ALEJANDRA.My head is swimming by the time we leave the meeting with Alpha Romano. I have so many questions, yet the second I get alone with the guys I can’t think of one. I think my brain is just exhausted from the long day.It has been such a long day.Was it just this morning that I woke up on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?Yeah, I guess it was.Now, it’s the afternoon as we’re leaving the castle. The guys say we’re going to our off-campus dorm, which I find incredibly confusing because weren’t there boys and girls dorms in the castle? Or maybe the seniors stay somewhere else.Tomorrow I guess we will go to class. I don’t even have a schedule, and I have no idea where I’ll be going or what classes I’ll be taking. I don’t even know if Margot Westwood got my transcript from my last school.“Don’t worry. Everything is settled.” Desmond speaks up, answering my unasked question.But how is it settled?I’m just so confused.I’ll also never get used to having somebody else in
ALEJANDRA.“Was that room meant for me?”I can’t believe that is the first question I’m asking, but I’ll go with it.If I’m being honest, I’m a little scared to ask what I really want to know.“It was technically meant for Forrest and his mate,” Puma answers.“And the clothes that happen to be my size?”Forrest clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable with my question. “I had them ordered when I met you and knew that you were my mate. I knew we’d eventually end up here, and I wanted you to have plenty of clothes.” Ah, I guess that makes sense.“I have plenty of clothes,” I say, giving him a pointed look before continuing. “At home.”“I just figured it would be easier for you to have stuff here and there so you don’t always have to pack.” Right.Because packing it hard?Or maybe that’s just because he’s the alpha’s son, which means something. What, I’m not sure.“What does alpha mean?” I ask.“It means leader,” Forrest answers.“Leader?”“He’s being modest,” Phoenix interjects. “Forr
ALEJANDRA.Everything in the closet is my size, down to the shoes. And it’s all adorable—things I would actually buy and wear myself. I’ll have to figure out who Forrest got to buy all the clothes and thank them.I don’t like the idea that Forrest bought all these clothes for me. I have plenty at home.At least I don’t have to worry about my sisters borrowing my clothes. Mine are all too small for them. I’ve always been envious of the fact that my mom and sisters all share clothes with each other.I wonder if there is anything specific we have to wear to school.Nope. Wear whatever you want.Puma is the one who answers.I don’t think I’ll ever get used to them being in my head. It’s like the universe is paying me back for always being in other people’s heads my whole life. It’s not like I’ve wanted to listen though. I just can’t stop it.It’s hot outside, so I just put on a white sundress. It has spaghetti straps and flares out a Little Aast my waist. It fits perfectly too and isn’t t
ALEJANDRA.Inhaling a calming breath, I stare at the doors of the castle. I’m about to walk in for my first day of classes and I’m nervous.So nervous.Puma holds my hand on one side and Phoenix on the other. Forrest is in the front and Desmond in the back. I probably shouldn’t hold their hands knowing that all the girls are going to be glaring at me when they see me.What Phoenix’s sister said has really freaked me out.Nobody is going to like me.“They will all love you,” Puma says, and he squeezes my hand. “They’re just jealous you have such awesome mates.” I laugh and give him a tentative smile.“Let’s just get this over with.”Forrest opens the doors and we walk inside. I’m mostly hidden behind Forrest, but I can still feel everybody’s eyes on us. And since I’m touching Puma and Phoenix, I can feel their anger. They don’t want people staring at me because they know it makes me uncomfortable.I love that they want to defend my honor, but there really isn’t anything they can do. Pe
ALEJANDRA.That Bridget girl isn’t the only one giving me dirty looks.A lot of girls are. Guys too.I wonder what they’re thinking. Probably the same as Bridget—that I don’t belong here. That I’m not worthy of having four wolf shifter mates. And I know that. More than anything I do. But I want it. There is a rightness to this that I feel deep in my soul, and I can’t even begin to understand what it means. All I know is that I do belong here, even if nobody else thinks I do.The guys are careful to keep anybody from touching me, like they promised. I’m grateful for this. It’s one thing to be glared at, but it’s another to know what somebody is thinking about you. But even the guys can’t protect me from everything. Not in high school.Forrest, Phoenix, and Desmond go to grab us all some food while Puma and I go to sit down at a table in the lunchroom.This lunchroom is unlike any I’ve ever seen before. The room is massive and has a lot of different tables—some big, some small. Al
ALEJANDRA.Dean Westwood tried to separate me from the guys. They vetoed that before she could even get the words out of her mouth, which relieves me.I need them. I’m pretty sure holding Puma and Desmond’s hands is the only thing keeping me from having a panic attack. It’s the only thing that is keeping me from overthinking about what that boy thought.Slut.Of course this looks bad.I have four mates.Four.It’s not normal.Not that turning into a wolf is all that normal either.I guess I thought it would be different here. I thought I wouldn’t be the weird pale girl who doesn’t like to be touched. I thought I would fit in and maybe make friends.Instead, people think I’m weird. They think I’m… A slut.Desmond grips my hand tighter.I know he can hear me. They all can. But it’s not like I can control my thoughts.Margot looks between me and the four guys around me, then she looks at the boy on the other side of the room who appears terrified.He’s also got a very dark
DESMOND. When we got home, Alejandra said she wanted some time alone and she went up to her room. But her thoughts are loud. I can feel every bit of her pain. She’s hurting. And it kills me. A shifter usually can’t feel the emotions of their mate until they are bonded. I don’t know why it’s different with Alejandra, but I’m glad it is. I’m glad she can’t block me out. And even though I said I would teach her, I’m not going to until she can be fully honest with us about what she’s feeling. Forrest paces back and forth. “Somebody needs to go up there.” All four of us are on edge. “Desmond should go.” Puma turns towards me. “We should all go,” Phoenix says. “No, I don’t want to overwhelm her.” Forrest stops pacing and focuses on me. “Puma is right. Desmond, you should go talk to her. You’re the best at talking. You can calm her down. Because I can’t take much more of this. I’m about ready to get on a boat and leave this island. I want to run away and hide with her.” Which wou
PHOENIX. “I told you she wouldn’t care.” Desmond crosses his arms and smirks at me. In theory I knew that Alejandra wouldn’t care that she wouldn’t be meeting my parents, but I still worried. She comes from such a big family, and my family is literally just me and Hannah. Hannah is ten years older than me, so after our parents died, she continued to raise me. I’m eighteen, only two years younger than her when she took me in. I can’t even imagine how hard it must’ve been for her. I wasn’t exactly an easy kid to deal with. But Hannah is a rock star. I love that I got to introduce Alejandra to Hannah already. I also love that they get along so well. Alejandra actually looks up to my sister and considers her a friend. Alejandra is my family now too. And the guys, they always have been. Forrest, Desmond, Puma, and I all grew up together. We knew from a young age what our place in the pack would be. Alpha Romano moved us all to be closer to Forrest. We all pretty much became instant fr
ALEJANDRA. Over Christmas break, I told my family the truth—that I am a fairy. I told them them that they were glamoured to think I’m their daughter. And that I have four mates. My family didn’t believe me, which I expected. I mean, I had the exact same reaction when Forrest told me he was a wolf shifter. So… I did the only thing I knew I could do to prove it. I had Phoenix shift into a wolf. Don’t worry… I made him go to the bathroom before shifting back. After that, my parents had a lot of questions, as did the rest of my siblings. And so, I literally spent the whole day telling them everything. And even though it’s technically against the law, I am the queen. I’m allowed to break the law. Plus, Alpha Romano gave me permission. I wasn’t sure what to expect after that, but my family seemed to accept everything. I mean, they had a lot of questions about the whole ‘having four mates’ thing, but they didn’t freak out and they listened when I explained it to them. It’s more than I co
ALEJANDRA. Everything is too bright and too loud. I’m about to yell at Katherine and tell her to shut off her alarm when I realize… it’s not an alarm. I’m not in Jacksonville. I open my eyes and shut them immediately. The fluorescent lights are bright. My head hurts, my back hurts, my chest hurts… What happened to me? “Alejandra.” I hear somebody say my voice softly. I open my eyes again, slower this time. Four pairs of eyes are looking down at me. I try to sit up, but a hand reaches out to hold me down. “Just lie down.” I lie back against my pillow, but only because my chest hurts so bad. “What happened to me?” I ask, rubbing the spot on my chest. “Thomas Freeman stabbed you in the back with a silver knife. He actually stabbed your heart.” Forrest clears his throat. “He didn’t know that you’re immune to silver.” “If he stabbed me in the heart, how am I not dead?” Because whether I’m immune to silver or not, getting stabbed in the heart seems like a sure way to die. “I don
ALEJANDRA. I am so nervous on Monday morning. My heart is racing and my hands are shaking. All of the guys wanted to stay with me last night, so we ended up making this huge pallet on the floor and sleeping there. It was kind of cool waking up surrounded by my mates. I realize I want this every morning. We’re going to have to find a bigger bed to make this happen because a king size bed isn’t cutting it. I think the reason I’m so scared is I don’t know how things are going to go today. What if Tiffany and the others change their mind? What if they decide to go ahead and side with Robert Westwood—that’s a scary thought. But what if they don’t and Robert follows through on his promise? What if Robert is able to have Tiffany’s children murdered. The thought hurts my chest. He has to be stopped. I don’t care if he’s my biological grandfather or not. His terrorizing days are over after this. He is going to answer for his crimes. Today when I get dressed, I don’t care so much about loo
ALEJANDRA. The urgency in Forrest’s voice makes my heart race fast and hard. And even though we’re in the middle of helping everybody get settled, we leave the castle to talk to Alpha Romano. I push out Forrest’s thoughts, not wanting to force myself to know what’s going on. If Forrest wanted to tell me what’s happening, he would. I get the feeling this is something I need to hear for myself anyway. We walk out the front of Shifter Academy and get into the car we drove over. The parking lot is still just as empty as when we arrived this morning. I don’t know why it surprises me. I guess I expected the parking lot to be full, but how would they even get the cars here? Also, the fae can’t drive. So that was just a silly thing to think. We drive to where Alpha Romano is staying and I’m surprised when we walk inside and see one of the wolves from the council there. She’s actually one of the wolves on the side that is firmly against the fae. I’m hoping she is here to tell me she’s chang
ALEJANDRA. On Sunday morning, the fae start arriving. When they arrive, we have to make room where we can—some of them stay in the castles. We try to make sure families have homes that are empty on the island. It’ll be a little pack when everything is said and done, but we do what we can. I’m glad nobody seems too upset about having to share their space. Everybody is super welcoming to the fae. A lot more welcome than they were to me when I first came, but now that I’m here, I can’t even blame them for being wary of me. I probably would have too. I’m so glad I know that I’m a fae. And I’m glad that everybody else knows too. There is no hate… well, aside from the council members and the panthers. But the council is nowhere to be seen at the moment and the panthers are hiding in their dorm rooms, which is preferred. I love seeing the castle full of fae. It’s actually incredible. Roshan gathers everybody for a meeting once they get settled—we definitely have a lot of things to catch
ALEJANDRA.After we leave Roshan’s place, the guys and I go back home, but they tell me to put on a bathing suit when we go inside. I start to argue, but I can tell by the looks on their faces that they mean business. So I go to my room and put on my bikini and throw on a coverup before heading downstairs. My guys are waiting for me. Today has been a rough day. Scratch that, it’s been a rough week. Maybe going out and getting a little sun is exactly what I need. Zaire, Katherine, and I used to go to the beach nearly every single day. Even in January and February, when it was too cold to be in the water. Though, I have seen a few tourists around that time of year swimming because it is very warm in Florida compared to whatever mid-western town they’re from. Something about the sound of the waves, the feel of the sun, and the smell of salt water is comforting. Maybe because it reminds me of home. And I miss home. I miss my family more than anything. But I can’t go see them right now
ALEJANDRA. On Saturday morning, I plan to meet with Roshan and the other fae to let them know how everything went with the council. I’m a little bit nervous to tell them. I just hope they don’t get discouraged from the news, but how could they not? Still, I promise myself not to let it show how bothered I am by the news. I want to help keep their spirits up about it. And the truth is, we don’t know what is going to happen. The council could come back and say that they’ve decided to side with the fae. That is my hope. If not… well, I don’t even want to think about that unless it happens. Roshan is staying in his own place. He has two wolf shifters that live close by—other teachers. So I know he’s safe over here. For now. We all meet at his house to discuss things and I’m a little bit anxious. “Everything will be fine.” Desmond squeezes my hand as we approach the front door. I know I always give my mates a hard time about listening to my thoughts, but most of the time I like it. T
ALEJANDRA. It’s weird seeing Alpha Romano in the house, but I suppose this is the only place we really have privacy. Now that I’m fully seeing him, he looks tired. Exhausted, really. I can tell all of this is weighing heavily on him. And what he’s willing to sacrifice—it’s a lot. I can’t believe he’s willing to give up his entire life for me. Well… it’s not just for me. It’s also for Forrest, his son, and all the fae. I keep saying it’s bigger than me because that’s the truth. I’m just the queen who can’t stand the injustice my people have suffered. They need somebody who is willing to fight for them, and that is me. I know the cost and I am willing to pay. Alpha Romano paces in the living room. Forrest is sitting on the side of the coffee table, hunched forward. Phoenix, Puma, and I are sitting on the couch, with me between them, and Desmond is sitting on the arm of the couch, by Phoenix. “Every single shifter, aside from the panthers, has decided to side with the fae.” Alpha Ro
ALEJANDRA. Today, my hair and makeup are on point. I even tried on twenty different outfits before I settled on a simple black dress. I put on a blazer, thinking it helps me look more ‘mature.’ I hope it does. When I walk into the council today, I don’t want them to see a seventeen-year-old girl. I want them to see a fairy queen. I want them to take me seriously and I want to fight for my people. The door to my room opens and Puma sticks his head inside. “Do I look fierce?” I ask, doing a spin for him. Since I basically just gave Puma permission to check me out, he does. He slowly scans my body and there is fire in his eyes when he finally makes eye contact. “You look really hot.” “I don’t want to look hot. I want to look professional.” I look at my four-inch heels. I thought the added height would help me look more intimidating. “Maybe I should wear flats.” “It doesn’t make a different if you wear heels or flats. You’re still short.” I stick my tongue out at him, taking off m