Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 39

Suri

Nightingale

I don't know what happened, but somehow my whole world shifted on its axle as soon as my friends had left the academy last Monday.

Well, I kind of do know what happened.

I think I've gotten the infamous rogue status.

Everywhere I went, nobody looked me in the eye. It's either they were scared of the consequences of acknowledging my existence or they really just didn't care about me. I don't know which one I would rather prefer.

The only bright side in the whole thing is that because they've decided that I'm all dead to them, nobody has been talking about my kiss with Atlas and it feels like it's never happened at all. At least, to them.

To me, it's still very much ingrained in my mind no matter what I do.

Oh and another positive was that even Stefanie and her clique didn't give a crap about me. Although her last words to me during Business Education had been stuck in my head since then.

"It will only get better from here on out, little trash."

I wonder who did it? Who concluded that it was time for me to be treated like an outcast. I wonder... which of the brothers had finally gotten sick of me and was doing their darned best to get me out of here before this week ended?

I have a strong feeling as to who, but who says it also can't be all three of them? I barely even knew them, let alone the fact that they could have just been playing me since the very beginning like Devon.

I have decided that I'm going to start calling him that again because he doesn't deserve to be called his nickname. Not anymore. And honestly I wish I didn't have to call him at all, but alas, my life doesn't work that way.

I can't lie though. As tough as I am and as used I am to being ignored, the quietness gets a little too much from time to time. The only thing I am truly looking forward to is the fact that it's Friday and I have the weekend to just stay in my room, binge-watch whatever and eat all my feelings.

Then on Monday, I can finally start my shift at the flower shop cafe. I've been looking forward to it all week. A few hours away from the snotty rich kids-for the most part-and a time to learn new things and hopefully meet new people that are nice and not a bunch of stuck ups.

Work sounded like heaven compared to the hell that was classes with people whose heads were so far up their asses.

I sighed as I closed my locker and heard the bell rang. Just one more day, Suri.

Well, one more times three hundred something days in this hell hole. How fun.

As I'm walking to math class, I keep myself from running away by thinking of how better my future will be if I stay here for the meantime plus the money that is in my bag in my room back at the lair. Although I haven't seen Keith for the week because he had to leave for a business trip, he hasn't forgotten about our deal and every morning, there's one thousand dollars in the bank account he had opened for me.

One week here and I have more money than I've ever had working myself to death.

I forced a smile on my face before pushing open the door, but all of that determination I had just accumulated disappeared in an instant when I saw who was present on my table. Devon.

f**k me.

And f**k him, too.

I'm internally groaning as I make my way to my seat, pissed that they're here when this week without them in class nor around the house has been so far therapeutic to me amidst everything.

I don't know why they suddenly appeared and I really couldn't give a s**t. I'm so done with all of them that I'm determined to just pretend they don't exist, but that clearly proves to be impossible as the second my b**t hits the seat, Devon greets me. "Hey, Suri." He says, his voice angelic, but I know better now. He's no angel.

I try my best not to look at him, keeping my gaze on my stuff that I'm laying out on the table. I don't care if he knows that I'm ignoring him. It might even be better and maybe he'll get the hint and leave me alone. Fortunately, I don't see anyone else amongst the brothers so I'm free from Atlas and We-

f**k. I spoke too soon.

"Good morning, class. Please go to your respective seats so we can start." Mr. Davidson orders and everyone fixes themselves.

Atlas, Wes, and Devon sit on their designated chairs which are right next to me and I am internally cursing Keith for throwing me into the lion's den like this.

I don't acknowledge them and try my best to think they're not even there in the first place, but it's evidently hard when I could feel some weird tension growing between all three brothers and I'm right in the middle of it. Why do I feel like they're talking to each other when they're not even saying anything? Weird. I think I'm going crazy.

Just stop thinking about the brothers! I shout to myself in my head as I force myself to focus on what Mr. Davidson is saying.

"I am really proud of last Wednesday's scores. All of you got good remarks and some even surprised me by getting higher than expected. Keep it up." He said with a wide smile and I remember the pop quiz he gave us.

I was so nervous about it that I totally forgot. No public school education would give a freaking quiz on the first week of classes, but not here. Luckily though, with my resolve to keep a good academic reputation and without the distraction of the brothers the past few days, I was able to really focus on my studies. Specifically my weakness, which was math.

It turns out I would reap what I sowed.

"Good score on this one, Ms. Nightingale. I reckon your seatmates' knowledge is rubbing off on you." He exclaims with a friendly smile, unbeknownst to him that his words are the last thing I want to hear.

"No, this was all on my own." I said a little too harshly that it surprised not just him, but myself too.

He blinked at me flustered before trying to save the awkward air that had blown our way. "Of course. Well, uh, good job, but I believe you can still do better as well. I'll be expecting it, Ms. Nightingale," he said before turning around abruptly to get away from our table. s**t. I should really learn to bite my tongue or else someday my words will be digging my own grave.

I focus on my paper and can't help but smile at the A minus written and encircled at the top right with a red marker. When Mr. Davidson said I could do better, he probably meant an A plus, but I would happily rejoice with my A minus for now.

My happiness is squashed like a bug when someone next to me speaks.

"Well, well, would you look at that? Who knew you actually had a brain in there? It looked pretty hollow to me." Atlas mocked and though his words are vile, my body shudders for a different reason.

The feeling of his warm breath against my skin and the closeness of his lips on my ear starts a riot in my stomach. I'm not sure what to feel. Angry? Pissed off? Turned on? Ugh, what the hell is happening to me?

After our kiss just a few days ago, he suddenly disappeared and I had no idea how to process everything. I was still confused about what had really happened after that stupid dare and the conversation between him and Devon, but in the end, I couldn't get my answers because not even Elle knew so I eventually gave up.

I clenched my fists and counted backwards in Spanish again, trying to zone him-all three of them-out, but then I thought, why should I let him talk down on me? Who says I can't fight back? He's already given me his bullshit rogue status, so what else do I have to lose?

My head snapped to face him and by the obvious hesitance in his eyes, it was clear he wasn't expecting me to answer back.

"Are you projecting your fears on me, Atlie? Scared I'll top you in this cla*s?"

I saw his jaw muscle ticked before his eyes looked at me with rage, every word that came out of his mouth dripping in irritation. "The only thing you know how to get on top of are men you manipulate. It must be sad, huh? The only way men will touch you is when they're drunk out of their minds."

Atlas' response has me flustered because I had no idea what the hell he was talking about and why he seemed so hellbent on accusing me of something that doesn't even make sense to me. "What the hell are you-"

I don't get to finish my question as Mr. Davidson speaks up louder.

"I need this research paper submitted on my table before the day ends. Now for your designated partners, it will be..."

I felt the panic rise in me when I realized we're suddenly doing partner work.

Shit. Why didn't we do this a few days ago when the brothers weren't here yet? Now that they're back, chances are I might be partnered with one of them and that's worse than taking a shot of bleach.

I put my hands underneath my thighs so that nobody notices I've started shaking and tried to shove my nervousness deep down inside of me. f**k it if one of them ends up being my partner. I can replace a way to finish the paper without exchanging more than ten words with any of them.

"Atlas and Wes," Mr. Davidson passes them a paper with their topic and both brothers grumble under their breath before sending each other death glares.

They almost looked ready to tear each other apart, but Atlas' focus changes to me when Mr. Davidson says, "Devon and Suri."

f**k my life.

I could have sworn I saw a twinkle in Devon's eyes, but I quickly looked away, forcing myself not to get sucked in by his stupid charms.

A twinkle? Yeah right. If I didn't know any better, I would think he actually wanted to be partners with me out of kindness, but his words from the other night echo in my head.

"You want Suri, and you know what, Atlas? I'll make sure I take all of her so there's nothing left for you. That fresh meat is mine."

My body stiffens up when the thought of him calling me that stupid nickname replays as clear as day in my memory. I was an idiot, allowing myself to be manipulated by his kind words and smile, but now that I know, I'm not letting my guard down again. Devon is only nice to me because he wants something from me. He wants to piss his brother off by using me. I don't know why the hell he thinks that's going to work because the only thing Atlas wants from me is gone from his life, but whatever. I'm not in the business of wasting any more of my brain cells on these rich bastards.

"I'm telling him I want to change partners."

"Let's just finish the work and get it over with. You don't have to be a dick, you know?"

My train of thought is disrupted when Wes and Atlas start arguing next to me, the two of them already standing up.

"You're the dick and you can't even keep it in your own goddamn pants." Atlas protested.

"And when the hell has that ever been a problem to you? Are you jealous of my sexual adventures now? Because if you are then just say so, I'll gladly point you the way." Wes taunted and this clearly infuriated Atlas even more.

"Cut it out or else," Atlas said as he jabbed a finger on Wes' chest.

Wes raised his brow at him. "What are you going to do? Maul me?"

Maul him? What the hell? What are they, animals?!

"Can you guys not do this in public? You're creating too much attention for f**k's sake." Devon finally stepped up and stood in between the two.

I tilted my head to the side and realized that people were starting to look and the two brothers noticed as well and they-unwillingly-sat back down.

The three of them sat down on the other side while I stayed at the end of the table. I know I shouldn't care about their conversation and focus on getting started with my research topic, but I can't help it. I need to know what's gotten them so heated that their usual brotherly relationship is up in flames today.

"What the hell is wrong with you two? I thought we already settled this during our sab-" Devon is saying something, but I can't figure out what the last word is as I'm reading his lips.

It's not a word I usually hear so I'm having a harder time trying to figure it out.

Sabba... Sabba... Sabbatical?

Is that why they were away the past few days? They went on a freaking sabbatical during the first week of school? I wonder what rich kid activities they did to destress from their oh so stressful life.

I don't even want to know.

"Wes is pissing me off," Atlas said with obvious annoyance in the way his lips moved and I tried my best not to get distracted by how lush they looked. Now is not the time, Suri!

"Yeah? Well you're pissing me off even more. What are you, my s ex life police now?" Wes shakes his head.

Atlas looked like he was seconds from tearing his brother's limbs when Devon places his arm in front of him and shoots him a glare that says 'do not dare'.

He let out a guttural groan as he rolled his eyes and holy f**k, why is that so hot to me?

"All I'm saying is, why the f**k did it have to be her?" Atlas asked, the emotions on his face changing from pissed off to... torn?

I can't really tell because it's an expression that I've never seen him make before.

Also, what does he mean 'her'? And what does this 'her' have to do with them and their argument? Are they fighting over a girl? Do they have a girl? Does Atlas have a girl?

Somehow that possibility throws me in a loop, but I tell myself that I don't care until I-sort of-believe it.

"What the hell are you talking about? I told you already, I don't remember half of that night and most certainly who I could have been with. Stop getting mad at me for s**t I clearly don't even remember." Wes gritted his teeth while Atlas looked like he was restraining himself too, his chest heaving up and down as he took deep and slow breaths.

Devon was looking closely at the two brothers, probably getting ready to stop either of them should they think about stabbing one another.

"Are you three done with your Dr. Phil show or do I have to make this report on my own?"

All three of them turned their heads at me at the same time.

Atlas' gray eyes burned through my soul.

Wes gave me an irritated expression before rolling his eyes to the back of his head.

Devon sighed as he got up and started walking towards me but not before I saw him telling the two "don't you dare get your blood on school grounds".

"Sorry about that," he apologized as soon as he sat down next to me and I quickly got a whiff of his scent.

As always, he smells incredible. The vanilla and honey oozes from him and I replace myself angry at him for it because it reminds me of the time he seemed nice but it turns out he was just faking it.

"Whatever," I mumbled before sliding him the paper Mr. Davidson gave earlier. "I can do this half of the topic and you do the other half. We don't have to exchange so much as three words to each other. I'll meet you at the library after the last class and I'll take your half from you, put it together with mine, and leave it on Mr. Davidson's table."

When I finished talking, I looked at Devon to confirm he got what I said and was shocked to see him just looking at me like I've drunk the last sip of water in the desert. I don't know what he's thinking about, but the way his eyes were taking me in and wondering if I really had said those words tugged at my heart.

I swallowed nervously as I felt my heart beat faster. What the hell is he doing to me?

He finally breaks the silence when he asks, "Did I do something to make you mad at me?"

s**t. Why did he have to go and ask that in the most innocent way possible like he doesn't know what he's done? Damn him. Damn him and his beautiful green eyes and perfect full lips that make it so hard not to want to kiss.

I'm so sick of these brothers and how they keep trying to play mind games with me and how it feels like I am easily sucked into it. I am my own demise.

"Suri, please answer me. If I did anything to make you mad then I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"You didn't mean it? Is that what you were going to say? You're apologizing for something you don't even have any idea of? What the hell kind of an apology is that then? If you're going to apologize, at least have the balls to know what for." Devon blinked at me, unsure on how to respond.

I couldn't help it. I said I was going to bite my tongue and not let my true feelings show, but f**k it, he pissed me off so bad I just blurted it all out.

Suddenly, the bell rings and students quickly start packing up their things. I do the same to get the hell away from them as fast as possible.

"Suri, plea-" Devon touches my arm and his touch makes me feel flutters in my stomach, but I don't allow myself to feel more for it as I pull my hand away with force.

"Don't touch me," I hissed at him and I myself am surprised by the venom in my voice as is Devon and I'm pretty sure his brothers heard it too.

Well, what's done is done.

I grab my bag and sling it on my shoulder, but just as I was about to walk away from Devon, I turned to him with one last glare that was equal parts anger and disappointment. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to not brainwash you anymore."

And then I walked away and tried to console myself by saying that this will all be over in a year.