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
"Jane?" Grace asked as she opened the door and peeked her head inside. "Are you okay, dear?"Jane wrung her hands together but stood up to greet her. Her bare feet had gone cold from the cool wooden floor, which was a nice contrast from the clammy feeling of her palms. "I'm fine, Grace. Is everything okay?"She walked inside and relocked the door, tying her bathrobe around her tightly. "Everything will be fine. Sit back down, relax."Jane sat back down, Grace taking a seat beside her. "They found a lycan on our property."Jane’s spine stiffened. What were the odds of a lycan showing up after what happened earlier in the night? She hoped it wasn't the same one. His nasty teeth and deep black eyes had played a part in her dreams for the night. She was shocked she didn't wake up screaming. "Is everyone alright? Do they know who the lycan is?"She shrugged. "Not sure yet. They took him to the cell, and I'm sure Alex will tell me once he gets back. Are you hungry? Do you need some water?
As if the pack didn't have enough to worry about, now Alex had to worry about a bunch of students trying to hunt down the lycan, which put the wolves at risk too, especially since they were currently trying to track him.Jane’s nervous gaze shifted toward Alex.He rolled his eyes and clutched his desk. "You need to be careful. Jane is right-it's not a good idea."Cat sighed and flipped her pink hair over her shoulder. "You two are meant for each other."Jane shrugged her shoulders when Alex gave her an annoyed gaze. If Cat didn't get on his nerves before, she did now. Instead of begging her to stay out of the hunt, he thought of ways to stop it all together. He could inform the chancellor or make a call to the security office on campus. Either way, no one was hunting any animal for the sake of having parties.Alex tried to relax for the remainder of the day. Jane seemed tense but taking the fact that a lycan wanted to make her his queen well, considering. When Jane exited her last cl