Clay

"Umm, why do you call me Peacock Boy?" asked Gray as we stepped into the cafeteria.

"Because shit-for-brains, you strut around like a peacock," answers Asher.

"You act like you are invincible due to your family lineage," I added, "But know this, Grayson," I rounded on him, then grabbed him by the lapel of his shirt with a growl, "If I ever find you spying on Eve again, you are going to hope that your daddy will save you because you will get much more then just a black eye next time."

"That's enough, Fuzzy Butt; you made your point," Says Eve as she places a hand on my arm. With just one touch of my precious mate, I went from boiling to simmering instantly.

With one last warning growl, I lowered Gray back to the floor. When I released him, he crumbled, then bowed his head in submission, "I'm sorry, Clay and Eve, I promise to not act like a creep anymore."

I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh, then reached out a hand to help him up. I didn't intend for him to submit to me. I just wanted him to leave Eve alone.

"I will forgive you this time. I don't mind having an extra person keeping an eye on Eve, but you don't have to when Asher or I am around," I explained, then added, "Oh, I heard what you told Mr. Okhmhaka; thank you for having our backs."

Gray took my offered hand, rose to his feet with a look of awe on his face, and then nodded before saying, "I promise to not do it again, and you're welcome. I wouldn't want you to get blamed for something you didn't do."

I gave him a pat on the shoulder, then wrapped my arm around Eve to make our way toward the line.

Eve was having a hard time with hundreds of eyes on us. I could feel her fear through our mate bond. She was already struggling with what had happened with Father Lucas. This added fuel to the fire; all I could do was hold her so she wouldn't fall from the pressure.

"I love you, Little Bird," I said telepathically as I leaned down to kiss her temple.

"I love you too, Fuzzy Butt, very much," she replied with a smile.

I would tell her I loved her every second to keep a smile on her beautiful face.

After lunch, we went out to the courtyard to work on homework when we heard the familiar sound of Harmony's dad's booming voice; we walked over to find him yelling in the Headmaster's face with Harmony's little sisters Melody and Emily huddled together as they cried.

"You were supposed to keep her safe!" Wovoka yelled as tears streamed down his red, angry face.

"I am terribly sorry…." Headmaster Okhmhaka started to say, but he was cut off.

"Sorry?!.... Well, sorry, won't bring my little girl back!" Wovoka yelled and then sniffed at the air. When he turned his head in our direction and narrowed his eyes at Eve, I immediately shifted into a half-shift as our beta exploded into his half-shift with a snarl.

"I should have ripped your throat out!" He growled as he launched toward Eve.

Our beta was one of the hardest wolves I have fought before, but I wouldn't let him have the upper ground. He would not be getting past me to get to Eve.

I was thankful when a midnight-colored wolf grabbed Wovoka and then pinned him to the ground with a growl.

"That's enough, Mr. Williams! I understand you are upset, but you shouldn't take it out on an innocent girl." Mr. Okhmhaka growled.

"That girl is not innocent; she is a plague to our kind that needs to be purged," Snarled Mr. Williams.

I heard Eve gasp. When I turned around, she had already shifted into her wolf and then took off into the trees with a whimper.

Damnit!

With a conflicted sigh, I shifted into my wolf and then followed Eve; this was not the best time for her to be alone!

I used our bond to find her; thankfully, she hadn't gone too far. But as I got closer, I smelled the familiar stench of pennies. Fuck!

I ran faster, terrified that the worst could have happened, but I couldn't sense her pain or fear as I got closer; all I felt was sadness.

When I finally spotted Eve, I found her staring down at the body of a male I recognized from our tribe. I remembered his name was Lincoln Blackwater and that he was Mercedes's older brother.

I leaned my head back to release a howl, hoping to get the Headmaster's attention, and then shifted as I hurried toward Eve, who was sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees as she cried.

As I got closer, I examined Lincoln's body while trying to maintain my distance and noticed that he was killed with an Arrow to the head, with purple lips that showed signs of Wolfsbane.

"I didn't do it," Eve whispered as I knelt beside her, "He was already dead when I got here."

"I know, baby," I said as I wrapped my arms around her, "I share the other half of your soul. I know that you aren't capable of something so horrendous."

It broke my heart to see her lip tremble when a sob broke out; she wrapped her arms around my neck as she bawled her eyes out.

We didn't have to wait long before the Headmaster appeared, with Miss Tocho following close behind, "Is that Lincoln Blackwater?" she asked as she stepped up behind us.

I nodded, "Yes, mam, he is from my pack."

Mr. Okhmhaka sighed, examined Lincoln's body, and then stated, "It appears that he has been killed the same way Miss Williams was killed." After taking a few steps back, he turned to me, "Was he already dead when you found him?" 

Eve wiped away her tears, then nodded, "Yes sir, " she said, sounding a little hoarse from crying. After clearing her throat, she repeated, "Yes, sir. I smelled the blood, and when I got here, he was already dead."

"Very well, now head back to the school. It's not safe for you to be out here." Mr. Okhmhaka said, then returned to examining Lincoln's body.

I helped Eve up, trying to ignore the fear that was gnawing at the pit of my stomach. Two members of our tribe died in less than a week, and both were killed in the same way. It was no coincidence, and I knew that we had to find out who was responsible before more people got hurt.

As we walked back to the school, I kept a watchful eye on the trees, scanning the area for any signs of danger. Our school was located in the heart of the forest, and it wasn't uncommon for rogue wolves or other dangerous creatures to wander into our territory.

Eve clung onto my arm, her eyes puffy from crying, "Who do you think did it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know," I replied honestly, "But we need to find out. We can't let whoever it is get away with this."

She nodded, then stayed quiet as we made our way back to the school in silence.

Once we arrived at the school, I walked Eve to the landing between the dorms.

"Go get some rest; we'll figure this out, Little Bird," I promised her. "I won't let anything happen to you or our pack."

She looked up at me with those beautiful green eyes of hers, and I could see the fear and pain in them. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

"I'm going to talk to the others," I said. "See if anyone saw or heard anything. We'll find out who did this."

Eve nodded, but I could tell she was still scared. I leaned in and kissed her forehead, holding her close to me. "I won't let anything happen to you, my love," I whispered, kissing her temple. "I promise."

As I watched her disappear into the dorms, I couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. We needed to find out who was behind these murders and fast. The killer was still out there, and they were targeting our people.