Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

I was dancing, twirling and smiling as I stared up at the domed glass ceiling where the moon and stars twinkled. The marble floors and walls glowed warm gold, making everything more perfect, more alive. I was in the grand ballroom with my high heels and this beautiful dress that made me look and feel like a princess. And my hands… were clasped tightly by Mister Benedict.

He is smiling down at me, whispering in my ear sweetly. “I want this forever.”

My throat constricts as I nod. “I know. I want it too.”

“I wish it could always be like this.” He continues, pressing his forehead against mine. “I wish it was us, like how I’ve wanted it to be since I met you. If only things were different…”

“It doesn’t have to be.” I whispered, my heart beating a mile a minute as my eyes fluttered close, listening to the shallow breaths he took. “Maybe- maybe we can still try?”

But when no one answered, I opened my eyes to find that Benedict was gone.

Instead, in my arms was Jeff.

“I’m still waiting, Vareesa. Your best friend. Your only friend is waiting.” He tells me, a frown on his lips. “I can save you from all of this. I can provide for you. Just accept me. Leave all of them behind. They don’t care about you like I do.”

I shook my head, my lips parted in panic. “I can’t…”

Something dark loomed over the domed sky as I was roughly spun around by Jeff, the entire ballroom spinning, but what caught me wasn’t Jeff, it was Andrew.

“Hello, Vareesa.” He whispers like it is a secret. “Dance with me. Be my love. Be my only.”

It was just us.

Alone.

Together.

My heart was hammering against my chest as he held me close and the panic I felt subsided, replaced by this excitement that I could feel in my bones. I marveled at his gorgeous face and the way he smiled only at me.

Only ever at me.

He holds me close, so close, his lips on my ear. “You’re so perfect for me.”

But then his fingers slipped from mine and he stopped dancing, misery etched across his face as he shook his head at me, refusing me, leaving me.

The grand ballroom started to quake, the walls, the floors and the chandeliers overhead violently shaking and breaking apart the beauty all around me.

“Vareesa!” A voice shook the walls of the grand ballroom even further. “X! Can you hear me? Are you here?”

Andrew took a step back, his face pulled into this distraught expression that made my insides turn to ice.

“I’m sorry.” He says, his eyes haunted as he shook his head. “I’m truly sorry. I can’t choose you. It was never an option for me.”

Just as the world crumbles, he leaves me, taking the happiness with him, and I am consumed by the chaos that follows, falling and falling and falling with no one to catch me.

My eyes shot open with a jolt as the sound of something breaking and splintering woke me fully.

I was sleeping against Andrew, my head resting on the crook of his neck. His arm was wrapped around me, holding my waist close to him and his hand still held mine on my lap, our fingers interlaced, but as I took in my surroundings, blinking away the sun in my eyes, the door in front of us slammed open, breaking in two.

When the dust settles, the sight of my fuming, red face and black eyed Benedict comes into view. His foot was stretched out as if he had just kicked the door down and his fists were clenched so tight, I could see a hint of

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Chapter 45

claws poking out.

His body was seconds away from shifting into his wolf form. And I know that he is this all powerful Beta from a pack known to be above the law and uncontrollable, but shifting isn’t allowed and I am sure he will get in trouble if he does it.

But here he was, his body shaking from the wolf that wanted to take over his body.

There’s a moment of absolute silence before he storms over to me. He doesn’t waste a moment as he rips me out of Andrew’s arms and takes me into his strong embrace.

There was a fierce possessiveness to the way he held me and something about this made my stomach flip. Not counting the immediate heat and electric shocks that go through me as our bodies touch.

I felt his nose press against the side of my face. His entire body was shaking from emotions I could not decipher but were so obviously there.

Benedict’s skin seemed to collide with each other and rip apart at the same time, signaling how his wolf was restless and needing to be let out.

He didn’t say a word as he held me to him.

But I know he has been looking for me all night.

The bags under his eyes said it all and the tightening of his arms only supported it.

Benedict’s hands were all over me at once, his touch burning as he searched for injuries that weren’t there. All I can do is hold onto him and take it, his fingers like a heat seeking missile in my body. When Benedict is finally sure I am unharmed, he steps back with his wild eyes still dark from rage.

He stared at me for a long time, a stare that made my insides twist.

I was raised as a wolf, well barely, but with the way he looked at me… I felt like a sheep in front of the true wolf.

Benedict glances between Andrew and I next, his face like the devil incarnate. He pivots me behind him with a quick swing of his arm, placing himself between us as a growl left his lips:

I can’t fault him for this. The sight wasn’t the best thing in the world for anyone to see. Andrew was nearly naked, grasping for his clothes and not a few seconds ago, we were cuddled up in an embrace looking very compromising.

Though the question remained… why was Benedict here?

Didn’t we say whatever we were was over?

Why did he seem like he still cared?

As good as this made me feel, I was also so very confused about this turn of events.

“Alright, pretty boy. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.” Andrew began with a tired and irritated huff, pulling on his shirt. “There was a storm and we couldn’t get back.”

When Benedict doesn’t grace him with a response, Andrew tries again.

This time, fully clothed. “There’s no need to worry or make something out of it. Plenty of attendees vanish from the Academy for a few hours to do-”

“Is that what you were doing?” Benedict’s bone chilling words questioned him. His voice was like a whip striking flesh. “Is that why you disappeared?”

Andrew stood to his full height, but even then he was no match when it came to Benedict’s stature with inches separating them. “Does it matter what we did? Tell me, is the mansion even looking for us? Or is it only you? And why should you even care? You’re not from either of our packs. And you’re sure as hell not an organizer nor are you responsible for Vareesa.”

Benedict’s hand on me tightens ever so slightly, giving away that no one was looking for us… only he was.

Andrew was right too.

Benedict wasn’t responsible for me.

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Chapter 45

“I know you and that’s enough for me to be responsible for any of your victims.” Benedict shoots back. “It is so on brand for you to take away innocent girls from the mansion, giving them empty promises only to leave them abandoned and alone by the end of the Academy.”

Benedict’s words hit a nerve because Andrew’s face hardens.

And now both of them were shaking, getting ready to shift.

“And what are you doing, pretty boy? What’s your interest in all of this? You obviously spend all night looking for Vareesa.” Andrew mused darkly, a glint in his eyes. “Commendable, if your intentions are pure.”

Benedict’s reaction wasn’t quite what Andrew was expecting, as he isn’t a man to easily back down. He merely stared on with an unwavering challenge in those dark eyes of his. “I can assure you. My intentions are pure and true. Unlike you. And you’ll be happy to know that someone else has been looking for you. I’m sure you know who.”

This effectively stops Andrew in his tracks, his lips parted in shock.

It’s as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t, with Benedict’s words having a deeper meaning than just someone looking for Andrew.

Benedict is right in the end.

He knew Andrew well enough to make him stop and freeze.

Andrew’s eyes turned solemn, all emotion draining from his face and replaced by the familiar sadness in them.

“I see.” Andrew says through gritted teeth. “You know.”

Know?

Know what?

The only ones to know apparently were them.

Because Benedict doesn’t bother replying to Andrew, but he keeps his hands on me, his touch still ever present.

There’s an internal battle happening within Andrew and when he looks at me again, I recognize the man that saw himself above everyone. The man that knew he was a Beta for the richest pack in the world and the same one that looked down and made fun of everyone else.

And somehow, it felt like I was the one that lost the battle he was fighting.

That my hesitations for him were real.

The feeling was very similar to the night when Benedict said we were done and it was over.

I swallow, preparing for the worst.

Because this week has just been a collection of worsts.

And when Andrew turns away and starts walking to the door, to leave me, the feeling only multiplies and my heart pummels.

However, the dread in my veins trickles away as hot, full lips press against mine. I blinked in surprise, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Andrew’s hands were on my face, cupping me to him as he kissed… as he kissed me over and over again with a passion that made my knees weak and my head dizzy.

I didn’t get to react- I didn’t even get to breathe as he pulled back, his lips red and swollen. I watched him lick his lips tentatively, looking at me the entire time.

He smiles softly, sadly, his hands still on either side of my face before he steps back and walks away without another word, leaving me in the small shack with Benedict.

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