Greymoor Academy: I Accidentally Bonded With Four Lycan Royals! Chapter 21. Occupational Hazard

Maisie

My flesh flayed off my back and I must have passed out, because I didn’t know when she halted, or when she ordered that I be doused in water to wake up in ti for it to begin again.

I couldn’t stand on my own two feet when it was finished, and though the pack had been brimming with excitent to watch my punishnt, they couldn’t bring themselves to look at when it was over. I guessed the Alpha’s lesson had been passed across successfully.

But it didn’t end at the whipping.

My chores were tripled and I was made to work the entire night, without rest, without help.

For the first ti, there was no pain from the bond through the night. I didn’t think I could’ve survived if that was added to the pain I felt whenever I moved.

Still, I was no better when I arrived at school the next day. My head was pounding horribly, and even if it was cold enough to freeze hell over, I was sweating profusely through my clothes.

"You shouldn’t be out of bed, Maisie," Regina said, cupping my forehead. "You’re burning up."

I hissed sharply, cringing at her cold hands. "Don’t touch ."

I carelessly tugged on my Combat uniform over my head and stumbled out of the changing room before Regina would ask to see the wound. I didn’t want anyone’s pity. It was already bad enough that the entire Academy was watching like I was sothing fragile, and five different people had walked up to and asked if they could see my back, like my injury, my pain was sothing cool to be stared at.

It didn’t help either that it wasn’t healing. Being an Oga ant I healed slower than most, but not nearly as slowly as a human. But my back hadn’t even healed an inch. I could sll the blood on my shirt.

The training hall was filled up when I walked in, and I couldn’t see anything clearly. It was either too bright or too loud. Everything hurt and I felt the churning in my gut as Instructor Warren’s whistle split the air viciously, forcing to slap a hand over my ears and curl into myself.

"Ms. Adams." My eyelids parted long enough to reveal rcer, peering down at with narrowed green eyes.

I glanced up, squinting. He was in an armless black camisole, his grey jacket hanging off one shoulder nonchalantly, his hands rested easily in the pockets of his matching slacks. His skin resembled that of a glazed donut and I felt my stomach cramp, with queasiness, with hunger, I couldn’t tell.

"You reek," he said, nostrils flaring. "Of blood."

I stilled, not wanting to divulge any details of what happened in my private life with him, lest he called a charity case again. "It’s my ti of the month."

rcer’s ears went red. "Of course."

Around us, every student had fallen in behind their fourth year instructors, who were putting them through different exercises. I caught Jenny and Regina watching with worry, and I felt Cole’s eyes drilling holes into , as well.

I might have been hallucinating, but I think the entire hall was watching and rcer.

Maybe just rcer. And his thick arms. And his delicious pecs. And his stupid face.

rcer glanced down at his cellphone. "Every morning, you must run three laps around the school’s field. It is important to build strength and speed..." Another terrible shiver wracked my body and I lost my balance, colliding with him.

His arm banded around my waist, catching , and my breath hitched as our chests pressed flushed together. Up close, he slled...dangerous. Clean sweat, winter air, sothing darker beneath it that made my wolf stir uneasily.

He frowned. "You look pale."

His thumb brushed lightly against my temple. The touch was gentle. Far gentler than anything rcer had ever shown before. Sothing warm unfurled in my stomach and dipped lower. "Are you ill–"

I shoved him off as more unbearable heat flared under my skin. "I’m fine. Don’t touch ."

Sothing unreadable flickered in his eyes before he took a huge step away from , that perpetual, hateful, scowl curling his lip. "Six laps around the hall. Now."

Sohow, I made it through all six laps without collapsing. I wasn’t a terrible runner, but in this state, I was seriously dragging behind.

By the ti I made it back to rcer’s side on the final lap, the entire hall was gathered behind Instructor Warren, who was watching rcer expectantly. I wiped the sweat off my brow. "What’s happening?"

"Warren wants a demonstration," rcer said coldly, taking off his camisole, leaving his torso completely bare and I heard wistful sighs behind . It was mildly distracting, if I was willing to admit it, and I wasn’t. "Take your stance."

"M-my stance?" I stamred.

rcer walked a circle around , like he was studying his prey before he pounced. His voice carried well over the hall as he addressed every one. "In a fight, strength is rarely the deciding factor."

He paused behind . "Faster helps," he continued. "Bigger helps. Stronger certainly helps."

A few quiet chuckles rippled through the crowd.

"But none of that matters if you’re the one bleeding out on the ground." rcer stepped back into my view, green eyes cool and rciless. "The only thing that matters," he said, "is who walks away."

He stopped directly in front of , towering above . His gaze dropped briefly to my shaking hands, the tension in my shoulders, the fatigue I was trying and failing to hide. A cruel smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he looked back at the crowd. "Today, Maisie Adams will demonstrate how an Oga with no strength in her veins can defeat a Lycan ten tis stronger and faster than she is."

Knowing rcer, this was just another way to tie up a loose end. He was probably going to kill and claim it was an occupational hazard.