Chapter 155

[Ella’s POV]

That Friday, Arthur, Liam and I were sitting in the library amongst several books and old texts. I purposely made sure that the three of us were tucked away somewhere out of sight from the rest of the students and staff that were around.

“I’m not going to lie,” Arthur said. “It probably would have been a lot easier just to bring you to the library at the manor but it wouldn’t have been worth the risk.”

The risk essentially being, the possible chance of running into Cecilia. With that possibility in mind, I was more than glad to stay on campus, up to my eyes in old books and thick layers of dust.

Despite how the beginning of the week had started, things had been rather calm...All things considered.

People were still shooting me glares and muttering under their breath. But none of them were as brazen and bold as Ben had been when we first met up to work on our project. Speaking of Ben, he and I haven’t met up since that first meeting.

I’d spotted him during class and I could tell he was looking to speak with me. There was no way in hell I was going to give him the chance to set me off again. Especially not when Mrs. Shields was still giving me the stern side-eye.

The last thing I needed was to give her a real reason to throw me out of the class. “I still can’t believe she’s been giving you a hard time and you didn’t tell me,” Liam snarled under his breath.

He was still very cross with the fact that I had purposely withheld this information from him, even though I told him that it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“I disagree,” Arthur said tightly. “That woman has no right to treat you the way she does. She needs to learn when to separate her personal life from her work.”

After I initially told Liam about Mrs. Shields’ decided mistreatment, I went on to tell him of the rumor that was floating around, regarding her ex-husband.

“I still think we ought to report her to the board,” he said bitterly. “A teacher should know better than to take their personal issues out on others—and on a damn student no less!”

“I told you both before, I have other issues to worry about than dealing with Mrs. Shields and her childish behavior.”

What I needed to figure out was how I was going to deal with these growing emotions and sudden outbursts. According to what Arthur said, these were all normal things to go through during my first, initial shift. However, I felt as though there was more to it than just that.

“A lot of what you’re feeling is due to the growing bond,” he had told me before.

Yeah, but this growing bond was not typical. Everything about it was unique and rare.

Based on the text I’d been pouring over, I was expected to feel the same way toward both of my mates as time went on. I tried to hide the blush that came over me. It was strange, and somewhat disbelieving, that I would one day view Arthur the same way that I did Liam.

Even though Arthur and I were trying to look past our problems, it was hard to comprehend such a concept. Then again, my mind wandered back to that sparing moment where Arthur was holding me close, having dragged me out of English that morning.

I remembered the spark of heat and the overwhelming need to stay close to him. That to have been the bond that I was feeling...

But is what I’m feeling toward Arthur real? Or is it just because of this bond?

I wasn’t sure. And for the moment, I wasn’t about to share my feelings on the situation either should they grow any further.

I stole a quick glance at Liam who was highly fixed on the book in front of him. My heart twinged at the thought of our recent conversation. I should have known that he wouldn’t be alright with this predicament.

Of course, I wouldn’t have expected him to be okay with everything that has been going on. I was merely glad that he had agreed to be a part of the research session with Arthur and me.

Arthur suddenly lifted his head up from his book and spoke quietly.

“So how is your project for English going?” he asked.

My stomach flipped. “It’s fine, I guess.” I tried to brush the subject off not wanting to get either Liam or Arthur involved in my weird encounter with Ben. But I could tell from the look in Arthur’s eyes that he wasn’t willing to drop the topic.

“What’s he like? Ben?” he questioned with a raised brow.

“He’s surprisingly decent in English,” I muttered. “He was very helpful when it came to picking a story and he managed to get his work done efficiently.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes and sagged back in his seat. He clenched his jaw and crossed his arms over his chest. His voice was filled with skepticism. “Is that right?”

Liam mirrored his tone and gave me a similar look. “Why does it sound like you’re telling us everything?”

Goddamnit.

I refrained from rolling my eyes and let out a long breath. I had a decent feeling that this wasn’t going to end well. “Ben was actually actually okay...Until he wasn’t.”

Both Liam and Arthur shared a discomforting look. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“We got a lot of the work done for our project which was great and all, but then he started to ask me a bunch of personal questions. There’s wanting to get to know someone and then there’s trying to dig up information.” “

What sort of questions was he asking?” Liam asked sternly.

“Well, aside from me, he wanted to know stuff about you two. He kept nudging the topic of our relationship and what was going on?”

Arthur’s expression turned sour. “Do you think he was trying to express interest in you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, now you’ve given me enough of a reason to stalk him,” Arthur said under his breath.

I scoffed. “Please don’t. I don’t know what Ben’s issue is, but the last thing I need is either of you causing a scene.”

Liam chuckled. “There is nothing wrong with us wanting to check this guy out.”

The corner of Arthur’s mouth curved upward into a smile that I’m sure held a deeper meaning than either of them was willing to let on about.

I finally got into the Moon Wolf Pack and felt a wave of sadness wash over me. Were all of them seriously gone? How could such a horrible thing like that happen? Why were they killed?

Why? Why were they taken out?

It was hard to imagine what could have warranted them to all be killed. Surely, they were like any other werewolf pack.

However, Arthur had mentioned something back at the house about some mystical power, but was that seriously real?

Suddenly, I started to pick up a strange sound. A light shutter, clicking surrounded us.

It sounds like someone is taking a series of pictures on a digital camera.

Oh my God was this the same person who’s been taking photos of me and posting them online? A surge of anger rushed to the surface. Before I had a chance to think anything through, I tore from the table with a growl and made off toward the sound.

I’m going to find you.