Nael and Errol wouldn’t be joining the group this time because neither of them wanted to be apart from each other. So Cecil would be completing the group with Alois instead. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Audie wasn’t pleased with this information, "We could just kick Jac out, no one wants him here anyway." He grumbled.

It was the night before the camping trip would commence, and it was one of those rare nights that they all sat together at the dinner table. Well, if you were willing to ignore Alexander and Claude who were seated right at the next table.

"I do." Valentin deadpanned, clearly done with their endless rivalry. It was something that had haunted him without break for weeks now.

"Besides, I was thinking of going with a different group regardless," Errol said kindly, "I wanted to go with my club members this time, and I wouldn’t even mind if Nael went with you inste-"

"No." Nael cut him off, his expression grave.

"I thought as much." Errol said fondly, letting Nael hang off his arm.

It was so easy to forget that the slender Alpha was in a different class from them and would therefore have his own circle of friends. Friends that he had gone back to after being taken away from Seton’s influence.

So it was decided and their group for the camping trip was completed. Without Errol, Louis was the only one available to keep everyone in line. It was evident with how gloomy he looked on the morning of the camping trip.

Henri tried to cheer him up, "I’m sure it won’t be that bad," He said anxiously trying and failing to ignore Valentin trying to stop Audie from tackling Jacques to the ground in front of them.

They were waiting in front of their dorm building for a carriage to be assigned to them.

Louis just hid his face in Dio’s chest with a muffled groan.

Henri patted his arm, he had no interest in taking any responsibility whatsoever. He had been feeling a bit out of sorts for a few days now and be hoped that the fresh air would do him good so he intended to treat it like a vacation.

He made sure to pack up his scent blockers, unwilling to make the same mistake as he did the first time he went on the camping trip.

He had taken his heat suppressants just the week before, making sure to keep to his mother’s calender. Everything on his personal list was checked off, now it was time for him to spend his time by the lake and lying down quietly in his tent.

Sure, there was the threat of Alexander... and Claude but he would just ignore them, as he had been unsuccessfully doing.

Henri always chose the window seats on carriage rides and without hesitation, Louis sat right beside him, Dio following suit.

Alois immediately snagged the spot beside Dio, taking Cecil’s wrist to make him sit on the space left.

Cecil had hardly spent anytime around them in the new year and it was because he was intimidated by Alexander, he didn’t do well around nobles and royalty.

It had taken Alois a lot of convincing him to get him to come - well, not too much because he was wrapped around the blond Alpha’s finger.

His previously bleached dead hair was still a dark brown and he had let it grow out at Alois’ insistence, it was cut shorter in the front and left longer at the back.

The three bickering Alphas - well, two bickering- well, one bickering Alpha. Audie was doing all of the talking while Valentin was cursed to play mediator for an eternity.

Jacques wasn’t free of blame either because although the Alpha was on the quiet side, he always made jabs where it hurt, making Audie even more agitated.

They sat across from Henri and he would take their silly arguments any day over having to sit across from Claude and Alexander.

The carriage ride went on peacefully enough, the sounds and sights of other students in other carriages filling the college grounds as they were all transported to the gates that led to the strip of forest just beside the Academy.

To their pleasant surprise, Antoine was one of the professors who would be in charge of supervising the camping trip. He was also the one who handed them their rations for the trip.

-*-

*oh no, i just read back to the first camping trip and found out that i didn’t put in any wildlife for hunting, smh... i don’t know how it slipped my mind. But no worries, the plot can still carry on. They’re both aces when it comes to shooting, surely they should be able to shoot down an insect...

i should stop the bad habit of rambling in the middle of Chapters (i’m sorry) but i just realised that they can shoot down birds, right? right? Is anyone knowledgeable on hunting?*

-*-

There was the usual ceremonial speech which was done by the Head Chancellor this time, Henri wondered if he was trying to put on a front for Alexander or if he was just worried about something happening to him again.

After what seemed like endless formalities that needed to be concluded, they finally set off on their journey.

Henri couldn’t request a horse this time because Tarquin wasn’t around anymore, just another reason to miss the Alpha.

His backpack was carried by Dio while Louis held his hand like he expected him to be snatched up right in front of him, or maybe he was using Henri as moral support, who knew?

Valentin and Audie were asked to carry the food box, the only thing that calmed Audie down while Alois and Jacques handled the map, Cecil sticking close to his boyfriend.

Alexander and Claude drew up in the rear and in this manner the journey began smoothly.

It was still early, the sun rising only less than an hour ago. It meant that the air was cool and dew still clung to some greenery.

Their campsite was changed again to a different location. The forest was big enough that it was possible to not return to a campsite again after going to it once, it added to the mystery and fun of hiking to said campsites.