Found: A Reverse Harem Academy Shifter Bully Romance (Thornbriar Academy Series Book 1)

by Cali Mann

  Had someone said something about me? Even though I dated around, I was always honest. I wasn’t looking for a long-term commitment. I just wanted to have fun, and the girls knew that. But here I hadn’t even made a pass at this chick and she was acting like I was a jerk who couldn’t be trusted.

  Maybe she was the one being dishonest. Worth a shot. I leaned down close to her ear and whispered, “I know something about secrets.”

  A fierceness crept into her voice. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

  I crowed internally. My mother would be so proud. Her place on the Council depended on her ability to read people, and Hailey was broadcasting loud and clear. “As well as being a good teacher, I’m a good listener.”

  Hailey shook her head.

  Smiling, I let it pass this time. “I’m going to let go. Swim to the side.”

  “I can’t,” she said with a gulp.

  “I’m sure you can.” I released my hand but stayed nearby in case I’d been wrong. I was rarely wrong, though.

  She sank a bit, but then her feet moved faster and she propelled herself to the edge. Her hand closed over the smooth rocks, and she looked back at me, grinning. “I did it.”

  “Like I said—” I paused, watching the odd fear leap into her eyes. “I’m a good teacher.”

  “Yeah,” she said with a chuckle.

  I swam over to her. “Shall we meet again tomorrow night? Same time, same place?”

  A blush heated her cheeks as if she had just remembered we were naked in the pool together. “Sounds good.”

  Props for that. She hadn’t stammered at all, despite her embarrassment. Hailey was such a weird mixture of innocent and fierce. One minute she was blushing and the next, she was growling at me. This was a girl I could fall for. Good thing she was Terrin’s and off-limits.

  16

  Hailey

  “Choose a partner,” Professor Alexander announced as he passed out the worksheets. “There are limited microscopes, and you will all need to share.”

  I glanced around. Even though I’d been here a couple of weeks, I still didn’t know anyone well enough to partner. Looking toward Terrin, I found he was still avoiding me. I swallowed.

  “Brenton,” the professor said. “You team up with Hailey.”

  Hell no. Brenton looked about as excited about the idea as I was. He huffed and stomped over to my table. In the science lab, the high tables required bar stools to reach them. Perched on one, I crossed my arms and glared at Brenton.

  “Careful there, Rosie Posie,” he said. “Don’t want to Humpty Dumpty it.”

  I groaned. “Professor, I need a different partner.”

  The professor glanced over at us and shook his head irritably. “Now, class, the first slide we are looking at today is of an onion.”

  “Guess you’re stuck with me, Rosie.” Brenton began laying out the slides in order along the middle of the table. He flicked on the microscope and peered in, adjusting the controls.

  “My name’s Hailey.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t really care.”

  Flipping my hair back, I hopped off my stool. “Let me have a look.”

  Brenton continued to look and write on his sheet, ignoring me.

  I shoved him, or at least I tried to shove him, but he was so big and muscled that it was like pushing a rock wall.

  He flinched away from me as if I had burned him, then raised his head, eyes blazing. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Then let me have a turn,” I said, hands on my hips. Stepping forward, I ignored him and peered into the microscope. Adjusting the dials to clarify the image, I wrote some notes on my sheet. I could hear his breathing behind me as he tried to bring himself under control. What was wrong with him? “Can you hand me the next slide?”

  “No.”

  I lifted my head and studied him. Guess I might as well ask. He couldn’t hate me any more than he already did. “What’s your problem?”

  “None of your damn business, Rosie,” he growled. “Now finish up. It’s my turn.”

  With a shrug, I stepped aside. My arm accidentally brushed his, and he winced. I frowned. It wasn’t like we had loads of space, and we only had one microscope. He acted like I had the freaking plague. This was going to be a long project.

  At the end of class, Professor Alexander said, “Leave the materials on your tables. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

  “How long are we working with slides, Professor?” Brenton asked, his tone moderate.

  So, he could be polite when he wanted to.

  The professor smiled. “All week.”

  Oh, hell.

  17

  Hailey

  After swimming every night that week with Adrian, I slept so deeply that I didn’t remember dreaming at all. Had swimming alleviated my need to dream about the water? It was worth pondering. Professor Frank had said physical activity helped to control the shifter and relieved some of the agitation. Maybe I could stay hidden, stay alive a little longer.

  I hadn’t even noticed the nakedness after a while. At first it was all I could think of, the blush rising in my cheeks. As he started showing me the strokes, he was so gentle and careful that I stopped paying attention to the feel of bare skin.

  Pulling on my school uniform, I grimaced. I’d meant to get some jeans and tee shirts, but I had no idea how. Were there trips into town for shopping? And might that be a good time to slip away? I ran a quick brush through my hair and headed down the stairs.

  My stomach growled as I crossed the courtyard. Adrian leaned against a tree; his eyes half-closed. His blond hair was tousled as if he’d barely run a comb through it. I started toward him, to thank him for last night, when Monica rushed by me.

  “Adrian,” she called in a sing-song voice.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “She’s always like that,” Terrin said beside me. “She thinks they’re fated to be together.”

  Turning toward him, I raised an eyebrow. “Are you talking to me now?”

  “Hey, I’m sorry.” He scratched his neck. “I got a little spooked.”

  “Spooked?”

  “Monica’s dad getting hurt…” He frowned. “It brought up some old issues for me about the safety of those I care about.”

  “Care about?” I blinked at him. We barely knew each other and he was already worried about caring too much?

  “Yeah, um.” He scratched the long scar on his arm. It crisscrossed the muscle like a knife wound. “But I’d like to be . . . friends, if you’ll allow it?”

  He pushed all my buttons: gentle and caring one minute, cold and aloof the next. How could I ever trust him? But I wanted to. I’d felt connected to him since the first moment I met him. Everything about Terrin pulled me in. His skin glowed golden brown in the cool morning sunlight, and his topaz eyes watched me, waiting. It was my call, he seemed to say. “Okay,” I said softly. “Let’s try.”

  He smiled and jerked his head toward the dining room doors. “Wanna grab something to eat?”

  “Yes, I’d like that.”

  We headed into the dining hall, and the aroma of bacon, eggs, and hash browns greeted my nose. My mouth watered at just the smell.

  Terrin guided me to the line with a hand at the small of my back. It should have been too intimate a gesture, but with Terrin it felt right. I don’t know what it was about him, but he could do things that I’d have smacked anyone else for even trying.

  At the end of the line, I glanced around the packed cafeteria and wondered if I should go back to my room anyway.

  “My place?” he asked roughly.

  I glanced at him and grinned at the lines of strain around his eyes. He really was trying not to let whatever happened in his past get to him. “How about we just go out in the courtyard?”

  He nodded. We wandered back into the quad and found a spot near Adrian. Monica was still all over him, and Adrian glanced over at us, his eyes pleading.

  Terrin snorted, then said, “Hey Monica.�
�

  “What?” she asked, looking up at him. She shot me a nasty glare.

  “I heard Greta asking for you in the dining hall.” He sighed. “Some kind of girl emergency.”

  Monica jumped to her feet and ran into the hall.

  Adrian breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Thanks, buddy.”

  “You can say no, you know.” Terrin said, dropping down into the grass.

  “Have you tried saying no to Monica Gray?” Adrian asked.

  “No need,” Terrin said. “She’s not interested in any of us lower beings.”

  I giggled. They both glanced at me and then broke into laughter themselves.

  We dug into our meals, enjoying the cool morning.

  After breakfast, we headed into class. Professor Frank’s was the first of the day. She had yoga mats laid out along the gym floor, and she asked us to sit in pairs facing each other. Terrin sat across from me, and Adrian shrugged, wandering off to find his own partner.

  Professor Frank clapped her hands at the front of the class. “Now take a deep breath from your diaphragm, everyone, and let it go. And again.”

  The breathing exercises had become familiar in the last week. Which was good. Professor Frank said they were the basis of expert control, and I needed that if I was going to hide the fact that I was a spirit shifter for even one more year.

  “Okay, turn around, and sit back-to-back with your partner,” Professor Frank said.

  I arched an eyebrow at Terrin and he smiled. We spun and did as she asked, sitting in lotus position with our backs against each other.

  His back was muscular and warm against mine. My heart thudded against my chest, echoing in my ears.

  “Lay your palm against your chest,” Professor Frank said. “Notice your breathing and the breathing of your partner. Don’t try to sync them, just notice.”

  Closing my eyes, I forced myself to take slow, easy breaths as we’d been taught. Terrin’s back moved with his breaths and despite our instructions, we moved into rhythm. We were so connected, and I didn’t understand why.

  Terrin lay his free hand on top of mine, our fingers automatically interlacing. My breath stuttered, but I steadied it. Stay the course.

  My eyes opened and I caught sight of Adrian and his partner behind me. His lips turned down as if he were sad, but once he realized I was watching him, he gave me a wink. I shook my head. At least he hadn’t had to partner with the dreaded Monica this time.

  We finished our breathing exercises and stood up. Terrin still held my fingers as he turned and searched my face. His dark eyebrows furled as if he was trying to understand. I didn’t understand what this was between us either. Did shifters just feel things stronger than humans? Or did we have some special connection? I gave him a shrug, and he smiled, releasing my hand.

  Professor Frank led us through a series of yoga poses. I tried to breathe and be in the moment.

  18

  Terrin

  My jaguar stretched and purred like a housecat as we went through the yoga poses. He knew that Hailey was the one for us, and he was just waiting for my pesky human side to come around. We were safe at school. I shouldn’t worry about protecting her from more than mean girls and that asshole Brenton.

  Still, I worried. Even as I wrapped her fingers in mine and we breathed in unison, I was troubled. I didn’t really know anything about this girl, except my instincts told me she was mine. Even my pack mates seemed a little leery of her. Sciro had been reluctant to just walk her to the library. What did that mean about their instincts? I trusted my brothers more than myself most days.

  “You alright, man?” asked Adrian as we gathered up our mats.

  I nodded. “Girl troubles.”

  He laughed.

  My brother didn’t have troubles with women. He always knew exactly how to handle them, whether they were laughing or crying. That’s what made watching him with Monica so amusing. She refused to be deterred by his nonchalance. Monica had already made her mind up about what they should be, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  “Not that you’d know anything about that,” I said with a smirk.

  He snort. “No, nothing at all.”

  “Just a little Moni-stalker.” I chuckled.

  Adrian laughed even harder, holding his side and trying to catch his breath.

  “What’s going on?” Hailey asked behind us.

  We both looked at her and then at each other, and tried to rein ourselves in. Adrian wiped tears from his eyes, and I leaned against the stacked yoga mats.

  Hailey looked offended, her shoulders bunching and her eyes narrowing.

  “It’s not—” I shook my head, catching my breath. “Not about you.”

  She still looked puzzled but allowed me to take her mat and put it on the stack.

  “Come on,” Adrian said with a waggle of his eyebrows. “Let’s get out of here before Monica catches us.”

  Hailey grinned.

  19

  Hailey

  Terrin and Adrian strolled with me across the courtyard. I had Tutoring Assistance next, and they both had other classes to get to, but it was nice to have a few minutes to walk together. Terrin took my hand, and I let him. His flips back and forth were confusing, but I was beginning to think he might mean it this time.

  I shivered as a cold wind whipped through me. The weather had turned again, and the leaves were changing colors on the trees. I’d have to dig out some of the school sweaters from the closet. I grimaced as goose-bumps rose on my skin.

  “You’re cold,” Terrin said.

  “Yeah, a bit,” I said with a small smile. “I’d better find some cold weather clothes.”

  He nodded, pulling me closer to him to share his warmth. Adrian noticed and moved closer on my other side, blocking the wind.

  Warmth uncurled in my gut. Before I’d come here, I’d never imagined hanging out with two gorgeous guys so concerned for my welfare. To be honest, anyone paying attention to me felt strange.

  Despite their closeness, another cold breeze blasted through me and I quivered. At Hasting’s House, I’d have given anything for clothes that weren’t shabby dresses, but these school uniforms weren’t much better. Humph. “I’d like to get some clothes. Monica said I had some kind of stipend?”

  “Yeah,” Adrian said. “It should be plenty for you to shop.”

  “Um . . . where do I go? Is there a bus to the stores?” I hadn’t been to a real store since I was a little girl. What was it like?

  Terrin squeezed his arm around my waist. “The nearest town is pretty far. There won’t be a bus trip until closer to the holidays.”

  “Oh.”

  “But,” Adrian said. “You can shop online.”

  “I can?” I winced. Just another thing I was dumb about. I’d seen people on TV use computers, but I’d never been near one myself.

  A troubled frown creased Terrin’s forehead. “Have you ever used the internet?”

  I shook my head.

  Terrin squeezed me again. “We can help. Meet at our suite during lunch?”

  Adrian nodded. “We’ll bring the food and show you the ropes.”

  “Okay,” I said hesitantly. “Thank you.”

  They grinned at me as if I’d made their day by asking them for something.

  I swallowed. I didn’t like being so needy. Learning to fend for myself in the outside world was a must, though.

  When we reached the building, I unwound myself from Terrin’s arms. “I’ve got T.A.”

  Terrin’s eyes followed me. “See you soon.”

  I smiled and turned toward the stairwell. I felt both of their eyes on me as I headed up the stairs. My gut swirled. I knew I could only count on myself. Why was I trusting these guys? Because there was so much I didn’t know and they could help me. I bit my lip. But was I just putting them in danger? I was a banned shifter, hiding out, and I was dangerous.

  “Hailey?” a male voice asked.

  In my distraction, I’d been gazing
at my feet and almost ploughed into my recruiter. “Mr. Reed, how are you?”

  He smiled. “I’m good. How are you settling in?”

  I opened my mouth and closed it again. Hadn’t the guys said it was weird for Mr. Reed to hang around so long? Was he suspicious of me? Or was he just worried because he knew where I’d come from? I forced a smile. “I’m doing fine.”

  “No more thoughts of running away?” he inquired gently.

  My fear must have shown on my face because he continued, “When I was a young wolf, I, also, wanted to revel in my freedom.”

  I grimaced. “Not much freedom here.”

  He raised a burly eyebrow. “But more than where you came from.”

  With a sigh, I nodded.

  “And even greater freedom awaits if you can gain control,” he said, gesturing for me to walk with him toward the library.

  “I suppose.” If they didn’t discover what I really was and execute me for being a spirit shifter before I did.

  “The impatience of youth.” He chuckled.

  At the library door, he stopped and turned toward me. His face darkened, and his eyes searched mine. “I don’t know why Kaiden Hartsman was looking for you that night.”

  My heart skipped a beat.

  “But,” Mr. Reed continued. “I know he is not a man who easily gives up.” He reached out and took my hands in his. “If you were to leave Thornbriar, it would not only be ill-advised, it may be dangerous. He may still be looking.”

  A dangerous spirit shifter was looking for me? My hands would have trembled if they hadn’t been in Mr. Reed’s firm grasp. “What would he want with me? I’m not on the Council or anything.”

  “I don’t know.” He exhaled. “But he has shown an unusual interest and I fear for your safety. Promise me you’ll stay put?”

  “I will,” I said. For as long as I can, I added silently. As much as I didn’t want to get in the bad guy’s cross-hairs, I’d rather risk that than certain death here if they discovered my true element.