Fall Semester (Omega Wolf Academy Book 2) Read online

  Viktor had been dead for months, it seemed, but no one had known. The Alpha counsel was taking responsibility for withholding the information, claiming that an ongoing investigation explained the reasoning.

  I scrolled through endless comments, posted by wolves around the world, who argued there was no reason to have withheld this information. Russia was Alphaless and in chaos.

  I blew out a deep breath, willed my heart to stop racing, and tried to convince myself that it wasn't as big a deal as my mind was making it out to be.

  And ran straight into a solid chest.

  I bounced off and fell backwards, landing on my ass with a thud that reverberated up my spine. "Ow," I muttered as I climbed to my feet. "Sorry about that," I began, turning to apologize for the run in. I stopped mid turn, narrowed my eyes, and growled. "Get out of my way."

  The assholes from the lake surrounded me, blocking any escape and making their intentions clear.

  "Where are you off to in such a rush?" the same goth bitch that had accosted me before said with a sneer. I'd learned her name was Lucille, but that she went by Lou. Not in the mood to deal with her particular brand of shit, I arched a brow, tilted my head, and smiled with enough vitriol to take down an elephant.

  "Well, Lucille," I said in a flat tone. "Since that's none of your fucking business, I don't think I'll actually tell you."

  "Now, now," Dresden said in a pretentious tone that immediately got my back up. "No need for profanities. Lou was just being courteous."

  I shifted my gaze to glare at him, and smoothed out my face, in case anyone was watching. Anyone like Headmaster Gabriel. The last thing I wanted was to further rile the Headmaster's patience. Annoying or not, these idiots weren't worth my time or security.

  I linked my hands together behind my back, to keep myself from clenching my fists or striking out, should the situation call for it. Fighting the growing panic caused by not being by Dimitri's side yet, I forced myself to breathe and calm the fuck down. They were a minor nuisance, I reminded myself. Nothing to worry about. I had bigger things to deal with at the moment.

  "My apologies," I said softly, offering a smile that taxed my acting abilities. "But if you don't mind, I'm in a bit of a rush, and really must be going. It's been lovely, though."

  I stepped forward, hoping they'd move apart and let me through, but was, again, faced with an unmoving body. I raised my chin and met Dresden's gaze. "I tried to be polite," I murmured, keeping my voice low so that no one passing nearby would hear. "But if you don't move, right now, I'm going to either bite you or knee you in the balls. Take your pick.” My lips curled up at the thought of biting him. It definitely wouldn’t be in the same way I bit my mates.

  Dresden leaned down, closing the small distance between us and smirked. “Idle threats from a little girl. Oh, you’ve got me shaking in my boots.” He quirked up an eyebrow and glanced over at Lou and the other members of his entourage. “Maybe she’s running to check on her little Russian boyfriend.” He pouted and widened his eyes, leaning down to murmur, “His country is imploding, after all. Maybe he’ll have to go back home.”

  For a second, I couldn’t think. His words echoed in my head, meaningless to my stunned brain. It didn’t last long, though. Rage surged through me, rising up like an avenging angel, and loosed something wild inside.

  Maybe it was because he dared speak to me about one of my mates. Maybe it was because he was just a shit head and I hated his face. Or, maybe, it was because his words hit way too close to what I’d been thinking before our run in, but either way, I snapped.

  I drew back and smashed my forehead into his face, crunching cartilage and sending a spray of blood down Dresden’s shirt and over my face. I whipped around and bared my teeth at his friends, then shoved past him as he covered his face and shouted curses.

  Headmaster Gabriel would definitely hear about this, I knew. It had been way too public for him not to. But, I didn’t care. My guys might be afraid to stir the proverbial pot, but I had too many Alphas on my side, willing to speak up for me, to get kicked out of Omega Wolf Academy.

  I walked as fast as I could without running, using my scarf to mop up most of Dresden’s blood. I didn’t want my enemies to think I ran away from a fight.

  The door to Dimitri’s room was unlocked when I arrived. I slipped inside, not bothering to knock, and found Lucian and Chase already there, talking quietly with Dimitri. My mate's eyes were dark and rimmed red when he raised his gaze to mine.

  “Oh, Dimitri,” I breathed, rushing to kneel before him. His hands were like ice in mine. “I’m so sorry. Are your parents safe? What are they saying?”

  He squeezed my hands and offered a weak smile. “They’re alright, Lexi.” He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Actually, they’re more than alright. Remember the dangerous man they were working for?”

  I gasped. “No! Seriously? It was the Alpha?” My eyes widened.

  Dimitri nodded. “Yeah, but we couldn’t say anything for fear of it getting back to him. He has, had,” he corrected, “spies everywhere. That’s why my parents sent me and my siblings away.”

  I swallowed. “Is it true he killed his brother to become Alpha?”

  “Yeah, but we didn’t know that. My parents called last night but I had my phone off and didn’t get their messages until this morning when I got back here. Lexi,” he choked on my name, making my heart squeeze painfully. “They want me to come home.”

  Chapter 17

  “You can’t keep it from them forever, Dimitri,” I murmured, smoothing the line of his shirt then leaning in to give him a quick kiss on the lips.

  His hand snaked out around my waist, trapping me to his hard body, while his head angled to intensify the kiss.

  I melted into him, riding the wave of passion like a pro surfer. I’d had lots of practice these last few weeks. My body had never gotten so much exercise and my heart so much love. Despite our continued secrecy, life had settled down, we’d found our stride, and we were all happy.

  Especially Dr. Daniels, who’d convinced us to do more scans and kept rewriting his dossier on us to include new, fascinating information about our unique bond.

  If it weren’t for the escalating nuisances that were Dresden and his gang, my life would be complete. Or, it would be, if Alyssa would ever return my calls.

  “I know,” Dimitri said with a sigh as he pulled back enough to look down at me with those devastatingly endless dark eyes of his. “But they agreed to let me finish the term, and there’s so much going on right now back home that I don’t want to drop this on their shoulders until it’s necessary.”

  I frowned. “You found your mate. That’s something to celebrate.”

  He nodded, sent me a sad smile, and bussed the tip of my nose. “I know, but it feels wrong to just tell them you’re my mate without telling them the whole story. And that’s going to be a big conversation. I just think it’s better to wait until things settle down a bit.” He rolled his eyes. “Although, from what they tell me, that might not be for a while.”

  I made a choking sound.

  “I promise,” he rushed on. “That if it’s still chaotic by mid-November, I’ll tell them everything. I’m already registered for next term, so that’ll give me time to convince them I need to stay close to my mate and finish my education.”

  I sighed and nodded. “Okay, but that’s just putting more pressure on you and don’t you dare deny it!” I pointed a finger, stabbing him gently in the chest.

  “Ow,” he complained, rubbing the spot I’d abused. “That hurt.” His lips turned up suggestively. “Kiss it and make it better?”

  A hand looped around my waist from behind and pulled me out of Dimitri’s reaching arms.

  “No time for that,” Lucian said with a grin. “We have a party to get to and I didn’t spend all this time making this damn costume to not show up.”

  I eyed him from head to toe, barely stopping myself from drooling, and clapped in approval. “Old On
es, you make a good Loki,” I said, stepping back to look at him next to Dimitri, who was dressed as Hod, Loki’s dark brother.

  “What about me?” Chase asked, stepping out of the bathroom, dressed all in leather. He swung a thick hammer and grinned. “Do I make a good Thor?”

  I licked my lips and eyed each of them, knowing I’d have the chance to fuck them all later tonight in these outfits. “Oh yeah,” I murmured, feeling myself grow damp with arousal. “We’re winning the contest, for sure. Can you help me with my wings?”

  Chase lifted my wings from the bed and held them out as I slipped my arms through the straps and adjusted the supports. “They’re pretty heavy. Are you going to be able to wear them all night?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe. They don’t have to stay out.” I reached into the cleverly hidden pocket of my black sheath dress and touched the button that controlled the expensive wings. I’d splurged on them and the makeup for the fire coming through my skin look, but had no regrets.

  My guys oohed and awed as the wings contracted and settled in the middle of my back.

  “I want to be the valkyrie,” Dimitri muttered, staring covetously at my wings then down at his all black leather ensemble. “Why do I have to be Hod?”

  “Because he’s a miserable son of a bitch just like you,” Chase quipped, then danced back when Dimitri lunged.

  “Jerk,” Dimitri muttered, then grinned when he managed to get a gut shot in.

  Lucian rolled his eyes and checked his phone for the time. “We should get going. Are you sure no one will get this reference, Lexi?”

  I glanced into the mirror I was checking to see my three mates watching me and enjoyed the swirl of love and lust that rushed through me. “Even if they’ve read the series, it’s fiction and we’re all dating. Everyone knows that. I think it’s the perfect group costume.”

  I’d based it on one of my favorite reverse harem series, Their Dark Valkyrie by Eva Chase. One girl, turned into a valkyrie by Norse Gods who all come to desire and love her?

  Yes, please!

  "Was it cold when you guys came over?" I asked, glancing at the window. It had been a beautiful, warm autumn day, but that didn't mean it would be a warm autumn night. The weather around here changed quickly and drastically at times, but that was something I was fairly used to after spending a year in Ireland.

  "Not bad. I don't think you could fit jacket over this contraption, though," Chase said, waving a hand in the direction of my wings.

  "Don't worry, love," Dimitri murmured, watching me with dark, sexy eyes. "We'll keep you warm."

  A zing of awareness pulsed through my core, heating at his innocent comment. Probably because I knew there was nothing innocent about it. I liked it that way.

  The Halloween dance was held in an old ballroom halfway across campus. It was rarely used anymore, except for graduation ceremonies and fancy dinner parties. Omega Wolf Academy wasn't known for its fancy parties, though. That honor was left to more prestigious universities, like Alpha Wolf Academy. I was okay with that, though. I wasn't exactly the Alpha type and, as sexy and dominant as my men, especially Dimitri, could be, they weren't Alphas, either.

  Our place was together, not ruling a pack.

  We heard the music long before we made it to the party. By the time we walked through the double doors, side-by-side, my shoulders were moving along with the rhythm. I was in the mood to dance and laugh, and just have fun with my mates, in public. We spent so much time locked up in our dorm rooms, hiding away from society's ever present and ever judgemental eyes, that I ached for more.

  My breath caught at the sight of the room. "Ohhh," I breathed. "It's beautiful." I meant it. Whoever the members of the decorating committee were, they deserved a commendation.

  They'd gone Gothic with the decor, but it wasn't macabre. Black lace, deep purples and wines, and endless candles set the stage for dramatic romance. I shivered with excitement and grabbed Lucian’s hand…

  … and got Dimitri’s instead.

  He brushed against my side and turned into me, overwhelming my senses. “Would you like to dance?” he asked, leaning down to whisper the request in my ear.

  I shivered at the spike of electricity through my body as his breath played over my skin. It was miraculous how he affected me with the slightest touch, or, not even a touch. They all made me feel this way and the knowledge that I did the same to them made me feel more powerful than I’d ever thought possible.

  My gaze stayed locked on his as I slipped my hand into his and let him lead me to the dance floor. When he put his hands on my waist, it felt as if I were floating.

  “You look breathtaking tonight, you know,” he murmured, pushing a lock of my pink hair back from my face. I’d wanted to wear a blond wig to cosplay the character properly, but my guys had convinced me with orgasms and reminders that a wig would be uncomfortable and hot.

  My cheeks heated at his compliment. “You’re not too shabby yourself, Hod,” I said quietly, suddenly wishing we were alone instead of surrounded by students. I didn’t want to jump him, not yet, I just wanted that alone time. We’d had precious little lately. I missed our individual date nights.

  “You know,” I began, trailing my fingers over his shoulder. “We haven’t been on a date in a very long time.” If you could even consider our attic picnic a date.

  He made a humming sound deep in his throat. “Just me and you?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

  I nodded.

  “Maybe we should rectify that, then.” He sucked in his bottom lip, chewing on it thoughtfully. “I mean, I love our time all together. Lucian and Chase are my brothers, but…” he trailed off.

  My chest swelled with love for him. I knew exactly what he meant to say. “I know,” I whispered. “I do, too. But, I also loved our one-on-one time with each other. I think my guys could use a little solo attention.” I moved my hand to trace the long line of his neck.

  “I want to kiss you so bad,” he murmured, his voice huskier than it had been a moment ago.

  I frowned, confused. “Then kiss me.”

  He leaned forward and rested his forehead on mine and the scent of his toothpaste made me smile. He wasn’t shy, I knew that, but he was private. I reached into my pocket and tilted my head up.

  A moment later, my wings unfurled majestically. Dancers all around stepped back and gasped as they opened to full length, an impressive ten foot span that taxed the supports. Then, with another push of a button, they curled forward and wrapped around us, cutting us off from the room.

  Dimitri’s mouth fell open and his head turned as he took in our temple of solitude. “I don’t know what you paid for them, but it was worth it. They’re amazing.” He chuckled and looked down at me. “You’re amazing.” His hands moved from my waist to cup my face.

  For a long moment, he stilled, moving nothing but his thumbs over the curve of my lips. Then he laid his lips on mine and shattered my world.

  He was such a contradiction sometimes, I thought dreamily as his lips moved slowly over mine and his fingers played a song through my hair. So dark and twisty one minute, but then sweet and loyal. He challenged me, pushed me to the edge of patience and sanity, and lived smack dab in the middle of my soul.

  We moved together, swaying to the music inside our feathery fortress, until the song ended. Dimitri gave me one last kiss then smiled awkwardly as the music was replaced with an uptempo contemporary tune, something fast and fun.

  The pained look in Dimitri’s eyes told me this wasn’t his style of dancing, so I pressed the button to retract my wings then, laughing, pulled him from the floor and traded him in for Chase and Lucian, who looked anxious to enter the fray. Dimitri’s fingers stayed tangled in mine for a moment as I turned away, then slipped free.

  We danced to every song that came on until sweat threatened my meticulously applied makeup.

  “I have to use the ladies,” I said through laughter, then realized, with a start, that I really did need to pee, badly. “Can
you help me out of this thing, please?” I unclasped the waist support and held out my arms as they lifted it from my shoulders. The relief of not carrying the weight was palpable.

  “Dibs!” Chase practically shouted the second I was out of it.

  I turned and eyed his outfit, amused at his excitement. “It doesn’t exactly go with your costume.”

  Chase shrugged. "They're freaking awesome." He tilted his chin up at Lucian. "You can try them after me, okay?"

  Lucian grinned. "Deal."

  I laughed at the two of them. My playboy and my still waters, playing with my wings.

  I wove my way through the crowd towards the women's bathroom, then stood in line and waited my turn to get in, while eyeing the nonexistent line to the men's room. It seemed barbaric and antiquated to have bathroom separated by gender, I thought grumpily, especially when women's bladders were smaller and needed to be emptied more often.

  It took ten minutes, but I finally got in. Like the wings coming off, this, too, was a huge relief.

  I shimmied my dress back down over my hips, then went to wash my hands and check my makeup. Sure enough, I'd smudged my lines. I pulled a waterproof black eyeliner from my other pocket and went over the fine details. When I was finished, I stepped back, checked out the full effect, and noticed Alyssa watching me.

  I turned, taking in her all-black costume, complete with smudged eyeliner and a dramatic veiled black hat.

  My lips shivered, even though I tried to keep them straight. It was too much, she was too freaking adorable. "Old Ones! Are you Lydia from Betelgeuse?"

  Alyssa stared for a long moment, her eyes shifting between purposefully bored and desperate to give in. I bit the bullet and gave her what she deserved. My humility and apology.

  "I'm so sorry, Alyssa," I blurted, taking a step towards her, then freezing when I saw her tense. "There was some shit going on with me and the guys, and I took it out on you. I was a total bitch, and I know that if you choose never to speak to me again, I deserve it. But I'm hoping you’ll give me another chance. I mean, I can't promise to be perfect, I'll probably end up being a bitch again at some point, but…"