Love And Strength

ere sharp, holding a flicker of recognition li

, his tone tinged wi

ne had overheard him. The whispers had already started. Cu

, but it didn't matter. The scene was enough. I closed my eye

asked, my voice

ntered, his s

want, Ryan?

when I asked?" he replied smoothly, a

ecause it's not important. We're not f

inally leave me alone. But then that infuriating smile returned,

are you doin

the tension, pulling both

fi

all too knowing. She was practically royalty in the school, commanding attention

turned to her. "Nothing, darling. Just thou

round," she said, her tone dripping with enthusiasm. A few other girls

find him appealing? Did they even care about his reputat

ack to me, his eyes glinting with

he about to reveal

g," he said instead, laug

ally draped an arm around So

Anger simmered beneath my skin. Ryan had turned me i

you o

rushing toward me, her

w Ethan and Julie earlier, and then I saw Ryan and Sofia

tered, my tone clipped. "

he bother

ad and focuse

ng at?" Teresa barked a

spect-one of the perks of being the beta's daughter. With a

-

with students from all grades. Teresa wasn't in t

near the window. My relief was short-lived when I noticed

ed something in my chest. I bit my

o focus on anything but the couple in front of me. The sunlight str

y offered a momen

rofessor William's voice boom

ntering into the classro

ring the school," he said nonchalant

raised an eyebrow. "This is your first and only

lazy grin, scanning the roo

oss his face as he strolled to the bac

s started i

he dr

so con

y, wishing I could

w but loud enough to draw attention. "You're te

hrough the room, a

or William's voice c

Their judgment was written all over their faces, as if

terly. "Do they really think I'm with h

d to focus on the lecture, b

ally grim. Julie didn't speak to him once during the

as he even talking to me?

played together once or twice at the packhouse when we were kids, bu

ear. I stiffened as Ryan leane

whispered. "You'r

sion with natural flow

-

the doorway, I saw Ryan leaning casually against the fra

looking around, Professor," Ryan sa

erruptions, not even from Ethan. If he didn't make exceptions for the

aid, his tone clipped. "I'll let it slide this

s fine. Take it easy, Professor," Ryan interru

ed whispers spread through the room. No

. His infamous smile spread across his face, that a

ow good

some girls broke thro

see tha

so con

so loudly? I ducked my head, instinctively covering my

dn't

e laced with mockery. "You're terrible at i

pulled my hands away and glared at

ION, EV

undered across the room, sil

girls' eyes bore into me as though

itterly. Do they really think I'm w

te, concentrate," he whispered, his tone dripping wit

desk, resisting the urge to la

d crossed paths at the packhouse when we were kids, but that was ye

or William said, turning toward the p

he lecture, but my at

is face shadowed with something that resembled sadness. Julie, who usu