Hollow Mate: The Roma Academy

Chapter 8

-Tinsley POV-

His smell is all over me, Leon’s. I look around me and see his bedroom sheets on me. I take a deep breath and somehow, I feel happy. I have never woken up so relaxed like I have done these last two days. And it has been exactly that, two days since Leon took me to my bed to rest. Yesterday, I was so tired still and so I stayed all day in. Leon actually came to see me with Marco and brought me some food.

Today I feel ten times better. It’s as if a switch turned and I can see things more clearly. It is so weird but this has happened before. I remember being sick that time I didn’t have my medication and then I blacked out one night, ending up in the woods naked... now remembering it clearly, that night was a full moon.

My eyes widen as it all now makes sense.

“Uh... wow. This is real...” It was honestly still feeling a bit unreal but it is kind of hitting me now. “This is all real.”

After a few more minutes of realization, I get up and head to the shower.

I start my classes tomorrow and I don’t even know what classes they are. I’m not sure I even have a major. I haven't looked at my itinerary yet.

After taking a shower, I go into the room and get ready. I put on the only clean shirt I have on. One of only two I own but the other one is already dirty. Then, I put on the only jeans I own. My eyes drift to the bedsheets and I know that I should probably give them back to Leon but I kind of don’t want to. I like how they smell.

(They’ll probably give him new ones anyway.)

I nod. “I’m keeping them. I feel like a psycho stalker but I don’t care.”

Today I am going to go shopping for clothes and school supplies but I am waiting for Daniel to come to see me first.

As if on cue, someone knocks on the door and I know it’s him. He is very punctual.

I open the door and let him in.

“How are you feeling today?” He asks.

“Much better. I feel like a new person.”

He smiles but then leans towards me and smells me. I find it strange but I try my best not to judge since it is a wolf thing.

“You are starting to have a scent.” He says.

“Really? Wait... do I smell?! I just took a shower!” I start smelling my armpits.

He laughs at my panic. “You don’t smell but... you do smell strange and it is probably because it is just starting. We also don’t know what kind of permanent damage all those years of medicating did to you.”

Seeing my deflated face, he adds “There is a high chance that once you get your abilities, your body will start healing itself. So don’t worry. Just focus on getting better.”

“Okay.”

He does a thorough checkup and when he is done, he smiles again. “Everything looks good. I just need to get some of your blood.”

(Oh no!)

I take a deep breath and let him do what he needs to. He fills a blood vial with blood and then another... and another... by the fourth vial, I now know why everyone is so afraid of him.

(Is he going to keep going?!)

Thankfully, he stops at the fifth one.

After, he leaves me and I head downstairs to get lunch. I am hoping to see Leon since he is the person I know the most here but he is not in the cafeteria.

As I walk by people, they all start to smell the air.

(Oh god, this is so nerve-racking.)

I get food and look around. I am surprised to see so many more people now. Probably because classes start tomorrow. It is full and there are barely any places to sit. Then I spot a table that is completely clear except for one person on it.

(Amy Wraith)

She is moving her food with a fork around but her attention is all on a small black book.

I walk over to the table and sit across from her. She slowly looks up at me and her eyes widen. She looks around her and then back at me. I give her a smile and start eating. She smiles back and goes back to her book. I look around me and this is when I notice that a lot of the guys in the room are watching me with intense gazes.

(What the hell?)

Some girls are looking at me too but the guys are just staring at me as if I was the last coca-cola in the damned desert.

I am even more startled when someone whispers in my ear. “You smell really good.”

I am relieved when I turn to see Leon with Connor.

I smile at him and he does the same but then his gaze goes to Amy. He looks weary of her but still sits next to me. Connor sits next to him, his eyes never leaving Amy.

“So you finally got a scent?” Leon asks taking his attention away from Amy.

“Yea, apparently. But I am not sure if I like it.” I say looking at the guys at the other tables that still stare.

Leon looks around and then back at me. “That is easily resolved.”

“Really-” I stop when Leon gives a loud growl that resonates through the cafeteria, almost giving me a heart attack.

Amy looks up startled and all the other guys in the room quickly turn back and mind their own business, except for two of them. Leon narrows his eyes at them.

“Alphas.” Connor says.

The two guys smirk at Leon and then look away.

Leon now looking relieved, scoots closer to me. “There, better?” He asks and I nod.

His smell goes all around me, reminding me of the bedsheets in my room.

I look past Leon, to Connor who is staring at me.

“You do smell good you know.” He says.

“Do I really?”

Leon and him both nod.

“Is this how it is for everyone?”

They both look like they think about it.

“Well, everyone has their own scent mixed in with their kind, in your case, you have a strong scent but your werewolf scent is not there yet. You smell like... well... I don’t really know but it is like flowers, I think. I just can’t really pinpoint which one.”

Connor nods agreeing.

“What do I smell like?” Amy suddenly asks.

Leon and Connor were taken by surprise and now they just stare at her like two dumb idiots.

The guys don’t talk so I do and hope that she has a sense of humor.

“Probably sage or witch hazel.” I say and wink at her to make a point that I am joking.

Amy stares at me for a few seconds and then starts laughing. “With my luck, that is probably it.”

I smile and then she goes back to her book.

I get that she is dangerous because she doesn’t have full control of her power but I don’t think is right for people to alienate her because of fear. She seems nice enough.

“Lavender.” Connor suddenly says.

Amy looks up at him.

“Your scent is of lavender.” He says.

Amy smiles. “That’s not so bad.”

Connor smiles and nods.

(There you go. One small step is all it takes.)

I now notice that Leon is staring at my stupid smiling face. He also has a smile.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing... you are just too cute. So what is your plan for today anyway?” He asks.

Flustered over how honest he is, I am about to answer but suddenly Garnet appears out of nowhere looking as fabulous as last time I saw her.

“My party guys.” She whines. “You have to come. Those little turds Jeremy, Ismael, and Cole canceled because they all have Alpha training in their packs and now, I don’t have any high-profile people coming. They are all busy.”

She points a finger at Leon.

Leon’s eyebrow raises. “Okay?”

I look at Leon. “So, you are a high-profile guest?”

Garnet looks at me as if I was stupid and with attitude. “Leon is an Alpha. All Alphas are.”

I stare at her ready to answer her back because I don't like people being snippy with me. “I have no idea what that means. So, you better watch your tone with me.”

I don’t care if she is an angel sent from heaven itself, I don’t like the way she said that.

Garnet smiles. “Spunk... I really like her. Bring her to the party.” Garnet's eyes dart to Amy. “Her too. Weird is good.”

Amy closes her book. “No thank you.” She grabs her stuff and leaves.

“Wow.” I look at Garner. “I am impressed as to how someone can be rude while thinking they are being nice at the same time.”

Garnet gives me a dramatic smile. “It’s a gift darling.”

She plops her butt on the chair in front of us where Amy was just sitting and looks at her nails.

(What a bratty girl... boy? Both?)

Leon leans into me and whispers in my ear. “You do have spunk. It’s kind of sexy.”

I give him a side-glance. “Do you whisper that to all of your s*x toys?”

“Oh, so you are saying you’ll be my s*x toy then?”

My eyes widen. “What, no! f**k, how did that backfire?”

(I wanted to tease him but it got turned around on me.)

He starts laughing. “Girl, I have comebacks like you don’t even know.”

“Comebacks huh? Are you gifted in anything else?” Now I am definitely flirting.

He gets even closer, his breath tickling my skin. “Do you want to find out?” He whispers.

I have to look away because I impulsively bite my lip.

“Who the f**k are you?” A girl suddenly says.

I look back to see a blond chick with blue eyes looking angrily at me.

Connor and Leon both grunt.

“Are you really going to do this Kalani?” Leon asks looking at her with irritation.

“Me? You are the one who is getting cozy there.”

“And?” Leon barks out.

Kalani’s eyes flare. With speed and for no damned reason, she takes Connor's drink and throws it at me.

I gasp now dripping with orange juice all over my face, hair, and clothes.

“You little b***h!” I don’t think I have ever meant those words more than I do now.

“What the f**k Kalani! That was uncalled for! What the hell is wrong with you?!” Leon shouts.

I look down at my shirt.

(This is only one of two shirts I own and she just ruined it.)

“You're... a p***y!” I shout at her with so much anger.

She gasps. “What?”

“You catty b***h!” I shout again. “You are paying for my shirt!”

“Like hell I am. It was ugly anyway.” She says and starts to mockingly laugh.

I narrow my eyes at her. “Oh, no?... then I am taking yours!”

I lunge at her over the table and grab her shirt by the hem of her waist. Connor and Garnet get up and quickly back up.

This Kalani chick pulls back while Leon grabs me by the waist and pulls me back too. And just like that, her shirt comes with me.

I take a deep breath and smile as I twirl her shirt around on my finger.

Kalani’s eyes widen and she quickly covers her bare breasts. She was not wearing any bra but then again it looks like she never needed one.

“Those mosquito bites don’t need covering. No one can see them.” I say.

Her face flares all shades of red. “You are so paying for this!” She shouts and then runs out.

“That was mean of me but f**k it, she started it.” I cross my arms and sit back down, then look at the others.

“I got it all on video!” Garnet exclaims with excitement.

Connor is shaking his head with his eyes closed and laughing. “Mosquito bites!” He says and burst out laughing again.

Leon is covering his mouth trying not to laugh but he can’t and lets it out.

Though I feel good, I am not amused.

I narrow my eyes at Leon. “I think it’s time you explained why the hell I am covered in orange juice.”

He stops laughing and groans. Then starts explaining to me who she is and what happened between them.

“So... basically she is your ex.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Yea, I guess.”

I nod. “And what the hell is this imprinting thing.”

“Well, that’s how we create mate bonds.” He says.

I am still confused but he explains everything.

(A werewolf life is definitely complicated.) This werewolf mating thing is too much work to keep up with.

After we all calm down, I go to the nearest bathroom. It is next to the cafeteria where I quickly change and clean my face and hair. I come back and they all start laughing again.

“I think it looks much better on me.” I say doing a little twirl.

“You definitely fill it out better. No mosquito bites there.” Leon says with a big smile and I start laughing.

“I can’t believe you are actually wearing her shirt.” Garnet says.

“Of course I am. I have nothing else at the moment. But honestly, I don’t think lilac is my color.”

“You can pull anything off.” Leon says.

I look up at him and smile coyly. “Well thank you.”

He winks at me and my stomach goes into knots.

My mind knows this guy is trouble, I mean I already had a crazy girl spill orange juice on me because of him, but my heart doesn’t seem to care.

Connor and Garnet eventually leave. Leon and I continue to eat but at some point, I look and see Cole walking into the room. His eyes roam the place until they settle on me. He smiles and then starts heading our way.

I am now super nervous because this guy is spontaneous.

Cole takes a chair where Garnet was sitting before and he sits, getting comfortable.

"Hey Tin." He gives me a big smile.

"Tin?" Leon asks.

I narrow my eyes at Cole and I am sure he knows why. He didn't let me get a word in when he kissed my cheek last time and bolted.

He smiles knowing exactly what I am thinking.

"Oh come one sweet thing. It was just one kiss." He says.

"One... kiss?" Leon repeats.

I take my fork and point it at him. "You have no permission to do anything like that again... unless I give it to you."

He chuckles. "Okay fine. I apologize. But honestly, it's not something I do often to girls I just met. I just... really like you."

I lower my fork and start eating because I don't know how to respond to that. But my face does. I feel it heat up.

“He kissed you?” Leon asks.

And for some reason, I feel like I should be careful because he sounds a bit pissed.

“On the cheek.” I say trying to make light of all of it and it really was a light thing.

My thoughts stop when Leon is quiet and I feel him scoot closer. Suddenly, his arm goes behind me, over my shoulder but he doesn't touch me. His arm rests on my chair. I feel so small next to him. The guy is so much bigger than me, I feel like I could use him as a blanket. Cole is no different.

Cole shifts in his chair in a way that he suddenly looks bigger.

(Is he flexing?)

He looks at Leon and Leon stares daggers at him. Cole then looks at me with eyes that clearly say "I want you" and I am not sure if it is to get a reaction out of Leon or me. But either way, it's working.

I swallow feeling the tensions. The s****l tension between all of us and the angry tension between both of them.

Cole then lifts his bottle of water to his lips and while he looks at me, he takes a sip and then winks.

My eyes go to Leon's other hand on his lap that starts to turn into a fist.

I abruptly get up. "Gotta go. Have stuff to do!"

Without looking at them, I take my stuff and leave.

(You got to be shitting me. Is this really happening? Two hot guys interested in me?!)

I am not sure how to feel about this.

After that fiasco, I spend the rest of the day doing what I intended to do, go shopping for clothes. When morning comes, I am ready to start my semester.... or so I thought.