Chapter 4

PROFESSOR CROSS

Before Dante could say anything, my eyes landed on the boy beside Lessie, my nose sniffled but it was different.

Of course, he was supernatural like us but he smelled different.

I had smelled it before, during my childhood in the Pack, when the witches came to trade with our healers. But his scent was different, darker.

Dante stood frozen, his gaze shifted from Lessie and locked on Ethan. Though he looked harmless with his soft curls and gentle looks, I could tell what he was.

A witch.

"Stay away from him," Dante yanked Lessie to his side in a swift move. But Lessie moves back to stand in front of Ethan.

"Why? Why should I listen to you?" Her voice was firm and defiant.

"Because I said so. He's dangerous, you can't be around him."

"Really?" She shrugged, followed with a scoff. "Well, this person just saved my life, the same life that was put in jeopardy because of your unknown interest in me."

She took a step back, her eyes locked with Dante's. "Let's keep this professional, Professor. I don't know what all this is about but you don't get to call the shots here."

Dante smirked, his lips parted as though to speak but no word came. He looked over her shoulder, to Ethan.

"Explain yourself," Dante growled, his Alpha authority reeking through his voice.

"I'm here friend," Ethan said in a small voice, as though intimidating by Dante.

But I could see what he was trying to do; make Lessie stand up for him instead.

Lessie stepped forward, her violet eyes flashing between confusion and rage.

"Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on? First that woman in the library and now, you're all acting like I'm some kind of... of..."

"Moonborn," the word slipped out before I could stop it.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Her face went pale and white as her eyes darted swiftly between Dante and me, before forcing a dry smile on her face.

"That's not real," she said with a finger pointed at my face.

"This is reality, Professor and here none of that exists. Besides, Moonborn are werewolves, wolves mythology and folklore, as far as I know, I'm human."

"And what if you were something more? What if a world apart from this exists with these Supernaturals? Nothing is impossible."

Dante moved closer to her but she took a step back, closer to Ethan who held her hand to hold her steady.

"It's true that Moonborn are wolves and you might be human but what are the chances that you're not a wolf yourself?" I added and her eyes shifted to me with a piercing glare.

"A wolf?" She laughed but stopped abruptly like she remembered something.

"Everything is making sense to you, right?" I questioned with a smug smirk.

"Lessie," Dante's voice dropped to a whisper, soft and smoothing.

“The people you know as your parents weren't your biological parents. You were found by them and they took care of you as their own."

"You're insane!" She snapped, shaking her head as if to dismiss everything she had heard.

Ethan stepped forward, still holding her hand. "That's enough. I don't think she will be able to handle any more of this."

Before Dante could respond, Lessie spoke. "So who was the woman who attacked me tonight? And what does she want from me?"

"The woman who attacked you was Professor Celeste, head of the Supernatural Studies department. She is a born witch and wants your power."

Dante paused, his eyes watched her face as the word sank in. I stared at him, wondering if he would ever be able to admit to Lessie that Celeste was his ex-girlfriend.

"She will kill to get it. You're one of a kind and this is why you need my protection."

"A witch?" She scoffed with a broken smile as her eyes met with Dante's, tears welling up in them.

"This is crazy. All of this is crazy!"

Letting go of Ethan's hand, she backed towards the exit, shaking her head.

"Werewolves don't exist. Magic doesn't exist. My parents are my biological parents and they died in a car crash!"

"They died without knowing what you truly are. Do you think they would have embraced you if they knew?" Dante's voice was harsh and he was growing impatient.

Lessie raised a brow, her face marred with a scornful look.

“How dare you talk about my parents like that? What are you trying to say? Besides, I'm human, I've always been human and will always be. The story you're all making up will be a beautiful one for my thesis." She snapped.

"You're right. You may be human now but who knows what will happen now? It's rare for a human to be a Moonborn but it's not something unheard of. We're certain that you're a Moonborn and the attacks prove it." I said in a firm voice, my eyes locked with here.

"Attacks?" My jaw dropped, her voice filled with surprise. "What do you mean by that?"

"The girl attacked on campus looked so similar to you. The attack mistook her for you, they know who you are and won't stop until they get you." Dante responded in a swift and hush tone.

"Oh," she gasped, clasping her head in her hands. "This can't be happening. This must be a nightmare. This is a fucking nightmare!" She cussed, vigorously shaking her head with hopes to wake up from this.

I walked to her and slapped her as hard as possible. Her hand instinctively rubbed her cheek, staring at with in shock.

"Do you believe this is not a nightmare now?"

"I looked into your real parents. They died to protect you but marked you to keep your wolf dormant." Dante continued.

"But something went wrong," I guessed.

"Not wrong, things went differently. Meeting your mate triggered the awakening early." Dante said in a still voice.

He went absolutely still beside me. If I hadn't known him for over a decade, I might have missed the way his hands clenched into a fist and the way his breathing changed.

"Mate? Are you for real? Who do I even know is my mate?" She questioned but paused for a moment and shook her head.

“No, I'm not buying into any of this. Werewolves don't exist."

"I think I believe them." Ethan said and all eyes turned to him but his was fixed on Lessie.

"What? You buy into this bullshit?" She took a step back, her eyes darting between the three of us.

"Wait... Was this planned? Does this explain why you approached me tonight, Ethan?"

"No," he said swiftly, in a firm voice, shaking his head.

"Of course not but when you think of everything that has happened tonight, it kind of makes sense. Maybe you're a Moonborn as they said and if you are, you need protection." He concluded.

"This is impossible," she whispered.

"The impossible happens every day in our world." Dante's voice was rough with emotion.

"What matters now is keeping you safe."

"From Professor Celeste?"

"From everyone who would use you," I stepped forward.

“Moonborn wolves are the rarest of our kind. Your power can heal or destroy, create or unmake. In the wrong hands..."

A howl split through the night.

We all froze, Lessie looking scared like a puppy. The sound came from the direction of campus, it was wild and challenging.

"She's calling the hunt," Dante breathed, his face marred with rage.

"Hunt? What does that mean?" Lessie's voice cracked.

"She really doesn't know where to draw the line," I whispered underneath my breath.

"Celeste has been building a pack of rogues. I'm sure you don't need me explaining that," Dante said, already moving towards his car.

“Werewolves without loyalty to any Alpha, driven by hunger and greed. She must have promised them a taste of Moonborn power."

Another howl answered the first one. Then another.

"How many?" I asked.

"Too many." Dante's keys appeared in his hand. "We need to get Lessie to the pack house now!"

"I'm not going anywhere with you people!" She backed away from us. "This is insane. You all are insane!"

"Lessie?" Ethan caught her hand. "Do you trust me?"

She stared at his face for a few seconds, searching for something only visible to her. "I thought I did."

"Then trust me now. Everything they are telling you might be true. And if we don't get you somewhere safe, you're going to die tonight."

A third howl rose from the campus, closer this time. Close enough that we could hear the hunger in it.

Lessie's resistance crumbled. "Okay. Okay, but I want answers, factual answers."

"You'll have them," Dante promised without a rethink. "But first, we run."

We made it to his car just as the first rouge appeared.

"So you're the infamous Lessie," It growled. "Come with us willingly, and we'll make your death quick and painless."

Dante and I quickly took a defensive stance in front of Lessie.

"Counter office," Dante growled and I felt his wolf threatening to take over. "Leave now, and I'll let you keep breathing."

The rouge laughed. "One Alpha against a dozen rogues? Poor odds, even for you, Ravencrest."

As if summoned by his word, more rogues emerged from the shadows. They surrounded us, cutting off escape routes and herding us like prey.

"Dante," I warned.

"I know." His amber eyes began to glow. "Everyone in the car. Now!"

But as Lessie reached for the door handle, pain shot across her face. She doubled over, gasping and clutching her stomach.

"What's happening to her?" I demanded.

"First shift," Ethan said more grimly. "The stress must have triggered it."