T W E L V E

NOVA NYX 🌙

The Coach was not what I expected at all...that's for sure.

Instead of the mean, seven foot tall giant with a scowl permanently etched on his face like I was imagining, a man that was barely five foot nine stood before his class, shouting out deeming comments and impossible orders.

The scowl was present on his face but mixed with the tactical pants and Crescent Academy Polo he was wearing, he gave off more of a retired cop vibe instead one of the best Shifter Professors in the world.

According to Atlas' words.

"MCKINLEY! YOU CALL THAT SHIFTING?!" Coach barked "MY MEEMAW CAN SHIFT BETTER THAN YOU AND SHE'S DEAD! TELL ME HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE?"

McKinley's face deepened into a violet color as he tried to shift for the third time.

"ROJAS IF YOU TAKE ANY LONGER TO SHIFT, THE MARKSMEN ARE GOING TO HAVE YOU BY THE BALLS" He screamed "THIS ISN'T ONE OF THOSE TRANSFORMATIONS ANIME SHOWS YOU WATCH WHEN YOU THINK I'M NOT LOOKING!"

Rojas looked away in embarrassment, snickers sounding out from all of our classmates.

Coach's flaming blue eyes caught mine standing slightly behind Atlas, his gazing darting to the older Heir with questions in his eyes.

"Are you going to hide behind him all day?" he snapped at me "Or are you actually going to join the class and earn your grade?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, taking a step forward and away from him Atlas when he suddenly shot a hand forward and gripped my wrist.

"I have explicit orders from the Penta regarding Nova's participation in this class Coach" he handed the Coach a folded up letter "I think you'll find the explanation you're looking for in that letter."

Coach snatched the letter before tucking it away in his back pocket.

"I don't have time to read pretty little bureaucratic bullshit Lobo" he said, crossing his arms "Tell me what it says."

"I rather have you read it Coach" he says, glancing at our classmates "Too many nosy fucks not minding their own damn business."

I glanced around to find everyones eyes on us, a majority of them stopping what they were doing to focus their attention on us.

"I'll read the damn letter later" he snapped at me, motioning for me to join the back of the line "For now, you need to get the fuck out of my class. I passed you already so there's no reason why you're still here bugging me."

Atlas smirked at the Coach, nodding to where the letter was residing in his pocket.

"I've missed you too Coach" Atlas cooed "So much in fact that I decided to take a refresher course."

Whispers erupted from around us, mainly questioning why an Heir would want to repeat the hardest class in Crescent Academy History.

Others were questioning why Atlas was still holding onto my wrist.

I yanked it out of his grasp, taking a giant step away from him, rubbing at the spot where his warm calloused hand met my skin.

Atlas sighed at my behavior, taking a step forward which brought him closer to me.

Coach reared his head back in shock, ripping the letter from his pocket and scanning its contents.

His eyes snapped to mine, shocking lining that blue gaze.

I had no doubt that whatever he read in that letter was related to my...situation.

Namely my inability to shift.

Coach's head snapped around to our spectators, the crowd large and eager as they took in the scene before them.

"DID I SAY YOU ALL COULD STOP TRAINING TO GAWK AT ME?" He roared "GET BACK TO WORK OR  I'LL MAKE YOU REPEAT MY COURSE! SINCE YOU'LL LOVE MY FACE SO MUCH, I BET IT'LL BE NO PROBLEM FOR YOUR TO COME STARE AT IT OVER THE BREAK!"

The crowd dispersed quickly after that, and Coach stomped over to where I was standing, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me inside the Coliseum.

Well...he tried to drag me.

He didn't even get half a step in before Atlas was there, separating the two of us with lightning fast speed, a growl rumbling from low in his throat.

"Don't touch her" he muttered, yanking the Coach's hands off of me.

The Coach countered his movements with some maneuvers of his own which had Atlas stumbling on his ass.

"Remember I taught what you needed to know in order to survive outside the Wards" Coach growled "But I didn't teach you everything I knew."

Instead of getting angry like I expected him too, Atlas merely smiled.

The Psycho smiled...

And before Coach could even blink, he was laying flat on his back and staring up at the sky, the wind knocked out of him.

Everyone gasped in equal parts shock and horror.

"You might not have taught me everything you know Coach" Atlas said "But don't forget I have a few tricks up my sleeves as well."

A few seconds of silence before the Coach started laughing.

Uncomfortable chuckles of alarm rang out as a few students took a few steps away from us, like they knew something that I didn't.

Coach jumped up off the floor quickly, dusting off his pants as he continued to chuckle.

"Fine," Coach said  "I'll let you stay in my class on one condition."

"What is it?"

"You may not interfere" he said, his tone serious "She must complete this course on her own. No assistance from you whatsoever."

Atlas' eyes widened and he looked like he wanted to argue when Coach spoke up again.

"And in order to ensure that you follow this rule, you'll be locked in a Cage" he informed him "Every session we have, you'll be in one of those cages."

"You can't..."

"I can" Coach growled "And I will. That is my stipulation. The Penta might have me by the metaphorical balls but this is still my class. I still decide what goes on with my students."

~🌙~🌙~🌙~🌙

By the time class ended, I knew that it was a matter of time before the gossip of whatever today spread like wildfire.

I stomped out of the Fenrir Coliseum in anger, the giant and annoying shadow following my every movement step for step.

The moment we were no longer surrounded by students sending me curious looks as they exited the Coliseum, I whirled on Atlas.

"What was in that Letter?" I demanded.

"What letter?" he played innocent.

"Don't act stupid" I growled "What was in that damn letter?"

"I don't know."

I shot him a deadpan look.

"I really don't know" Atlas shrugged "I didn't open it."

I scoffed "Yeah right."

"I didn't read it Nova" he said seriously, frowning "It would be considered a crime punishable by banishment to open a Penta Letter."

"Then why did you say that the Letter would answer all the Coach's questions?" I asked "How did you know it would be a sufficient enough explanation for him?"

He shrugged "Regardless if it was enough explanation, the Letter was from the Penta so it had to be enough for him."

"And you couldn't pull him...I don't know...anywhere else to give him that letter or have that conversation?" I asked, poking him in the chest "Now the whole school is going to be gossiping about me tomorrow."

"What's the difference between today and tomorrow" he muttered so low that I almost didn't catch it.

Almost...

"What?" I reared my head back "What does that mean?"

He sighed, closing his eyes and tilting his head back in a way that had him looking at the sky.

I gazed at the dark tattoos that curled up and behind his neck.

And for some strange reason, I had the strongest urge to trace my index finger around those swirling tattoos.

The urge was so strong that my fingers twitched at the mere thought.

Those amber eyes flashed open and gazed down at me, a sigh crossing those full lips.

"Nova, everyone hasn't been able to stop talking about you since the moment you got here" he said, his lips curled up in a half smile "And that won't change until some other scandal happens to divert their attention elsewhere"

He nodded towards the University.

"You're the Lost Lupine Heir, Nova" he said "You're the biggest thing that has happened here since...well ever. While my little display might add a little more gasoline to the fire, it won't stop the people from talking."

"But now they'll know that something is up with me" I whispered "You, the Letter, it'll make people realize that I don't have...that I can't..."

Before I could finish that sentence, Atlas yanked me into his chest, cradling my head against his broad shoulders.

"Oomph" I gasped "What are you...?"

"There are ears everywhere and no sound stones around to protect us" He leaned down fractionally so that he was able to whisper in my ear "No one must find out that you haven't developed your...gift yet. If they did then it would not only be catastrophic for all Packs but you would be subjected to even more danger."

"More danger?" I reared back my head "I thought I was safe here? I thought the whole reason why you and the Penta kidnapped and brought me here was to ensure my safety?"

His lips pursed.

"We attend a Shifter University Nova" he took a step away from me, palming the back of his neck "Safety is never guaranteed when it comes to ill tempered shifters."

He walked past me, letting his finger trail across my cheek as he walked away.

The intensity of his final words chilled me to the core.

"Safety...especially when it comes to us Heirs... is a luxury we cannot afford to take lightly."