Through the Emerald Forest

Chapter 7 His Departure

        *Near the end of the school year*

    The year had gone by fairly smoothly, well at least a smoothly as Conrad could hope. He had to fend off the She-wolf sluts every few days but he's had to refine his tone to divert them away faster. He tried to keep to himself when the staff wanted to go out for drink or have parties. He really was not a fan of the way the staff talked, especially when their topic was Amethyst.

    Every time one of the other staff members start blaming her for things that Conrad knew for facts were not her fault, Pitch growls louder and it's getting harder to control him. The only way to keep him quiet was to just stay well away from them and the gossip.

    Amethyst. Pitch had become so protective of her, his aura slipped one day in class when she had become the target of teasing. It stopped the teasing in his classroom, but only in his classroom.

    Conrad was sitting at his desk grading papers from the senior class he just had.

    -Man, some of them are dumb. I didn't realize how dumb.- Pitch was extra anxious today and the papers were not helping. He was having his lunch in his classroom. He moved on to the next class' work. -At least this class pays attention, now.- It was true. This class had better scores now that they stop teasing and started paying attention.

    He was halfway through the stack, when he heard a commotion out in the hallway. Loud laughter and growls, then suddenly the crash of something or someone hitting a locker. The sound had Conrad on his feet and walking to the classroom door to look out the window. All he saw out the door was a wall of bodies blocking whatever was happening from view, and a chanting.

    "Fight, fight, fight" Several people were chanting, some were cheering. One voice stood out among the rest, Ashley.

    "Get up! Get up and fight back, you runt." She was shouting at a someone. Conrad couldn't quite see who. He exited his classroom and started to work his way through the crowd. As he was a few rows a people from the front he saw that Ashley was standing over a much smaller figure. Ashley screamed again, "GET UP!"

    Conrad's eyes scanned the crowd to see if there was any other teachers to break it up. He saw the few that were in the crowd, but they merely watched then walked back to their classrooms. Their actions made Pitch fume. There was clearly a student in trouble and they were just going to walk away. Pitch was on high alert trying to figure out who the She-wolfs target is, Ashley lashed out and kicked her victim, who whimpered, making Conrad's ears perk up.

    -It's Amethyst.- Pitch growled becoming irate. He started clawing for control. Conrad quickly stepped through the crowd.

    "What is the meaning of this?" Conrad called out. Ashley turned quickly and tried to smile seductively. Conrad just glared.  

    "I was just teaching this trashy, little runt a lesson." She tried to put her hand on his arm. "We should.." He cut her off by shaking off her hand and brushing past her. She took a few steps back.

    "There is nothing to see here. I suggest you all go back to class or lunch or whatever you were doing." Conrad told the group. Slowly they started to disperse. He turned back to the hunched figure of Amethyst and kneels down next to her. "Miss Greene, Please come with me." He whispers quietly to her.

    Her head snaps around at the sound of his voice. He shifts back slightly at the sight of her eyes. Her eyes are flashing quickly between a vibrant green and an electric blue, after a moment they seemed to settle on green and she nods, and stands, holding her head down so no-one else saw her eyes. It made Conrad raise an eyebrow, but he didn't ask. He stood and walked with Amethyst to his classroom, shut and locked the door behind him. He sighed heavily and turned to Amethyst to see her eyes still green and her looking at him with her head tilted slightly to one side, like she was studying him carefully.

    "You...you are not a wolf" She stated carefully. Her voice was different, almost like a song. Conrad just sighed and walked towards his desk grabbing an extra chair on his way, setting the chair next to his desk he then sat heavily in his chair. He gestured to the extra chair and waited till she sat. She moved cautiously, keeping her eye on him. She took a seat and crossed her arms. "Explain yourself."

    "My name is Conrad Obstran. My father is Steward of the Shifter Queendom and no, i am not a wolf. Just like you are currently not Amethyst. I would like to know if she is present or if she is being left out of our conversation." Conrad sighed heavily. At the end of his small explanation he waited for her answer. He watched her eyes go slightly unfocused for a moment as if conferring with herself. She then nodded and leaned forward in her seat.

    "My name is Jas and right now Amethyst is resting. She cannot hear this conversation. So you can speak freely." Jas spoke quietly and quickly.

    *She's not quite saying everything but I believe she isn't Amethyst's wolf* Pitch whispered, confusing Conrad.

    **I think you're correct. Why are you whispering?** Conrad said back, internally raising a eyebrow at Pitch , who just mentally shrugged back.

    "You are correct that I am not a wolf, not many can pick up on that fact. My father and I are dragons." Conrad told Jas, waiting for some sort of reaction from her. When she barely blinked he raised and eyebrow. "You seem to be taking it well." She laughed slightly.

    "You're aura may have slipped and while they may have only felt the power, I was able to feel your fire. I am a Lycan. I ask Am to look into it today during lunch, and you saw the outcome. We tried our best to keep Am safe." Jas said quickly. Conrad raised and eyebrow questioningly at 'we'. "Yes. We." Her eyes shifted to the Electric blue from before, "I am Sky, I am Am's wolf. We work together to protect her. We came early just for that reason." Her eyes shifted back to green, as Conrad nodded.

    "Then there is only one more thing that you should know. My father and I knew Amethyst's mother, and I briefly met her father. We both made a promise to keep her, and to that extent all of you, safe. We have been searching for you, ever since Alpha Max retrieved you. I won't back away from that promise not even now." Conrad spoke quickly and softly, as a sudden knock snapped his head towards the door. "We need to be cautious. Is Amethyst able to come out? If she is upset it may be better, we cannot let them find out." Jas quickly nodded and her eyes lost focus then changed to Amethyst's violet color, and she blink quickly.

    "Mr. Obstran, is everything alright?" Amethyst asked softly, then jumped when another pounding knock on the door, shaking it on its hinges. Amethyst starts to shake in fear. "Its Alpha Collin. He wont be happy."

    Conrad stood and walked to the door as it shook again with a loud, pounding knock. Conrad could hear a loud growling on the other side of the door. Conrad glanced over at Amethyst, shaking in her chair, and sighed before opening the door. On the other side of the door is an angry looking Collin and a smug looking Ashley.

    "Ah. Alpha Collin. How may I help you?" Conrad asked cautiously. He had to be cautions with Collin; ever since his father's passing he's been unstable. He watch Collin's face change slightly as his eyes were flashing between the normal blue and black. He must be fighting with his wolf.

    "Mr Obstran. I have been informed that you interfered with pack business today." Collin stated snarkily. His eyes darted around the room before settling on Amethyst. He growled at her and she flinched. "Get out, go home." He snapped at Amethyst. Her eyes darted between Collin and Conrad. Conrad nodded ever so slightly to Amethyst. She darted from the room avoiding Collin and Ashley who tried to grab at her. Collin growled again this time at Ashley. "You leave as well, Ashley."

    Ashley started to protest but at a glare from Collin made her quiet. She nodded and sauntered down the hallway. Collin paid her no mind. He glared at Conrad. Conrad just sighed and gestured to the now empty chair as he sat back at his desk. He raised an eyebrow when Collin didn't take the seat.

    "As you know I am the Alpha of the land this school resides on, because of this I get final say in staffing of the school." Collin stated simply. Conrad raised and eyebrow. "I have decided we no longer need you as a teacher in this establishment. You will leave today and you have until sunset tomorrow to be out of the territory." Conrad frowned. Pitch was snarling in his head making it hard to think clearly.

    "You're firing me? On what grounds?" Conrad tried his best not to let his anger or his aura slip.

    "On the grounds of you are interfering with the peace of the school." Collin snapped. Conrad thought the Alpha status has gone to his head already. "Also, I don't like you."

    Conrad closed his eyes; he could feel them change. He needed to calm himself down before Pitch ended up razing the school to the ground. His Aura started to slip and he started some deep breathing to help relax. His eyes shifted back when he heard a slight whimper. He looked up curious at the sound to see Collins eyes black. His wolf gained control for the moment. Conrad raised and eyebrow at him.

    "Collin can't hear us right now. I am Khol." Khol spoke quickly. "He's wrong. I can't seem to stop him from doing stupid things that hurt others. I can't stop him from hurting her." Khol was upset and babbling slightly. Conrad stood up and looked into his eyes. All he saw was the honesty. Khol was truly upset by his human counterpart.

    "Khol, who is he hurting? Why wont he stop?" Conrad asked. He felt he already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it.

    "Amethyst." Khol paused. "There's nothing anyone can to do to get him to change his mind. I'm sorry but I think it will be safer for you and her if you just leave." Khol pressed urgently. He then turned and started to walk away. "Collin has a substitute coming in for the afternoon classes. It's best you leave quickly."

    Conrad just stood in the middle of the room for a moment until Khol reached the door. As Khol twisted the handle Conrad found his voice.

    "Wait. Why Amethyst? What is she to you." Conrad's question burned through the air. Khol paused and glanced back sadness on his face.

    "She's my mate."