As I stepped out of the airport, wheeling my suitcase along behind me, I had to close my eyes and breathe deeply, nearly overwhelmed from being home again. After three long years, I was finally allowed to return to the lands of my pack – the place I where I had grown up.I only wished I was here for
Among all of Alex’s friends, Nicholas was the one I had been least familiar with. All I could really remember about him was that he had been the coldest and the most distant.With how much my face burned, I imagined the entirety of it was a bright cherry red color. I was so startled and awkward and
Down the hallway, I could still hear my mother’s voice.“Holly doesn’t need to know about Aunt Gina’s illness…”So much tension filled my body so suddenly that I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe. Only my mind was running a million miles a minute.Aunt Gina was sick and Mom had kept it a secret?
In a flash, Alex shifted around, placing himself between my mother and I. As the future Alpha of the pack, he had already starting showing strength and speed miles above other wolves in the pack, even when we’d been children. It was no surprise to see those skills had only amplified since I left. It
The cake was wheeled away and taken to one of the tables to be cut into pieces by some of the hotel employees. Alex stayed with me, grinning widely from ear to ear.“Are you surprised?” he asked me.That was an easy answer. “Yes.” I didn’t want to tell him that I had thought everyone – including him
My cheeks warmed up again, the embarrassment flooding through me, and I clenched my fists in both anger and fear. I was afraid he might give something more away or say something even more embarrassing.Cursing him in my mind, I tried not to let any of my emotions show on my face. The blush I couldn’
As we walked away, behind us, I heard Edgar say to Nicholas, “What’s the matter with Alex?”I didn’t hear Nicholas’s reply.When we went a fair distance away, Alex started, “Holly, I don’t think you should –”“Oh!” I said, suddenly remembering his wounds. “Your hand. Should we clean it out?”Lifting
That had not at all been what I had expected Alex to say, so for a moment, I just stood there, shocked and gaping at him.Alex sighed, unhooking his arms as he walked closer to me. “I’m not telling you this to hurt you, but because I want to look out for you. Nicholas is a notorious bad boy who has
Florida stepped back, visibly and physically taken aback.I tried to imagine what had earned me her surprise. Perhaps she had expected me to be the same helpless girl. The me of the past had been far weaker than I was today. An easy target, I’d been unable to defend myself and unwilling to socialize
“I have no intention of using my family to secure a spot in this school,” I said. “I’m going to do it on my own, standing up on my own merits and skills.”Florida scoffed. “I’m sure,” she said sarcastically. “You aren’t fooling anyone.”“Back off, Florida,” Annie said.“No,” Florida said. “I’m the o
“I’m not entirely sure,” I admitted. “I think he just saw a side of me he hadn’t before, and that helped. Plus, I told him he didn’t mean anything to me.”Annie laughed. “That’s a strange way to win someone’s favor.”I shrugged. It worked, though.“Come on,” Annie said. “Let’s walk and talk.”We tur
“I can’t guarantee you’ll be admitted,” Nicholas said.“Still, thank you,” I said. “It’s only with your help that I’ll be able to try. I swear I won’t let you down. I’ll prove to you and to the other examiners that I’m worth taking the chance on.”Nicholas hummed, watching me. “I do admire you, in a
What an absolute terrible, cold-hearted viper disguised as a man!With rage and fury burning in my heart, I stormed out of his office and out of the building to where Annie was waiting for me outside.Her hopeful expression immediately dimmed when she took in the sight of me. “No good?” she asked.W
“Maybe,” Nicholas said, disbelief thick in his voice.This time, I did roll my eyes. “I’m trying to transfer, Nicholas. And I need your help. That’s all this is about.”Nicholas watched me for a moment. I didn’t know what he was looking for, but then with a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, droppin
While Nicholas walked toward the elevator, I turned to Annie.“I’ll wait for you outside,” she said to me. “It’s far too stuffy in here,” she added, glancing at the receptionist. To me again, “Good luck.”“Thanks,” I said, but couldn’t shake the feeling of nervous trepidation that was steadily risin
“Why?” I asked. I had anticipated some difficulty with transferring, but Annie’s reaction made it seem impossible.“The timing isn’t ideal,” Annie replied. “The school is hard enough to get into, but admissions have just closed for the year.”“I can’t give up,” I said. “I have to find a way to trans
With a nod, he continued, “Soon, I’ll introduce you to my fiancé, Holly. I think you’ll like her. You two should get along really well.”For his benefit, I forced a smile to my lips, even as everything hurt. I didn’t want him to know how much pain I was in, how much I dreaded meeting the woman that