Page 46 of Lost and Bound

“For the day, yes. But she’s a hindrance, if I’m honest. It’s unfathomable how ignorant she is. She has zero concept of shielding,” I clarify, which makes Ballin snicker, almost as if he’s already well aware of where she’s lacking.

My wolf takes his targeted insult personally and sits up, inserting himself back into the meeting. He stares Ballin down, not moving a muscle until the magikal is squirming in his seat and the smirk on his face is gone. Once my wolf has asserted himself, he settles into the background again, although he stays close and I can sense his renewed interest won’t go away anytime soon. We are both on the same page about not being tied to any living being, besides those I already am.

“Are you suggesting I have a situation with her?” I growl.

“In short, yes, but before you take offense, Cane, it may not have been you. The temporary connection may have been activated by one of the others in your group who were also part of the practice. It’s too soon to know, however, we’re diverting our focus to the bigger concern, which is protecting all our students. Until we understand the issue better, Noms in any commission are going to have to be housed with their unit. We can’t afford for this virus to mutate or get out of hand.”

“I get your concern, Augustus, and it’s valid. You’re the most trusted in the field, and I support you one hundred percent. Except when it comes to her. She’s not staying with me. No chance. She’s a student and I’m a professor, for starters. And she’s human. Throw in that we’re days away from the full moon and my wolf won’t allow strangers into my space, it will be dangerous. However else I can help, you know I’m there.” I’m quite aware my voice has grown louder and louder.

Besides Augustus, everyone drops their gaze and moves slowly and quietly away—except for Alpha Roberts. He bursts out laughing and slaps my shoulder, as if we’re sharing the funniest joke ever. But I’m not laughing, and given the stubborn set of Augustus’s mouth, neither is he.

“You’ve been one of Thales’s greatest successes, Cane. Watching you recover from your grief and come into your abilities as an Alpha has been a privilege for all of us. All the students look up to you. Your team’s involvement in our current predicament will facilitate a smoother transition to the next phase of full shutdown isolation, if it needs to happen. We’re talking four days, maximum.”

I’m backed into a corner. It’s not like I have a leg to stand on if I don’t want to lose face with the faculty and the students. My wolf would cope because he doesn’t see their acceptance of him as necessary, but as a teacher here, I know what happens when the board deems you unworthy. It’s a slippery slope, one I want no part of, and I also don’t want to draw any more attention from Council.

“It’s also important that student training continues. Given that those commissioned are staying at the unit houses, I have no doubt all those students will benefit from an intensive training program, Cane. It’s quite fitting, really, considering your worries earlier about the holding our rank and a rising rebellion.”

I scrub my palms down my face, mainly to give my hands something to do instead of punching Roberts. He’s been getting more and more amused the longer Augustus keeps talking. I’m at saturation point with both of them, but I’d never blatantly go against the vampire. A shifter is another thing, and Roberts is intentionally winding me up. If the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be doing the same. I mean, it is pretty funny telling an Alpha who to welcome into their home and what to do period.

I take a steadying breath, accepting once again that my role in life is completely different from what I want out of it. “Of course, Augustus. What else can I do to help?”

I somehow manage to sit back down and be an active, if slightly testy, member in the discussion about how we proceed with the lockdown. We organize who does what, and who’s in charge, at least until Ballin storms out.

Roberts laughs again, standing up. “He lasted longer than I thought he would.”

Everyone follows Ballin’s quick exit and starts packing up. Callista collects all the glasses from the table. “I’m sure you’d be defensive if you were in his shoes.”

“Augustus wasn’t suggesting Ballin was responsible.” The grin on Robert’s face is as telling as the provocative tone he uses.

“He wasn’t, but he said the virus was born from magik. You would have turned to fur at any suggestion that the shifters were to blame.”

Roberts doesn’t argue, and I leave them chatting to catch up with Augustus. “I know you’ve been busy, but did you get a chance to have a look at the samples I sent you?”

He nods slowly, and the others all move closer to listen too.

I was hoping we’d have the chance to discuss the three students involved in the Sunday morning incident, but we’ve spent the better part of the day going over other equally important Thales issues. Admittedly, I was also waiting for Ballin not to be around. Considering a member of his House was involved, I didn’t want him to avoid taking accountability for their actions.

“I did. They were all under the influence of Whiteout, a psychedelic substance mimicking the venom of the Colorado River toad. Supposedly, the effects are immediate and offer a void-like experience, which, I must say, does not sound enjoyable in the least. They would have experienced hallucinations, increased heart rate, and by all accounts, a sense of defying gravity. In short, they would have felt powerful.”

“It’s nothing extreme, though, is it? It’s just kids being kids. They went to a party and got shit-faced,” Alpha Roberts adds, making me turn and stare at him.

Callista inserts herself into the small space between us, probably sensing that we are both getting antsier by the second. “It’s more than that, and you know it, Alpha Roberts. A party off Thales grounds is worrying, especially considering the reports of increased hostilities on the border. But when you add in those kids involving another student, it’s a dangerous situation.”

His mood changes in an instant. “No one mentioned another student being involved.”

“One of mine, I’m afraid. No harm done, but it could have ended differently,” Maddern says quietly.

I take the time to spell out the issues again. “Whiteout is coming from humans. We’ve got humans on the borders, and an approaching full moon.” I add the last part unnecessarily because the fact is, he’s already feeling the pull of the moon, like all Alphas do.

“It’s a recipe for disaster,” he agrees before his smirk returns. “Unless, of course, we’re looking at this all wrong.”

Augustus tips his chin up, intrigue building in his eyes. “How so?”

“The new girl. She recently came from their side of the wall, and now we’ve got shit going sideways.”

“She’s the student I was referring to,” Maddern adds.

And everything falls into place.