Rats

RORY

It’s been three days since I reanimated the fly.

In that time, Professor Xander has been walking me through some breathing techniques to help me focus.

And I’ve managed to reanimate six more flies, a cockroach, and a small colony of ants.

Today he’s pulled out my next challenge: a rat!

“I’m not sure if I have it in me,” I say, staring at the poor little rat lying flat and motionless on the lab bench.

I hate to admit it, but I’ve been feeling pretty exhausted. All this studying is taking its toll on me.

“You’ll be fine,” Professor Xander says, gesturing to the dead rat.

“I feel like I need a long nap,” I say.

“Just give it a shot.”

I close my eyes and summon all of my energy.

~If I can’t muster enough power to bring back a tiny rodent, what chance do I have of succeeding with a human?~

Once again, I pull the golden strands of energy into myself and redirect them.

I feel the power coursing through me. It binds me to nature, and I feel connected to the world in a new way.

I send as much of that energy as I possibly can to the rat, channeling the power from me and into him.

I picture his little heart being zapped back into action.

And just like that, I hear a small squeaking sound. I open my eyes, and the rat is on its feet.

Suddenly, he darts off the tabletop, scurrying along the floor. I remember that I freaking ~hate~ rats and squeal as I jump out of the way.

The rat disappears through a hole in the wall, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Professor Xander giggles at me.

“What?” I ask. “Rats creep me out.”

I take a step, and suddenly I feel incredibly dizzy. If I was tired before, now I’m completely wiped out—beyond exhausted.

With a hand on the bench, I brace myself to keep from falling over or collapsing in a heap.

“Whoa, I got you.” Professor Xander reaches out and holds my shoulders to keep me upright.

“You weren’t kidding about needing that nap,” he says. “Do you need to sit?”

I take a deep breath. I don’t want him to think this is too much for me, plus the dizzy feeling is starting to ebb away now, so I shake off his help.

“I’m fine,” I say. “Just a bit lightheaded.”

He eyes me cautiously.

“I think we’re done here for the day, but maybe we should get you some coffee before you head home?”

“No, really, I’m okay,” I say.

“Hey,” he says, grinning. “You’ve made some amazing progress today. We should celebrate that.”

He does have a point. Today I not only managed to bring a rat back to life but I started to understand where that power comes from—the source of all energy.

I deserve to celebrate a little, even if it is just a coffee. And despite wanting to put on a brave face, I think a shot of caffeine might be a lifesaver.

Right now I’d probably fall asleep halfway back to the pack house and crack my head open on a rock.

“Okay,” I say, smiling. “Coffee sounds great.”

***

The afternoon sun shines through the glass ceiling of the conservatory, which is attached to the werewolf law building.

Professor Xander is sitting opposite me on ornate garden furniture made of wrought iron that’s been painted white.

We’re surrounded by vases of cut flowers and potted succulents.

In the corner is an old-school coffee machine. The sort that has a tall brass tank attached to it.

“It’s gorgeous here,” I say. “The student cafe at F.I.T. has nothing on this.”

“I like this spot,” Xander says. “You can almost forget you’re on the campus.”

I glance around at the other students at their tables talking or reading.

“Why would you want to forget that?” I ask.

Professor Xander sighs and stirs the foam on the top of his cappuccino.

He doesn’t say anything for a long moment and I’m suddenly worried I’ve upset him.

After the last couple of days, I feel as if we’ve bonded, but I have to keep reminding myself I know very little about this man.

“I’m sorry if I offended you.”

He glances up with a furrowed brow.

“I’m not offended,” he says. “I guess sometimes I just find the life of an academic a little, well, stifling.”

I’m shocked.

Being a professor always seemed like such a great job to me. Spending all your time researching and teaching, reading books—sounds like a dream.

“Stifling? How so?”

“Well, you never know if you’re about to become irrelevant. You could make the most amazing breakthrough and the next day someone could come along with an even more shocking one.”

“Right.”

“Sometimes, it feels as if I’m constantly battling for things. For funding, for students to care. But mostly I live in fear of becoming irrelevant.”

“I had no idea being a professor could be so tense…”

I’m about to continue when I feel a familiar—and annoying—presence at my side.

“This looks cozy!” Mia says, looking down at us.

“We’re just having coffee,” I say.

“Yes, and celebrating,” Professor Xander says, championing me. Although I sort of wish he wouldn’t. “We had a very successful day in the lab.”

“Wow,” Mia says snidely. “You’ve only been a student here a couple of weeks and already you’re racking up the accolades.”

“Oh really?” Xander says, eyeing me enthusiastically like he’s keen to hear about my successes elsewhere.

“Not only is Aurora thriving in her classes…she was also the best dressed at the Lupinotuum Pectinem party by far. You wanna see?”

Before I can say anything, Mia has whipped out her phone and is holding up a photo of me from the party.

I’m standing in the doorway in my ball gown, looking horrified.

~I didn’t even know she took that!~

“Isn’t the little luna pretty?” Mia asks. “It was so nice of her to slum it with us commoners, even if she was just a little overdressed.”

My professor gulps audibly, pulling on his collar.

My blood starts boiling. Mia is trying to humiliate me in front of him. And it’s working.

But I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t let myself get caught up in all this drama. If Mia wants to be a spiteful bitch, then so be it.

“Wow, Mia. That picture is amazing. Can you send it to me?”

Mia tilts her head, confused.

“I want to send it to Everett. You know, my mate, the alpha? He ~loved~ the outfit.”

“Whatever,” Mia says, clearly deflated. But she can’t embarrass me if I’m not embarrassed.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. I looked amazing in that dress and showing that I’m able to laugh off being pranked just shows that I’m not the victim Mia would like me to be.

Mia gives me one more confused look before heading off to find herself a table on the other side of the conservatory.

“Sorry about her,” I say to Professor Xander once she’s gone.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. You looked stunning, if not a little out of place. I’m assuming the outfit was the result of a college prank.”

“Something like that.”

Professor Xander leans back in his chair.

“This is what I mean when I say this place can be stifling. People think that universities exist above the rules of the outside world. But people here are just as shallow.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I say, shrugging. “I’ve had my share of bullies in the past. My first alpha tried to kill me. Believe me, Mia is nothing.”

Xander smiles and nods. “You’re a little different than the other students here.”

I spin my coffee cup in a circle on its saucer. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, it’s very good.”

“I figured out a while ago that I can’t let people discourage me from going after what I want.”

Xander leans forward. “That’s a very smart thing to know.”

His green eyes shimmer a little as he smiles at me and I can’t help smiling back.

“Your cake,” the waitress says, placing a massive slice of chocolate mud cake between us.

“I don’t think we ordered—”

“I ordered it,” Xander says. “I wasn’t sure a latte was celebratory enough.”

“Enjoy!” the waitress says before shuffling back to the counter.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.

“It’s my pleasure,” he says, going to pick up the knife. “Ah!”

Xander drops the knife back onto the plate and a small red drop of blood appears at the end of his finger.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies. “Just nicked myself.”

Xander wraps a paper napkin around his finger but it quickly soaks through with blood.

“It doesn’t look great,” I say. “Let me see.”

“It’s fine really, I—”

“Give me your hand,” I say.

Xander stretches out his hand and I unwrap his bleeding finger. The cut is small but it’s deeper than it looks.

I cradle his hand in mine and wipe away the blood with a napkin. Then I place my other hand over his and concentrate.

The yellow glow of my healing power emanates from between my palms. When I release Professor Xander’s hand, the cut has healed.

He studies his finger with an amazed, curious expression.

“I was right,” he says. “You are ~very~ different from the other students.”

I laugh and smile.

Professor Xander is nothing like what I thought a professor would be either. But I’m glad that I have him to learn from.

***

EVERETT

After another long day trying to make headway with the council, I return to my bedroom hoping to find Aurora.

But when I get there, the room is empty.

I glance at the clock.

~Strange, she should be back by now. I wonder what’s keeping her?~

I pull off my shirt and toss it into the laundry hamper. I plan on taking a quick shower before she arrives.

I’m about to slip out of my pants when she arrives.

“You’re home late,” I say.

“Sorry, I hung back for a bit.”

“How was class today?” I ask.

“It was great actually. Professor Xander and I made a couple of amazing breakthroughs.”

Her eyes come alive when she talks about him. And I want to punch a wall.

They’ve been spending so much time together over the last couple of weeks.

I know he’s just her teacher and I know she’s passionate about her studies.

But I can’t help feeling jealous somehow.

Jealous because another man gets to see my mate more than I do!

Maybe it has to do with the flowers from the first night.

Or maybe it’s the way Aurora’s face softens when she mentions him.

“Were you about to take a shower?” she asks, staring at my bare chest.

“I was, but I’d rather hear about your day.”

I step to her and pull her to me. She halfheartedly returns my hug.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“I’m just really tired from all the work. Reviving animals takes it out of you. Do you mind if I go straight to bed?”

“It’s no problem.”

By the time I’m done in the shower, Aurora is fast asleep.

I crawl in beside her and drift off.

***

The next morning, Aurora is up and off to class before I’ve even woken up.

She was so tired last night. But she was excited enough to get back to school that she didn’t even wake me to say goodbye.

I sit up wondering if she’s being distant or if I’m reading into things too hard.

~Maybe she’s simply preoccupied with her studies?~

~Maybe she was just tired last night?~

There’s a knock on my door, and I hastily throw back the covers. I find a robe and pull it on before answering.

One of my staff hands me a manila envelope.

I open it and pull out a printed photo.

Instantly, I want to tear the picture into a million pieces.

Chaos starts barking madly. My teeth clench and chatter.

In the photo, Aurora is sitting in a fancy-looking cafe, holding hands with another man.

~This must be her professor!~

~What are they doing together?~

~And why do they look like they’re on a date?!~