"Why do people keep saying that? What did this guy do?"
She stared at the women one by one and stopped on Hannah, who squirmed in her seat.
"He didn't do anything really," she said quietly. Her eyes were large and honest. Like she was wise beyond her years. "He just changed. Things have been rough on the men, but Apollo ended up bearing the brunt of things. And unlike the rest," she looked around the table to the other women, "he didn't have someone to lean on."
Val knew that ache, understood how he must have felt. Everyone around him finding happiness but him. She sighed.
"Well, I don't think I'm the right person for this," she said and stood. "In the end, maybe people like us just aren't meant for that."
Not bothering to excuse herself, Val trudged to her room. As she shut the door, she could hear the women calling for her to stay, but she couldn't. Being with them was just a distraction, and now more than ever, she needed to stay focused on her real reason for being at Luna Lodge.
Chapter Ten
The moon sat deeply rooted behind clouds, and Apollo was glad for the overcast night. He waited quietly in the brush with just enough distance from the cabin that he shouldn't be noticed. The intruder would be back. He could feel it deep in his gut. Whoever this was, they weren't going to just settle. And when they did, he'd be there to catch the bastard.
For hours he sat there, just thinking about the day, about the young hybrids mostly. It was so easy for him to forget that they weren't the only ones dealing with the mess the Horatius Group had put them in.
The boys had issues, and they were all just trying to deal with them as best they could manage. More than that, they weren't going to be boys forever. They needed to figure out how they were going to handle the situation. He was just glad the new teacher would be there soon. They needed someone that could handle all of them on an emotional level.
Movement up ahead caught his eye. He breathed in deeply and scowled when the wind shifted. It seemed like everything was against him.
The shadowy figure moved closer to the window of the babies' room. His heart kicked up at the threat. The Horatius Group would stop at nothing to get at the children, and he would do anything to make sure that didn't happen. With the speed only hybrids had, he rushed the intruder.
They had just climbed up to the window when Apollo yanked them down and tossed them away from the house.
The bastard landed hard but rolled back into a standing position. Faster than he'd ever seen a human move, they darted away. He followed close behind. They weren't getting away. As long as he had eyes on the bastard, they were going down.
Through the dark trees, they ran. Apollo would get just close enough to grab him, and then the bastard would change direction.
Sweat started to bead his brow, and he sucked in the cool air. This couldn't go on. The longer they were out there, the more likely he was to be jumped by some of the prick's friends. It was now or never.
With a deep guttural yell, he launched himself at the man. This time it was full contact as they flew toward the ground.
"What the-"
At the last second he turned, taking the force of the ground with his shoulder. Apollo grunted in pain but held on to the warm body in his arm.
Apollo only held the intruder closer, despite their attempt to wriggle free. With his other hand, he pulled the black mask off.
"Val?"
He breathed in deeply. This was about the worst situation possible. She struggled to get away, and his anger only grew.
"What the fuck?" Apollo growled, and she stilled in his arms.
He flipped their position and pinned her to the ground. Her pale blue eyes nearly glowed in the darkness.
"Is this about Sol?" he asked. The anger in his body simmered just below the surface.
The scent in the air around them changed when he mentioned Sol, and he wanted to beat the ground.
He leaned closer to her face and whispered, "He's bonded."
The smell was driving him crazy. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Vestals weren't supposed to go after others that were bonded. She wasn't supposed to feel that way for Sol.
She shifted under him, and he groaned. Everything in him ached for her. His eyes glowed so brightly that he could see her face.
She licked her lips, and he stared at the wet path her tongue had made. The air shifted again. This time he could feel her desire as it filled the air.
His eyes went to hers just briefly before his mouth covered hers in a brutal kiss.
This time he wasn't holding back. He would just make her see she needed him.