defend my honor.