Free Web NovelChapter 119: Chapter 119
"I don’t think the Head Chancellor himself would deny you if you decide to stay behind," Louis said with concern.
"Don’t tempt me," Henri said with his arms crossed, walking beside Louis.
It was time for the second field trip of the year, it was scheduled to be held the week after the final exams as a way to unwind before the students went home for their holiday. And as expected, Louis was trying to convince him to stay behind, his old worries coming back.
Henri didn’t want to stay behind, it would be lonely spending three whole days all alone in the empty dorms. Plus, getting attacked aside, the last field trip had been quite fun.
So he would be going and although they were already heading for the carriages, Louis was still trying to change his mind. Dio hung off the tawny-haired Alpha’s arm, holding both their backpacks.
Henri wasn’t carrying his either, hoisting his far too heavy backpack on Audie who took on the extra weight in stride.
"No, he’s coming along, I can’t protect him if he stays back at the dorms." Alois countered, he stood on the other side of Henri, keeping a firm hold on Cecil to his other side.
The Alpha had specifically requested to be on Henri’s team this time, not pleased that he had been unable to protect Henri on the last field trip.
"What if something goes wrong again?" Louis jabbed a finger at Alois.
The taller Alpha huffed, "Nothing will because I’ll be there this time."
Louis’ expression soured like he had swallowed a mouthful of freshly pressed lime. "I..."
"There’s no use arguing," Henri cut them off, not interested in having them squabble the entire journey there. "I’ve already made my decision."
He had also made sure to stock up on scent blockers this time so the trip should be a breeze. Not to mention, as soon as they returned from the trip, they were free to leave the campus.
Louis sounded like he might like to say more but Dio murmuring something to him made him relent. It was quiet till they got to the carriages, well, as quiet as it could get with all of them in one space.
Cedric and Jann were in a different group this time because as soon as the field trips were announced again, Alois had shown up and he brought his mostly quiet boyfriend along.
Louis hadn’t been pleased with this new addition because while he was trying to get Henri to sit out the field trip, Alois was adamant about him coming along. It was a very old argument really.
There was still space for one more and Henri had gone ahead to invite Tarquin over. The senior didn’t seem to have any friends for as long as Henri knew him, he spent all of his free time at the club or at the stables and only ever spoke to his club members.
Tarquin was pleased to be invited to complete their group and that was the end of it. So they had three new addition to their group this time.
The hike started slow, Henri seriously contemplating taking up Louis on his suggestion to stay behind after the first fifty feet. Everyone more or less paired up, leaving Henri and Tarquin drawing up the rear as they were both the least athletic of the group.
Audie and Valentin were in the lead, as expected, the two of the arguing over the map again. Errol was with them to keep the order and to make sure that the two of them didn’t go the wrong way and lead the group astray.
This meant that Nael was with them too so no one was really worried about getting lost because the Alpha was really good at reading maps and hiking.
"I wish I could have requested a horse for this." Henri muttered to himself, pushing a slender branch of a nearby shrub out of the way.
Tarquin beamed at this, "You can do that?" He asked a little too enthusiastically, waiting for Henri to catch up with him.
This made Henri seriously consider his words, he really could request a horse and it would be given to him. The pros were that he would get to comfortably make the trip to their campsite and Tarquin would have a good friend, and that would make the rest of the field trip for him.
Tarquin was also a professional at caring for horses so the horse would be fine for the duration of their field trip. Now, as for the cons... there were no cons.
"Stop!" Henri called loudly to the others ahead, making Louis and Alois turn around in tandem and immediately hurry to his side.
"Is something the matter? Are you hurt?" Louis immediately reached for him.
Henri smacked his hand away before he could make contact, raising a finger to stop Alois from joining in and making a ruckus. "We’re going back."
"So something is wrong." Louis’ eyes widened.
"No, nothing is wrong, I just want a horse." He said casually.
Errol had come around at this point, he was the only one to take Henri’s shocking announcement in stride. Even Tarquin who had been made privy to the idea before everyone else was flabbergasted.
Errol nodded seriously and walked past Henri, "Let’s get going then so we can get back on the road."
There was no disagreeing with Errol and it helped that they hadn’t gone very far yet. The officials in charge were surprised and a little concerned to see students returning less than ten minutes after they were sent off.
They were even more shocked to learn of the reason why they had returned but they approved of Henri’s request nonetheless, giving him a horse, as well as extra supplies to feed the horse.
Only then could they resume their journey, Henri smiling for the first time since he woke up. Tarquin was just as blissful, he held onto the reigns of the horse and led it through the curving path.
Henri could take his backpack now that he had a horse, keeping the pace of the horse slow and gentle as those in front tried to figure out that map again.
"Why do you keep getting the map if you can’t even read it." Audie taunted, jabbing his elbow into Valentin’s side.
Valentin had been engrossed in studying the map so he didn’t appreciate getting shoved to the side. "Shut up, you’re no better." He countered, kicking Audie in return.
"If you both lose the map, I’m tying you to a tree and abandoning you." Errol spelled out, already done with having to keep them in line.
Alois and Louis were in the middle, constantly sending choice glares each other’s way while Cecil and Dio had a quiet but pointless conversation beside them.
Henri was pleased with this, Errol had his hands full dealing with his younger brother, Audie, and Nael was stuck to the older Alpha’s side like a leech. Louis and Alois were too busy going after each other and their boyfriends would stay by their side. Finally, Tarquin was already taken in by the horse and would certainly spend all of his time with it.
This meant that Henri could finally get some peace and quiet on this field trip, he also had his scent blockers with him so the risk of him getting hunted down by a psychopathic Alpha was nonexistent. He could actually see himself enjoying every single day of the trip.
It had been several months since the first one, the rains had already come and gone, and he would be returning back to the castle very soon. He wondered just what he would do when he returned to his vast chambers in the castle.
He was already long used to having so much to do and being around people his age. He never thought he would say this but he was actually looking forward to his second year of college.
Collective cursing from the Alphas in front alerted the rest of the group, the others stopping when they did.
"What’s wrong?" Alois was the one to call ahead.
"Fucking stupid Vale tripped and lost hold of the map, a draft blew it up a tree branch," Audie called out to the rest of the group.
Everyone else gathered around the tree to figure out a way to get down the map before the wind blew it even further, everyone but Tarquin and Henri.
Henri only stopped his horse, he couldn’t be bothered to come down and interact personally with whatever stupidity they had going on. And Tarquin didn’t care about people period.
"Alright, who’s getting the map?" Louis asked, already sounding exhausted. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Nael kept his lips clamped shut and his arms clamped around his boyfriend. He frankly didn’t care who was going to get it but it wouldn’t be Errol, not on his watch.
"I’ll get it." Valentin immediately offered, "I lost it, it’s only right that I should get it back."
"No, I’ll do it." Audie interrupted, "Can’t have you tripping again."
