T W E N T Y - F O U R

NOVA

I bit the end of my highlighter, glaring down at the small text  for what felt like the hundredth time, still not understanding what in the hell I was reading.

I was in the library, doing a last minute study session before my exam tomorrow, when I suddenly had a weird feeling like someone was watching me.

My head snapped up as I took in my surroundings, frowning when I saw no one in sight.

The library itself was mostly empty except for the few stragglers here and there, doing some last minute prep like me.

I was near the back of the library, where it was quieter and less distracting, and now I somehow realize that it was possibly a mistake for me to be so secluded.

A noise sounded from one of the selves behind me, and I snapped my head towards it, quickly gathering my things and shoving them haphazardly into my bag.

Nope...not doing it.

I could handle Wolves...

I could handle Witches...

I could even handle handsome assholes that disliked the very being of my existence.

What I couldn't handle was freaking ghosts or demons or anything related to that.

I blame my old babysitter, the woman who instilled the fear in me at a very early age, always telling stories of her own encounters with supernatural entities, the last one so horrendously awful that she was forced to walk around with a permanent scar on her face as well as being fully decked out from head to toe in anything evil eye related item she could get her hands on.

I have no idea what I am now but my parents, my...adoptive parents, were white and Irish-American, therefore, I was raised the American way.

You know, the type of people that didn't investigate the spooky noise but instead called the police whenever they heard said spooky sound or weird noise.

I accidentally banged my shoulder on a bookshelf, sucking in a deep breath and exhaling a curse as a book dropped wide open to the floor.

I picked up the book quickly, my eyes skimming the words without comprehension.

I was about to put the book back on the shelf when a particular word stood out to me, making me pause mid-return.

I dropped my stuff on the floor and flipped the book back open, browsing the pages until I found the one that it was just on.

The Fae...

The Ones that started it all...

I flipped to the cover of the book, to see who wrote it, and frowned when I saw there wasn't an author or even a publisher listed on the cover or front page.

I knew without a doubt that this book had some answers to the questions I had, the questions the other refused to give me.

So with a quick glance around me, to see if anyone was watching, I 'accidentally' dropped the book again.

Before I could regret my decision, I quickly stuffed the medium sized book inside my bag before gathering my things quickly and heading out the doors.

The moment I stepped outside I noted that it was later than I originally thought, the stars brighter and more visible than I've ever seen them back home.

A pang of sorrow hit me when I realized that I didn't quite miss the city as much as I thought I would.

I mean, of course I missed my family and friends obviously, but...I didn't miss the chaotic mess that was the outside World.

For some strange and unusual reason, I was content at Crescent Academy.

Something I'd never thought was possible when I was first brought here a few weeks ago.

Because as much as I'd hate to admit it out loud, especially in front of those boneheads I live with, this place felt more like home than my own home did.

Which was unfathomable considering that my home housed a lot of fond memories for me, memories that ranged from my first milestones, to the first time we got Brutus, and even when my brothers were born.

I had my first heartbreak in that house, my first kiss outside in the tiny backyard near the Oak tree, and cemented the two most important friendships of my life that I couldn't imagine living without...

I shook my head, knowing that this must some sort of Stockholm syndrome like side effect.

But instead of falling in love with my captors, I was falling in love with the environment I was forced into.

I pushed the thoughts from my head, focusing on the trek back to the Heir house.

The walk itself was peaceful, the moon shining bright and lighting my path in a way it never would have in the city.

I smiled bitterly at my second comparison between this world and my old one.

Almost everyone I've come across, even my new friends, thought I was so lucky to be living in the Heir House, surrounded by the three hot and mysterious Alphas that almost no one could get close to.

And while I couldn't deny that each of them were gorgeous and unique in their own personal ways, and that anyone else would literally kill to be in my position, my gut was warning me that something wasn't right with them.

Because the truth was that while they were seemingly honest and faithful Alphas, loyal to their Packs and People, they were also men.

Men that had secrets, each one deeper and darker than the last.

I could see it in their eyes and feel it in the way they carefully craft their words or sentences.

They hid behind their soft diplomatic smiles and strategically impassive faces, which most people didn't look twice at...a look that I recognized everyday whenever I looked in a mirror.

A look that screamed "Smile in order to keep the truth from revealing itself..."

A truth that my guarded heart hid well.

I sighed as I reached the front door of the house, extending my hand towards the knob to unlock it, when it suddenly swung open.

My eyes snapped up and I gaped at the three very pissed off Heirs standing there, each giving me their own version of a glare.

Atlas's eyes were narrowed into slits so small I'm surprised he could see out of them.

Kass's face was furrowed with worry as he quickly scanned my face. When he could tell that I was fine and uninjured, that expression turned into a scowl.

Phoenix's face was my favorite however, making the corner of my lips curl in amusement.

His face was impassive, but he couldn't hide those eyes of his.

Eyes that were blazing with emotions, anger, concern, and a little bit of relief shining through their oceanic depths.

He might have been playing it off that he didn't care where I was but those eyes spoke volumes.

He was probably the most worried out of the three, if that was even possible.

I breezed past them with a smile, making Kassian gape at me as I glided towards my room.

"Fuck no" Atlas' deep voice sounded behind me before his meaty arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his chest "You don't get to waltz in here like nothing happened and pretend you didn't have us five seconds away from forming a search party."

I tilted my head back on his shoulder, locking gazes with those pretty amber jewels "Dramatic much?"

His eyes narrowed as his arm tightened around my waist even more.

"What's dramatic will be me locking your ass away in a tower and throwing away the key" he said, wrapping my hair around his fist before giving it a small tug "I'd think the Rapunzel look will fit you nicely, don't you think?"

Heat flared at his tug, making me squirm away from where our bodies were currently touching.

"I'm fine" I waved off his concern, walking into the kitchen "I was just studying in the library."

The three stooges followed me into the kitchen, hell, even my Brutus followed behind them.

The little traitor...

I'll remember that next time I decide to give him an extra scoop of food whenever he gives me that sweet face of his.

"Studying at ten o'clock at night?" Phoenix raised his eyebrow "Why didn't you study here?"

"Because I didn't want to study here" I grabbed a water from the fridge "You three are so loud. Are we done here?"

"No." They all said at once.

I sighed "Okay, you caught me."

Their eyes widened at my words, the three of them standing a little taller and tenser.

"I didn't study here because I was out with my new boyfriend" I lied, taking a sip from the bottle before continuing on, trying my damndest not to break character and burst out in laughing "And we weren't studying at all. We were having a hot and heavy make-out session behind the lake house."

I swear to god, all three of them froze like statues.

Kassian and Phoenix' eyes snapped to Atlas before quickly jumping to me and then back again.

"What?" Atlas asked through clenched teeth "What the hell did you just say?"

"I said..." Before I could finish, Kassian blurted out "DON'T REPEAT THAT SENTENCE!"

"Why not?"

"Uh...because?"

"Because why?"

"Because..." he looked at Phoenix for help "Why can't she repeat that sentence Nix?"

"Because Heirs aren't allowed to date their Pack mates" he spoke in a maddening matter-of-fact tone "It's against the vows we took as Heirs."

"What?" My eyes widen in shock "What vows?"

"The Vows you took the moment you became ours" Atlas growled out through clenched teeth.