Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Chapter 85

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By this time, we had made it to the front of the pack house, the town square glowing in this otherwise desolate place. For a moment, I didn’t recognize where I was. My heart and my body know that this is the pack house, our tiny town square. I’ve been walking here for most of my life, but the way it was painted a bright color, the way the windows shined and the way the surroundings were so pristine… it was as if I was in a different pack completely.

I’ve never seen it so clean and I’ve been cleaning this part of the pack every day of my life before the Academy, but it’s never looked like this. The mud like ground was solid, walkable without tripping or getting suctioned and the stubborn weeds that would never break from the ground were now nonexistent.

Like they were never there.

But I remember how I pulled and pulled and pulled.

Day in and day out, trying to get the weeds under control.

My father came to stand by my side and smiled. “It’ll be prettier tonight. I’ve seen their plans and I think you’ll like it.”

An army of Sebastian’s men and women were hanging twinkling lights up in the trees, white cloth was strung between houses, enclosing the square in bright white lights. Several long mahogany tables were set parallel to the pack house, white cloth over them and a multitude of white cushioned seats arranged prettily on either side of it.

Noticing my arrival, the busy men and women turned, bowing their heads low graciously. “Luna,”

All I could do was smile, my heart soaring as I waved at them.

Kelcey was grinning from ear to ear, her eyes twinkling as she repeated my title like it was the funniest thing. “Oh, Luna,”

“If you girls are done catching up, I was wondering if I could take Vareesa to see our house?” My father nodded towards the direction of the house. “There’s a few things I want to show her.”

“Of course!” Kelcey beams as if she knows that I’ll love it. She dramatically bows, her eyes gleaming. “See you later, Luna.”

I shoved her, grinning like a fool before pulling her into a tight embrace. “Thank you.”

“For what?” She says, hugging me back either way.

“For everything.” I want to tell her that I’ve never had a friend like her, that I would have been miserable without her in the Academy, that I wouldn’t have made it without her by my side, but she smiles at me like she already knows all this.

We pull apart, still smiling at each other. Before she leaves us, her eyes glance at Benedict who was staring at me, his gaze burning holes in the back of my head.

Kelcey looks between us before she whispers a quiet: “He’s a problem.”

If I didn’t know any better, I think she knew that Benedict and I were hiding something.

And that scared me.

But I don’t get to linger on it, my father wrapping an arm around my shoulders and bringing us towards the direction of the house. I could see the blackened lake from where we were. It didn’t look any less disgusting, but it did give me a sense of home. The lake with no fish, the lake that was too dark to see the bottom… and the lake that was said to be poisonous.

Despite it all, it’s good to be back.

As we got closer, I was able to see a white house in front of the lake, a stark contrast to everything dark around it. This beautiful white house was my home, the home I grew up in, but at the same time, it wasn’t. It was better. It looked

10:44 Mon, Apr 20 Md.

Chapter 85

completely new, polished and speckless, not at all like it was before. The walls were painted, the house not so worn down. the roof pointed and remade and there was even a small white picket fence and some… plants.

Nothing green ever grew here.

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Side by side, my father and I walked closer to the house with Benedict and the rest of my guards staying behind to give us space. They stood like sentries around the perimeter, all tall and intimidating, oozing with their nameless pack energy that could scare anyone away.

As we made it to the front doors, all painted nicely and replaced with a thicker material, I felt truly happy for my father and his new life.

Our door before was only pieces of wood that resembled tree bark tied together, the outside able to be seen through from the little gaps between each piece. Much has changed but for the better.

I felt proud as I savored it all, taking in the sight of his home.

When my father pushes open the door, I let out a shaky breath. There was a fireplace, a big one already burning and warming up the house. The walls had new cabinets built in them, filled with food, blankets and everything my father could

ever want.

I almost laughed when I saw how many couches were pushed inside our tiny house. There were more couches than there were places to walk. This had Sebastian written all over it but it all looked so comfortable that I didn’t mind one bit and then my eyes found the phone beside the dining room, my number written on a small piece of paper.

My mind imagined my father sitting down, hunched over the phone and talking to me. The warmth that filled my chest was nearly overwhelming.

I knew Sebastian was already inside the house before I saw him. It was in the air, the electricity that pulsed around him and when he walked towards me, I felt myself relax in his presence, absolutely taken by him and wanting nothing more than to wrap my mate in a tight embrace.

From across the room, his eyes glowed a bright amber, watching my expression as I looked at the house that I grew up in with awe.

Like always, I reach out to Sebastian, attempting to hold him close, but my father’s voice from behind me stops me in my

tracks.

“I knew I recognized you.” He says, eyes focused on Sebastian. “I was wondering where I knew you from.”

My chest suddenly felt tight. “W-what?”

“You’ve gotten older.” My father comments, his face just as unreadable as Sebastian’s.

Sebastian doesn’t respond, his eyes lowered and calculating.

“Do you two know each other?” My voice was weak, soft and scared, frightened of what was happening.

“We do.” Sebastian answered, his voice deep and guarded. “I just didn’t know your father would remember.”

My father continued to stare at Sebastian for a long time, eyes searching. “Before he was an Alpha, he used to live near us, a farm pack that got destroyed by the city.”

The nearest pack from us was far, hours away even in wolf form, but it’s been so long since then. They’ve long been… erased from existence. Never to be seen again.

“I don’t remember.” I whispered, confused. My blood pumped as my mind was working overtime trying to remember, trying to piece together this missing puzzle that everyone had already solved before me. “Have we met?”

10:44 Mon, Apr 20 M

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