Red Pov

"M-Mr. C-Caddel, what are you doing here?" I stammered, feeling a rush of embarrassment at our intimate encounter being interrupted. The way his face darkened indicated that he didn't appreciate my question. His presence was a reminder that our connection was forbidden, a dangerous secret that could unravel everything.

"I believe I asked the question first, Red," he replied, his voice low and filled with a mix of frustration and longing. But his gaze never wavered from Xavier, who didn't seem pleased that our moment was interrupted. The tension in the air was palpable, crackling with unspoken words and ancient animosities between vampires and werewolves, as depicted in the books I had read.

"And you..." Mr. Caddel's gaze turned to Xavier, who appeared less than pleased that our brief moment had been interrupted. However, my gratitude overwhelmed any disappointment as I yearned for the opportunity to give Mr. Caddel a heartfelt kiss.

If only such a moment could ever come to pass.

I sighed inwardly, my heart sinking at the realization of the impossibility of such a gesture.

"...I think you have done enough, putting Red into so much trouble with these accursed rumors about the two of you. I would prefer it if you ceased your association with her before this reaches your mother," Mr. Caddel's voice resonated with anger, his attempt to maintain a professional demeanor falling short.

Xavier merely smirked, striding confidently toward him without a trace of fear.

"Who I choose to hang out with should not concern you. Your role is to guide your students, not stalk them," Xavier retorted, his voice laced with defiance. Mr. Caddel growled in response, his words dripping with a simmering animosity. It dawned on me that vampires and werewolves were not depicted as the best of friends in the books I had read. Yet, something told me that the tension between these creatures of the night went beyond ancient animosity.

"Besides, about the rumors, we're working on it, right, Red?" he said, his voice laced with a hint of challenge. I found myself momentarily tongue-tied, unable to muster a response. Instead, I gave a slow, cautious nod, hoping to convey my agreement. It was a small gesture, but it seemed to ignite a spark of annoyance in Mr. Caddel.

"Of course, anyone who arrived a few minutes earlier could clearly see you 'working it out' with your lips," Mr. Caddel remarked with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

Wait, did he think we were making out? And if we were, why should he be upset about it? I knew he was my guardian, but if I wanted to kiss someone, I would. Sadly the lip contact I wanted from anyone was him.

Unfazed by the tension, Xavier flashed a devilish grin, his eyes dancing with mischief. "I don't see the problem if I want to 'work it out' with my lips. Besides, I've been told that I'm an amazing kisser," he replied, his voice filled with a hint of seduction.

"Xavier!" I exclaimed, my voice a mix of shock and embarrassment. Was he deliberately trying to provoke Mr. Caddel, to stir the pot and revel in the chaos that ensued?

Mr. Caddel's face flushed with anger, his knuckles turning white as his grip on the books tightened further. It seemed as though his veins might burst from the strain. The situation was spiraling out of control, and I knew it was time to intervene before it escalated further.

As I opened my mouth to speak, Ana, Avery, and Jacob suddenly emerged from the library, their footsteps echoing through the stillness. They stopped abruptly when they saw me, their eyes widening in surprise.

"Red, what are you still doing here?" Ana asked, her voice breathless as though she had just run a marathon. But there was something else in her eyes, a glimmer of understanding that made me wonder if she had caught a glimpse of our secret.

"I don't care about her presence. Red, did you get enough evidence? I can't take any more of the twins," Jacob said, his voice strained and weary. His lips were swollen, his hair was tousled as if it had been pulled, his uniform was torn, and he had visible bite marks on both sides of his neck, tinged with a shade of purple.

In all words, he was a mess.

"Guys, I think we've had enough of a late reading session today," I blurted out without thinking, causing confusion among them. I needed to divert their attention, to shield Xavier from further scrutiny.

A throat clearing interrupted the silence, and their eyes widened as if they had seen a ghost.

"Red is definitely right. Who knew learning so much about faes would take forever, right, Avery?" Ana nudged Avery's shoulder, leaving her perplexed but silent.

"Exactly. Would you look at the time?" Jacob said, pretending to check an invisible watch on his wrist. "Xavier, we need to get to our room. Dean's waiting for us." He moved to grab Xavier before Mr. Caddel spoke up.

"No one told me about a late reading session," he remarked, his tone indicating that he wasn't entirely convinced.

"You see, sir, Red has been struggling with some classes since she came here, so we decided to help her. You know, the more, the merrier," Jacob hastily explained, his words spilling out in a rush. Mr. Caddel scrutinized him from head to toe, taking in his disheveled appearance.

"I see," Mr. Caddel replied, his tone indicating that he wasn't entirely convinced. There was a flicker of suspicion in his eyes, but he didn't press the matter further"I don't see why she should tell you about this. You're her guardian, not her father," Xavier interjected, his voice laced with defiance and a hint of bitterness. The room seemed to grow colder, the air heavy with unspoken tension.

"You listen here-" Mr. Caddel began, his voice filled with anger, but I couldn't bear the escalating confrontation any longer.

"Oh, would you pardon him, sir? He's always grumpy when he doesn't get his beauty sleep, right, pooky bear?" Xavier didn't say anything, but his glare at Jacob spoke volumes. It was a feeble attempt to lighten the atmosphere, to redirect the mounting hostility towards a more lighthearted exchange.

With that, they left in a matter of seconds, disappearing into the darkness of the hallway. The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air.

"Umm... Sir," I uttered softly, my voice barely audible. Mr. Caddel's eyes met mine, and I could see a mixture of curiosity and caution flicker within them. I took a deep breath, gathering my courage, and continued, "I know this may sound foolish, but please, I implore you not to divulge anything about what happened today. I promise I will explain everything tomorrow after lunch." The words spilled out in a rush, my plea hanging in the air like fragile mist.

He didn't respond immediately, his gaze locked with mine. It felt as if time had frozen, suspended in a moment of anticipation. I could see the gears turning in his mind, weighing the consequences of my request. And then, with a barely perceptible nod, he silently agreed. Relief flooded over me like a warm, summer rain, washing away my fears and uncertainties.

"But not just after lunch," he added, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes, his lips curling into a brief smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. The thought of sharing a meal with him, of spending more time in his company, both thrilled and unnerved me. But before I could respond, he bid us goodnight, his voice gentle yet commanding.

"Goodnight, girls," he said, his words hanging in the air as he turned and disappeared into the darkness, his broad shoulders receding into the night like a fortress of strength.

"Wow... when will I ever have a love triangle like that?" Ana whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and longing. But her words didn't register in my mind. I was still reeling from the encounter, the clash between desire and duty, the whispers of forbidden love that danced on the edges of my thoughts.

"What did you say?" I asked, my voice distant and distracted. The echoes of their arguments still reverberated in my mind, drowning out the present moment.

But they simply laughed, refusing to explain. It didn't matter. All I wanted was to collapse into my bed, to let the exhaustion wash over me and carry me into a dreamless slumber.

Silently, we made our way to our rooms, the corridor shrouded in a heavy silence. Surprisingly, we didn't need to sneak around-the hallways were eerily empty, devoid of wandering eyes and prying whispers.

"Hey, can I sleep in your room, guys? I'm sure my roommate will ask where I went," Avery asked, her voice filled with a touch of vulnerability. We nodded in agreement, understanding the need for solace in the face of uncertainty.

As soon as we entered our room, I flopped onto my bed, welcoming its comforting coolness. The soft sheets embraced me, cocooning me in a world of solace and respite.

"What a day," I sighed, the words escaping on a breath of exhaustion and weariness. The events of the day weighed heavily on my mind, the shadows of secrets and forbidden desires casting their long tendrils across my thoughts. Avery and Ana hummed in agreement, their own weariness echoing in the room.

"Do you think this will affect us tomorrow? I mean, we stayed up so late," I asked, my voice tinged with a mix of concern and apprehension. The late hours were unfamiliar to me, a disruption of the carefully constructed routine I had come to rely on.

"It's only..." Ana checked her phone, the soft glow illuminating her face. "... Two in the morning. I don't think it'll be a problem," she yawned, her words trailing off as exhaustion claimed her.

I couldn't resist the yawn that welled up within me, my body heavy with fatigue. As I surrendered to sleep, the events of the day faded into the background, replaced by the gentle embrace of dreams. Shadows and secrets danced at the edges of my consciousness, but for now, I allowed myself to drift into the realm of dreams, where anything was possible and the boundaries of reality blurred into insignificance.

I hope she was right.

Hope you enjoyed this Chapter ❤️