Chapter 1

Sage

Where is my folder. I didn't forget it. I never forget anything, it's one of the perks of having a photographic memory. Essays are due today and I can't miss the deadline. My college fund depends on it. I stop rummaging through my bag as I approach my locker. Then it hits me like it always does. The memory is hazy and fast but it's me putting it in there yesterday before I went home. I blink and it's gone as im spinning the combination on the locker and it opens with a loud thud. I flinch at the noise.

Im barely able to reach in to grab the folder of finished essays, all ranging in different grades from C to A+, when there's a tap on my shoulder. I freeze for half a second before pulling the thick plastic folder from its shelf. I flip to the very back and pull out my original to turn in next period. I slide it skillfully into my bag before turning to my first customer of the day.

"Hey Sage, what are your rates on Ms. Fosters English Lit paper?" Say the Blond, 6'4 mammoth of a "person" standing next to me. I look him up and down before pushing my glasses up my nose. Caleb Anders. Wolfshifter. I resist the urge to take a step back as his green eyes look down on my own.

"Depends on what grade you're looking for." I respond flipping to the front of the folder where I keep all the English papers, thankful that it gives me a reason to break eye contact.

"I need at least a C+ to maintain my average." He says rubbing the back of his neck. I wrinkle my nose at his response. C+ pfft.

"I can give you a B- paper for $125 or a B+ for $150" I say flipping pages in the small log book I keep in one of the pockets.

"Really that'd be gr-" he starts but I cut him off.

"Except according to this you still owe me $100 from your last order" I say slamming my folder shut and turning to face him head on. There's nothing I can do if he stiffs me the $100 he already got the C+ on it but I can keep him from future orders. Not to be mean, but when it comes to English Lit dudes basically a brick wall. Nothing getting through.

His eyes narrow at me a small glint of silver shining through. I grit my teeth together refusing to budge when he finally stuffs a hand in his back pocket. He pulls out a wallet on a chain and pulls out two hundreds and a fifty dollar bill. He flashes me a stunning white smile his eyes already back to their original forest green color.

I already have my folder back open pulling on the B+ paper as he slides the money into the folder pocket and taking the paper from my hand reading it over.

"You know the drill. Copy the paper in your own hand writing and then discard of the evidence. If you share it with anyone else I'll know and you will no longer be eligible for future assignments." I say in a monotone. I'm not the only one writing papers for the less gifted. My best friend Lacey helps too and our friends keep eyes out for any floating papers.

Since each paper is different it's easy to tell who let it slip from their hands. "Yeah yeah Doll, I know." He drawls out waving me off.

I visibly flinch away from the nickname that the shifter boys so generously started calling me when I first started my little business. I realize my mistake when he steps towards me eyes flashing silver again. Shifters are predators. You act like prey they'll treat you like it.

I tighten my lips in a flat line refusing to move until he takes a step away from me again. It's at this moment I am greatful for my best friend, Lacey chooses this exact moment to make an appearance. I visibly relax when Caleb's eyes move from me to her.

"You good over here?" She asks eyeing the shifter standing just feet away from me. Her brown hair is just a shade or two lighter than my own her eyes a deep brown where mine are green. Looking at us you would think we were related. Sadly that's not the case. I'm an only child. It's just me and my dad.

"Yeah, Caleb just settled his balance and scored a B+" I say blowing out a breath.

"Thanks again. Until next time Doll." He says heading down the hall forgetting my existence once again.

I open my folder again and pull the bills from the pocket and placing them in the mini backpack hanging in my open locker. "Something tells me we're gonna have a busy morning." Lacey says opening her locker which is conveniently next to mine. I nodd in agreement lost in the never ending train of thought running through my head.

As Lacey pulls her folder with the rest of the essays out of her bag to hand to me I feel a cold shiver go down my back. Someone is watching me. I casually look around but I don't see anyone specifically. I just shake off the feeling as I start sorting papers. It doesn't take long for more kids to approach with their requests. Human and Shifters. We don't discriminate.

Shifters made their presence known just over a decade ago. They're everywhere. It was an adjustment at first but now they're apart of civilization. Well, they've always been there, they're just not hiding anymore. Not that I blame them. Living in secret you're whole life sucks. I should know...

I'm handing out papers while Lacey collects the money. After handing a human freshman his paper for history my wrist hits the corner of my folder and a hiss escapes my lips. He gives me strange look but doesn't say anything.

Im rubbing the bruise under my jacket sleeve hating how last nights events flash in my mind. My father standing over me a fresh beer in his hands as he's screaming obscenities at me. How he grabs my wrist to yank me through the front door after arriving home ten minutes late. He didn't care that there was a major accident on the way from school. He accuses me of sleeping around with a random guy and when I objected he slapped me across the face and I fell to the floor. Luckily not hard enough to leave a mark.

Ever since my mom died he's been hitting the bottle, bottles - hard. He can't put the alcohol down long enough to hold a steady job. And I have to keep any and all cash hidden otherwise my dad would spend it on as much beer as possible. I flinch as my fingers glide over the painful mark and I bring myself back to reality.

I look up at the clock and see first period is about to begin. I stand up from my place on the floor in front of my locker sliding my now nearly empty folder back on its shelf. I reach up and grab the mini backpack that's holding our profits for the day so far. As I'm counting the fifties and hundreds Lacey is eyeing me suspiciously.

"What's up with your arm.?" She says closing her locker. Shit. She doesn't miss anything. I reach out with my good arm to hand her her share. $700. we did really well which isn't a surprise. Satisfaction guaranteed. Every time.

"Nothing." I say flashing her my wrist with my good arm as she takes the money.

"Your other arm." She says squinting her eyes at me. I pocket my cash and close my locker before turning to her. She looks me over up and down as if she's trying to see through me and I shift my feet uneasy looking away from her.

"I'm fine Lace." I say softly shoving my hands in my pockets, peering at her through my glasses. She looks like she's about to say something else but she lets it go when the first bell rings for us to get to class.

We head down the hall to Ms. Fosters English Lit class. This class is pure hell even for me. Which says a lot considering I have nearly perfect scores in all my classes. Photographic memory comes in handy with school and paper work. If I see it it's there. In my head, forever. Lacey and I are currently fighting for valedictorian and I'm determined not to let Ms. Foster be the class to let that slip from me.

Im sliding into my seat as the bell rings and Foster is closing the door to the class room to prevent any and all late arrivals. Suddenly and arm shoots through the doorway at the last second causing the door to bounce off of it and nearly catching Ms. Forster in the face. She readies herself to yell at whomever dared to enter her class after the bell but it snaps shut when she sees whose on the other side. Without saying a word she opens the door allowing a boy to walk in and my breath nearly catches in my throat when his blue eyes land on me.

Jaxson Ravenwood. Classmate, shifter, and future Alpha of the North American pack. His white blonde hair falls messily over his icy blue eyes. He's more muscular than your average shifter and even I can't help but admire him. I feel something, I can't quite tell what it is, stir inside me and I instantly get one of my famous migraines as he flashes Ms. Foster a killer smile.

He walks past Lacey and I, I don't move but I notices she flinches a little as he takes a seat directly behind us, behind me, with a low noise almost a growl coming from his chest. Foster closes the door successfully, effectively starting class for the day. I manage to turn in my Lit paper before I finally give into my migraine and place my head down on the cool table.