Chapter 26 – Falling for the Alpha As a Student Novel

Filed To Story: Falling for the Alpha As a Student Novel

It pained me to hear those words from my mother, but I understood. As long as my father’s men were out there, hunting for Volanas, my mother and the others weren’t safe.

Years ago, my mother, a Volana wolf, had taken medication to get rid of her abilities. Same with those who live with her in the rogue territory. She feared my father so much that she was willing to take away a part of herself to hide from him.

These men are dangerous when it comes to Volanas and as long as they are around, Volana wolves aren’t safe.

Layla isn’t safe.

I couldn’t be with Layla knowing the danger I would bring to her life. These men are constantly watching my every move.

If they knew that Layla was a Volana, it’ll be her in this hospital bed next.

Or worse.

Now that Layla had her wolf, her Volana scent was going to become more evident. I didn’t have the time to waste. She needed to stay as invisible as possible.

Not only would having her as a mate cause me to be distracted from completing my duties, but I would bring her a world of danger.

That was something I wasn’t willing to risk.

I stood from my mother’s bedside. My mind was officially made up.

She narrowed her eyes at me, confused by my expression, I’m sure.

“What is it?” She asked, furrowing her brows together.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I told her. “I’m going to return home for the night.”

I said my goodnights before leaving; I needed to return to the academy and find Layla.

I needed to officially reject her.

Layla’s POV

“Layla?” Ethan said, staring at me in surprise as I stood outside the Calypso packhouse.

I felt my face grow warm as he stared at me.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain why I was here.

Do I tell him I was worried about Enzo?

No. I couldn’t say that.

“What are you doing here?” He finally asked after it was clear that I wasn’t going to speak.

“Professor Enzo wasn’t in class today and I wanted to make sure he was okay,” I answered.

My voice sounded distant and small when I spoke. I hated that I was feeling weak right now.

Ethan raised his brows as he stared around my face.

“You traveled this far to check on him?” He asked. I wasn’t sure how to answer that, but thankfully, he didn’t wait for me to do so. “He has some family problems,” he explained. “He’s been at the hospital all morning with his mother.”

Now it was my turn to raise my brows; I rose my gaze to meet his and saw the serious expression on his face.

“His mother?” I asked.

Enzo hasn’t really spoken about his mother. I didn’t think she was even in the picture.

What could have happened to her?

Ethan stepped aside so I could enter the packhouse; though, I wasn’t sure I wanted to at that point. I felt foolish for being there right now. I shouldn’t be prying into Enzo’s family affairs. From the look on Ethan’s face, I could tell that it was a very serious matter, and it wasn’t my business.

But he motioned with his head for me to enter. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and stepped inside.

“There’s been a terrible attack the other night and he had to rush to the hospital,” Ethan continued to explain.

The other night? It must have been the night of the feast. That’s why he left as quickly as he did and without a word.

“Is his mother okay?”

“She should be fine,” Ethan answered. “Just a lot of bruises. I think he’s planning on coming back this afternoon if you want to stick around and wait for him.”

“That would be nice,” I say in return.

Before Ethan had the chance of saying anything more, the door of the kitchen opened, and Dee stood at the entryway. She had flour and chocolate all over her clothing and skin, including her face. She looked incredibly panicked and winded.

Her eyes fell on mine and she looked almost relieved for a moment.

“Oh, good, I thought I heard your voice. How are you at baking?” She asked.

I rose my brows.

“Decent I suppose,” I shrugged.

“Perfect, grab an apron and help me in the kitchen,” she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me along with her.

I turned back to Ethan who just shook his head with dismay written all over his face.

As I went into the kitchen, I paused when I saw that the counters were a complete mess. I frowned as I stared around all the pots and pans that Dee had scattered across her usually flawlessly clean stainless-steel counters.

There was flour smeared upon surfaces, including the ground, and dirty utensils in the sink.

Despite the mess though, the kitchen smelled amazing. It smelled like a bunch of baked goods at once. Like a bakery.

“The bake sale for the grade school is this afternoon and I promised I would make the food for the sale. I’m way behind on the deadline though,” Dee said with a worried look on her face.

“It’s okay, Dee,” I said with a chuckle. “I don’t mind helping.”

I grabbed an apron off the hook on the far side of the kitchen and we got to work.

We baked brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and muffins.

As we continued to bake, Dee started playing some music on the speaker. She shuffled through some songs before landing on an upbeat tune.

She started to sing it in a low voice, not thinking I could hear her. She had a nice voice. I watched as she began swaying her hips from side to side, making me smile.

I mimicked her movements, also swaying my hips as we traveled around the kitchen, cleaning up the mess while the baked goods were in the oven.

She noticed me dancing along with her and she started to laugh, which made me laugh as well. Together, we danced and sang. Twirling around the kitchen without a care in the world.

I only stopped when I realized Enzo was standing at the door.

His dark gaze poured into me, causing my entire body to freeze.

“I wasn’t expecting you to return so soon,” Dee chuckled as she stood by my side. “We were just baking for the bake sale this afternoon. Layla was nice enough to give me a helping hand. I’m not as quick with baking as I used to be.”

Enzo’s eyes never left mine.

“Why aren’t you at the academy?” He asked in a low tone.

“I took some time off,” I tell him, proud that my voice didn’t come off as nervous as I felt. “I got permission first.”

“You shouldn’t have come here.”

His words caused me to flinch, which was visibly noticeable for Dee who glanced at me with a small and curious frown.

“Why exactly shouldn’t she have come here?” Dee asked, glancing back at Enzo.

“Because she should be in school, that’s why,” he answered.

“I’m already ahead of most of my classmates. I can take a day or two off,” I tell them both.

He looked like he wanted to protest, but he didn’t.

He glanced at Dee momentarily.

“I’m going to steal her for the time being,” he told her; my heart fell into my stomach.

This was it… he was going to take me away and reject me. I heard being rejected was incredibly painful. I had to prepare myself.

Dee nodded to him, a worried frown still on her face.

“Don’t be too harsh on her. I like having her around.”

She gave me a wink as she said that.

He didn’t answer her; instead, he turned back to me and said, “Come with me.”

I took in a steady breath as I followed him out of the kitchen.

He walked down this long corridor that led to a wide set of double doors. My heart was racing rapidly in my chest, unsure of where he was taking me.

Enzo paused as he reached the set of doors and he turned toward me.

“I need a favor,” he surprised me by saying; his tone turned from hardened in front of Dee, to soft once we were alone.

I met his eyes and saw that they were also softened. Whatever this favor was, it must have been serious.

“Okay?” I urged him to continue.

“My mother is in the hospital for the next unforeseen future, and I would like to give her something to brighten things a little. She’s always loved art and I wanted to make her something she could really enjoy.”

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