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
So, the cat was out of the bag...or the wolf, so to speak.Aunt Demetria didn't seem phased by the fact Alex was a wolf at all. But after really looking at her belongings, Jane realized all the herbs and weirdo cookbooks weren't exactly normal.In her defense, she didn't know supernaturals existed until a beast tried to kill her a few weeks before. Jane turned around to see Alex staring at Kerry and her aunt's interaction. It was ... strange.She'd never witnessed Aunt Demetria so quiet before, or dare she say, taken by a man? That's what Jane assumed her look meant. But as soon as it landed on her face, it was gone, and she locked the door behind her."I hate your dad's impromptu visits, but I'm super glad to have you both over." She walked toward Jane, pushed back her golden locks, and looked at her neck. "Mark free," she said, turning to pat Alex’s cheek. "Good boy. You wait until she's ready."Alex’s face flamed red as Jane felt someone cover her in flames. "Seriously?" Jane asked
‘Great. Way to go, Alex. You mess everything up’, Alex’s wolf growled.He hurried to stuff the last mozzarella bite into his mouth to buy himself some time. He hadn't known that her dad knew anything about the bullying. Jane didn't seem the type to run home and tell her dad, but somehow, he knew.Jane made a soft sound beneath her breath and nudged her knee against Alex’s. "Dad, where did you hear that—"He dug something from the waistband of his shorts and tossed onto the table. It looked like a diary or journal, but Jane immediately recognized it. She gasped. "You read my diary, Dad?""Not cool," Aunt Demetria mumbled, taking a bite of her food. "And the bad dad award goes to ..." "Can it, Demetria," her dad hissed. He shifted his gaze toward Alex and narrowed his eyes to slits. "I want to know why you're suddenly interested in my daughter and why she thinks dating the boy that tormented her for years is a good idea. There are tons of boys on campus to consider."‘Kill him’, his wo
Jane watched as Alex walked out of the back door, and she waited a few seconds to turn toward Aunt Demetria, who poured herself a glass of wine and stood by Jane as she washed the dishes.She lifted a light brow at her. "You look like you need one of these," she said, offering over her glass.Jane pursed her lips. "I'm only eighteen. You're a bad influence."She chuckled. "Seriously? You're the only eighteen- year-old I know that would turn down liquor."Jane placed a plate on the drainer and turned to grab another one. "Doubt it. Now, are you going to tell me what's going on with you and Kerry? Or are you going to act like nothing is going on?"Demetria sighed and leaned her hip against the countertop. "I'm a phenomenal actress, so obviously, I'm going with the latter.""Come on. I know you want to talk about it," Jane said.She huffed. "Since Alex already told you, I'm supposedly his second chance mate or something." She made a face and took another sip.Jane finished the last dish