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Her cheeks pinken as she turns her gaze away from me. “Whatever.”
She mutters something else underneath her breath, but I don’t get to pick up on the words. I can imagine the sentiment though. She’s not happy to be here.
“Well, I need to meet the others.” Maddox isn’t getting embroiled in any of Mahalia’s shit, which is quite funny really. I don’t know how she’ll handle that. “Can you keep Mahalia here?”
“Me? In charge of Mahalia while she’s tied to a chair? I think I can handle it.”
“I don’t need to be tied up here,” she snaps back. “Let me go, and then…”
“You aren’t getting out of this.” Maddox holds up one finger to silence Mahalia. “I’m not letting you go. You’re here for a good reason, and I know that’s hard for you to understand, but there will be an explanation soon enough. Just give me time.”
“Why do you get time?” she cries out as Maddox runs off. “You don’t get to just kidnap me and then just leave me here with no explanation whatsoever.” She leans across to try and see him, but he’s gone. He’s whipped around the other side of the waterfall, out of sight. “Fucking hell, what the hell is he doing to me? This isn’t normal for a professor.”
She looks to me for confirmation, but I have nothing for her. “I don’t know.”
“Oh right, you probably stopped learning after high school, right?”
“Judgmental,” I snort. “I thought you were better than that.”
She’s right though. I did finish my education in high school but that’s because of my wolf responsibilities. I’ve been needed for many different missions, such as this Rift mission right now, which has gotten in the way of my education.
School was never for me anyway, which is why I acted out so much. But that doesn’t mean I want to be judged by Mahalia.
“Whatever, Kit.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m not in the mood for any of this. So, if you aren’t going to tell me what the hell is going on here, or let me free, then leave me alone.”
I offer her a one-shouldered shrug and move across the room. I can just sit here and watch her. I have no need to try and get a chat out of Mahalia. To be honest, I’d like the time to wrap my head around what’s going on here. If Mahalia is going to be in the middle of the mating round, then I need to get used to the idea of it being her. Mahalia Jones.
Sure, I was an asshole to her in high school, and I’m sure she remembers way too much of that. But it would only be worse if I told her why. Because every time I did, she’d get wet. And I’d have that delicious scent of arousal in my nose all day until I could go home and get myself off while imagining her under me. I don’t know how this reunion is going to go, but it’ll be interesting.
Even more now because I can sense something new about her. Something that definitely wasn’t there in high school. Mahalia has a new scent now because she’s no longer a virgin. That’s very exciting because it means I can show her how wet I can really make her…
“So, Maddox is your professor? I didn’t know you were the college type.”
She flashes a gaze at me, anger burning through her eyes. “You met my parents, right? You know what my father is like. Very strict and very determined for me to go into academia. I have to do this stupid college course, whether I want to or not.”
“Ah, so some time off won’t be an issue for you then.”
Oops, I might have said the wrong thing there. “What do you mean by that? I can’t just have time off. What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about…” I don’t know how to finish that sentence.
Mahalia’s eyes narrow as she glares at me. “What I mean, Kit, is that I’m stuck here with you, and I don’t know why. So, if you’ve got something to say, say it.”
I raise an eyebrow, realizing that I may have touched a nerve. “No need to get defensive, Mahalia. I just meant that if you’re not enjoying college, then why not have a break?”
“How long of a break? I don’t even know what’s going on here. What I’m doing.”
She huffs, her anger not entirely subsiding, but at least she doesn’t snap back at me. “It’s not about college or taking a break. It’s about being forcibly taken from my life without any explanation. That’s not something I take lightly. I don’t think anyone would. And anyway, what’s your role in all of this? Why are you here?”
“I’m here because of what’s expected of me, Mahalia. That will make sense soon.”
“Nothing you ever do makes sense.”
We fall into silence for a moment. The silence isn’t a sweet and comfortable one, it’s fraught with tension. I don’t know how to deal with it. If I could explain to Mahalia why she’s here, then maybe she wouldn’t hate me as much as she does right now.
I can’t outright tell Mahalia about the Rift until Maddox is back and gives us permission to say so, I think to myself, my wolf instincts guiding my actions. Instead, I decide to share one of the tales we’re told as wolf children, stories passed down through generations, about the enigmatic Rift. Maybe it will give her a clue as to what’s happening.
I clear my throat and begin, my voice low and filled with the weight of ancient legends. “You know, Mahalia, this forest, the forbidden forest, has always had its share of mysteries, and one of the greatest of them all is the tale of the Rift.”
