Thierry's POV

I put down my pen. Finished. A slow yet satisfying smile fills my face as I stood up from my desk and walked up to the professor's desk to turn in my first British Literature theory paper and midterm exam over to him for grading before I headed back to my desk and collected my belongings.

The last few days were constantly filled with studying as students were fretting over the first round of exams while seniors (mainly Alphas) were getting ready to seal their future plans (whether it involves college, getting a good job, or- in the case of the future Alphas and Lunas- getting ready to take over their supernatural packs and covens). And while Matt made sure to keep my mind focused on relaxing after studying my behind off and continuing my private lessons and combat training with the supernatural queens, we hardly had time to get settled into some normalcy. Even more so since there's been an increase of some feral rogues trying to cause bloodshed while some loners and sane rogues were found dead in random areas. There'd also been an increase of rogue hunters that were arrested for the cruelty of loners and rejected supernaturals.

All that were leading to a future attack on my life and that didn't sit well with Matt, prompting him to have designated guards to accompany me to classes and wherever I was heading. I had a few objections upon learning his plans when he first told me about what was going on...

"Matt, I assure you that I can handle myself just fine," I protested when my future mate carefully approached the subject of having extra protection around me. I've been taking combat training thanks to Electrique's hunter buddy Graiae and I'm also learning some spells."

"But I can't risk losing you to some feral rogue or any rogue hunter who can easily have you sold to the black market," Matt insisted as he faced me. "And with a future war coming up, I can't imagine losing you to anyone who wanted to get a rise out of me. I won't be happy unless I know that you are safe, even more so with your family slated to visit this coming weekend."

"Right," I said, lowering my gaze briefly and taking a deep breath. "I almost forgot about that."

Velvet (who also brought along Electrique, Ariana, and Aquilla upon learning what was going on) nodded. "And with those sisters and cousin of yours soon to make a move to try and split you apart or kill you altogether, you know damn well that Matt's not one to take any chances," she piped up as she came from the kitchen with random snacks on hand. "Though it's safe to say that your parents and even your uncle are remaining true to stand by your side."

Electrique frowned. "I think that it might be a front," she said. "That, or they're just in for the perks. I'm going to call in a few investigators to cast a few nets so my suspicions are confirmed or refuted. But Matt is right, Thierry. Some bad vibes are coming your way. We don't know the real reason just yet, but you are in grave danger."

Elisa and Jose nodded in agreement as did everyone else. "Right," I said. "I'm still not thrilled with all of this, but if this is to make sure nothing happens to me, then so be it. Electrique, do all that you can to get a thorough investigation on my parents and uncle Cameron. The same thing goes for my sisters and cousin since I know that something is bound to go down."

"Right," Ariana said, clapping her hands to finalize the decision. "Thierry, make sure to guard your life and your heart as you are prone to danger and tragedy at all ends."

Matt gripped my hand, his eyes glowing Alpha red. "Nothing will come between me and my mate," he vowed firmly. "I plan to keep him safe at all costs."

And judging from the look of determination in his eyes, I believed every word...

"Thierry!"

I whirled around to see an approaching Landon and his newly-minted mate named Jacerimiah Stallney (a Beta vampire warrior from a nearby coven) walk towards me. "Hey, gang," I greeted as we all gathered at a nearby gazebo, my designated guard (a female Gamma wolf named Shania) following behind us. "What's new?"

"Just finished the first round of midterms," Landon replied. "Jace here was picking me up to take me to training and patrol when we saw you leave."

"Well, I just finished my first round of midterms for the day, so I'm heading to my dorm to study and cook some dinner," I commented. "Matt will with you guys, so I'll be keeping myself busy while Shania stands-"

There was a blood-curdling scream that jolted us out of our easy-going demeanor, Landon's eyes glowing gold as his claws extended as he, Jace, and Shania growled. "What was that?!" I exclaimed.

A harried older woman raced from the southeastern part of the building. "Help! There's a bloody Omega vampire that came from the woods!" she said. "Someone get the headmistress and-"

"I'm on it," Shania hollered, grabbing her phone. "Landon! Jace! Take Thierry to his dorm and get a few guards to protect him!"

Landon nodded as he took my hand (after retracting his claws) and hurriedly led me back to the dorms. "This is bad," he growled as we raced to the dormitories. "I think that this is going to lead to something bad, Thierry. And if Matt gets wind of this, he's going to flip his shit and-"

"Landon!" hollered a female hellhound as she and two others greeted us at the entryway. "Where's Matt?!"

"Why?" I asked, noticing the look of fear in her eyes.

She took a shaky breath, handing me a folded note. "This was for you," was all she said. "This must've been written before that vampire was-"

She stopped short as she steeled herself from crying, her mate comforting her.

Unfolding the note, I began to read as my stomach began to churn.

The Roses are red.

Bloody hearts are, too.

Watch out, Thierry Lemieux.

We are coming for you.

P.S.: You will be the perfect sacrificial lamb to bring us to power.

-The Feral Rogue Nation.

Oh. Fuck.

**********************

Matt. Was. Pissed.

"Who the fuck do they think they are?!" he roared angrily, pacing around in the living room while stopping briefly to take a deep breath. Sure enough, Matt got wind of the letter that was sent to me and he was on a full-blown tantrum as the drag-queen coven came alongside his mother and father (an older and more athletic version of his son) as well as Jace and Landon to talk about what was going on so far. "This is some- AAAAHHHH!"

"Calm down, Matthieux," Mr. Rosseaux-Yanez said, standing up from the sofa that he was sitting on and coming to his son's side. "Thierry's all right, as you can see, and-"

"It's not enough, Dad," Matt interrupted. "The feral rogues are stepping up their game and now we got ourselves a future war on our hands."

"But why?" I wanted to know as I stood up to join the father-son duo. "I mean, I know that I'll be afuture werewolf once we mate and all, but I'm just an ordinary average Joe as far as I know."

"A good question," commented Summertyme as she and Sagittarina came from the kitchens with drinks on hand. "We're still trying to figure out ourselves. Electrique, have you heard from the investigators that are tailing Thierry's family yet?"

The tall blonde shook her head. "Not yet," she replied. "But the last time they checked in was all good news as Thierry's parents are taking time off from their jobs while Cameron's been keeping his daughter under lockdown after she attempted to gather some of the jocks to have Thierry killed."

Matt growled.

I placed a soft kiss on his lips that slightly quenched his fury. "She won't succeed," I assured him. "Not if my grandma could help it."

The apartment door swung open to reveal a livid Jose as he and Elisa came in. "We heard about the letter," he said tersely. "And what happened with the vampire."

"About that," I began. "Is he or she okay, the vampire I mean?"

"It's a male vampire," Aquilla corrected, "and he's fine. Just tried to escape some rogue hunters who wanted to use him as an example for what they planned for you, Thierry. The Omega vampire's a loner since birth and he's been trying to find a coven to take him in."

"Our coven in Austin will welcome him in," Elisa promised. "But what about that letter?"

"It's being examined by the police downtown," Matt replied. "For all we know, it might be some prank or a true threat. But I'm not taking any chances. With the threats now made on Thierry, we know that things are just getting real, folks."

"I'll be placing a mandatory curfew for the school that will begin after homecoming next week," Mrs. Rosseaux-Yanez said. "With all that's going on, no one is going to be safe unless the threats are gone."

I nodded, turning my gaze towards a still-fuming Matt. "Matt, I don't like this one bit," I told him.

He pulled me closer to him, his arms wrapping around my waist before his hands grazed my ass. "Nothing will keep me from protecting you, my mate," he said softly. "You are mine and mine alone. No one threatens or hurts my mate and gets away with it."

We shared a chaste kiss that made everyone starry-eyed.

"To be young and in love," Aquilla gushed. "I know that we're facing danger, but it's moments like this that take away all the fear, child."

"I heard that," Sagittarina replied.

If only things could stay this way, the moment that Matt and I were sharing that is.

But I already knew that it wasn't going to be the case since drama is bound to raise her ugly head at any moment.

He ain't wrong, folks! The next chapter is when things get very climatic and lead to a cliffhanger that will make your jaws drop! Oh, how I know y'all want to read more!

Dedication: Confused_Bisexual612 and EdenTheReadingGoat.

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