Possessive Instincts and a Private Summons

The silence in the car stretched for what felt like forever. Kaelen's eyes never left mine in the rearview mirror, that infuriating smirk still playing on his lips.

"Fine," he said finally. "You can use my laptop when we get back to the academy. But you work with me, not around me. Clear?"

The unexpected victory left me momentarily speechless. I hadn't actually expected him to agree. "Crystal," I managed.

Jaxon snorted beside me. "Never thought I'd see the day Vance backed down."

"I'm not backing down," Kaelen said smoothly, shifting his attention to the road as he pulled away from the curb. "I'm being pragmatic. Hazel has proven herself capable."

Something warm bloomed in my chest at the unexpected praise. My wolf preened.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"Don't thank me yet," he replied. "You might not like what we find."

The drive back to the academy was mostly quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I stared out the window, watching the human world slide past. How many Greys were out there, living among humans without knowing what they were? How many would suddenly develop powers they couldn't understand or control?

"My police contacts haven't checked in," Kaelen said suddenly, breaking the silence. "The ones who helped locate you. They're usually very responsive."

I felt a pang of guilt. "Because of me? Did something happen to them?"

"I don't know," he admitted, his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. "But it's not typical."

Silas squeezed my hand. "It's not your fault."

"But if they got hurt helping me—"

"Then that's on Magnus and his people," Rhys interjected firmly. "Not you."

I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn't ease. More innocent people potentially caught in the crossfire because of me. Because of what I was.

When we finally arrived at the academy, students milling about the entrance stopped to stare as our group emerged from the car. Their whispers followed us as we moved toward the building.

"Did you see her eyes?"

"She's the one who's pregnant with Jaxon's baby..."

"Heard she took down three rogues..."

I kept my head high, refusing to show how much their gossip bothered me. My bonds closed ranks around me, forming a protective circle as we walked.

We were nearly at the main doors when a familiar voice called out, "Kaelen! Thank goodness you're back."

Seraphina approached, her black dress molded perfectly to her curves, her heels clicking on the pavement. She reached Kaelen and immediately placed a manicured hand on his forearm.

"We have a situation that requires your attention," she said, her voice silky. Her fingers lingered on his arm, her body leaning in close.

Something primitive roared to life inside me. My vision flared blue at the edges, my wolf surging forward with such violence it took my breath away. Mine! The possessive instinct overwhelmed me, flooding my system with the urge to tear her hand away from him.

I must have made some sound because Jaxon's head whipped around, his eyes widening as he took in my expression.

"Shit," he muttered, grabbing my arm and hauling me sideways through a nearby door, with Silas quickly following.

We stumbled into what looked like a small conference room. Jaxon kicked the door shut behind us.

"What the hell was that?" he demanded.

I was trembling, my wolf still clawing at my insides, desperate to go back out there and establish its claim. "I don't know," I gasped, wrapping my arms around myself.

"Your eyes were completely blue," Silas said, concern etching his features. "You looked ready to attack her."

"I wanted to," I admitted, horrified by the intensity of my reaction. "When she touched him, it was like... like..."

"Like what?" Jaxon pressed.

"Like she was touching one of my bonds," I whispered, tears springing to my eyes. "I can't explain it. It felt wrong."

Jaxon threw his hands up. "Jesus Christ, not this again. He's not your bond, Hazel. Get it through your head."

"You think I want to feel this way?" I shot back, my voice breaking. "You think I enjoy this... this confusion?"

Silas stepped between us, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. We'll figure this out."

I sank into a chair, fighting back tears of frustration. "Something's wrong with me, Silas. The way I feel about him... it's exactly how I feel about you guys. Protective. Possessive. Connected. But he clearly doesn't feel the same, and I don't understand why this is happening."

Silas crouched in front of me, his eyes serious behind his glasses. "Hazel, I think there's something you should know—"

The door opened abruptly, cutting him off. Kaelen stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. His eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, I could have sworn they flashed blue.

"Give us the room please," he said, his voice commanding. "I'd like to talk to Hazel in private."

My heart slammed against my ribs. Silas straightened slowly, exchanging a look with Jaxon that I couldn't interpret.

"We'll be right outside," Jaxon said pointedly, moving toward the door.

Silas gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before following him out.

When the door closed, Kaelen and I were left alone, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. He didn't move from his position by the door, and I remained seated, afraid my legs wouldn't support me if I tried to stand.

"I hear you had quite a reaction out there," he said finally, his voice carefully neutral.

Heat flooded my cheeks. "I don't know what came over me."

He took a step into the room. "Don't you?"

The question hung in the air between us, loaded with meaning I couldn't decipher. My wolf stirred again, but differently this time—less aggressive, more yearning.

"Mr. Vance—" I started.

"Kaelen," he corrected softly. "I think we're past formalities, don't you?"

The use of his first name felt strangely intimate, like crossing some invisible boundary. "Kaelen," I amended, the name foreign but right on my tongue. "I don't understand what's happening to me."

He moved closer, his steps measured, predatory. "What exactly do you feel, Hazel?"

"I..." The words stuck in my throat. How could I explain without sounding crazy? Without revealing feelings he clearly didn't reciprocate?

"Tell me," he pressed, now standing directly in front of me.

I forced myself to meet his gaze. "When I saw her touch you, I felt... territorial. Protective. The same way I feel about my bonds."

Something flickered in his eyes—pain? Longing? It was gone before I could identify it.

"And why do you think that is?" he asked, his voice dropping lower.

"I don't know," I whispered, my heart racing. "It makes no sense. You've made it clear you don't—"

"Have I?" he interrupted, his expression inscrutable.

Confusion swirled through me. "What are you saying?"

Instead of answering, he moved to the window, staring out at the academy grounds. His broad shoulders were tense, his posture rigid.

"There are things you don't understand, Hazel. Things I've been trying to protect you from."

"Then help me understand," I pleaded, rising from my chair. "Stop keeping me in the dark."

He turned to face me, and the raw emotion in his eyes took my breath away. "I summoned you here because we need to talk. About Magnus. About the missing teens." He paused, his jaw working. "And about us."