Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 13

Suri Nightingale

I'm screwed. I am so immensely and utterly screwed.

"In my humble opinion, her outfit did go pretty well with that cookie dough scoop. I think it deserves a spot on the runway." Dev, trying to extinguish the flames of my already ruined reputation, said.

"Oh, thank you, Marc Jacobs. I'll keep that in mind for when she's not serving my head on a diamond-lined platter." I deadpanned and he snorted out a laugh.

We were in his car driving back to the lair and though I escaped little miss blondie's wrath thanks to Dev's help, I was pretty sure that I had not seen the last of her.

Scratch that, I was very sure that I was going to see her again and by then, I hope she's forgotten all about the little mishap.

But that was just the optimistic-and naive-side of me desperately hoping because apparently, Stefanie Lancaster isn't just the Barbie model girl I thought she was.

She is also the most powerful Queen Bee in the entire Thorne Academy and yup, you guessed it - the Queen in the Queen of Diamonds.

Not only that, but according to Dev's Lancaster crash course, she's practically untouchable being the governor's daughter. Governor, as in one who implements state laws and more. No wonder she has her head so far up her a*s.

Interestingly enough, when you think about it, does that mean Wes isn't blinded by that side of her? By the power her last name holds that he doesn't care whether or not she gets mad at him for not being at her beck and call? I guess he's not as superficial as I thought if he doesn't care about a girl's title.

Then I laughed at my own thoughts.

That's because he doesn't care about anything but f*****g a hot girl. Duh.

"Stefanie can get really bitchy at times, but not always."

"And when is that? When Wes isn't deep inside of her?" I said, remembering her not so pleasant screams that I was sure I'd get nightmares of.

Dev busted out laughing so hard that he had to park the car for a quick second. He turned to me with an amused yet also visibly disturbed face.

"You got victimized by Wes' s****l adventures too?"

I slowly nodded with a frown.

"Welcome to the club. I've told him a million times to get his room soundproofed, but I think he enjoys other people hearing girls scream his name. My brother's a little..."

"Unorthodox." "Egotistical."

We said two completely different words at the same time and I felt my cheeks flush because I practically just cursed his brother out. I thought he would feel offended, but he didn't seem like he was. Instead, he chuckles lightly and turns to me amused. "Yeah, that sounds about right, too."

The drive back home was equal parts chill and nerve wracking because besides the thought of my impending doom on my first day in the academy, I also had to think about coming back to the lair where my enemies were.

Namely, Atlas and Wes, who are for some reason determined to get me kicked out. They don't want me anywhere near them or their father which makes me wonder what that's all about. He's not even their real father and they clearly aren't too keen on giving him any fatherly awards-obviously by the way they call him by his first name-so why are they so pressed?

It doesn't make sense, but I'm sure not a lot of their life choices do. Not that I care. I don't.

Ugh. Do I really have to go back there? I wish I could just stay with Dev where it's nice and he's nice.

Is it weird if I ask him if I can stick with him for as long as I have to stay in this place? Yeah, totally weird. He'll probably think I'm a creep. Way to make an impression, Suri.

I tried my best not to look so nervous, but I guess it wasn't working out too well because Dev asked, "All good over there? You look so deep in your thoughts I might have to throw a rope to reel you back in here with me."

The intimidating steel gates slowly opened and he continued into the driveway, the beating of my heart just getting louder and faster.

"The truth?" I said to him with a nervous half smile.

"Always," he responds with a reassuring look in his eyes.

I sucked in a lungful of air. I'm not the kind of person who just opens up easily. I don't let people see too deep into my thoughts and my feelings because I'm scared that doing so will make me vulnerable and when you're vulnerable, that makes you hurt more. And even if I know pain is inevitable at times, I would do everything I can not to experience it.

But when I look at Dev and see the kindness and sincerity in them, I can't help but share a little bit about what I truly feel because no matter how hard I deny it, he's just so good to me and compared to Atlas and Wes, a part of me thinks I can trust him. I've never been able to trust many people my entire life.

"Basically, I'm scared of your brothers. I mean, not to sound like a pussy or anything because believe me, I've had my fair share of intimidating men, but it's just that this time... I kind of really want to fit in, you know? Back then I could just ignore it all and run away, but I know this time around, I have to face them eventually. It's a big roof, but it's still the same one." I shrugged my shoulders and let out a deep breath, thoroughly surprised by myself that I actually opened up like that. Something about Devon makes me feel like he won't judge what I say, so it just kind of spilled out of me.

"Oh, Suri..." Dev says softly as he parks the car at the side and turns to me, giving me his full attention.

"I'm not saying all of this for your sympathy or anything, by the way. I've lived my life just fine by myself. Please, don't feel bad for me. I'm just saying this because..."

Dev's eyes stared into mine with genuine concern and it also felt really nice to be seen.

I've lived a life where people just pass me by wherever I am and have gotten so used to it that I actually sometimes prefer it that way. This time though, I want to be selfish. For the first time in a very long time, I don't want to be invisible anymore. I don't want the other students to treat me like some kind of doormat.

I want to be someone I can look in the mirror and be proud of.

"I guess a big part of me just wants them to see that I'm not here as your enemy? That I would sincerely like to be done with all the fighting and running away. I've grown tired and weary, and right now, I just really, really want to stay."

And it's true. I only realized it earlier while I was hanging out with him at the mall. Laughing with him, talking, and just walking even. The places he showed me, the stories he shared, they were all so amusing, but the fact that someone actually bothered to hang out with me and actually seemed like they were having fun? Hell, that was a first for me.

Suddenly all my thoughts of escaping as soon as s**t hits the fan disappeared.

I was so determined to run away if things had gotten bad, for example if the two brothers were so hellbent on my demise, that I was already thinking of an escape plan. I would cash in the money Keith gave to me and never turn back. I would keep going straight and if he ever replaces me again, I will just try my best to do it all over again, like I always have.

I know damn well how tiring it is, but it wasn't impossible. That's the way my mother and I lived and the way I thought I'd have to live forever, until Keith showed up and he made me see that there was more to life than that.

And now all I want is to be a normal teenager.

After what seemed like minutes of silence in the car, Dev comes closer as he gently places his hand on mine and I hope he didn't notice the way I stiffened up or how loud my heart suddenly started beating.

My hand was on my lap and now his hand was on it and oh God, control your mind, Suri. This is just a friendly touch!

"I understand. I mean, I won't ever completely understand the life you had to live, but I do understand what you want and trust me, Suri, I would be more than happy not to treat you as an enemy." He said as his eyes looked at me softly, the emeralds in them somehow shining, as his lips curved into the most heartwarming smile.

"I'm here for you, and whatever it is you need, just tell me. I can't promise you everything will be alright, but I can promise you that I'll be there for as long as you want me to be."

God, this boy is a dream. Half of me wants to answer him back and say I'll want him forever and the other half wants to lean closer and kiss those tempting lips of his.

I don't do either of those because I know how badly I'd f**k things up with my-first-friend if I let my stupid intrusive thoughts take over me.

"Thank you..." I whispered to him shyly, touched by how he was just so completely considerate about everything.

He gives me a wink just before the smile turns into a smirk and he teasingly says, "Unless you're a Raiders fan, then sorry, but that's a different story. I have no choice but to treat you like the national enemy that you are."

"I have no idea what that means so I think we're safe." I told him and he let out another chuckle that went straight to the already going wild butterflies in my stomach.

As I stood in front of the massive French front door of the WW lair, suddenly I didn't feel as scared as earlier because I knew that whatever happens...

I have someone on my side.

At least, I really hope that's the case.