Defy The Alpha(s) 2: Rebel Beast

The moment Maverick walked into the office, he knew Principal Warrick was going to have it out for him. He had barely closed the door behind him when Warrick shoved himself out of his chair.

"What the hell, Maverick?!"

The man’s voice thundered through the office, his eyes burning with fury as he planted both hands against his desk.

"You fought with Rhydian in a restroom? You’re supposed to contain those kids, not stoop to their level!"

To anyone else, the sight would have been shocking.

Everyone at Bestiaris knew that while Warrick officially bore the title of principal, it was Maverick who truly kept the academy running. He commanded the respect of the students, handled problems most members of the staff wouldn’t dare approach, and possessed enough power that very few beasts could challenge him without thinking twice.

But that was simply Maverick Nightshade.

He had never needed to throw his power around merely because he possessed it. Warrick was still the principal of Bestiaris Academy and, more importantly, an elder. Maverick might disagree with him, argue with him, and occasionally make the man’s job considerably harder, but he would never disrespect him simply because he could.

So instead of rising to the anger thrown at him, Maverick inclined his head.

"You’re right."

Warrick blinked in surprise, clearly having prepared himself for an argument.

Maverick continued before he could speak. "I apologize. Things got out of hand before I realized how far they’d gone. I should have handled the situation differently."

Some of the fury drained from Warrick’s face. He simply stared at Maverick for several seconds before releasing a heavy sigh and sinking back into his chair. His hand came up to rub tiredly across his forehead.

The truth was, he wasn’t particularly angry, just disappointed.

Warrick had placed an enormous amount of faith in Maverick over the years. Whenever tensions between the houses threatened to erupt, Maverick was usually the person he trusted to restore order.

When younger beasts lost control of their animals, Maverick was the one expected to put them into place. Even the decision to place the humans inside House Therion had come partly from his confidence that Maverick could protect them without allowing personal feelings to interfere.

"What happened?" Warrick finally asked.

Maverick lifted his gaze.

"I’ve heard enough rumors already, and every version somehow gets worse than the last," Warrick said. "According to one student, Rhydian attacked a human. According to another, he tried to eat her. Someone else swears the entire restroom collapsed because the two of you shifted and tried to kill each other."

Maverick’s brow furrowed. "Rhydian was the only one who shifted, and he succeeded in bringing the place down on us."

"So he intended to kill you?" Warrick asked, a little worried now. Should anything happen to the wolf prince, he wasn’t ready to answer to his parents.

"Perhaps," Maverick said, thinking it over. "Who knows what was going on in that reptilian head of his?"

Warrick sighed. "Listen," he said carefully. "I know dragons are a headache, Rhydian more than most. But for all his faults, it’s unlike him to personally attack a human without provocation. He has an entire house full of idiots willing to cause trouble on his behalf." His expression became serious again. "So tell me what actually happened."

For a moment, Maverick said nothing. All he could think about was Aria standing in that restroom with Rhydian far too close to her and his jewelry adorning her.

Maverick’s jaw clenched before he could stop it.

That bastard wanted to claim what wasn’t his. The fury that had ripped through him at the time returned once more.

Aria was his and his alone.

The ignorant human simply didn’t know what she had done. To think he’d planned not to rush things, intending to court her the human way before the bond completely overwhelmed him. But that wasn’t happening anymore.

A dragon was after his mate. That wasn’t a competition Maverick had any intention of entertaining. Most of all, how Rhydian had become interested enough in Aria to offer her jewelry was beyond him.

Maverick knew enough about dragon history to understand how unusual that was. Dragons, especially those of royal blood, rarely looked twice at humans. Granted, there had been very few recorded interactions between the two species since humans and beasts had lived apart, but everything known about dragons pointed to one undeniable fact: they were fiercely protective of their bloodlines.

Their population was dwindling, slowly pushing their species toward extinction. Because of that, preserving their bloodline wasn’t merely important to them; it was practically an obligation.

Which made Rhydian’s interest in Aria all the more strange. Dragons wanted strong females. Aria was human. She was not meant for him.

"Rhydian didn’t attack her," Maverick confessed at last.

Warrick’s eyebrows drew together in confusion.

"The rumors are wrong about that much. He didn’t intentionally hurt Aria."

"But?"

Maverick worked his jaw. "He cornered and harassed her. I found them together in the restroom." He gave him a tiny piece of the truth. "Aria was frightened and confused, and Rhydian wasn’t exactly making the situation easier. So I intervened."

"And by intervened, you mean you punched him."

Maverick paused. He hadn’t exactly punched him, but there was no way he was telling the man he’d tossed away the ring Rhydian had given Aria. It would only lead to more questions.

He couldn’t let anyone suspect.

"Yes," he lied.

Warrick closed his eyes. "And then things got worse from there," he muttered.

"I should have handled it better," Maverick admitted instead. "I lost my temper as much as he did, and things got out of hand. For that, I’m sorry."

Warrick stared at him. That was the part he couldn’t quite understand.

He had seen Maverick angry before. Everyone had. The wolf possessed a temper like any other apex beast, but Maverick’s greatest strength had always been his ability to control it. He could stand in the middle of a commotion and remain perfectly rational while everyone else tore one another apart.

Yet apparently, all Rhydian had needed to do was corner one human girl in a restroom, and that legendary control had disappeared.

Interesting.

Warrick decided not to voice the observation. Yet.

"And the damage?" he asked.

"I’ll take care of it," Maverick clarified. "All of it. The repairs, replacements, labor. I’ll cover everything."

The expense didn’t bother Maverick in the slightest. Thanks to his mother and the many fathers who had spent most of his life ensuring he would never lack for anything, Maverick possessed more money than he could reasonably spend in one lifetime. Paying for a destroyed restroom would barely affect him.

Rhydian Drakhar was the problem. More specifically, the fact that Maverick had a feeling this wasn’t over. Good thing they would settle it properly in the arena tomorrow.

Whatever twisted game Rhydian was playing, Maverick had to ensure that dragon never came close to his mate again—even if he incurred the wrath of Maximus Drakhar and the entire dragon clan.

"Fine," Warrick said. "Until the dining hall is repaired, the students can have their meals in their respective houses. We’ll communicate with the kitchen staff and make sure everything is prepared and delivered on schedule, just as it was before."

Maverick nodded.

"The last thing I need is hundreds of students wandering around looking for somewhere to eat." Warrick sighed again. "Having dangerous beasts in this academy is enough. I’ll not have them hungry too."

"I’ll see to the arrangements," Maverick assured him. "And I’m sorry once again."

Warrick waved him off. He had the weary expression of a man who had accepted long ago that running Bestiaris Academy would probably take several years off his life.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Maverick. Even you, apparently." His gaze sharpened. "Let’s just make sure this particular mistake doesn’t happen a second time."

Maverick understood the meaning behind those words perfectly. Warrick expected him to regain the control he was known for and keep it, regardless of what Rhydian or anyone else did to provoke him.

"You have my word," Maverick said.

Warrick nodded, apparently satisfied.

Maverick continued. "I’ll go oversee the repairs. We’ll have the dining hall functional again in no time."

"Go." Warrick waved him toward the door. "Before someone destroys another part of my academy."

Maverick turned and walked out of the office.

The door had barely closed behind him when he spotted Dimitri waiting against the opposite wall. His beta straightened immediately at Maverick’s appearance, studying his face, obviously trying to determine exactly how badly the meeting had gone.

"How did it go?" Dimitri asked.

Maverick gave him a flat look. "How did you expect it to go?"

Dimitri’s mouth twitched. Maverick started down the corridor, and Dimitri fell into step beside him. He knew Warrick wouldn’t do anything serious to Maverick.

"Oh well," Dimitri muttered. "Can’t exactly say I didn’t see that coming."

Maverick barely heard him. His thoughts had already moved elsewhere.

"What about Rhydian Drakhar?"

Dimitri’s expression sobered immediately. "He left the academy shortly after the incident. The guards confirmed it. No one’s seen him on campus since."

"Good for him," Maverick said as they continued walking. "There’s no guarantee I won’t freeze his ass off if I see him in this academy today."

They reached the end of the corridor before Maverick abruptly stopped. Dimitri took another step before realizing his alpha was no longer beside him and turned back.

"Make sure I’m informed the instant Rhydian returns to campus."

Dimitri’s brows rose slightly. "Then what?"

Maverick looked at him. For all the composure he’d shown inside Warrick’s office, there was no mistaking the cold warning that entered his eyes now.

"Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere near Aria."

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