Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Chapter 84

I don’t take offense.

80

155 Vouchings

I’ve heard my old pack whisper about Sebastian long before the School of Love, the way they fear him, the way they spoke of Sebastian’s power and how easily he could use it on us. Sebastian was the scary stories told to us during a campfire when the elders wanted to scare children or disobedient teenagers. I’ve been in the crowd, listening about this monster, about this man that had the power of an entire army in his hands. I know the stories, I’ve had nightmares about them.

Cruel.

Blood thirsty.

The man of our nightmares.

A monster.

And now he was my mate.

As if conjured by thoughts of demons, monsters and nightmares, Sebastian appeared by my side, towering over both my father and I. He places a hand on my waist, a quiet way of claiming me in public. His amber eyes did not look friendly, they looked predatory and on the hunt as he looked around.

I wish Sebastian could smile, but I think that would frighten my father more.

They stare at each other for a long time, their gaze intense, and just when I thought one of them would speak, I’m thrown to the ground by a body running full speed at me.

“Vareesa!”

Blinking away the stars in my eyes, a shadow of a girl hovers over me and then I’m screaming back just as loudly as her. “Kelcey!”

My beautiful friend, the most beautiful of all the farm lands, was hugging me tight, her smile so broad that I think it hurt.

We could only look at each other. The last we saw of each other was at the most horrible part of the Academy. She was sent back to her seat, unmated and I was crying for her.

Until now, when she’s home and unmated, her head is held high, unbothered and happy. I couldn’t help but choke out another cry. “Hi.”

“Hey.” She says back. No words were said about the Academy but our eyes said it all. She was contented and I was contented. Just like how we wanted it to be. Suddenly, her grin became mischievous. It was exactly how it was in the Academy. Playful. Without a care in the world. “You’re fat.”

I rolled my eyes, grinning back at her with equal mischief. “It’s called being healthy.”

“Is that what it is?” She continued to tease, pulling me up to stand. Whatever it is, you look good, Vareesa. You look happy.”

I wanted to say that she looked happy too, but Kelcey has always looked happy. She always took control of her life, not letting anyone get in the way and not allowing anything to pull her down. “I’ve missed you.”

We were never close before the Academy, but that place, it gave us a friendship that was better and more genuine than anything I’ve ever had before. She smiled, like she understood what I meant. “I’ve missed you more.”

I had so many questions.

I wanted to know so much about what happened after the Academy, the regret of not being able to talk before they left

10:44 Mon, Apr 20 MJ

Chapter 84

weighing down on my heart.

She sees this and takes my hand.

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“A-Alpha,” She shakily addressed Sebastian who was at the side, watching us. She was trying to be brave, but one look at him made her swallow.

He barely regarded her, his attention on me.

Kelcey continued on, unable to look at him for long. “There’s a big celebration being organised in the town square. Do you mind if I show Vareesa?”

Amber eyes locked with mine and when I smiled, he nodded. “I’ll meet you at the house.”

His words were emotionless, monotonous and impossible to read, but I knew better. He was happy for me too and he was going to keep himself busy while I met with my old pack.

Suddenly, parting with him was too painful. “Where will you go?”

His expression softens a little, breaking out of his hard exterior that labeled him a monster. “Check the perimeter. I’ll be back before the celebrations.”

Kelcey doesn’t wait for anything else, her hands on mine as she pulls me forward. “Let’s go!”

“Bring Benedict.” I heard Sebastian say as we ran towards town.

I stopped mid step to turn around and to find his jaw tight glancing to the side where his blonde haired Beta waited. Benedict was looking at somewhere faraway, his posture stiff.

“I’ll take a few men with me.” Benedict says to Sebastian, a fan of men appearing from behind him. “For your safety, Luna.”

My lips parted. “But,”

Sebastian sees my hesitation and quickly comes to soothe me with his words. “They’ll be far away enough that you can enjoy yourself.”

I realized then that I did not have a say in the matter. Now that I see them together, I’m almost positive that the Alpha and Beta have talked about this already. If I protested, Sebastian would be the one to come with me and he surely will scare

everyone.

He knows this.

And he’s testing me, giving me the option.

I do not dare give both boys the satisfaction and pull Kelcey forward. “What’s happening in the town square?”

She was all too happy to fill me in. “The nameless pack had sent a few people over right as the School of Love ended and they had been working tirelessly to have the pack modernized! But now they’re giving the square a total makeover. Remember before when a girl from years ago got mated with a distant relative of a Beta? They fed the whole pack and everything.”

I nodded, remembering it well. It was the first time we ever got to eat different food. “Yes.”

“They’re doing something like that now. I saw them putting up lights, long mahogany tables,” Kelcey went on. “Our old Alpha is beside himself. He doesn’t know whether to be grateful or sheepish.”

“I can imagine the Alpha resisting help,” I said, knowing full well how my old Alpha can be very stubborn.

Kelcey lifted her eyebrows. “He did, but your mate can be very persuasive.”

10:44 Mon, Apr 20 Md

Chapter 84

Or forceful, which is most likely what happened.

But I didn’t tell her that.

“How are you?” I lowered my voice, looking behind us to find Benedict speaking with my father. If I listened hard enough, I could hear my father tell Benedict where things were, pointing out parts of the territory. About six men were behind them. their eyes watchful and ready. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk after the Academy.”

“It all happened so fast didn’t it?” She says, a sympathetic look on her face. “One moment you’re on the platform, the next you’re being pulled out of it and I’m suddenly being rushed to the car.”

It seemed so long ago but it’s only really been a week. “Are you… okay?”

“I am.” Kelcey smiles, a genuine one that lights up her whole face. “I kinda knew I wasn’t going to get chosen. The boys I was with weren’t really interested in me like that. They chose other women, you know. Every single one of them. They all had girls in mind even before approaching me. I was just fun to them, but not mate material.”

I didn’t tell her, but I always thought she was going to be chosen. Every boy in our pack had a crush on her and when we got to the Academy, she caught everyone’s attention despite her identifier saying she was in the poorest pack.

Looking at her now, she didn’t look bothered. She looked content.

Kelcey looked like she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She lowers her voice as well, eyes glancing behind us. “Jeff hasn’t left his house. His arm never healed back.”

His arm.

The one Sebastian broke.

“You haven’t seen him?” I asked quietly, staring at the trees that had no leaves.

Kelcey was actually grinning. “No. He refuses to come out.”

Little minx.

“I say he deserves it. The way he spoke to the monster like that?” She froze, eyes wide. “I meant, I’m sorry, that’s your mate.”

I was quick to reach for her. “It’s okay. I completely understand.”

She squeezes my hand, her eyes staring at my mark like it was the oddest thing. “It’s just so strange. We used to talk about him like he was a ghost story. He didn’t seem real. The elders used him to scare children to sleep early.”

“How has the pack been taking it?” I gestured to my neck.

“They thought he claimed you to eat you.” She says with brutal honestly which is what I appreciate from Kelcey. “Don’t feel bad when I say this but everyone is just really confused and afraid. When his men first came, everyone thought he was coming to kill us all or to finish off Jeff.”

I couldn’t blame her. I would have thought the same.

“When no one heard from you, everyone was kind of convinced you were dead.” She bites her lip, guiltily. “I thought you

were dead.”

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