Chapter 97: Principal’s Office Saga
The chatter in the classroom settles the moment their teacher walks in, a thick stack of papers tucked beneath his arm.
"Everyone, settle down. I have an important announcement."
Everyone immediately knows what the announcement is about. The starting date of one of the most important exams in the academy is near.
Mr. Philip places the papers on his desk and looks around the room. "As you all know, the senior examinations are approaching. This year, just like every other year, you’ll be sitting for both a theoretical examination and a practical assessment."
A few students groan. Despite the excitement of becoming a senior, exam week is usually rigorous and very draining.
But it’s worth it when you finally become a senior, they say. The senior building is much more beautiful than this one, with several different private lounges and private game rooms.
If your sibling or mate is a popular senior, even better. Then you can be easily accepted into their group without having to go through long processes.
It was a week every third-year junior student looked forward to.
"The theory will cover everything you’ve been taught this year," Mr. Philip continues. "So I expect all of you to study properly."
Nyra sighs quietly. Despite everything that has happened, she’s been studying for the exams for a few days now.
Or, in more accurate words, Adrian has been revising the past questions with her. And that’s how she finds out her mate is actually really, really smart.
Plus, he always wears light-blocking glasses when he’s using his laptop, so it’s a plus seeing him in glasses for hours. She finds it really hot.
She shakes the thought of her handsome, nerdy mate away, paying attention to the teacher again. He has a grim, serious expression on his face now.
"However, you should all know that the practical examination will be different this year."
Different?
"Different how?" someone asks from the back.
He folds his arms. "You’ll find out when the time comes. What I can tell you is that you should prepare yourselves to be tested to your limit."
The students began to murmur nervouslu to themselves.
"Tested to our limit? As in our wolves?" Lena questions.
The teacher nods. "Exactly. This isn’t going to be a simple demonstration of your abilities. You’ll need your wolves to guide you during this test."
Nyra’s palm starts to sweat.
She can’t shift. She hasn’t shifted in so many months. How exactly is she going to pass the exam if she can’t even summon her wolf?
As if reading her mind, Claire raises a hand. "What happens if we fail?"
"The theoretical examination can be retaken. But the practical..." He meets all their eyes. "If you fail the practical, there will be consequences."
"What kind of consequences?" another student asks.
The teacher gives them a knowing look. "Let’s just say you won’t get another opportunity."
A collective groan fills the classroom, students already discussing among themselves.
Nyra exchanges a glance with Lena. "Well, that’s comforting."
"What are you worried about?" Lena teases. "I’m sure you’ll do well. Especially since Adrian has been teaching you." She wiggles her eyebrow.
"Shut up." Nyra laughs, trying to mask her fear. She’s not scared for the theory, she’s scared for the praticals.
She can’t shift. She can’t shift. She can’t...
"Here!" The girl in front of her passes the exam form to her.
She takes one and passes the rest to Lena and the others.
After they finish filling out the forms, Mr. Philip begins gathering all of them and compiling a list of registered students.
"I need someone to help me submit these documents to the principal’s office in the senior building," he says, eyes scanning the classroom before landing directly on Nyra.
"Nyra Hale."
Nyra points at herself. "Me?"
"Yes, you. Take this to the principal’s office."
Nyra sighs as she stands. The principal’s office is all the in the senior’s building
Lena and Naya behind her immediately start making exaggerated noises. "Ooooooh. Someone’s going to use this as an excuse to see their mate!"
Nyra turns around and gives them a warning glare. "Stop it."
Lena bites her lip to keep from laughing.
Ignoring her friends, she takes the papers from the teacher and leaves the classroom toward the principal’s office.
---
The senior building is unusually quiet when she arrives. She walks down the hallway until she reaches the principal’s office.
She knocks twice. No one answers, but there’s clearly someone inside.
She knocks once again before carefully pushing the door open.
"Sir, Mr. Philip sent me here to-"
Her voice literally stops. Her brain takes several seconds to process what she’s seeing.
Dorian is on the principal’s couch, the principal’s daughter is on his lap, her black curly hair sticking to her neck while she grinds down on him, moaning softly.
"Oh. S-sorry..."
Dorian’s face drains of color the moment he sees her. "Shit."
The girl immediately scrambles away, desperately fixing her clothes and hair, looking white as a ghost.
Dorian jumps up too, grabbing his shirt from the floor. "Wait! Nyra!"
She backs toward the door, completely stunned. "I didn’t see anything. Goodbye."
The principal’s daughter, Nelly, tries to grab his hand. "Do you think she’s going to tell anyone?"
Dorian doesn’t even look at her. He gently untangles her fingers from his and immediately rushes after Nyra, who has already slipped through the door.
"Nyra, please, wait!" Dorian rushes and catches her arm. "Please wait, it isn’t what it looked like!"
Nyra stares at him. "Dorian, that’s the principal’s daughter."
"Okay, it is exactly what it looks like. But there’s an explanation!"
The principal’s daughter glares at him as she also slides out the door. "I can’t believe you just left me in there like that to run after her."
She stares at his hand on Nyra’s arm. "You can forget about accessing those student files without me, Dorian."
What student files? Nyra mutters under her breath, watching Dorian rush over to mutter something to the girl. "Nelly, I’ll text you later. Please?"
She rolls her eyes at him but doesn’t refuse, throwing her hair over her shoulder as she strolls away.
Nyra covers her mouth, trying desperately not to laugh at him.
Dorian turns back toward her. "Please stop laughing." He groans, throwing his head back.
"At least zip up before you try to save your reputation." She teases, clutching the beige folder closer to her chest.
Dorian turns red as he glances down and realizes his fly was, in fact, open the entire time. "But seriously, it’s not what you think."
Nyra sighs. "I don’t care, Dorian...you can have sex with whoever you want."
"You’re being mean." He scratches the nape of his neck. "But are you really not upset?" He searches her eyes.
Before she can respond, a deep voice comes from behind them. "Why would she be upset?" Adrian asks calmly.
Dorian watches the way Nyra practically lights up as he comes closer and wraps a possessive hand around her waist.
"How are you doing, babe?" He whispers, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
The effect is immediate. Nyra turns red, giggling into her palm. "Stop, he’s watching." She nudges Adrian with her elbow.
"Let him watch, then." Adrian whispers against her neck, deliberately watching Dorian’s reaction.
His expression is flat. But the look in his eyes and the clenching of his fingers are anything but.
"I-I have something to do!" He mutters under his breath, breezing past them before either of them can respond.
"What’s his problem?" Nyra asks, watching his back.
Sweet, sweet oblivious Nyra.
"Maybe he has class," Adrian says, fighting back a grin as he changes the topic. "What are you even doing here?"
"I came to submit the forms for the exams. But then I walked into..." She gestures at the door.
Adrian just chuckles, grabs the folder from her hand. "Just wait here."
He goes in for a few seconds, then comes back out, holding a hand out. "Done. Let’s go."
She takes his hand. "Where are we going?"
He pulls her beside him, fingers tightly intertwined. "Nothing serious. Just want to hangout."
Adrian leads her to the exclusive elevator only high-ranking students use, then leads her to the familiar lounge he and his friends usually hang out in.
The moment the door opens, she is face-to-face with John and the others.
"Hey, Nyra!" John grins. "How are you feeling? We were planning to come over to the mansion later."
"True," James adds, fumbling with his snooker stick. "You and Adrian were out for so long, we were so worried."
"Much better," she says, smiling as they welcome her in. "Thank you for asking."
Jason on the other side shoots her a smile, but he doesn’t come closer or engage her like the other guys. She can still notice a little bit of tension between him and Adrian, and she doesn’t blame him for keeping his distance.
She smiles back, struggling to keep up with all the crazy questions the guys are currently throwing at her.
"Okay, okay...can you guys let her breathe?" Adrian cuts in a few seconds later, pulling Nyra into his lap as he settles on the couch.
Behind them, the door to the lounge opens again, and an unfamiliar Beta walks in, making Nyra’s eyes widen slightly.
She is so stunning, like top-models-kind-of stunning. She has long dark hair, flawless features, deep dimples, and a bright smile.
Her eyes go straight to Adrian, ignoring everyone else.
"Adrian!" she calls cheerfully, waving at him as though Nyra isn’t even there. "I came to invite you to lunch. Would you like to come with me?"
Nyra frowns. Who the hell is this?