Elena’s POV
The next morning arrived with a lazy pace that I welcod. My classes didn’t start until later, giving precious hours to tackle the mundane tasks that had been piling up around .
I stood in front of the washing machine, loading my clothes with deliberate movents. Damien had ntioned more than once that his oga staff could handle these chores, but I’d shut that down imdiately. I wasn’t so helpless princess who needed servants to fold her underwear. I’d been taking care of myself long before I stumbled into this werewolf world, and I wasn’t about to stop now.
The familiar rhythm of dostic tasks grounded . Sorting colors from whites, asuring detergent, setting the cycle. Simple actions that reminded I still had so control over my life, even when everything else felt like it was spiraling beyond my reach.
After the laundry was humming away, I treated myself to a long, hot shower. The steam filled the bathroom as I let the water wash away the lingering anxiety that seed to cling to these days. Being constantly watched and protected was wearing on my nerves more than I cared to admit.
I dressed carefully, choosing clothes that were comfortable but didn’t scream pregnant woman trying to hide from dangerous scouts. My bag felt heavier than usual as I packed everything I needed for the day, triple-checking that I had all my materials. The last thing I needed was to draw attention by being unprepared.
Leo arrived right on schedule, his familiar knock echoing through the house. I could hear him talking with Damien in low, serious tones before I even made it downstairs. Their conversation stopped abruptly when I appeared, both n turning to assess with those protective looks I was growing tired of.
Damien’s interrogation of Leo was thorough and frankly insulting. Did he really think I couldn’t handle myself for a few hours at school? The way he grilled Leo about the scout situation, you’d think I was made of spun glass instead of flesh and bone.
The frustration bubbled under my skin, but I bit my tongue. Part of , a part I wasn’t ready to examine too closely, actually appreciated their concern. It had been a long ti since anyone cared enough to worry about my safety.
The drive to campus was tense, with Leo’s eyes constantly scanning the roads and parking areas. His hypervigilance was both reassuring and nerve-wracking. When we finally pulled into the school lot, he went into full protective mode.
His head swiveled thodically as he surveyed every person within sight. Anyone with a cara, anyone who looked out of place, anyone whose posture suggested they were watching rather than participating in campus life. Scouts had tells if you knew what to look for, and Leo definitely knew.
My first class passed without incident. The familiar routine of lectures and note-taking felt almost normal, a brief respite from the constant awareness of being hunted. But as soon as I stepped outside, reality crashed back down.
There he was. One of Marcus’s scouts, positioned strategically near the building where my next class was held. He wasn’t even trying to be subtle about it. His eyes tracked students with the focused intensity of a predator selecting prey.
My stomach dropped. The path to my classroom led directly past him. There was no way to avoid his line of sight without making a suspicious detour that would only draw more attention.
I pressed myself against the wall of the building, my heart hamring against my ribs. This cat and mouse ga was getting old fast.
"Leo," I reached out through the mind link, grateful for this particular werewolf ability.
"Yeah. Are you alright Elena?" His response ca imdiately, tinged with concern.
"I need a distraction. I can’t get to my next class," I explained, keeping my ntal voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through .
"What do you have in mind?"
The question sparked a familiar mischievous impulse. "I don’t know. How good are you with explosives?"
"That’s not even funny," he replied, but I could sense his amusent bleeding through the link.
"Wanna bet. Explosives full of paint are hilarious," I shot back, rembering so of my more creative pranks from the past.
"Well, if that’s your trademark then we can’t use it. Marcus will definitely know," he pointed out, and he was right. My reputation for colorful chaos would give away instantly.
I thought quickly. "Can you co near my class and call out to soone in the distance? Call out to Elena and then approach soone and tell them to play along or sothing."
"Yeah. I can do that. The ladies around here love ," he said, and I could practically hear the smirk in his ntal voice.
"Sorry. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth," I responded, earning a chuckle through the link.
"Alright," he agreed.
I crouched behind the wall, feeling ridiculous but knowing it was necessary. Within monts, I heard Leo’s voice carrying across the courtyard, calling out my na with just the right amount of casual familiarity.
The scout’s head snapped toward the sound imdiately. His body language shifted as he began moving in Leo’s direction, drawn away from my intended path like a fish following bait.
I held my breath as Leo led him further away, playing his part perfectly. When the coast was clear, I slipped from my hiding spot and made my way quickly to the classroom, my eyes constantly checking for other threats.
The rest of the day continued in this exhausting pattern. Leo and I maintained constant communication through our ntal connection, sharing intel about scout positions and movents. Every class change beca a strategic operation, every bathroom break a calculated risk.
By the ti the final bell rang, my nerves were frayed. The relief I felt sliding into Leo’s car was overwhelming. At least this day was behind us.
The drive ho should have been relaxing, but when we pulled up to the house, I spotted Damien sitting on the front porch. His posture was tense, his expression worried.
"Is everything okay?" I asked as I climbed out of the car, imdiately on alert.
"Yeah. I was just worried about you guys. You were ant to be back ages ago," Damien said, rising from his chair.
"We stopped and got sothing to eat before we ca ho. I was starving," I explained, which was absolutely true. The constant stress and adrenaline had left ravenous.
"Of course you are. You’re pregnant with a werewolf baby. You’re going to be starving more than ever before," he said, his tone mixing concern with amusent.
"Oh goody," I replied, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.
"I’ll see you tomorrow," Leo said, giving us both a aningful look before driving away.
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