CHAPTER 4

.RPOV

I once again, awoke early. I was going to have an easy morning, just a run and weight lifting. I didn't want to make myself too sore on the first day of classes. You know how I only have combat classes, well included in those combat classes was Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection.

I don't understand why there needs to be a theory class for such an applicable subject. They should have us out in the field shadowing other Guardians to gain on-the-job experience. That would benefit us more and it wouldn't be such an adjustment once we graduate.

So not only do I dislike the subject, I've already tested out of it, but I have to be enrolled in the class, I also dislike the Guardian teaching the class. Stan Alto. It wasn't that he was a bad Guardian, I mean he was far from the best, but he was a good Guardian. But he was a horrible person. The majority of his hostility was focused on me, but he was openly rude to everyone, student and co-worker alike.

I was not looking forward to his class, it was first thing this morning and then all my physical combat classes. After lunch I would have nothing I had to do, just my personal workouts.

I peeled myself away from the warmth of my bed to shower and dress for my morning session. I exited my room and made my way to the ward path to start my run.

There was a cool breeze that broke through the heat of the summer, fanning the sweat that had collected on my forehead after an hour of running. The power that I felt yesterday began pulsing across campus.

'The Alpha is awake.'

I let my mind wander to the new Alpha. The power became so great that even my inner wolf reacted, but the reaction was not the one that I'd expected. My whole body came alive. My nipples tightened and my breathing became labored. I let out an involuntary moan, but thankfully no one was around to hear me.

I had to stop running because of the overwhelming effect the power had on me. I leaned against a nearby tree hoping to push the feelings away. My body needed to focus on training, but all I was feeling now was horny. My body has never had a reaction like this, and frankly it was scaring me.

After a few minutes, the feeling subsided. I breathed deep and worked my way to the gym. I decided to forgo the weights and went straight to the punching bag. I was feeling frustrated and I needed to hit something.

I'd been laying into the padded dummy for a half hour before I felt a tug that made me scan my surroundings. I spun toward the entrance of the gym just in time to see the most gorgeous man push his way into the gym. He was dressed in gym shorts and t-shirt that stretched across his toned chest.

My defensive stance dropped, as did my jaw. He was tall, like 6'6" kind of tall, maybe taller. His eyes were a rich brown, but lacked the vitality of happiness. His muscles bulged from under his clothes, except for his exposed forearms, the skin stretching over the bulk of muscle. His hands were clenching and unclenching as he strode closer to where I was standing.

His head was down and he seemed to be deep in thought, it was no wonder he didn't seem to notice me until he was almost on top of me. When he did notice me, his eyes widened in shock. His gaze slowly traveled the length of my body, setting my skin aflame. I saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

"Hi." I managed to spit out.

"Hello." He responded, but he didn't try to further conversation, he just went back to appraising me. I took the chance to study his face. All his features were strong, but the bags under his eyes were heavy. My senses told me that this was the new Alpha, but if I had to hazard a guess, he wasn't sleeping nearly as much as he needed to be.

His light brown hair hung loose around his face, reaching the top of his shoulders. His eyes were still drinking me in, he'd yet to make eye contact with me.

I shifted my weight to one foot and placed my hand on my now jutted hip.

"Do you need something?" I asked. There was no annoyance in my voice, concern for his behavior, but not annoyance at his blatant leering.

"No, I just came here for a workout. I didn't think that anyone would be here this early in the morning." This longer sentence allowed me to detect a faint Russian accent, it was hot.

"I'm usually here this early in the morning, though I am surprised a Lycanthrope, such as yourself, is up at this hour."

"You're here." I was aware that I smelled like a Lycanthrope, but he didn't know what I was, and I wasn't going to tell him otherwise.

"You'll find that I'm not like normal Lycanthrope." I told him with a knowing smirk. "I'm Rose, by the way. Rose Hathaway." He shook my outstretched hand, a spark ignited upon the brief contact and my frustrations returned.

"Belikov. Dimitri Belikov. I'm new here, just started," he informed me. "I've been looking for you."

"You've been looking for me?" He nodded. "Well, you've found me." I gestured to myself making his eyes travel my body yet again.

"That I did. I'm going to be your new mentor."

"My new mentor?"

"Yes. I've been reassigned to Princess Dragomir upon her graduation. I'll be your guarding partner when you become her primary Guardian."

"Well, Comrade, it's nice to meet you. When do we start? I'm free any time after lunch or before classes. I sleep from 11 a.m. to around 3 p.m. So, whenever is good for you, I'm available."

"Do you not have any academic classes?" He asked, choosing to ignore the nickname. I chuckled.

"No. I tested out of all of them last year so I could dedicate my senior year to combat."

"I see. Well, we'll start after lunch today. 1 p.m.?"

"That sounds wonderful." I nodded in agreeance. "I need to shower before class. I'll let you get to your workout. I'll see you this afternoon, Dimitri."

His eyes followed me as I walked out of the gym, but gave no response. My body craved the feeling his gaze brought me and I scolded myself for its lack of control. I reached my room and the feeling was starting to fade. I stripped my sweaty clothes from my body and turned the heat up in the shower.

Stepping under the scalding spray, I felt the tension leave my muscles and all the knots untangled. I was mentally preparing myself for the day. High school was a drama mine and there was no way to effectively navigate it without detonating something. I gathered all the self-control that I could muster before stepping out of the shower and toweled off.

I dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a blood red tank top. I grabbed my duffle bag and threw in some brightly patterned leggings with their matching sports bra and a black workout tank. I filled my water bottle, placing it in the bag, then placed my one textbook and notebook into the bag. I slung the bag over my shoulder and headed to the cafeteria to meet my friends for breakfast.

"Rose!" Lissa called from across the room, jumping up from her seat and rushing forward to greet me halfway.

"Hey! Liss!" I threw my arms around her enthusiastically. I let her drag me by the arm back to the table where the rest of our friends were waiting for us.

Eddie and Mason both greeted me with a sharp nod and a monotone "Hathaway." Christian barely acknowledged my presence as he wrapped his arms around Lissa and pulled her down in his lap. I rolled my eyes and fake gagged.

I smiled to them all in acknowledgement, dropped my bag, and turned to get my breakfast. I ate the most at breakfast, meaning I ate enough for TWENTY Moroi instead of ten. Moroi don't eat much, but Dhampir do, and Lycanthrope eat more than Dhampir. Because I train so much and my high natural metabolism, I need to eat more than the normal Lycanthrope.

I smelt him before he even got close to me. He smelled of moth balls and stale beer. I tried to fight of the sneer that worked its way onto my face, I really did try, but I'm sure it was still there.

"What do you want, Zeklos?" I ground through my teeth. And to think, I was having such a good morning.

"Oh, don't be that way. I know you missed me." He replied in a haughty tone.

"Really? What gave you that impression?" I sneered sarcastically. I turned around to face him, looking at him expectedly.

"You really are a bitch, you know that?" He stepped closer. "But I'd be happy to make you my bitch."

"Bite me." I growled.

"You'd like that wouldn't you."

"Actually, no. You seem to forget your bite does nothing for me. Not that anything about you does anything for me." I gave him a pitiful glance as I motioned to his body. "I need a real Alpha, not some Moroi wannabe."

With that, I turned around and continued down the breakfast line. I could feel Jesse's anger, it bellowed off of him in thick waves. I chuckled internally as I filled my tray high with proteins, finishing it off with three chocolate doughnuts.

"Not a word, Sparky." I told Christian as I sat down with my loaded tray.

"I wasn't going to say anything." He smirked with his hands up in a defensive gesture. I glared at him.

"So, Rose, did Belikov find you?" Mason asked.

"Yeah. How did you know about that?"

"I ran into him yesterday at the gym. I was actually going to look for you, because I know you're usually up that early, but I found him instead."

"Did he tell you he's going to be training me?"

"He said that he'd be your mentor." Mason confirmed nodding. "I can't believe that you get to be mentored by The Guardian Belikov! He's like the best of the best."

"Wait. Belikov?" Eddie joined in. "Didn't his Moroi die recently?"

"Last week actually." Christian provided.

"That's got to be tough. He's Lissa's Guardian now."

"I have a Guardian?" Lissa chimed in after listening to our conversation. "Why?"

"If I had to guess, it's probably because you're the last Dragomir. You're pretty important, you know? It makes sense that you'd be given a Guardian even before graduating just to make sure you're safe." I theorized.

"I guess that makes sense." Lissa muttered. She wasn't a huge fan of our political system or being reminded that she is the last of her line.

"He won't officially start as your Guardian until you graduate, but if you leave campus for your infamous shopping trips, he'll probably accompany you." She just nodded, probably thinking about her next shopping trip. The table fell into a lull until Christian spoke up.

"How did Belikov's Moroi die?"

"Pricolici. Belikov was a minute too late, he'd apparently been taking some time off. Ended up tearing the thing's throat out and decapitating it with his bare teeth." Lissa cringed at the detailed description provided by Mason, but I froze. What Mason described was eerily similar to my dream. The dream I'd been having for a week, since his Moroi died. It had to be a coincidence, right?

"Is Guardian Belikov a Lycanthrope?" Asked Eddie, I'd smelled it on him, so I already know the answer.

"I forget that you Dhampir can't just tell when someone is a Lycanthrope." I laughed. "But yes, he is a Lycanthrope. An Alpha and a powerful one, at that." Mason's expression turned to awe as I answered Eddie's question.

"I bet he's a fighting god."

"Oh, he's a god alright." I smirked. Lissa laughed, but the boys just looked confused.

"So, you've seen him fight?" Mason inquired missing the meaning behind my words, which just made Lissa and I laugh more.

"Men. They're clueless." Breakfast ended with the guys still confused. I linked arms with Mason and Eddie as we headed off to Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection with Guardian Alto.

"Do you guys think Stan's gotten any nicer?" Eddie and Mason shared a look before we all cracked up laughing.