Chapter 020

TALIA

People always said you never really knew the value of what you had until you lost it. I supposed they were right. There was a huge grin I could not hide as I stepped through the doors of Southville Academy.

Mother had told me the previous evening, when I went to get dinner for myself, after they were all finished, that they had decided not transfer me from Southville.

"For now," she had said with an emphasis on the now.

While I dished out my food, she had muttered and glared, but I had not minded much. Still didn’t.

The important thing was that I got to stay in school.

And to see Cassian, of course, chipped in an inner voice.

I spotted Ruby moving slowly behind some students. She was craning her neck around, obviously looking for me.

“Ruby!” I called out, standing on tiptoe and waving my hand over my head so she could spot me behind the tall guy in front of me.

Ruby’s head swiveled toward the sound of my voice. When she saw me, her face broke into a brilliant smile. Shouldering her backpack, she ran toward me with her arms wide open.

To get to me, she ended up bumping into a couple of people.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Ruby,” I laughed just as she pulled me into a warm hug.

“Look at you,” she exclaimed, pulling back a little and beaming. “You are quite the sight for sore eyes.”

“Someone hearing you will think you have not seen me for weeks.”

I was still grinning, and so was Ruby, but then her eyes suddenly narrowed suspiciously.

“You’re smiling too much,” she observed.

I rolled my eyes. “Since when has that become a crime?”

“I know my Talia. Something happened, right? You know... I could almost swear you have caught the love bug."

She placed the back of her hand on my neck as though checking my temperature. I playfully slapped it away, laughing. She lowered her voice.

“Yes something happened,” I admitted, “but I’ll tell you all about it later. I promise."

I tugged her arm when she planted her hands on her hips and refused to walk, silently insisting that I tell at once.

“Fine,” she grumbled, finally moving.

I was beginning to wonder why Ruby had still insisted on details when I got the answer myself a second later.

“Have you heard about the fundraising party our school is hosting?” she blurted, her voice breathless with excitement. “Everyone is talking about it. You and I are going, of course," she added, frowning at me as though daring me to refuse. I didn't and she went on. "And the best part? It is a costume party!” Ruby clasped her hands together and let out a little squeal. “Oooh! I can’t remember the last time we had one of those. It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

I nodded and told her it was. All parties excited Ruby. In fact any event, gathering or outing that required dressing up and socializing, did.

I supposed the fundraising event would be fun, but all I could think about was getting to class and seeing Cassian again.

We had him first period this morning fortunately for me.

“…Talia?”

I blinked and glanced at Ruby, realizing she had been talking.

“Come again?” I asked.

“I said we will have to go shopping later. For clothes,” she added, huffing at my blank expression.

“All right, yeah. Clothes. Just tell me when.”

"Sure will."

Ruby pushed open the door of the noisy classroom, and talk about the fundraising party stopped as we took our seats and rummaged around in our bags for our books.

From behind me, a voice called out, “Hey, Talia! Is it true you tried to poison your sister because of Ethan?”

I turned around, my jaw dropping.

A guy, whose name I couldn’t remember, with pimples on his face had spoken. Two other guys sat on his desk. All three were glaring at me with malicious curiosity, waiting for my answer.

Worse still, the entire class which had been rowdy seconds before had fallen completely silent.

I sat frozen, staring at them.

“Why would I do something like that?” I managed when I had found my voice. “And where did you even hear that stupid rumour?”

The guy flushed angrily and took his feet off the desk. “Stupid? Everyone already knows you did it, so you can stop acting innocent.”

I shook my head slowly, hardly believing what I was hearing. How on earth had a rumour like this started? And who had begun spreading it?

“You’re crazy,” I whispered, looking around at the others, waiting for someone- anyone- to agree with me.

But shockingly, most faces showed belief in what the guy had said. One girl even flinched and quickly stepped back when our eyes met.

My throat constricted with anger. I took deep breaths to control the rage long enough to speak at a reasonable volume.

“This is ridiculous,” I said. “You all can’t-”

A gangly girl came to stand behind the pimply guy.

“How could you?” she demanded. “I know getting rejected by your mate can hurt, but how could you even think of killing your own sister? Are you that twisted?"

“She’s gone crazy,” another girl muttered, tapping her temple and twirling her fingers.

Then the murmuring started. They all began to whisper about what I had done, how I had done it, like I wasn’t sitting right there.

“Crazy,” another girl hissed.

I didn’t do it, I wanted to scream. But what would that solve?

They had made up their minds already. I thought of something else to say to defend myself, but my brain had gone blank.

A hot flush crept up my cheeks. Anger and embarrassment twisted inside me. I felt trapped, like I could barely breathe.

They were closing in on me now. Literally. Students had formed a loose circle around my desk.

Their accusing voices grew louder and louder-

“Oh, shut up!” someone bellowed.

Two seconds of ringing silence followed.

Everyone turned to Ruby, who was on her feet, her hands tightly balled into fists.

“You should all be ashamed of yourselves for believing a crappy rumour like that!” she thundered. She trained a glare on the guy who had accused me. “Where is your proof? You don’t have any, do you? Honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m going to school with morons.”

A few students protested angrily. Ruby ignored them and shoved a few people out of her way until she reached me. She planted her hands firmly on my shoulders.

“And for your information- not that it’s any of your damn business- Talia already has a second-chance mate," Ruby announced. "So Tessa can get married tomorrow to Ethan for all we care!”

There were startled gasps from everyone. I gulped as everyone’s attention snapped back to me.

I was grateful Ruby had defended me, but I didn’t know how I felt about her blurting out the fact that I had another mate.

“You’re kidding!” someone exclaimed.

Ruby scowled. “Do I look like I am?”

“Okay then. Who is the guy?”

“Yeah! If it’s true, tell us who he is.”

“Like hell I will!” Ruby shot back.

“Talia-”

“You all should just leave me alone,” I cut in “I am not saying anything. It is my private business."

I gave Ruby a grateful smile and had just turned back around when the classroom fell silent again.

I looked up and my heart gave a little leap. Cassian had just walked in.

Dressed in his usual button-down shirt and trousers, he looked good. Better than good.

“Settle down, everyone,” he instructed as he moved to the front of the class, rolling up his sleeves. “Settle down. We have a lot to cover today.”

Chairs scraped as the class hurried to obey. Ruby gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and slipped into her seat.

The professor began teaching.

It took all my willpower to concentrate on his words and not stare too much at his breathtakingly handsome face. His expression was neutral, but whenever his gaze drifted towards the place where I sat, I thought I saw his eyes soften.

Or was I imagining it?

I had been excited to see him in class. Now I couldn’t wait until we were alone. My heart raced from the beginning to the end of the lecture.

An hour later, the bell rang.

Cassian checked his watch and said, "I take it you have all heard about the fundraising party happening soon?"

There was a chorus of “Yes, Professor."

“Good. It’s an event of the utmost importance. The proceeds of the event will be used to help people with weak wolves and other disabilities. So donate if you can, and encourage your parents to do so as well. Also make sure you come wearing appropriate costumes. Yes, Miss Knight?”

He nodded toward a girl who had raised her hand.

Blushing furiously, and patting down her hair, she stood. “What about you, Professor? Will you be attending in costume?”

Cassian smiled faintly. “Of course.”

A wave of giggles, mostly from the girls, filled the classroom.