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ldysmfrst · 6 months ago

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Breaking and Entering (7) - Lovren

Status: Ongoing Series

Chapter number: 7 of unknown

Word count for Chapter: 3,754

Word count for Story: 15,946

Genre: Werewolf

There are no chapter titles, but each chapter will have a name listed that indicates which POV the chapter is from. Mindlinks are in italics. Conversations with their inner wolf are in bold italics.

A little about the author: I am a mother of two beautiful children. One of which is special needs, and on 3/28, they lost 75% of their vision. I started a Patreon if you feel the heart to donate towards helping with the medical costs of appointments, medication, and modifications to the house, which insurance doesn't cover.

Warnings: (I am not good at this, but I will try. Let me know if I missed anything!!) NOT BETA READ!! This story will have a bit of angst, fluff, smut, f/m, and m/m. This chapter doesn't really have a warning, but there are pack dynamics at play (kinda), power struggle, anxiety, and mentions of criminal history and death.

BREAKING AND ENTERING MASTER LIST

LDYSMFRST MASTER LIST

That is it.

I am out of here.

I didn't run into anyone else when I made my way to my safe haven on the fourth floor. My mind raced to figure out who the boy with the jade-green eyes was.

As a high schooler, he holds some kind of power, but it differs from Mitchell's. He reminds me of my father and grandfather's feeling of power before they died.

All I know is that it gives me chills, and I need to stay away from that little troupe of people: Mitch, his lackeys, Selena, and her terrors.

Thankfully, for this semester, I do not have a class with any of them. I guess this orientation day was good for something. Tomorrow would be chaos due to a new block-type schedule. I want to understand why this high school has a day of academics alternating with a day of PE, health class, and self-defense.

God, my week will include places where I will soar and where I will be sore. At least this whole block schedule will give me time to do my homework and hopefully recover.

On a positive note, PE was an elective course, and I could take swimming, thank god. It would just be me and the water, allowing for a comfortable soreness to take over and another added sense of clarity and calmness.

I am not looking forward to the self-defense class. I mean, I can street fight, but sparing?

Is this how they do it in small towns like this?

Reaching my little corner of the library, I look down over the quad, my eyes wandering over the students. Absentmindedly, my hand goes to the gauze on my face as I find the boy with the jade-green eyes talking with Mitchell and the other lackey.

Selena hangs on Mitchell’s arm like an accessory while speaking animatedly to anyone who will listen. I wonder if she knows how much of what comes out of her mouth is filler for a much-preferred silence.

“Whoa!! What was that about?” I say to myself, pressing up to the glass.

I look around as the whole quad seems frozen in time. All eyes are on Selena, who is now on the ground with the lackey boys hovering over her.

“I am pretty sure that is because Selena thought she would impress them with her asserting dominance over you via your face,” a voice states as I jump out of my skin.

Spinning around, I finally saw who the voice belonged to. It was one of the bouncer-looking guys who walked around standing with his hands behind his back.

“The Healer told Mr. Moores that you were injured today by Selena, and though he cannot come, he asked me to check on you. Are you alright? You should have the healer look at it again tomorrow to ensure it is healing properly.”

“Damn. Of course, she told him,” I muttered, dropping my hand and looking at the floor. “It still hurts, but it is not the worst thing I have had happen to me.”

Fiddling with the hem of my hoodie and avoiding eye contact, I continued, “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was blocking her locker and should not have said what I said. Umm… it is really not that big of a deal.”

“Mr. Moores, and the boss, do not like it when violence happens on school grounds. Selena will be dealt with,” he chuckles, walking up to the glass near me. “Well, it looks like she may be getting her punishment now.”

Following his eyes down to the quad, I see Selena still on her knees, head lowered and shoulders shaking.

The jade-green-eyed boy stands over her, his whole body tense.

Mitchell stands to the side like he wants to be between them but can’t. He keeps looking back and forth like he is watching a tennis match.

The other lackey and the terrors hovered around them but kept a decent distance like he was trying to avoid getting pulled in.

Or is he trying to keep the terrors away?

“Why is she on her knees and is she crying? It's just a scratch. Not like she was trying to take my eye out, unless she missed.”

“Like, I said. Violence is not tolerated on school grounds, Miss Lovern. Now if you will follow me, I have been tasked to bring you Mr. Moore and the boss.”

“No. No, thank you. I have homework already, and I need to get back to the house before any other troubles happen.”

I walk over to my backpack, which I apparently dropped when startled.

Mumbling under my breath, “and lock myself in my room before Selena comes after me for this whole thing.”

“I don’t think locking yourself away will help, Miss Lovern. Unfortunately, the boss is insisting. He wants to check on you himself. After all, he is also the reason why you ended up here and not in Juvenile Hall.”

At that bit of information, I freeze.

“Now, if you will follow me, the office is not that far away,” he says as he directs me away from the glass towards the elevators. With a huff, I start walking.

Unknown to me, the man looks down to the quad, nods at the jade-green-eyed boy, and then joins me, walking to the elevator.

“Oh, Miss. This way, please. That elevator does not reach the office we are going to.”

“Excuse me, Mr?”

“Ivanov, Andrei Ivanov but you can call me Andrei. I think I saw you talking with my younger brother Erik?”

My eyes light up, recognizing Erik’s name. “Yeah, he was the one who, more or less, saved me from Selena and took me to the nurses', I mean Healer’s office. He and I have choir class together.”

I shake my head, “Wait, wait… Andrei, we are going into the key-card VIP and Mitchell’s lackeys only elevator?”

Letting out a barking laugh, Andrei nods: “I don’t know what is funnier. The fact my pup of a bro saved you from Selena or that you think Mitchell is the one who has the lackeys.”

He pulls out a small hard plastic key card with an outline of three wolves and swipes it, allowing the elevator doors to open. He holds the doors, standing to the side to allow me to enter first.

I step in with a nod of thank you to him. I look around the elevator, noting that it's glass and allows one to see all its inner workings. I muttered to myself, “That's wicked, but what is with all the glass?”

“Mr. Dishinko likes to make sure things are going to work. The only way to ensure that is to see how the cogs work. The glass allows anyone to see something not working in the elevator,” he states matter-of-factly as he selects the top floor.

“Just as the glass around this building allows for Mr. Dishinko, Mr. Moores, Mr. Barlowe, and the guard to see the town without any obstructions.”

It doesn’t take long to reach the top floor.

My presence is immediately known to everyone without the doors even opening. I feel several eyes on me.

Glancing around, I spot a few other men in black, and oh, great… it's Jonathan and Rachel. Standing with them near the elevator are two other men dressed in suits.

One stands slightly behind the other, and he looks like he could be a professor at a University. He is easily as tall as Jonathan, over six feet tall, but he doesn’t have the same broad shoulders. When our eyes meet, I feel a slight tingle of power, but it is nothing compared to the man standing in front.

I stepped out of the elevator at Andrei's gentle push, looked back at him briefly, and cursed him, in my mind, for bringing me into the lion’s den.

“Miss Lovren,” at my name, my body freezes as the depth of power washes over.

My eyes snap to the other suit-dressed man standing in front of everyone.

His light brown hair is shorter than everyone else's, leaving his sharp facial features clear to see. His eyes are deep green and remind me of the boy from the lobby and the quad. He is older than everyone else in the room but not old.

He has that aura of power I have only felt from my father. I have dealt with energy like this before, which has never ended well.

I immediately go into defense mode.

I hate feeling like prey.

“Lovren!” Rachel hisses at me, pulling my attention to her. “It’s rude to stare like that. Say hello to Mr. Dishinko, Jonathan’s boss, and well… umm…”

“I am more or less the Mayor of Lunar Ridge, Miss Lovren,” the man smiles, the energy backing off almost like a wave pulling back.

“Mr. Mayor,” I feel the need to bow since he is who he is, “I am sorry if I was rude. I just felt a bit cornered.”

“Ahh, yes. I can see how you would feel that.”

Ding

Jumping at the sound of the elevator, I spin around and back towards one of the outside walls. Putting space between myself and everyone.

My eyes lock with jade green eyes that exit the elevator. At this point, if I had hackles, they would be standing straight up.

“Mikhail, Aliaksandr, Mitchell, Selena, and Erik. Good, everyone is present. Let's go into the conference room. Rachel, get everyone something to drink on your way in.”

It takes a beat before anyone starts to move after the Mayor. However, the jade-eyed boy and I stand still, eyes locked.

It isn’t until Erik steps between us that I can look anywhere else.

“Ren, are you okay? Let’s go inside. Come on, you can sit next to me,” Erik says as he lightly takes my elbow and guides me into the conference room.

After some minor pleasantries and everyone taking seats, the connections between everyone are more apparent.

The Mayor has to be the jade-eyed boy's father as they sit at the head of the table.

The other lackey sits next to the jade-eyed boy with Mitchell. On the other side sits the Professor man, Jonathan, Rachel, and Selena. Erik follows his word and sits with me at the other end of the table. Standing next to the door is Andrei.

“Miss Lovren, do you know everyone here?” the Mayor asks.

“No, sir. I know my foster family, of course. I met Erik and umm, his brother Andrei today.” I say, glancing at the brothers quickly before continuing.

“I know Mitchell also because he is dating Selena and practically lives at the house with us,” I giggle out the last words due to nerves.

Feeling a hand on my forearm, I relax and look at Erik. He smiles at me softly, trying to comfort me. At this point, Erik and his brother seem to be the only relaxed people in the room.

“You know more than I expected after the reports about your nightly wanderings and residency you have taken in the library over the summer,” the Mayor says with a smile as I tense slightly.

“Oh don’t worry. You are not being followed but Jonathan and Andrei have a great team of guards that keep watch over Lunar Ridge, which includes you.”

“Lovren,” Jonathan says, “We are only keeping you safe. And… as your foster dad, I also want to make sure you settle in well and find your home here.”

“Oh…” this revelation shocks me. “Noone before really cared if I settled in. At my age, it's always been more about the paycheck.”

“We actually don’t get a paycheck for you,” Rachel chimes in, which causes my mouth to drop as I look at my current foster family.

“We heard about your story while attending a seminar. Some of that town’s guards talked about your ability to stand up to higher-ranking members of the city.” Jonathan explained.

“I inquired more, and it seems that your records show that you defy authority, commit crimes, and run away.”

I roll my eyes at him as he announces all of my shortcomings to the room.

“Lovren, I don’t believe any of it.” Jonathan declares with certainty, causing the room to focus on him intently.

“Why?” I ask with eyes narrowed, “What makes you think that?”

“I brought my concern to Stanislav, and we pulled all of your records,” he said, gesturing to the Mayor.

“We read over everything and discussed your behaviors with Christopher,” When Jonathan said his name, the professor nodded.

“We all agreed that your reactions would have been acceptable here at Lunar Ridge. Your defiance was towards those abusing their authority. The crimes you were charged with committing were self-defense. You ran away because it wasn’t safe for you to stay.”

Shock.

That is all that I can feel.

Looking around the table, I can see different reactions. Most are variations of concern, and they are all now focused on me.

I don’t know what to say, so I sit there with wide eyes and start picking at the sleeves of my hoodie again. I feel Erik shift beside me, leaning more against my arm, which oddly allows me to relax a bit more.

“Mr. Moores, umm.. Sir.” Erik timidly speaks up.

“Erik, stay out of this,” his brother cuts in.

Putting his hand up, the Mayor levels Andrei with a look of authority, causing him to drop his head down and to the side.

“Go on Erik, What is it you have to say?” Jonathan asks with honesty.

“Umm… You have shared some very… ah, sensitive information about Ren, but this doesn’t explain why we have all been brought to the Counsel Quarters.” Erik states while he starts to pick at my hoodie sleeve with me.

“That is true, Erik. We are here to discuss a few things, such as additional introductions, apologies, and arrangements.”

“Hi, Miss Lovren. I am Dr. Christopher Barlowe, but you can call me Chris. I am the second in command for Lunar Ridge,” the professor man introduces himself.

Then he continues, “If you ever need a sounding board, advice, or help with any of your studies, you can contact me. I am also the Principal for Lunar High.”

So, the professor is the Principal, and a Doctor is on top of it. Well, that explains how he is dressed and his aura. “Hello, Principal Chris. My friends and professors call me Ren.”

He smiles at the fact that I am still using titles but am open enough to allow him to use a nickname.

“I have been more or less introduced,” the Mayor says. “My name is Stanislav Dishinko. Everything and anything that happens within the town borders gets reported to me. It helps me keep the town safe.”

Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulls out a small device and passes it to me. Once it reaches Selena, her eyes bug out, and her jaw drops as she passes it to Erik, who also seems taken back.

“You seem to enjoy reading and night walking. While normally this isn’t smiled upon, I trust Jonathan when he says you are a good kid.”

Pointing to the fob I now hold, he says, “That is a key fob that has been coded for the library levels of this building. Winter is coming, and the weather is going to get colder. This will allow you to enter the library when you are out at night. Just remember the guards will also be patrolling at night so that they might check in with you.”

I hold the fob tightly in my hand and smile at the ability to come and go from my safe place freely.

“Hey, Loven, you know me. Mitchell, but you can call me Mitch. I am a senior like you, captain of the soccer team, and I am training to be head of the guard once Jonathan retires.”

He glances briefly at Selena, “If you ever feel like you are in danger or anyone, and I mean Anyone, makes you feel like you are not safe or welcome here… please come and talk to me.”

Oh boy, that will cause some trouble with Selena, I think to myself.

Trying not to look at Selena, I can feel Erik’s shoulders jerk as he tries not to laugh. Under the table, I knock my leg into his to get him to hold it together.

“I am Aliaksandr but I guess you since we are using nicknames you can call me Alek. I am kind of like the brains of the operation. I tend to follow in Principal Chris’s footsteps. I am in charge of the school council and the debate team captain. I am here if you need anything… as your school council president or anything… at all.”

This time, I take a good look at him.

He has a broader nose than the others in the town and has long, dark blonde, almost brown hair and fair skin. While his face is on the rounder side, his shirt and shorts clearly show that he works out. What is interesting about Alek is the controlled level of energy coming from his almost white-blue eyes.

It is almost as if he knows that I am sensitive to other people’s energy and doesn’t want his energy to scare me away. This piqued my interest in seeing what he has behind his walls.

The sound of a chair scraping the floor pulls my attention from Alek to the jade-eyed boy. The room is now an eerie silence as you both stare each other down.

The boy bows at the waist without breaking eye contact, “My name is Mikhail Dishinko, son of Stanislave and Ekaterina Dishinko.”

He holds his bow as if waiting for something.

My only thought is to return the gesture. Standing from my chair, I curtsy in return, “Hello, Mikhail. I am Lovern. Daughter of the late Stefan and Jovana ermm… Well, I don’t know what our last name was. The police reports never said what it was.”

We both retake our seats, and the room is now more melancholy.

“Well, we all know I am Erik, and the muscle back there is my big bro, Andrei,” Erik says with a bright smile. “Now that introductions are over, what’s next?”

Looking at Erik, I smile softly and begin to think that having him as a friend isn’t such a bad idea.

“Ah, I think next was apologies,” I say, looking at Principal Chris. “I am sorry, Principal Chris, for causing an incident on the first day of school. I honestly di...”

“Wait a minute,” Mikhail interrupts me, all eyes focusing on him.

“Why are you apologizing to anyone?” he asks.

Looking at him and then around the room, I notice he is not the only one who seems confused. Even Selena seems baffled. “Why wouldn’t I? I blocked Selena’s locker, she made a comment that I reacted to badly by saying things I shouldn’t have said.”

Looking to the Principal again, “I need to apologize for my actions of disrespecting another student while on school grounds,” then look to Selena, “and apologize to you, Selena, for saying things that I should not have in the heat of the moment.”

“You have honor, Miss Lovren,” the Mayor comments. “That is a rare quality to find amongst people your age and even rarer with someone of your history. I like you.”

“Papa is right, Miss Lovren.” Mikhail agrees but turns a heated glare to Selena. “It seems that you have a grace and poise that not all of us have.”

I can visibly see Selena shrink in her seat under his gaze. Looking between them both, it amazes me that he would be so stern towards his friend’s girl. Glancing at Mitchell, I can see he is just as upset at Selena because he won’t even look up from the table.

With a sharpness to her voice, Rachel speaks, “Selena, don’t you have something to say for yourself in front of the council? To your foster sister Lovren?”

Nodding, Selena sits up straighter and looks at me with misty eyes, “Sorry, Lovren. I know I have not been the best at welcoming you to our home or to the school but I will try to be better.”

She glances over to Mikhail briefly before continuing, “I am also sorry for calling you a charity case and something my… our parents are using to look good for Mr. Dishinko.”

At that, Selena bows her head down, and to the side, her eyes cast downwards. I watch her and wait for something to happen; that is when I feel a powerful energy sweeping over me.

Looking back at the Dishinko men, I see that they are both watching me closely while everyone else is watching Selena. I can feel my own aura pushing back in response to them trying to keep me from drowning under the pressure.

I feel a breath in my ear before I hear Erik whisper, “You have to formally accept before anyone will move, Ren.”

Without dropping my eyes from the overpowering men at the other end of the table, I say, “I accept your apology Selena. Let us work on getting along better for the sake of everyone here.”

Now, there is almost an electric crackling in the air between the three of you. The whole table feels the energy pouring through the room.

Soon, it feels like the wave is going to crash over me, and I abruptly stand, breaking the concentration of the Dishinko men.

“If you will excuse me, I have to go and see the nurse again for my face,” I say as I grab my bag and head towards the door.

“My face is really starting to hurt, and I am getting dizzy from not eating lunch. Ah yeah… so I would love to continue this ermm… discussion at another time.”

With that, I bolted out the door.

Luckily, the elevator was still on the top floor.

Once I was inside, just as the elevator doors started to close, I could see Mikhail and Erik come barreling out of the door while calling my name. Unable to catch the door, all they could do was watch me in the glass elevator go down and then watch as I ran off the school grounds.

((edited on 9/14/24))

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