Chapter 168

[Arthur’s POV]

I may have been a tad bit brazen when I leaned in to kiss Ella in front of Liam. When I noticed that he had gone in to kiss her, I felt utterly compelled to follow suit.

After all, Ella was my mate as well. However, I did feel a slight shred of remorse toward Liam because I knew he was still adjusting to this arrangement.

I only came to realize my actions after the fact and quickly made the decision to head toward the door.

“Let’s go, Liam,” I called out.

A second later I felt him at my side, preying on the same frustrated energy that I developed ever since he told me about Mrs. Shields’ malicious little set-up. Good. I wanted him to keep that anger stirring in his gut while we made our way across campus to confront the woman.

But, nevertheless, I needed to know if any of that anger was directed mainly at me.

“Liam...” He merely tilted his head in my direction. “Are you okay with the fact that I kissed Ella?”

I think the old version of me wouldn’t have given a single care about anyone else’s feelings—least of all Liam’s. But things were different now.

As time was moving forward, I found myself feeling differently toward my half-brother. I couldn’t describe it in words, necessarily...It was more so an emotional bond. I felt more akin to him than I did my full-blooded relatives.

Deep within the back of my mind, I knew I could trust him as well as his council. I wanted his support, knowing that he possessed the same physical and mental strength as I did.

Don’t get me wrong, we were both fairly different creatures. I tended to sway toward unethical and devious practices whereas Liam maintained a more gentler exterior.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I find it rather refreshing to be around someone who wasn’t filled with malicious intent and didn’t seek to ruin other people for his own personal gain.

It was like we were two sides of the same coin.

“It...Surprised me at first, I guess,” he muttered. “...But...Oddly enough, it didn’t seem to linger the way I thought it would have. The feeling I mean. I figured I’d be angry or irritated.”

It was a wave of instant relief that flooded through me.

I gave him a light shove with my arm. “Maybe this is you getting used to me.”

The corner of his mouth curled in amusement. “Maybe.”

...

Not many people have ever witnessed my dark side. Sure I could be mean and taunting. But no one has ever seen me go absolutely feral.

That was because I was raised to control my emotions and not let them run my life. However, circumstances made it possible for me to adhere to these rules.

My mate was being deliberately placed in danger because of someone’s greediness. I wasn’t going to stand for it.

Liam and I headed straight for the Language Arts Building, specifically the English department. We barged through the doors like an unyielding force that was daring to be fought with.

Right as we made it to the office section in the back, we captured nearly the entire room.

I tried very little to keep the venom out of my voice as I spoke. “Vivian Shields,” I barked out. “Where is she?”

Many of the teachers were affronted by our brutish behavior, yet not a single one of them tried to get us to leave. Hell, they didn’t even question our business for being there.

One of the other teachers spoke out to answer.

“She’s in her classroom. But, what are you—”

“That’s classified information,” Liam stated coldly.

My God, I felt a swell of pride burst within my chest as I witnessed Liam’s intentional viciousness come through.

Without so much as another word, the two of us headed back toward the individual classrooms until we came upon Mrs. Shields. At first glance, we saw that she was working with another student.

Oh, well. That wasn’t enough to deter either of us from doing what we came here to accomplish.

We headed into the classroom where I instantly locked eyes with the student who was sitting across from Shields’ desk.

“Leave,” I ordered them.

The student didn’t even have to think twice. They fumbled to get their bag together and quickly made it out of the room.

Mrs. Shields gave us both a look of total disgruntled shock. “Mr. Winslow, what on earth are you–”

“Spare me the professional bullshit,” I snapped back.

She parted her lips to speak but Liam was quicker. “We know that you’ve been targeting Ella since the semester started.”

Suddenly, all the blood drained from her face. She struggled to keep eye contact with either of us, only to appear guiltier.

“I don’t know what—”

“Yes, you do,” Liam bit out. “It appears that not only have you been picking on her in class, but you’ve been reporting her actions to our father. Why?”

“Has Aaron asked you to keep tabs on her like this? Or are you doing this merely to achieve something greater than your sad life currently entails?”

She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “I can have the two of you expelled for this sort of behavior,” she tried.

I moved closer to lean over her desk. I peered down at her with the idea of making her feel small. “Funny. Because I can make sure you lose your job. Indefinitely. In fact, I can go as far as to ensure that no other facility will ever hire you as a teacher.”

Her tone came out smug. “I think you’re bluffing,” she said.

“Oh, Vivian, I can guarantee you that as a literal Winslow—I can make all of what I just said happen within a few hours,” I said promisingly.

I noticed her jaw clenched and her whole body grew stiff in her chair. I could tell she was trying hard to keep a lot of her natural anger back. But I actually wanted her to snap. I wanted to see the real delusional rage that this woman was harboring.

“I’ve gone out of my way to keep Aaron Winslow informed on what goes on here,” she said briskly.

“The only thing that you’ve been reporting to the bastard is Ella’s welfare. Which, I’m gonna tell you, sounds a bit beyond your pay grade. I mean, why the fuck would a random English teacher go out of her way to pass on such specific and personal information about one particular student?”

Liam stepped up beside me and leaned in. “What did Aaron promise you when you agreed to spy for him? Hm? Was it money? A higher position on the board, maybe?”

I couldn’t help the laugh that tore from my chest. “Oh please, if I know my father I know damn well that he would offer something much bigger than that,” I drawled. “If I had to guess, I’m going to assume that he propositioned you with some kind of romantic intent, correct? He claimed that he was looking for a new mistress and you just so happen to be conveniently placed here at Eastwood.”

Shields was cracking. I could tell from the way her eyes twitched and the slight shake in her hands. “It’s not true,” she whispered.

“That’s just it,” I said evenly. “I don’t give a shit if it is or isn’t. Either way, you’re going to leave Ella alone. No more reports and no more antagonizing her for sport.”

“You’re a goddamn teacher for Christ’s sake,” Liam growled. “So we suggest that you start acting like one.”