Chapter 2: First Lecture

The alarm on Elena's phone buzzed softly at 6:30 AM, pulling her from a restless sleep filled with fragmented dreams of piercing gazes and low, commanding voices. She lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling of the master bedroom, the sheets cool beside her where Edward should have been. He had left before dawn again—another early surgery, another text that read like an afterthought: "Good luck with your class today. Love you."

She sighed, pushing the covers aside and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Yesterday had been a revelation. The university campus had felt alive with possibility, the introductions to her colleagues charged with an undercurrent she couldn't quite name. Last night, after Edward's perfunctory kiss and quick retreat to sleep, she had stood by the window, her body humming with restlessness. The thrill of being seen mixed with familiar guilt.

Today was her first lecture. She moved to the closet, selecting a cream-colored blouse with a modest neckline—higher than yesterday's, but still tailored to skim her curves—and a knee-length black pencil skirt that hugged her hips without being overt. Sensible black heels and a loose bun completed the look. "Normal professor clothes," she told herself, though she knew it still accentuated her figure. Edward rarely noticed anymore. But the thought of standing before young adults who might actually look at her sent a small, traitorous spark through her. She pushed it down. This was work. Her new beginning.

The drive to Evergreen University was quiet. She arrived early, nerves fluttering as she entered Lecture Hall B. The room held about sixty students in tiered seating. She set her tablet and notes on the desk, taking a steadying

[breath.

As](http://breath.As) nine o'clock approached, students filed in. At the back, a cluster of four or five guys claimed the last row, their laughter loud. One tall guy with messy dark hair and a cocky grin caught her eye and winked—Theo Lang, she thought. She looked away, focusing on her

[slides.

At](http://slides.At) precisely nine, Elena stepped to the podium. "Good morning. Welcome to Introduction to Evolutionary Biology. I'm Dr. Elena Voss. I earned my PhD from Stanford, where my research focused on sexual selection—how animals and humans choose mates based on fitness and behavior. I've published in Nature and Science. Outside the lab."

A few nods greeted her. She launched into the syllabus, feeling a growing sense of control. But as she projected images of mating rituals and explained natural selection, the back row stirred. Low murmurs, then a clear voice: "Damn, check out the new prof. Bet she'd pick the fittest in here."

Elena's hand froze on the clicker. Crude comments on her first day? She hadn't expected outright objectification. Her cheeks warmed, but she forced her voice steady, continuing the lecture. Internally, surprise mixed with indignation—and beneath it, a warmer spark. Attention. Real attention. Edward hadn't looked at her with hunger in years. These boys saw her as desirable. It was wrong to like it... but the validation felt like oxygen.

She raised her voice. "Focus on the material, please."

The class settled briefly, but disruption returned—whispers, a paper airplane, muffled laughs. Elena stopped, turning to face them fully, hands on her hips. "Gentlemen in the back. This is a lecture, not a comedy club. Raise your hand if you have relevant comments. Otherwise, respect the class. This is your warning."

A beat of silence. Then one backbencher leaned forward, smirking. "What you gonna do about it, Professor? Hand out detention? Or maybe your idea of punishment is way more hands-on? I bet staying after class with you would be the most pleasurable thing on campus. Extra credit, right?"

Laughter and gasps erupted. Elena's face flushed hot. She opened her mouth to retort sharply when the door creaked open.

The room fell silent. Dr. Elias Thorne filled the doorway, tall and commanding in a dark suit, salt-and-pepper hair catching the light. "Dr. Voss. I was passing by. Everything going smoothly?"

"Yes, thank you. Just a minor disruption—nothing I can't handle."

Elias's gaze swept the back row. The students shrank. Then his eyes returned to her, dipping briefly—unmistakably—to the neckline of her blouse. A small smirk tugged at his mouth before vanishing. "If any students give you trouble, note their names. I'll take care of it personally. Disruptions won't be tolerated."

The backbenchers muttered apologies. Elias nodded. "Carry on, Dr. Voss. You're doing well." He left with a final glance.

The class stayed silent for ten seconds. Elena exhaled, gratitude mixing with a stubborn spark of independence. I should handle this myself. It's my class, my authority. I don't need saving. The thought felt empowering.

She turned back, voice steadier. "Sexual selection involves displays of fitness... Let's discuss examples from the animal kingdom and how they parallel human behavior."

The rest of the lecture passed without further incident. When she dismissed the class, a few students approached with genuine questions. The cocky backbencher mumbled an apology on his way out.

Elena packed slowly, adrenaline fading into thoughtful calm. The attention—good and bad—had awakened something. She texted Edward: Lecture went well. No reply. Not

[surprised.

In](http://surprised.In) the hallway, Dr. Caleb Ruiz approached with two coffee mugs and his warm smile. "Dr. Voss! How was it? Coffee—black with one sugar?"

She accepted gratefully, their fingers brushing.

Caleb nodded, walking with her. "Elias is protective, but you've got this. My door's open if you want to debrief."

They parted warmly. In her office, Elena set down her bag and glanced at the wedding photo on her desk—her and Edward smiling. She turned it face-down gently. Not

[today.

To](http://today.To) be continued...

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