Jane stared out the window as they drove toward her childhood home. With each mile, she became more and more nervous. She knew Alex wasn't worried about meeting her family, but he'd never met Aunt Demetria.She was her mother's sister, and younger by three years, but more eccentric and ... strange. Aunt Demetria loved crystals and fortunes. She always seemed as if she knew more than she said about everyone. She believed in ghosts and the other side. It creeped Jane out most of the time, but now especially, since she knew there was more to the world than she originally believed.She didn't want Aunt Demetria to get suspicious of Alex and dig deep into his family. She was protective since Jane had no mother to do so for her."Your heart is beating really fast over there, Jane. Are you sure you're okay?" Alex asked.She chuckled and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm fine.""Jane," he chuckled. "What do you think your aunt is going to ask me? Do you think she's so in tune
Alex took a bite of the godawful zucchini dish and forced it down his throat. His wolf growled at him for putting anything that wasn't meaty or at least surrounded by meat into his mouth.Jane’s aunt's gaze shifted from Mr. Williams to Alex, and something snaked its way down his spine. She wasn't a wolf, or a lycan, but she felt like ... something. Jane wasn't joking when she said her aunt was odd. And why did she assume Jane was safe with Alex from a campus menace-animal-or whatever the news was calling it? It made him feel just like Jane suggested-it made him feel like Demetria knew.Mr. Williams, on the other hand, wasn't impressed with Alex, just as Jane knew he wouldn't be. Alex admired that about him. He cared enough about Jane that he questioned the people she brought home with her."Demetria," Mr. Williams said. "Seriously? Kids are being attacked, and now they've gone missing, and you're justifying her being safe because she's hanging around a football player," he said, wavin
The drive to campus the day after felt surreal. Jane had been looking forward to her shift at the coffee shop and getting back to the land of the…normal. Not that she felt out of place at the pack house, because everyone had welcomed her. But it felt like a little slice of normal to step foot into her apartment to grab all her things.Alex seemed on edge the entire drive over. They had to leave early to give her time to gather her things before her morning classes."I'll be just a minute," she said, walking into her room to grab her backpack and books. She walked to her desk when Alex’s fingers tightened around her elbow, stalling her."What is it?" she asked, turning to see his nose positioned in the air and his spine stiff."Lycan."Jane looked around at the empty room, and then back to Alex. "Where?"He tugged her behind him, checking the closet and underneath the bed before turning to face her. "A lycan was here. I smell him."Jane cringed as a chill raced down her spine. "I'm ass
Kerry sat on an outdoor patio bench, a homemade lunch in front of him, sweat traveling down his neck. By the grim look on his face, Alex figured they hadn't tracked the lycan yet.Jane sat down on the opposite side of the bench with her tray and waved awkwardly at Kerry. "That looks good," she said, eyeing his pork sandwich."Alex’s mother made it for the hunters," he said, tossing Alex a sack. "For you and Jane. You two left before your mother could give you yours."Alex dug his sandwich out and handed one to Jane, who ditched the cafeteria food and unwrapped hers. "Any luck today with sniffing out the lycan?"Kerry finished his sandwich and wadded the paper into a ball. "No. The scent is everywhere. There is no pinpointing it. Whoever it is spends a lot of time on campus or has purposefully spread his scent everywhere.Alex took a bite of his food while glancing at Jane’s distant look. He didn't want her to feel unprotected. "Where does the scent not touch?" Alex asked."The dorm ro
Kerry stood over Jane as she turned the page in her history book, casting a shadow over the pages. She cleared her throat and glanced up at him. "Do you mind? You're blocking my light."He stood back and pulled out the chair next to her, glancing around the library as if he may see the lycan. Jane read over her chapter, trying her hardest to block out the eyes over her shoulder. She felt like she sat underneath a microscope with eyes judging her. She knew that wasn't true. Kerry seemed like a nice guy, but it made Jane feel scrutinized. "You know there are tons of books upstairs," she said in a whisper, keeping her voice down. "I'm sure you could find one that you like?"Kerry lifted a blond brow and chuckled. "Am I making you nervous? I'm sorry," he said, turning toward the row of computers positioned behind her. "I'll just check my email or something."Jane bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. He didn't seem like the kind of person to have an email, to be honest; he was a Beta
Alex sensed him first. That sensation that climbed his spine, forming pricks of fear and raising his hair on end. Alex felt they were being watched, so he turned in a circle, noticing nothing at first.Jane’s heartbeat raced, and he felt it in his own body. The mate bond strengthened the more time they spent together. The moonlight cast down over the willowy branches of the trees in the courtyard, making shadows that danced in the swaying wind.He glanced around again, this time hearing Jane gasp and cover her mouth. There he stood. Cash stared at them from underneath one of the many trees, his form tight and unnerving. He hadn't made one move, which told Alex that something wasn't right. And from the distance, he noticed the red gleam in his eyes, striking the stake into the coffin. Cash was a lycan."He's a lycan," he whispered so low he wasn't even sure it'd left his mouth. It's always been a possibility that the missing students were being turned, but to see it in front of him fe
The ride to the pack house felt like a blur. Jane didn't remember pulling out of the parking lot or the sharp turn into their driveway. The lycan was so close. She could see the spit flying from his mouth, and his red eyes reminded her of a demon.She rubbed her eyes as they parked in the front yard of the pack house and noticed Alex’s mother standing on the porch. When Alex stepped out, she raced down the steps and met him on the walkway. She cupped her palms around his face and examined him.He'd already healed for the most part, which Jane learned was a normal werewolf ability. Grace's gaze shifted toward Jane, and she examined her as well. "Are you two okay?""We're fine, Mom," Alex said.Jane watched the caring, loving look on her face and felt sad for a brief moment. She didn't have that growing up, and knowing Grace would be her future mother-in-law warmed her heart."When Kerry called, I was worried sick," she said, curling her arm around Jane’s shoulder and ushering her into
Alex walked across the hallway and shut his door. The bruises on his ribs had healed, and the only evidence of a busted lip was the dried blood he hadn't washed away yet.He'd been blindsided when he realized Cash had been a decoy for the other lycan. The lycan that turned him. He wasn't any closer to figuring out who he was, and it burned him up on the inside. Almost as much as knowing Jane was lying in his bed across the hallway.‘Go to her. Screw your mom’, his wolf said."She's still our Luna," Alex said. "Don't be an ass. Plus, she's right. It's tradition not to sleep with your luna until you mark her. It's a sign of respect. You know that."His wolf huffed and mumbled something,but Alex shoved it away. He didn't need any commentary on how bad his wolf wanted to see Jane. Alex was aware of both of their need to be near her.He stripped out of his clothes and took a quick shower. They had a long day with classes, and then went to see Jane’s Aunt. He hoped to get information out o