Chapter 3
*Nathaniel*
“Are you out of your damn mind!”
Ethan swivelled around so fast that he stumbled a bit, an act far too clumsy for an alpha, but perfectly natural and familiar from my best friend.
Moon goddess, I missed him. I could admit that much despite my blazing fury. And when he grinned at me despite my words, I almost let the anger slip. Almost.
“Natc!” Ethan cheered as he threw his arms around me, patting my back affectionately. I couldn’t help myself. I did the same. “I will blatantly ignore those first words you threw at me and just take a second to appreciate that I’m seeing my best friend for the first time in two fucking years! Bro, you look good, man!”
He’s all teeth and smiles–an expression reserved for only me and Jiselle.
Gosh, even thinking about her name hurts.
I couldn’t help it anymore, I cracked, and my lips twitched up. It was really good to see him.
Yeah, you too,” I told him, noticing the changes from teen to man, and trying to eliminate the images of the changes I noticed in Jiselle earlier, too, but in COMPLETELY different ways.
I swallowed hard, focusing on my best friend.
“Dude, I missed you, and there were days when I felt like I would give anything just to talk to you again, but how could you bring her here!”
Yep, fury was back, and his face scrunched into confusion for a moment before being replaced with realization.
“Jizzy?” He questioned, then blew out a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, was a surprise for me too. She all but snuck by me and came here.”
“So, she didn’t come with you?” I asked, confused.
“Of course she did. I had to walk in with her to make every male know to back the fuck off.” That was the Ethan I remembered–the same one who warned me all those years ago, too. The only time he hadn’t been my best friend.
Worse freaking 2 minutes of my life.
“So why?” I tried to mask my anger as best as possible. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I cared too much. Of course, he wouldn’t take my concern as weird, since we all basically grew up together since they were 5 and I was 6. He knew I cared for her. But I couldn’t let it seem too
much.
“She signed up behind my back!” He threw his hands up, looking like he still couldn’t believe it. “She all but threatened me and she’s stubborn as fuck.”
My lips twitched a little. Yep, definitely Jiselle.
But then! was serious again as reality struck..
“She can’t stay here, Ethan. Unless she’s had combat training in the two years I’ve been gone, this place will kill her.”
I avoid the ache and evident terror in my chest at the thought.
“I know. I know.” He sighed, as the courtyard emptied, most first years already gone to their dorms. “But I’ll train her. I’ll help her. She was going to come with or without me, Nate. I couldn’t stop her.”
“You couldn’t lock her away? Tell your parents?” I asked, exasperated, and he gave me a pointed look.
Of course. Jiselle might not be the best at fighting, but she was brilliant as hell and a fierce strategist.
Multiple times Ethan and I had tried to leave her behind when we went on what we considered our ‘dangerous trips‘ most times only to find her there before us, or at the door with that snarky comment of hers: “Took you long enough. Now are we leaving or not?”
I almost smile at the memory of young Jiselle, before my mind does a quick comparison to how she looked now. My throat worked as I tried to clear the image from my head–the beast inside of me stirring.
“We have to get her out,” I said instead.
J
“We can’t,” he countered. “Once you’re in ATA–”
“There’s no way out I know that.” I snapped unintentionally. “But Ethan, I’ve been here for two years, okay? I’ve seen hand–to–hand and wolf–to- wolf chailenges here. It’s nothing like what we train at home. People die, Ethan. People who don’t know how to fight, die. And the next challenge is in two weeks… Happens every two weeks. Genders are not acknowledged here so if she goes against a male-”
“I’d fucking kill him.” He wasn’t joking.
“He’ll snap her neck before you even get close,” I hissed. “Look, Ethan. She’s important to me but you’re my best friend. I don’t want you to be hurt if something happens to her,” I shamelessly lied.
Yes, I’d be hurt if Ethan got hurt, but this was barely about Ethan and more selfishly so about me. I’d die if she did.
She doesn’t know it, and I made sure she didn’t. But I would.
“I’ll get her ready,” he said confidently. “I’ll threaten every last wolf here if that’s what it takes until she can fight well enough on her own. I will not lose her. Nate. I won’t.” The seriousness of his tone does a little to soothe the storm raging in me.
At least it was comforting knowing Ethan was still her most fierce protector. It’s why I was able to leave so easily two years ago. I knew I had hurt her. I knew I probably ruined her, and I hated myself every day for it. But it was for the best. She was strong. She would survive.
And she had to survive this too.
“First–year schedules are most hectic, especially males,” I told him. “Though they accept alpha–blooded shewolves now, males are still considered… superior, and thus get more training in your first year compared to shewolves. You won’t have any time.”
He huffed again. “I’ll find a way,” he gritted out. “She’s my sister, Nate. I will find a way. The finality in his voice was enough to make me back off.
Whenever we were kids and I’d show too much interest in her safety or health, he’d always let me know that he could take care of his sister.
And so, I backed off.
Just as I was doing now.
“Alright,” I finally said, ending the conversation, and he relaxed, going back to his old self.
“I can’t believe I’m actually here.” He patted my back as he grabbed his duffle bag and glanced at his key card. “We’ll be able to see each other every day again.”
I’ll see her every day again.
I don’t know if it was dread I felt or excitement… or both.
But the odds of me surviving until graduation weren’t looking too bright anymore.
And I don’t mean dying in a freaking challenge.
