Fox Ensnared

Part 12

The ride back to the academy was made in silence. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur by. When we pulled into the garage, Uncle Jasper was waiting. He was sitting on the hood of a car, looking relaxed, but I knew better.

Not much scares me, but Uncle Jasper, when he losses his shit, is terrifying. I am not afraid for myself but for Riven.

He parks the car and turns off the ignition. He goes to open the door, but I grab his arm, stopping him. He cocks his brow at me. "Let me deal with Jasper. " Riven looks over at the man in question. I am sure all he sees is a concerned Uncle and Headmaster.

It was impossible not to see all the gears turning in his head. It was also easy to see the moment he stopped thinking and said, "No."

I tilted my head to the side and glared at him. "What do you mean no?" I squeezed his arm tighter, my fear and anger battling it out with each other.

"I mean, No, all the secrets stop NOW!" He goes to open the door; my claws burst through my fingers, gorging his flesh. "You need to leave and let me handle this. Jasper may look calm and collected, but he is anything but. You only know him as the Headmaster of the academy. Trust me when I tell you to leave this to me." My eyes plea for him to listen. His face softens, and for a second, relief floods my body until he reaches for my hand and pries my claws free.

"NO." He gets out of the car, leaving me reeling. I hop out and intercept him before he reaches Jasper.

"Don't do this." My voice is stern.

Jasper slides off the hood and walks over. "Don't do what, Payton." He is talking to me, but his eyes stay firmly fixed on Riven. I look over at Jasper. His body language said it all. This isn't going to end well.

"Uncle, let's go to your office. We need to talk." I grab his hand and pull, but he doesn't budge.

"I think Riven has something he wants to say to me. Isn't that right?" Jasper takes a step forward, and Riven matches him. They are nose to nose. The Alpha testosterone is so thick I am choking on it.

"Alright!" I huff. You win, but do not say I didn't warn you." Both sets of eyes swing toward me.

"Not here." I nod to Jasper. "your office." I don't wait for a response before I walk off. They can either follow me or stay here and have a pissing contest.

I smile when I hear them behind me. I glance over my shoulder and throw them both a sassy wink. Jasper grumbles under his breath, but Riven winks right back.

Uncle Jasper's office is a mess and not the usual too busy to care mess. This is more of an I am freaking out mess. I knew something was going on with him.

The room is small, but with all of us in here, it feels claustrophobic. I walk over and open the window. Leaning back against the wall so I can breathe the fresh air and also make a quick escape if this goes south, which is a high possibility.

Riven stands in front of the door while Jasper sits down in his chair. He leans back and folds his hands behind his head. His eyes jumped from me to Riven, waiting for one of us to speak first.

Since this was my idea, I bite the bullet.

"There is a lot I need to tell you, well, both of you." I huff and take a deep breath.

I open my mouth, and word vomit all over the room and its occupants. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I feel raw and laid bare by the time I'm done.

All my dirty secrets are out for everyone to see. I feel lighter than a feather but also afraid. What will they think now that they know?

Jasper is the first to speak. His voice was deadly calm. "Is that all?"

"No, there is the whole mate bond business." I look over at Riven for the first time since I confessed. He looks confused, shocked, and pissed—a cornucopia of emotions.

Jasper's eyes blow out, and he stands with his hands flat on the desk. "Matebond between you two? Different species?" I cringe and twist my hands together. "Was that a question? Because it wasn't clear if it was."

Riven smirks, but Jasper just fumes.

"Payton, I need to talk to you alone." I look over at Riven, waiting for him to argue, but he doesn't.

"Yeah, fine. I need to wrap my head around all this." He waves his hand around the room in a wide arc. Turns and walks out, shutting the door a little too forceable.

"What have you done?" Jasper walks around his desk and stops in front of me.

"I fucked everything up is what I've done. You think I don't know that." I screech and slide down the wall, pulling my knees into my chest.

The tears start to flow, and then the sobs, the big ugly kind. I look up and catch my reflection in the glass.

Sitting on the floor crying useless tears. My patheticness enrages me. I wipe away the tears and stand up. I walk past Jasper toward the door.

"Where are you going, Payton?" I pause and say, without looking back at him." To clean up the mess I've made."

I don't go back to my room for fear Riven will be waiting for me. I can't deal with his overbearing alpha male bullshit right now. So, instead, I head to the roof. I need to clear my head and come up with a solution to the mess I've made.

I sit on the edge and let my legs dangle over. The one thought that is on repeat in my head is that I let my parents down. I let myself get distracted and ruined everything.

And then there is Owen. My best friend, who I love. He and the rest of the students and staff will be returning tomorrow. I have heard all my life that honesty is the best policy, but by default, dishonesty would have to be the second-best policy.

Let's face it, both policies suck!

I need to prioritize things. I need to get revenge for my parents. I am so close. I can't stop now.

My love life will have to wait. And school. There is only one thing to do. I have to leave the academy and all the drama behind. I need to do this before everyone gets back.

Owen will be broken by my decision and Riven? Well, Riven will be pissed.

With my mind made up, I head back to my room. I linger outside the dorms like a coward, waiting to see if I feel him lurking inside. I push my senses to their limits. My chest feels dull, which is good, I guess. With the coast clear, I head to my room.

I smell the faint scent of Riven. He was here just as I suspected. I slip into my room and get to work.

I packed light, mostly just weapons and a few clothes. I did take the time to write three letters. To all the men in my life. Uncle Jasper, Owen, and Riven. I couldn't just leave without some kind of explanation. It will just have to be enough.

It's hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest thing in the universe.

I slip away like a thief in the night. I hoped that they would someday forgive me for leaving them. I hoped that I would someday forgive myself for leaving.

I just hoped they knew I loved them when I left them.