Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

I kept the wolf figurine in my pocket as the arts and craft class ended, my hands holding it as we were all dismissed.

“You may come to this room to continue making improvements on your projects or you may request materials to be brought to your bedchambers anytime.” The organizer in charge says from the front of the room. “For now, you may proceed to the clearing for the next set of activities that will be held. Remember, though there aren’t any more golden wreaths to win and crown with, the winner will still be able to give something to the woman or man that they appreciate.”

I quietly laughed at the way the organizer said the last words.

“Let’s go,” Kelcey held my hand and took me out the door, but not before I saw both Andrew and Benedict staring after me. “Quick so we can get good seats.”

“Good seats?” I questioned as I noticed everyone rushing towards the woods. “Why would we want good seats?”

Christy takes my other arm, hooking them together. “Yes, the next games are usually done in the clearing and there are some really good front seats. Best to get a really good view of their hot bodies, you know.”

“Varessa,” called a voice from behind us.

Immediately, Kelcey’s hand on mine tightens, recognizing who the voice belongs to, as she tries but fails to push us forward. Unfortunately for us, it wasn’t fast enough because a hand was placed on my shoulder, stopping us from our retreat.

Jeff’s sleazy smile is suddenly in front of our faces. “Hey! I know you couldn’t hear me over all the noise.” “We heard you just fine.” Kelcey answers for me with a roll of her eyes. “Hearing you wasn’t the problem.”

Christy loudly snorts. “So polite, Kelcey.”

But Kelcey doesn’t relent, her protectiveness getting the better of her. “What is it that you want, Jeff? Not enough women for you to harass?”

“I just need a moment with the woman I’m coming home with,” He shoots a withering glare at Kelcey which she only rolled her eyes to.

“No, we have some place to be.” Kelcey says sternly, gesturing to the room where everyone was already rushing to leave.

“Are you okay?” Jeff playfully sucked in a breath at the sight of Kelcey, his eyebrows wiggling. “You’re not looking too good. Actually, you’ve never looked good but today especially.”

“Yes, I’m trying to push back the foul language in my mouth that wants to unleash itself.” Kelcey mutters through gritted teeth. “Now, we’re leaving. There’s an event we desperately want to see.”

“But I just want to give my future mate the-”

He doesn’t get a chance to finish as Kelcey hurries me away, shoving me forcefully as I start to see the fan he made.

The three of us hide within the rushing crowd, heads lowered in hopes we lose Jeff permanently. I held my breath the entire way and only breathed out when we exited the mansion, the afternoon sun shining down on

“There!”

Thankful for the distraction, I looked ahead to see a clearing not too far away. As always, the organizers have done a splendid job of decorating the walkways, dusting them with colorful flower petals with white wisp like fabrics on the trees trailing down around us. But the sight that really captures my breath is the wide open space. Circling around the open space are large white umbrellas and under that are chairs and tables and soft carpets with food and drink and fluffy pillows.

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Chapter 35

Early attendees were already on their backs, relaxing on the grass, some with their tops off to greet the bright sunlight that came from above, others having their dresses and hair sprawled over the ground. Almost

instantly, everyone in the clearing was already drinking sparkling liquor like they had been thirsty for days and eating like they had been starved.

To the outside eye, it would merely look like we were rich kids having a posh picnic in the woods and not at all like the werewolves that we are about to watch even more of the School of Love unfold.

There was still a live band playing music in the far corner, playing a melody that made my heart jump with excitement.

Kelcey guided us to a table near the front, sitting the three of us there as she accepted drinks from a nearby staff member with a tray full of the drink everyone was inhaling.

She raises her drink up above her head. “To watching hot men make a fool of themselves,”

“Hear, hear!” Christy cheered, bumping her glass against ours before throwing back her head and finishing the entire glass.

It’s quickly refilled.

Like magic.

I tip my head back as well, tasting the fruity yet sharp liquid go down my throat.

The organizer in front claps his hand as the last of the attendees find their seats in the clearing. “Good afternoon, attendees! Is everyone ready?!”

We cheered and hollered with our glasses raised to the organizer. No one can be in a bad mood here.

At least not for long.

Again, I tried hard not to but I swept the clearing looking for him… looking for Benedict and not even he, who I found leaning against a tree not too far away from our table, could be serious and emotionless by all this beauty surrounding us, for he had an amused expression on his pretty face. He was glowing, his face all too perfect and beautiful.

And he was looking at me too.

It was wrong to do so, but something inside me, something I had repressed within me, longed to be there with him. I missed laughing with him, of feeling like I was finally seen and understood… to share stories with him and to learn more about each other.

I couldn’t hold his emotional expression, forcing me to look away and unexpectedly finding Andrew looking at

me too.

It wasn’t hard to find him with how many men surrounded his table.

He was stretched out on the grass directly across from my table, his legs spread out as he drank and chatted away with his men. He looked smug, plopping a piece of meat into his mouth before laughing at something I didn’t hear.

“For the first contest of the day,” The organizer goes on, urging us for a drumroll and everyone happily does, pounding their hands on the tables. “We have… weight lifting!”

The women screamed and the men hooted, pounding at their chests. It was all so silly that I joined the shouting, cheering randomly for everyone.

The staff brought in the titanium steel barbells and weight plates that shook the earth when dropped. When they were done placing everything on the ground, the weight plates were as tall as me. Werewolves were stronger than humans, thus more weights were needed.

A lot more.

“The attendee that can lift the most will be our winner and will have an advantage for the next challenge.” The organizer explained, going through the rules, but no one was listening as we all looked around to see who would participate. “The winner, of course, will be rewarded with a chance to give a pin to their chosen. It will serve as a reminder of his or her victory.”

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Chapter 35

The staff from behind the organizer lifts up a velvet pillow with a golden pin on it.

It only made the crowd cheer louder. Anything to win anything. We were that competitive of a race.

It was more than winning.

It was pride.

Honor.

And being known as the best at something.

The prize was merely something to prove that.

For us poorer werewolves, that golden pin embedded with jewels can feed our whole pack for years.

“Shall we let the games begin?!” The organizer bellowed, gesturing to the crowd.

It went crazy with men and women standing up to join the organizer in the middle of the clearing. I do not miss how Jeff walked forward, Kelcey’s grip on my arm only confirmed that I wasn’t dreaming.

And then I see Benedict join the group as well, the crowd parting for him to pass.

But what really surprised me was Andrew coming to stand and joining the participants. He has so far lost a number of competitions now. He can’t possibly hope to win one over Benedict, who has beat him every single time, but the expression on his face showed otherwise.

With the two of them there, the attendees wanting to join the games thinned, some sitting back down knowing they were no match for the two that outmatched everyone in the first couple of competitions.

“Now to decide on who will get your pin if you win.” The organizer announced before turning to Benedict. “As you are the winner of the last contest, Beta Benedict, you have the honor of choosing first.”

His eyes almost immediately landed on me and my breath caught.

He was going to choose me.

“Vareesa,” He says loud enough for the entire clearing to hear. “She is my chosen.”

I couldn’t believe it.

Although he’s chosen me before, his face… his expression upon choosing me now almost felt like he was punishing myself to do so.

Almost like it hurt him to do so.

Instead of being touched or flattered like when he chose me before, now I only felt… wrong.

He didn’t want to choose me.

Not really.

And it hurt more than being ignored by him.

“You may give her your bracelet, Beta Benedict, a promise of that award.” The organizer gestures to me and then to the bracelet on his wrist.

I felt my entire body burn up from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Beside me, I see Christy roll her eyes while Kelcey wiggles her eyebrows in my direction.

Andrew glared at the two of us. Even Jeff was mumbling at the organizer.

“That’s unfair. He can’t be allowed to give her anything.” I heard him say but was only ignored.

What was harder to ignore was the intensity I felt suddenly, like a pressure behind me, staring me down. A presence that I can almost name in the area… watching and waiting.

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