F O U R T E E N

NOVA NYX 🌙

"And that concludes our lesson today class" Professor Estrella announced, dismissing her students as she concluded her lecture "I'll see you all here next week."

I was just about finished packing up my laptop and books when the Professor's voice rang out, making me freeze.

"Ms. Lupine, a word if you will."

The gazes of the few kids still lingering in the classroom shot between the Professor and me as I made my way down towards her podium.

She sent scathing looks to the remaining students who hurried out of the classroom like their asses were on fire before turning back towards me, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Ms. Lupine, I wanted to discuss your recent test scores in my class" she bent down to pull out some papers out of her work bag "As you can see, your exams have been subpar at best. I'm afraid if you keep it up at this rate, you'll fail out before spring break."

I just stared at the three big fat F's on my papers, wondering how in the world this could have happened.

I've never got less than an eighty-five in any of my school work, proud that despite working two jobs to help my mom out with the mortgage, I never dropped below my "B" average.

"But I studied for these exams" I croaked "I read and reread everything at least three times. I used all the same study habits I used before at my old school. How could I have failed so miserably?"

"The curriculum at Crescent Academy is much more rigorous and...unique than it is in the human realm" she said "While I have no doubt that you did, indeed, study for these exam, I'm afraid that the techniques you used to study for them weren't quite effective like they would have been for your human courses."

"What can I do?" I asked, looking at her desperately "I can't fail out of this class."

She shot me a sympathetic smile "My best advice would be to find a tutor."

"A tutor?" I said "How would I go about finding one?"

"You wouldn't have to look far" She smiled at me "Mr. Lykos took this course freshman year and passed with flying colors. I would start by asking him if he could tutor you. I'm sure he'd be willing to help a fellow Heir out."

I internally groaned at her solution because while I had no doubt that Kassian would help me if I pleaded enough (I just know he'd get some kind of sick and twisted enjoyment at my begging), my stubborn pride wanted me to see if there alternative to this predicament.

"And there isn't any extra credit I could do in order to make these exams up?" I asked, a sliver of hope lining my voice "I would much rather try to do this on my own before involving someone else."

She shook her head even before I even finished my sentence.

"Ms. Lupine, I could give you extra credit work from now until the semester ends and you still wouldn't have enough points to cover these three exams" she said "And lets not forget the next three exams you have coming up in addition to the Final Exam. A tutor is the only real option you have left at this point, I'm afraid."

~~~~~~~~~~

I took about three deep breaths before I knocked on Kassian's door.

It was about nine thirty at night and while the house was quiet, all the boys retiring to their beds early this Thursday evening, I knew Kassian wasn't sleeping yet.

The lights from his room were still on from what I could tell based on the little sliver that was peaking out from underneath his door.

His door, very much like mine, was intricately carved with various moons and wolf like attributes, like paw prints or trees.

Unlike my door however, it looked like most of his Pack history derived from the Greek culture.

Greek words, phrases, and symbols all covered his door, making me super curious about what they meant.

I raised my hand to knock again, when the door flew open and I was met with a sight that had my mouth drying up quicker than the Sahara desert.

"Nova?" a shirtless Kassian leaned against his doorframe, his soundproof headphones pushed up and off one ear as his light grey sweatpants hung dangerously low on his sharp hipbones "Nova? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I...uh..." I swallowed down what felt like sandpaper in my throat "I...uh need your help."

He straighten, immediately whipping off his headphones and throwing what looked like to be a video game controller onto his bed.

"What's wrong Nova?" he asked, his tone worried as he bent down fractionally to look into my eyes"Is it Brutus? Did he get stuck behind the bookshelf again?"

My lips quirked up at the memory of when I found all three boys in my bedroom trying to corral my blind dog out from behind my bookshelf.

"No," I said after a moment "Brutus is safely tucked into bed. Thanks for the stairs by the way, he's able to get up and down much easier now."

"I'm glad" Kassian smiled "All that jumping was making his arthritis worse."

My icy heart thawed at his words.

I wouldn't admit this out loud but there was nothing sexier than a man who cared about the well being of animals...

However...the grey sweatpants that outlined everything were a very close second though.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and focusing back to the task at hand.

I took another deep, calming breath in.

"I need a tutor" I finally blurted out "I'm failing my Medicinal Review Course and it seems like nothing I'm doing is working. I need your help."

Kassian's eyes widened as he hooked a large hand around my wrist and yanking me into his room, shutting the door closed as softly as he could.

"You're failing Estrella's course?" he asked, guiding me to sit on the trunk at the end of his bed.

I nodded, looking over his shoulder at some game poster hanging above his desk with a clenched jaw.

"How?"

"I don't know" I sent him a small glare "I'm using the same study techniques I used back home but apparently it's not working. Estrella suggested I find a tutor and mentioned that you were one of her best students...so here I am."

His eyes softened "Of course I'll help you."

I let out a breath of relief "Thank you."

"On one condition though."

I tensed, glancing at him wearily "What is it?"

"The others can't find out what we're doing" he said slowly "Actually, no one can find out that I'm tutoring you."

"Why not?"

He winced "I rather have them not know how well I'm doing in my courses."

I looked at him in confusion "You don't want your friends to know how smart you are?"

He looked away, his cheeks tinting pink "It's not just that..."

"Then what is it?"

"Unlike me, Phe, and Atlas..." he smiled at me "And now you, Heirs of the past usually weren't friends. While they tolerated each other for the sake of their Packs, there was no relationship beyond them just being the Heirs. While everyone at school knows we're friendly with each other, they don't realize the extent our friendship goes beyond us being just Heirs. While we may have our disagreements at times, I consider those men out there my brothers and I'd do anything for them. If they realize how close we are, then some outliers in our Packs might cause some trouble for us."

"Your own pack would turn on you?"

"Not everyone but you can never be too sure" he shrugged "Power can turn even the most loyal pack member into a villain."

"But that still doesn't explain why you don't want anyone to know how smart you are?"

"If people realize how smart I am, I'll have to live up to certain expectations" he sighed "And having the top scientist in Pack history for a mom is a path I definitely don't want to follow."

I sighed "I'm never going to get the hang of this pack stuff."

"You will in time," He grinned at me reaching forward to tug a piece of my hair "We just have more experience with these fucked up Pack politics."

I couldn't help the small grin tugging at my lips "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping me" I smirked "Even if it does mess with your cool Heir status."

He laughed out loud, quickly clamping a hand over his mouth to muffle the sound.

"Get out of here Princess before you get me in trouble." He leaned back in the desk chair, running a hand through his blond hair and ruffling it up even more.

I snickered all the way towards the door, thanking him once again as I closed it softly behind me.

When I didn't hear any shuffling from his side, I sighed and leaned against the door.

My eyes flew open and I took a giant step away from Kassian's door when I heard a creak from my left.

My gaze clashed with brilliant blue ones, the sadness momentarily replaced with an unknown emotion.

Before I could explain myself, Phoenix slunk wordlessly back into the shadows.