A dark road

"I am here, not only to be your Professor, but to help bring structure and propriety back into your curriculum and into your academy life," he continues, and the classroom is quiet with students hanging on to this every word.

"That way, when you graduate from Alpine Crescent Academy, you will become responsible leaders and pillars of the werewolf society. This academy is the greatest in North America, and it needs to become one of the best in the world again. We will set the example, those that set the mold rather than conforming to precedent set by others."

My heart starts to race a little faster and I can hear it pounding in my chest. His speech is motivational, sure, but the words he is using are also dangerous. We can improve the reputation of this academy without competing, or tearing down the others. Raising ourselves does not need to come at the expense of lowering others. I have the feeling he is one of the types to feel better about themselves by putting others down.

"A few years ago, this academy was brought down a dark road. Headmistress Nacht has done a good job and rebuilt the foundation that, together, we will build upon to bring back honor and standing back to this academy once more."

I wonder what he is alluding to, but he doesn't elaborate anymore than that. It makes me curious what could have happened a few years ago.

The asshole continues his drivel for a while about the pride we - or rather should I say THEY - should have for being a werewolf, one of the greatest and powerful supernatural species that exist in this realm. With the rules the Savet implemented hundreds of years ago, the existence of werewolves and other supernaturals has been able to stay hidden, and therefore protected, from the persecution and fear of humans.

Which sounds great and all, but that doesn't give the guy the right to treat me this way. I don't care who he is, and I suspect he is someone renowned, he is using his alpha powers to suppress those he deems unworthy, which, in this case, is me.

I doubt this is the first time he has used his abilities inappropriately though, which begs the question of how this man, Artur Ivanov, was able to become a professor at Alpine Crescent Academy. Considering he doesn't seem to be the type to enjoy empowering and building students to become better versions of themselves, I am curious how he was qualified for this position.

My guess is, he must be someone important with a strong enough reputation that he was able to weasel himself into a position here. What he gets out of it, though, I don't have a clue.

My ears perk up when I hear him mention...bringing back structure and rules and honor to this academy.

A flying paper crane lands on my lap, and Professor Ivanov doesn't release me from his command, so it sits there, unopened. I know he sees it though, because I saw his eyes flicker to it for a moment and it was hard to hear the student's gasps and laughter at my expense - probably assuming that I was being summoned to the Headmistress' office to face expulsion.

A flicker of doubt flutters in my chest when I wonder if she would really expel me if this Professor demands it. Morwenna has wanted to help me before, but I don't know how far her generosity extends. She has a whole academy to run, after all.

It's a painful hour and a half that I spend sitting with my back straight while facing the front of the classroom but doing my best to keep my eyes off of the man pacing back and forth on the stage since I can't give him a proper glare or tell him what I really think. Not only because I physically can't, but because I don't know how important he is and I would rather not attract his ire any longer. Ryker's warning about the council rings in my head, and if he is associated with them, I don't want to do something I could regret later.

When class ends, he still doesn't look my way and waits until the class is nearly empty of students before releasing me from his command. I feel the pressure lift and release me from its hold just as he looks back at me with a taunting smile before exiting through the back door of the lecture hall.

I open the paper crane and it speaks Morwenna's message to me and blood rushes from my face when I hear that she has actually summoned me to her office. Worry starts to spread throughout my awareness and nerves flood my system, causing my stomach to feel nauseous at the thought that Professor Ivanov may have convinced her to expel me.

I try to calm myself and not stress over it until I hear what she has to say, but it is difficult not to overreact and overthink.

The class isn't that far from her office, so I am only battling my emotions for a few minutes before reaching her door. Her assistant is typing away at a computer with her face absorbed in concentration in whatever she is working on. She has beautiful, bronze skin with freckles and eyes that are greener than mine, framed in wide-rimmed glasses that sit comfortably on the bridge of her nose. Her brown hair is short and is coiffed in tight curls in every direction, only adding to her elegance and natural beauty. She has no makeup on, nor does she need it.

She peers over the rim of her glasses as she looks up at me when I come to a stop in front of her desk.

"Ah, Miss Layla, the Headmistress will be with you in just a moment," she says in a formal tone.

"Thanks...I didn't catch your name," I say, continuing our conversation to occupy my time and attention.

"Oh - so sorry, dear. My name is Nelle," she answers, standing up from her chair and offering me a firm handshake. She is wearing a maroon pencil skirt and white silk shirt that has a high neckline and ruffles on the sleeves.

"That's a beautiful name," I tell her honestly, and she responds with a beaming smile. Our conversation is interrupted when the door behind her opens and Morwenna walks out.

"Layla, thank you for coming to see me so quickly. Come," she motions me to join her in her office and I gather my courage and manage to walk in without my fear showing on my face...I think.

She shuts the door quickly, and I have just about sat down in the chair when I hear her talk. I pause, my butt hovering over the seat while I listen to her. "I'm going to keep this quick. My ears on the ground told me about what happened in your Werehistory course, and I want to assure you that I will not be removing you from this academy. At least not for the reasons Artur incorrectly voiced in his impassioned speech."

I let out a sigh and I deflate, finally landing in the seat below me. I rub my fingers over my temple with a groan. "Who is that asshole anyway?" Morwenna snorts, surprising me so I look up at her with a crooked grin.

"No one you want to piss off, that's for sure. Artur is on the Ponoćni Savet, actually. So it is best if you try to keep your head down and weather the storm while we figure out what is going on with your transformation," Morwenna says while looking at her bookshelf anxiously. I nearly prattle on about what I found out about the sigil and the wolfsbane weakening me, but I remember in time that I need to keep that information to myself for the time being. Until I know more or am able to rule Morwenna out from the list of suspects.

"Well, he seems like a real peach. A real professor type," I grunt sarcastically.

Morwenna laughs and the sound is bitter and hollow. "He wouldn't have been my first choice, if I had one anyway." I think that is all she wants to say on the matter since she doesn't elaborate. "Well, I urge you to do what you need to keep his attention off of you. If that is all, I must cut this short and move on to a few other matters that have come up today," she says with a tight smile.

I nod my head, not wanting to cause more trouble and see myself out of her office. On my way out I glance behind me and I see that the smile on her has fallen, revealing a look of contempt and a flash of hostility in her gaze. I only see it for a moment before she turns away and before she turns to look at her bookshelf and the look disappears from her profile.

I follow her gaze to the bookshelf and frown as I contemplate what might be on the shelves that keeps pulling her attention. She must notice my presence, because her eyes quickly swivel in my direction and she purses her lips in a slight frown.

She walks over to her door quickly and put her hand on the door, shutting it closed in my face and leaving me to wonder what could be bothering her so much.