Chapter 194
Lily POV
I looked up to see the boy from the morning – Jason, approaching my table,
When he came closer, he had a quiet smile on his face. “Hi, it’s me again—the idiot who ran into you. I was in such a hurry to leave that I forgot to give you your wallet. You left it at the scene this morning p>
Immediately, I turned to my bag on the table, and started fumbling through it to the compartment where I always kept my wallet.
But it was nowhere to be found. My heart sank as I realized he was telling the truth—It must have fallen out during the collision in the morning and in my haste to meet up with classes, I must have missed it. It was one of my most essential items.
“Oh my God,” I breathed, turning back to face him with what I hoped was a grateful smile. “Thank you so much. I hadn’t even realized it was missing p>
He reached into his backpack and produced my wallet—a simple black leather fold that contained my student ID, driver’s license, and the small amount of cash Mr Sterling, had insisted I carry for emergencies.
Relief flooded through me as I accepted it, checking quickly to confirm everything was still intact.
“Everything’s here,” I said, with gratitude in my voice. “I can’t thank you enough for tracking me down p>
The boy—Jason—nodded with obvious relief, then leaned forward conspiratorially. “I still feel bad though. Can we grab coffee later today? Maybe at the end of classes? I’d like to make up for nearly knocking you over this morning p>
For some reason, my gaze flitted automatically to Nathan, who had one eyebrow arched in an expression that might have been amusement or disapproval. Something about his watchful attention made me suddenly self-conscious about the entire interaction.
I looked back to Jason and offered what I hoped was a polite but distant smile. “I’m sorry, but I have other important engagements after classes today p>
“Dang it,” he said with an exaggerated sigh that made me want to smile despite myself. “How about tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow? Please, you cannot refuse. My mom will have my hide if she hears I treated a beautiful woman like yourself this way p>
His charm was endearing, and despite everything weighing on my mind, I found myself smiling at him. There was something refreshing about his straightforward approach, so different from anything I’ve experienced recently.
“Fine,” I gave in, still smiling. “Tomorrow it is then p>
His face lit up with delight. “I’ll find you tomorrow then,” he said with a smile.
Then he straightened, adopting a more formal posture as he extended his hand. “By the way, my name is Jason p>
“Lily,” I replied, placing my hand in his for what I expected to be a simple handshake.
Instead, Jason lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it, giving me a playful wink that made heat rise in my cheeks. The gesture was theatrical and old-fashioned.
He then turned toward Nathan and offered a respectful bow. “See you around, Prof,” he said cheerfully before turning back and walking towards the library’s exit.
I watched him go with a smile lingering on my face, surprised by how his lighthearted interaction had momentarily lifted my spirits.
He felt like a breath of fresh air.
When I turned back to gathering my things. I could feel Professor Morrison’s eyes on me. When I finally looked up to meet it, there was something in his expression that I couldn’t quite identify.
“What?” I asked, genuinely puzzled by his continued scrutiny.
Professor Morrison scoffed, a sound that held more judgment than amusement, and rose to his fee. “Don’t you have a mate?” he asked bluntly, “Why are you flirting with someone else p>
The question, left me speechless for several long seconds. How could he possibly know I have a mate?
“I… what?” I stammered. “I wasn’t flirting. He was just returning my wallet p>
“Was he?” Professor Morrison asked, his tone suggesting he found my explanation less than convincing. “Because from where I was sitting, it looked remarkably like a young woman accepting romantic overtures from an interested male p>
Heat flooded my face, partly from embarrassment and partly from confusion about how this conversation had taken such a personal turn. “It was just coffee,” I protested weakly. “A simple thank you for his kindness p>
“Coffee,” he repeated, as if testing the word for hidden meanings. “And the hand-kissing? The flirtatious banter? Was that also just gratitude p>
I stared at him, completely at a loss for how to respond. The casual way he had mentioned my mate, the certainty in his voice when discussing my relationship as if I had told him—it all pointed to the fact that he knew more about me than he lets on.
“Professor Morrison,” I said slowly, trying to keep my voice steady, “I’m not sure what you’re implying, but p>
“I’m not implying anything,” he interrupted, closing his laptop with a sharp click. “I’m directly asking why you’re entertaining romantic advances from another male when you’re already bonded to someone else p>
The word ‘male’ hung in the air between us. Still I couldn’t understand how he knew I was bonded to someone else. We didn’t have any conversation relating to that and I’m sure no one aside family knew about me and Kai.
“How do you know about—” I began, but he cut me off again.
“About what?” he asked, coming to stand before me now. “That you have a mate p>
I nodded wordlessly.
“For starters, there’s a masculine scent on you, and his mark… I think you’re doing a poor job trying to hide that when it is glaring for all to see. It looks fresh though. He marked you yesterday, right p>
“I think this is too much probing into my personal life, Professor Morrison. I appreicaite your concern,” I tugged at the collar of my sweater again. “But it’s none of your business p>
I began to shove my books inside my bag, already getting angry.
“You are angry?” he asked suddenly.
“I shouldn’t be?” I threw back, “Or am I not allowed to experience emotions like anger and hurt p>
“You’re showing signs of anger because you know I am saying the truth. You liked what Jason did a while ago. You’ll probably think about him for the rest of the day and look forward to tomorrow p>
I paused midway to look at him. His hands were in his pocket and he was not wearing the eyeglasses again, making him look even younger. I stared at him, trying to suppress the anger inside me, while also trying to be respectful.
“Professor Morrison with all due respect, it’s none of your business. What are you now, my therapist p>
“Am I lying?” he leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to match mine. “You’re Alpha Kai’s mate, aren’t you? I saw both of you shamelessly kissing at the parking lot yesterday and a while later, you return with his mark and scent all over you. Yet you sit here, accepting coffee dates from another man. Doesn’t the mate bond mean anything to you p>
“Alpha Kai did not make you his spokesman?” I was brimming with fury. “Don’t let me report you to him p>
He laughed and grabbed my elbow, dragging me to himself while his eyes searched my face.
“You’re so much more, Lily Stone than you let on p>
That sent a chill down my spine. Was he referring to the Nightbane bloodline that Uncle Tobias had told me? The royal heritage that supposedly made me a target for the Shadow Council?
“Let me go this instant,” I struggled in his hold but it was firm. “I don’t know who you think I am but there’s been some misunderstanding—” I started to say, but Professor Morrison shook his head.
“No misunderstanding,” he said firmly. “Just a young woman who doesn’t seem to understand the dangerous game she’s playing. Tell me, Miss Stone, does your mate know you’re here? Does he know you’re making social plans with other males p>
The mention of Kai sent a stab of pain through my chest. “That’s… complicated,” I admitted.
“Complicated,” he repeated, his tone suggesting he found the word inadequate. “Everything is complicated when you’re trying to live multiple lives simultaneously p>
He finally lets me go. Shoving his hands inside his pocket again as he moved back to his table.
“I suggest you spend some time thinking about what you really want, Miss Stone. And more importantly, about the consequences of your choices—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you p>
As he turned to go, I found my voice again. “Professor Morrison, wait. I have questions p>
“I’m sure you do,” he replied, shouldering his bag. “But first, you need to decide whether you’re ready for honest answers. Because once certain truths are revealed, there’s no going back to the comfortable illusion of normalcy p>
With that cryptic statement, he walked away, leaving me alone with my scattered study materials and a head full of questions that threatened to overwhelm me.
Who was Nathan Morrison really? How much did he know about my heritage and the supernatural threats surrounding me? And most importantly, was he trying to help me or warn me away from something even more dangerous than I had imagined?