Chapter 006

CASSIAN

I stepped out of the classroom, my teeth clenched so tightly together that my jaw ached. I kept telling myself that this wasn’t happening, but it was, and it was real.

Even now her scent was still in my nostrils. It seemed burned into my brain too. My wolf had been, and still was, desperate with the need to claim her.

Goddess! How I hated feeling this way.

This was the last thing I wanted right now in my life. A mate. A liability.

There was absolutely no space for her in my life- not now, not ever.

Then the image of those big green eyes, turned up to me in pleading, filled my mind, and my fingers tightened around the handle of my bag. It had taken all the self-control I possessed, and more, to stop myself from grabbing the girl and claiming her right then and there in the empty classroom.

Marching down the hallway past the staring students, I did my best to block out thoughts of Talia. But they wouldn’t go away.

Yesterday, when I had followed her scent and found her lying there helpless in the forest, and had taken her back to her house, I had hoped like hell that we wouldn’t meet again. It has shaken me to my core to find out she was my mate.

Now, by some cruel twist of hate, she was here- in the school where I taught. In my literature class of all places!

Why the fuck was this even happening?

But no matter. If I had learned one thing in life, it’s that there was a solution to every problem. What I would do was ignore the girl as best as I could.

It shouldn’t be hard to do. And with what I had told her just now, I was sure she would keep her distance.

With this resolution in mind, I felt myself relax a little as I rounded the corner. Someone stepped right into my path.

I stopped in my tracks, stared in surprise at the girl in front of me. I had left her back in the classroom. How had Talia gotten here just now?

“Hello, Professor,” she said with a wide smile that showed a row of perfect teeth.

It was then I noticed the subtle differences between this girl and Talia. Though they looked identical with the same face, the same body structure, I saw that the girl in front of me had no warmth in her eyes.

She had a cold and calculating look I had not seen in Talia’s. She was dressed better too, in a tight-fitting, expensive-looking denim jacket and a short skirt. Her hair was piled on top of her head in messy bun with a few strands left to frame her face.

She had makeup on, something again, I hadn't noticed on Talia. She had to be Talia’s twin.

It occurred to me then that I had noticed far too much about the girl I was supposed to be ignoring in the first place.

“Professor,” the girl said again, and this time she held out her hand. “My name is Tessa Westwood. I am one of the most popular students at school.”

She laughed like she had just made a very funny joke.

“I’m assuming,” I said coldly, arching my brow and ignoring her outstretched hand, “that you did not stop me just to tell me you were the most popular student here.”

“Oh no, Professor,” Tessa said. Her smile grew wider as she fluttered her lashes. “I just wanted to welcome you to South Ville. And I wanted to ask you to be my tutor.”

She said it as though she was conferring upon me the title of Emperor of the world.

“I do not tutor students,” I informed her, feeling a surge of anger rising in me.

Talia must have sent her twin to do anything just so she could get close to me. What fucking part of 'I wanted to pretend' she didn't exist didn't she understand?

"Now move along. I’m sure you have classes.”

I took a step forward, but the girl, Tessa, blocked my path.

“What is the meaning of this?” I asked sharply.

Still wearing that confident smile, Tessa replied, “Professor, please consider. My parents would pay very well for your services. Maybe even more than the average tutor. I heard you are one of the best at your subject. I can make my parents let you name your price. They will pay anything, as long as I’m getting very good gra-"

“Out of my way, Miss Westwood,” I cut in. “or I will have to give you detention.”

I felt a surge of satisfaction as I watched the smile first fade and then die off Tessa’s face. She suddenly looked unsure of herself.

She stepped aside, I moved past her without a word, my shoulder brushing hers as I passed.

That would teach her and her stubborn twin a lesson.

Up ahead I saw Talia moving along with another girl. They were talking, probably talking about me.

Gritting my teeth, I turned away, moving quickly in the opposite direction. I couldn’t trust myself not to accost Talia right there in the hall way and ask what the hell she thought she was playing at.

“Professor Cassian!” called an unfamiliar voice.

Turning, I saw two women walking toward me as fast as their legs could carry them. One of the women looked to be in her mid thirties. The other was definitely in her forties.

“Professor,” one of them greeted when they had gotten close with a simpering smile. “It’s so good we ran into you.”

“Yes,” the other woman chimed in, pressing her manicured hands to her bosom and letting out a girlish giggle.

“Forgive my manners. My name is Laura,” said the younger looking one woman.

“And I’m Anna,” said the other before Laura could finish. “We are your colleagues. Both of us are professors here.”

“I’m Cassian,” I told them coolly. “But then, you already know that.”

Both women exchanged a look and giggled as if I had just said something very funny.

For professors at the academy, they were behaving like silly little girls. Why did it seem as though all the females in Southview were so damn annoying?

“Of course we do,” Laura went on. “There’s been talk for days about the young professor coming to join us.” Her eyes swept over me appreciatively, and I tensed. Then she dragged her gaze back up to my face. “I must say it is a a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“Yes, yes. It is," Anna agreed.

Impatiently, I shifted from one foot to the other, and Laura finally seemed to notice that I wanted to be gone.

“We were just going to have lunch,” she said, pointing with her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of what I supposed was the school cafeteria. “Ca- May I call you Cassian?” she added, patting down her hair as my eyes flickered to her.

“And we wanted you to join us,” Anna added. "It will be our treat."

I bit down on my tongue to keep back a sharp retort.

Laura seemed to take my silence for consent, because she was already turning away and saying over her shoulder, “Shall we?”

“No,” I replied coolly. “I can’t. I have things to do.”

“Oh,” Laura said, exchanging a look with Anna, who shrugged good-naturedly. “Perhaps next time then.”

I could have told her there would not be a next time, but I didn't want to waste my breath. Students in the corridor, females especially, kept stopping to stare and then moving on quickly. I felt like a goddamn performer.

Giving the professor's a curt nod, I made to step past them, but Anna blocked my path in much the same way as Tessa had.

“Is there anything else?” I asked through gritted teeth, transferring my bag from one hand to the other.

“Oh, it’s just that we want you to know that we can be your friends here,” Laura said.

“Yes,” chimed in Anna. “We know it can take a little time for you to adjust to the way things are done here and we are willing to help er- ease the process. I am- that is- we are always here if you need us."

A blush crept up Laura’s cheeks as she said this, and she couldn’t quite meet my eyes.

Anna, not to be outdone, gently pushed Laura aside to add, “Just be open to us, Cassian, and tell us about all your challenges.”

“I won’t,” I snapped before I could stop myself, and felt a glad at the look of blank shock on their faces.

Then I spun on my heel and left them standing there, gaping at me and, headed straight for my office.

“What just happened?” I heard Laura gasp.

“Do you- do you- think he is a sociopath?” Anna asked.