The Lycademy - Fire and Death

3. Strange wolves magnet

This was so awesome. I couldn't pick whose face was better. So not thinking much of this situation I took my phone and snapped a few pictures of Cole and both twins.

Nicky glared at me with something I would from now on call daggers no. 5 because the power of hatred in that stare would hount future generations.

"What the hell are you doing?!" - she snarled.

"Saving up the precious memories." - I admitted nonchalantly putting my phone in front of her face and snapping one more shot.

She tried to get the phone from my hand, but she ain't no Valkyrie and my reflex was thankfully on par with hers, otherwise I could be ordering a new phone like right now.

Ty and Pete watched the whole exchange with amusement but stayed in the safe distance from Nicky's arm's reach. I couldn't blame them, that girl had a short trigger.

Cole however was still trying to figure out what was actually happening. He looked like a fish pulled out of water. I could tell that wasn't what he expected on his first day here. It's not unheard of to meet your Mate that soon but to meet two of them that's actually like a blessing and curse at the same time.

We knew from quite some time that the girls would most likely have one Mate just like their fathers have Aunt Martha. And we actually talked about it once after we saw them at Valkyrie's tournament two years ago. But the conclusion me and my guys had was actually not so sweet.

It's like every guy's wet dream to have two hot women, but when you leave the bedroom the troubles start. Because the two of them is twice as much wine and dine, dealing with PMS and other emotional outbursts and Goddess forbid they get knocked up at the same time.

So long story short my best friend is screwed for life. This will be so fun.

"Well, I'm not sure if that's the right moment, but at least you have the Gamma you wanted, Nicky." - said Peter biting his lips to not laugh.

She started glaring at him and I'm not sure if that's the lights reflecting from her auburn hair or did she actually got a few shades redder. And Pete was obviously angering her even more.

"Maybe we could take it somewhere more private?" - Natalie asked softly, looking between Cole and her sister.

"Wait, so you were serious?!" - Cole asked as if it just dawned on him - "Oh s**t, yeah, sure." - she started blabbering, rubbing his forehead as if he was about to have a panic attack. Again, not that I blame him.

The three of them left us by the table and I honestly wished I could be a fly on the wall during that conversation. Seeing how Nicky almost exploded, Cole being flabbergasted more than ever before this would be definitely a great talk.

I turned to my Beta and Gamma with the biggest grin.

"One man down. Now it's time for you fuckers, but if you even think about leaving Crescent Moon I'm gonna hunt you down." - I threatened playfully and to my surprise instead of laughing they both looked nervous. Weirdos.

We sat down and the three of us finished our meal. The rest of it was less eventful, thankfully. And after we were done guys were gracious enough to show me around the castle. At least one good thing came from having older friends.

They showed me how to get to the training field, the gym, pool, where Val and Rob's apartment is and most of the freshmen' classrooms. And I definitely wasn't wrong before, this place is gigantic. I believe I could study here for three whole years and still not see it all, or meet all the students for that matter.

When we were done with a tour of the indoor guys showed me the field and exact doors that Valkyrie gave me keys for. It's good to be prepared, right?

It was long past sunset when we were finally returning to the residential wing to check if Cole had maybe returned from his chit-chat with the twins. But then in the middle of probably twentieth the same looking corridor we stumbled upon someone I was actually looking forward to seeing again.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite rum maker." - I said loud enough to draw some attention from the few students rushing to their respective apartments.

"Loud as always, Cargarough." - Seth smirked and shook it with me and the guys.

"You know me, My Friend, I need to let ladies know I'm here." - I wagged my eyebrows suggestively making all three of them chuckle - "Why are you brooding here alone?" - I asked and Seth rolled his eyes.

"I'm not brooding, just taking a walk."

"Sure, sure. Trying to find something? Or someone?" - I teased him.

The deal with Seth was strange. The guy didn't strike as the one who particularly liked or needed any company at all, he looked completely fine all by himself. But the truth is that his strange aura made most of the wolves keep a safe distance, that's at least what my Beta and Gamma had told me once or twice. However I didn't get that off feeling from him. Sure, he was a bit odd, but who wouldn't while growing up in the jungle. And besides once you looked past that uninviting exterior he was actually a really sharp and funny guy so I'm actually glad he tagged along with his parents that strange weekend when Valkyrie also decided to visit our Grandparents.

The fact that Seth is really strong is also interesting. I wonder if I could persuade him to spar with Val, because as far as I know she's the strongest in the family. And that would be a match I would like to see.

"Why do you always have to have such a big mouth, Vaughn?" - Seth said with exasperation and then looked at my friends - "Is he ever quiet or serious?"

"Nope." - said Pete.

"It's terrifying actually." - Titus chimed in, shaking his head.

"f**k off you three, without me you'll be all sitting with your noses in your phones or playing cards." - I pointed out.

"I don't see anything wrong in a good poker night." - Seth stated.

"Me either." - smirked Peter, clearly enjoying where this conversation is heading. To rile me up obviously.

"Count me in." - said Ty raising one hand.

Fuck it, I'm going to the clock tower alone. Although that may seem like a really depressing picture.

"So what would you gentlemen say for a quick game. I have some new blend from our distillery that you haven't tried yet." - Seth offered and my traitorous Beta and Gamma both nodded to the idea.

"Fine. I'm in too." - I said throwing my hands in the air and that's when they all really started laughing. I have officially no friends!

We started walking to the residential wing towards Seth's condo, that was actually not so far from my own, when out of nowhere, on almost completely desolated stairs appeared a person I sincerely wanted to avoid today, because now I have to stay true to my word and include her in my plans.

Virginia is the oddest person in my entire family. Not only her behavior is strange for a wolf, because whenever we are at any family event, and she is avoiding a lot of those, she almost never mingles with us and she runs at first occasion. Always.

The most I saw her interacting with was with Freddy, Valkyrie's younger brother. I suppose he isn't as loud and overbearing as the rest of us, but damn her behavior is sometimes simply rude. I heard from my Dad that back at her home she spends most of her time with horses my Uncle bought her.

"Hi Cuz. I see you make it." - I said awkwardly, because f**k, I never know what to say to her to not make her immediately bolt the other way. And I know it's not me, because people usually like spending time with me.

"Yes. Hello Vaughn." - she said looking at her feet, making her platinum blonde hair fall all over her face.

"Where are you heading, Gini? Me and the guys are going to have a poker night, maybe you would like to join us."

Please say no! Please say no!

"Am, it's very kind of you, but I actually haven't eaten so I'm going for a late dinner." - she answered in her soft barely audible voice, nervously playing with her fingers. Damn, the whole sentence, that's actually a big success in our encounters.

"Oh. Would you like to join us later?" - I asked knowing the cost of the set of keys in my pocket, but Gini is actually making it a lot easier. A throat cleaning made me remember about the guys - "s**t, right. Gini meet my good friend Seth McGeady. He's a future Aloha of El Caura Pack in South America. Seth, that's my Cousin Virginia Cargarough. Younger sister of Vigo Cargarough from Surge Pack." - I introduced her to the one she didn't know, I wouldn't bother with the rest. I knew she wouldn't even speak to my Beta and Gamma even though she knew them her entire life.

Seth stepped forward and extended his hand to her and at that moment I knew she would embarrass me even more, because I'm not sure, but I'm fairly positive she's some kind of germaphobe, because skin to skin contact always spooks her out.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Virginia." - Seth said gallantly.

And obviously she didn't disappoint this time, because instead of reciprocating the gesture she tugged on the sides of her long white dress and did a curtsey, as if we were in seventeenth-century Austria or something like this.

"Nice to meet you, Seth. But forgive me Gentlemen, I'm starving. Maybe some other time." - she said hastily and quickly walked away, still not looking any of us in the eyes. At least she didn't run, although she surely looked like she wanted to.

I glanced at Seth to check if he looked offended, and I caught him staring at her quickly disappearing back.

" Sorry Man, she's just that strange relative that all of us have, you know, like an inappropriate Uncle who always tells kinky jokes." - I said apologetically.

"Don't be, a beautiful girl like her can be as mysterious as she wants." - Seth said, still looking at the end of the corridor where Virginia disappeared.

"Mkay. Yeah, she's cute, but that runs in the family obviously. But… she's not your Mate, right?" - I asked carefully.

His sharp gaze snapped at me at that question and lingered there for a moment.

"No. But she's intriguing." - he said and turned to walk towards his condo.

I shared a look with Titus and Peter but they both shrugged, probably understanding as much as I did from this encounter.

Why do I get the feeling I'm a magnet to strange wolves?