Chapter 102: Walk with Me..

--Chapter 102--

Dean felt eyes on him again sometime after that.

They were nothing like the curious glances he'd grown used to throughout the evening.

These carried enough weight that it pulled his attention away from the conversation at the table.

Lifting his head, he looked across from Ymir to find Marcus Argent standing near the outer edge of the bonfire grounds where the lantern light barely reached.

The young werewolf wasn't alone though. A short distance behind him were two older werewolves dressed in dark ceremonial coats embroidered with silver thread along the cuffs.

Their posture was relaxed, but there was a quiet authority about them that naturally separated them from the surrounding students.

Dean took a quick guest that they were probably other family members of the Argent family.

His eyes remained on them for another moment before he noticed something strange.

They were not paying any attention to the bonfire, the games or even the students gathered around the fire pit.

Instead, all three of them kept looking toward his table.

But their target wasn't him.instinctively following their line of sight. He found out the target of their scrutiny was none other than Ymir.

The girl in question was speaking with Olsen while absentmindedly rolling the academy cup between her fingers.

But every now and then she laughed quietly at something the gentle giant said, completely unaware that three pairs of eyes were fixed on her from across the grounds.

One of the elders leaned closer and whispered something to Marcus. But the boy still remained unfazed

He simply continued watching.

"So that's how it is ...huh?" Dean said inwardly.

This was no longer just about proving who was stronger.

Every minute Ymir spent sitting beside him, every smile she directed his way and every casual touch she shared with him only made Sunday's Hel'Khar feel more personal to Marcus.

Dean feint a wave and drew Marcus's gaze.

He held the boy's gaze for another second or two before winking and switched his focus back to the table.

There was no point trying to make something out of nothing.

Moreover, Ymir was beside him already. She casually lifted her cup and took another sip.

She hadn't acknowledged Marcus's presence once, but Dean had a feeling she already knew he was there.

***

As the night went by, the event grew livelier. The music, laughter and occasional cheers from the nearby games blended together until the earlier tension with Marcus became little more than an after thought.

The peace lasted till a random stumbled into Olsen's space.

Dean looked up instinctively to see a second-year human student carrying an academy cup in one hand while swaying just enough to tell everyone he'd sampled far more of the contraband than needed.

The boy stopped directly beside Olsen's chair.

"Oi... Reed," he hiccuped.

Olsen looked up. The smile he'd been wearing moments ago disappeared almost instantly.

"I've been looking for you," the student continued loudly, enough for several nearby tables to hear. "You still owe me."

Olsen frowned slightly. "I do?"

"The tools," The boy pointed vaguely toward the workshop buildings. "You said you'd finish helping me after practicals last week."

Dean watched Olsen carefully. The gentle giant wasn't confused. He'd basically froze up.

His shoulders had gone stiff, his hands resting motionless on the edge of the table while he searched for the right words.

"I'm... sorry," Olsen began quietly. "I had another project and I--"

"You always have another project," the woobly boy interrupted.

"You tell everyone you'll help and then disappear."

A few nearby conversations began slowing down as people focused on the exchange.

Dean sighed inwardly. The poor idiot wasn't even angry anymore. Now he was performing, seeking an audience.

Dean set down his cup before calmly standing from his chair.

"He'll sort it with you tomorrow," he said as calmly as possible while he squinted at the second year.

The second-year boy turned toward him instead.

His not so sober eyes drifted over Dean's black haori before stopping on the burning crescent moon stitched across the breast area.

Before slowly going up to meet Dean's calm and yet emasculating gaze.

He hiccuped once, "...Tomorrow's fine."

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before taking two slow steps backward.

"Sorry."

Without another word, he returned to his own table.

Dean watched him leave before quietly sitting back down.

Beside him, Olsen let out a slow breath he had clearly been holding.

"Thanks... Mate!" he murmured.

Dean picked up his drink again. "It's all good. Sort him out tomorrow."

Olsen nodded even as Dean looked sideways at him.

"If you promised, then help him tomorrow."

The gentle giant rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before smiling.

"...Yeah. I will."

Across the table, Ymir and Astrea watched the entire exchange without saying a word.

Ymir's eyes rested on Dean far longer than Astrea did.

Her expression was familiar but the look in her eyes were warmer than ever.

As if she was getting to understand him at a different level.

***

The bonfire burned lower as the night wore on. The laugher, celebration and just teenage drama slowly waned.

One by one, students began leaving their tables. Some drifted toward the dancing near the fire while others wandered back toward the dormitories in noisy groups, their laughter fading into the night.

Amongst every one there, Gretchen was the first to leave their table.

She rose gracefully, smoothing the creases on her delicate rosy dress before offering Dean one last amused smile.

"I'll be expecting an answer," she said.

Dean simply nodded and gave her a thumbs up. "We'll see."

She smiled as though that was answer enough before walking away with two fellow third years. Not sparing any other person present a glance.

Bram finished the last of his drink not long afterward. The young werewolf rose from his chair and stretched lazily before looking toward Dean.

"See you around, Gray."

Dean raised his cup slightly. "You too Bram."

The other werewolf stood with Bram, though unlike his packmate, he didn't bother acknowledging anyone at the table.

Anyone but Ymir...

Both he and Bram bowed their heads shortly. And with her acknowledgement, they left.

The faster the table cleared, the more uncomfortable the silence becomes.

Not long after, Olsen suddenly stood and stretched so dramatically that several joints cracked.

"I think I'm going to find some actual food," he announced. "This stuff isn't working for me anymore."

Dean looked at the half-empty table covered in finished plates before raising an eyebrow.

"You've eaten enough for three people. Mate!"

"Um..." Olsen looked around the table, "I wouldn't say that."

Olsen grinned sheepishly. "And I can probably squeeze in a fourth."

Dean snorted at his remark. "Go on then."

The gentle giant waved once at everyone before disappearing into the crowd.

Within a few minutes, the noise around their table and the general hall had faded considerably.

At the table, only three chairs remained occupied. But four individuals were present.

Dean, Astrea, Ymir and Raenar.

For a while, none of them spoke, the silence was probing.

As fire cracked steadily nearby while conversations from distant tables blended into a soft hum across the grounds.

But as expected, Ymir was the first to break the silence. Her beautiful blue eyes settled on Astrea.

"You've been spending a lot of time with him," she started as direct as ever.

Astrea met her gaze without hesitation, she didn't look confused or bothered. "Yeah.. I have."

She tilted her head slightly to stare at Xavier who was beside her before looking away again.

Ymir's brows furrowed as she twirled her claws on the top of the cup.

"Do you intend to keep doing that?"

Astrea listened but stayed quiet. It was obvious the werewolf was probing for a reaction from her.

Instead, her crimson eyes drifted toward Dean for the briefest moment before returning to Ymir.

"Unless he asks me not to."

Dean nearly choked on his drink after that. His perfect act of being deaf and dumb was carved open.

Both women ignored him completely. Their eyes now set on one another.

Ymir remained silent for another few seconds before giving a slow nod. "That's good, I guess."

The two girls held each other's gaze for another moment. Their expressions completely unreadable.

Dean looked from one to the other before letting out an exhausted sigh.

"Can somebody explain why I'm suddenly not involved in my own conversation?"

Almost like an hive mind, they both stared at him. Then, almost in perfect synchronization... They looked away again.

Dean blinked.

"Yeah....Right."

Suddenly, Ymir pushed her chair back and stood. She looked directly at Dean.

"Walk with me?"

Dean shook his head before he glanced toward Astrea.

"You good?"

The vampire nodded almost immediately.

"I'm always good."

Dean knew enough about Astrea by now to recognize when she was hiding behind composure.

He held her gaze for another second before giving a small nod.

"I'll be back."

Astrea merely hummed in acknowledgment. Behind her, Raenar had remained silent the entire evening.

As Dean and Ymir walked away, another crack appeared on the glass she held like a flame.

His bloody eyes following them closely till they eventually disappeared.

--End of Chapter--