Chapter 18 SEVENTEEN

MORGIANA'S POV Three more days until the charity event. I haven't been to a single charity event in town even though it's an event common to all residents but for some reason, only the founding families are present. Of course, at that time I didn't know supernaturals were invited too. I didn't know they existed in the first place. "The people would wonder why I am suddenly attending when I haven't attended a single one," I muttered one time both me and Laurent are sitting in the cafeteria. Alaris is nowhere to be found and I don't care. Maybe he's fucking someone somewhere. The thought churned my stomach but I ignored it. "Well, you did tell that blond girl indirectly that you know something about the charity event when it's not even announced yet." I rolled my eyes and started picking on my food using the fork. After becoming-transforming into a hybrid, I found my taste buds have changed too. It's not that I don't find the foods tasteless. It just doesn't seem tasty as- I didn't finish the thought and looked at Laurent. And the man sitting beside him. Nico decided he wanted to come to school too. Now, I get double the glares and double the nasty whispers. After what happened the last time in the bathroom when I almost 'sucked a student dry', I decided to avoid as much trouble as today. I guess I should be thankful for that too as Alaris also decided not to continue my bathroom cleaning duties. "How am I supposed to know it wasn't announced yet?" Laurent sighed and Nico turned to look at her. "They will wonder why a commoner decided to join the charity event. You're not one of the founding families. And you're not a supernatural as far they are concerned. You're just an ordinary common girl." I blinked at Nico and his blank expression. "You make your insult sound like it's nothing." "It's not an insult. It's the truth." Well. "Fine. I am not a part of the founding families and I shouldn't let them know that I am a hybrid. So what the hell should I do so they wouldn't suspect me?" Before both Laurent and Nico could answer, someone came to our table. I didn't need to look up to see who it was. Alaris de Marcel stood on the side of our table. To the eyes of the other students, he's a teacher and we're students who are about to get some serious reprimand. But to us, especially to Nico and Laurent, he's their alpha. To me, he's the guy that kidnapped me and wanted to kill me and also the man I used to have a crush on. Or maybe still crushing on, I don't know. He placed a flyer on our table. "You might be interested," he said and then walked off. I took the flyer and I raised a brow when I saw it was a flyer on an upcoming charity event. And it was also a job posting. "I think he wants me to apply as a server," I said and Laurent nodded in approval. "Then you can get in without difficulty," said Laurent, and I couldn't agree more. Somehow, the thought of all this wouldn't have sounded so thrilling to me. But now it makes me excited and nervous at the same time. I looked at the flyer again. A server. Yes, this is perfect for me. If I go with them, people would think I am a wolf. Or maybe an invited guest but they would most likely think of the former. "It's decided. I am going there as a server." "It gives you access to go to certain rooms, too. Use that chance to find information as much as you can." Nico leaned back in his seat and I don't know if he did it on purpose or not but he put his hands on the back of his head, flexing his arm. I looked at the people around and they were all looking at our table, particularly at Nico-their new prospect of attention. "By the way," Laurent trailed as he took a sip from his drink. "What happened last night? When you came out of the building, you were quite shaken." "So shaken you scared your aunt," Nico added. I gave Laurent a dirty look. I know he knows exactly what happened last night at the school building. I decided not to make a big deal out of it because I am under the impression that Alaris would not hesitate to choke me to death if I ever mention that again. But this man in front of me keeps on repeating it, making me remember what I heard last night. "Can we not?" Laurent tipped his head back and laughed. Nico looked at him in confusion and I just rolled my eyes. If there is something I discovered about Laurent in those days we were often together, is that he has this impeccable skill of pissing me off. "The fact that you don't want to talk about it makes us even more curious," he said with a grin still plastered across his face. "Leave me out of it. I am not interested," said Nico, and Laurent waved a hand. "You will be once you hear it." "Stop pretending you don't know what happened, Laurent." "So can I tell Nico then?" I waved a dismissive hand. I don't really care about whom he shares that with. And I shouldn't be embarrassed about it when I am not the one caught fucking in his office. Laurent leaned back and crossed his arms. "Well, last night, Morgiana heard Alaris-" "Go on, Laurent," said a cold voice behind Laurent, and my eyes went immediately to Alaris who was standing there. His expression was dark and I could tell he isn't very fond of jokes. "Oops," muttered Laurent while still grinning. It still amazes me how he could stay so calm when Alaris behind him was literally so ready to snap his neck. Alaris's eyes went to me and I instantly knew what he wanted to say. I raised both my hands and shook my head. "I didn't tell him, I swear." "I know," he said, still looking at me with furrowed brows. "Why are you looking at me like I did something wrong?" "It doesn't set a good image for you to be flirting with guys." I literally felt my brows rise up to my hairline the moment he said that. "Excuse me?" But instead, he ignored me and looked at Laurent and Nico instead. "Have you done your duties?" Laurent was still grinning from ear to ear even as he said, "Not yet. But we'll do them soon." "Then get your asses up and do it." He then turned to me. "I think you have something to tell me. Come to my office after the break." "What? I don't have anything to tell you-" Then I suddenly remembered the time when Mr. Hawthorne talked to me while I was in the infirmary. Right. Alaris did not wait for me and went to walk away. I looked at Laurent who was waving his hand to say goodbye and Nico who was now preparing to go. I groaned inwardly as I walked out of the cafeteria, ignoring the sharp glares of the students directed at me. The moment I neared Alaris' office, memories of what happened last night came rushing back and I had to shake my head to forget about it all over again. I slapped my face slightly before I drew a deep breath and opened the door after making sure that there was nothing weird there. I saw him just leaning on his table and crossing his arms in front of him. I swallowed hard and I couldn't help but wonder where exactly in this room he and Ms. Mont did it. When I looked back at him, he was looking at me as though he knows exactly what I am thinking about. I cleared my throat. "I had an idea of what you were meaning to say to me earlier-" "Whatever that is, that's exactly what I want to hear." Fine. "Mr. Hawthorne came to me yesterday and asked me if you were hurting me in any way. I said no." His eyes narrowed at me. "I was listening to your room the whole day-" "Creep." "-and then I suddenly can't hear you for almost fifteen minutes. I went and was about to barge in when I saw him just getting out." "He saw you?" He shook his head. "He didn't. Whatever else did you tell him?" "He was asking some questions about how we met and I just asked him you were the one who stopped the bullying and saved me from my abusive aunt and uncle. Don't worry, I skipped the part where you kidnapped and threatened to kill me." He did not even show any reaction to it. That was meant to be a joke. I cleared my throat again. "I think he was worried about me," I said and this time, he rose his brow. "Come on, they know me since I started studying here. I was the kid who gets bullied most of the time. They know who you are, Alaris. He's one of the founding families, after all. I think he was looking for some information about you from me that he could use against you." This time, I really saw his face get even more serious and I wanted to slap myself left and right just to stop staring. "I am certain they had something to do with the hunt that night. We will just have to confirm it before we do something." His eyes went to me. They were amber and I could have sworn they were glowing. "This mission lies on your stealth and your skill to blend in, Morgiana." "If we're talking about blending in, I can blend in the background pretty well." He closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose as though he doesn't believe what I say. "Everywhere you go, trouble seems to always find a way to you." "How is that my fault?" "I'm not saying it's your fault. I am just trying to tell you to be careful. We have three days and we fail this. Especially when we only have one shot at this." "Laurent and Nico have already promised to distract Arleigh and her cronies. That shouldn't be a problem." "We have one more thing to deal with," he said and then pushed himself off the table and went to get his coat. My brows furrowed as I looked at him. "We? What do you mean we? You want me to come with you?" When was done wearing his coat, he turned to me. "We're going to the hospital to steal some blood and you're the only vampire here so yes, Morgiana. You're coming with me." "Wait, what?" "Supressing a natural instinct, especially the instinct to feed, is not good." He went to the door was I was quick to stop him. "The...They're going to see me with you and I don't think that would set something good." "We're travelling not by car." I looked at him, confused but before I could even ask, Alaris had transformed himself into a wolf.