Jane tossed her final throw pillow onto her bed and stepped back to admire her work. Her pale white and pink flowery comforter brightened the brick interior of her apartment. It matched the fluffy white rug she'd saved a month to buy the summer before.She caught a glimpse of her blonde ponytail in the thrift store mirror above her bed, smiling at the way her green eyes lit up for the first time in what seemed like forever. Her small one-bedroom apartment was nothing to brag about, but it was hers. Plus, it was an hour away from her hometown where she left her miserable memories of high school.She'd been the epitome of shy and awkward growing up, which tossed her into the shadows during her high school years. She didn't mind- blending in fit her much better than standing out. However, that wasn't the case once he showed up and ruined everything. Jane walked into her small kitchen and opened her refrigerator. Only a carton of milk, some eggs, butter, and cheese made the trip with her
AlexHe had to be wrong. Alex wolf pawed and spun circles, wanting out, wanting her-Jane William. No. Alex refused to believe that she was his mate. But he couldn't deny the pull toward her or the ungodly need to sink his fingers into her hair and his fangs into her neck. Everything she did growing up dug underneath his skin. Her smile. Her laugh. Alex hated her-and he never understood why. Plus, she was human. Alex was the next Alpha of his father's pack. Why would he get a human mate?Suddenly, being pissed off about Jane dating Patrick Kelly in eighth grade made sense. It didn't then, when Alex felt like ripping Patrick's arm off his shoulder for holding her hand. After that, everything she did pissed him off, but not as badly as the fact that she was human and had no idea the supernatural existed just like everyone else in the room.The neighboring packs, the ones that wanted to, attended the local college to stay close to home. Alex had been offered numerous scholarships thro
Jane's chest felt as if it would explode any minute. The look on Alex's face, the way his masculine jaw went slack-everything about talking back to him made her heart race. She couldn't let this boy dictate her life any longer. Even if standing up to him made her legs wobble.Jane made her way toward the coffee shop, since her class let out early, to grab a coffee before heading back for her Psychology 101 class."Hey! Quiet Girl! Wait up!"She stopped and glanced over her shoulder at Cat running toward her, waving her hand in the air like a lunatic. She stopped, placed her palm on Jane's shoulder, and bent down to catch her breath. "Whew," she said, brushing back her hair. "That was... amazing! I totally pegged youwrong. One wrong look and you snap. So, tell me you know Mr. Super Hottie back there."Jane smirked but continued toward the coffee shop, holding the straps of her bags against her shoulders. "Oh, I know him. We went to school together, and he is a jackass. Don't waste
Alex swiped the empty seat at the end of the cafeteria table where all the football players sat. His roommate, Jaxton Phillips, sat beside him, talking to someone at the other end while smacking on his food with his mouth open.Freshman football players were required to stay on campus and always roomed with another player. He didn't mind. He grew up in a pack house full of rambunctious werewolves; these guys were nothing compared to them. "How about that fresh meat this year, Tibbs," Cash, the team's quarterback, said down the table.The running back Lincoln Tibbs chuckled. "I've noticed some promising ventures. There is a red head in my calculus class that's been asking for it."Alex zoned out on their conversation, not tempting himself with the idea of another girl. He knew what mates meant, and it meant he was stuck with Jane.Speaking of, he'd noticed her sitting in a corner booth with that girl from class moments before. She'd let her hair down her shoulders and wore cut-off blu
Jane pulled her long blonde hair into a highponytail and grabbed her keys. She spent an hour after her morning classes getting groceries before she had to go check in with Sydney at the coffee shop.She had so much pep in her step that she tripped on the last stair at her apartment complex and skinned her palms and knees. She didn't care because nothing could bring her down today- figuratively speaking, of course.She drove her small Honda toward campus and raced toward the library to check in with Sydney. She stood with her back to her, vigorously writing on a clipboard and speaking to a coworker on the other side of her.Jane cleared her throat, not wanting to interrupt, and smiled when Sydney turned around to look at her. "Hey! There she is. Jane, this is Delia. Delia, this is Jane."They exchanged greetings while Claire grabbed her apron and her coffee house T-shirt from underneath the counter. "Delia is working the morning shift, and you'll relieve her around three for the eveni
Jaxton tossed a pillow at Alex’s head and sat down on his bed to tie his shoes. They'd spent a grueling two hours at practice that morning, and Alex felt Coach Bear really pushed their limits.He'd just sat down after his classes for the day and kicked his feet up for the first time. He didn't get as tired as the rest of the boys, but he pretended so they didn't get suspicious."Are you going to the party tonight?" Jaxton asked, tossing his dark bangs from his face. "It's tradition for the football team to attend before the first game."He didn't want to go to a party, but if he wanted to fit in, he knew he should. Fitting into the human world was only important because he didn't need to draw attention to himself. "All the team is going to be there?" he asked.Jaxton stood up, sliding into a shirt he pulled from his chest-of-drawers. "Yeah, why? You got a beef with one of them? You seemed a little distant today, and what was that yesterday in the cafeteria with Cash? You don't like h
What a week from Hell.Jane spent most of her high school life hiding from Alex and praying for a boy to find her pretty enough to go against the other kids and ask out the invisible girl. Then, the first boy that looked her way, Alex scared off like the bully she knew him to be.It'd hurt her head trying to think about it. She contemplated everything that happened on her walk toward the library parking lot where she parked her car. There was no way to make any sense out of it. She appreciated him apologizing, and maybe he meant it, but it wasn't because he was jealous.Alex had plenty of girls in high school. Why would he not ask her out as he did the other ones? It wasn't as if she'd been the class leper before he made her that way. None of it made sense. "What a jerk," she mumbled to herself whiledigging her keys from her pocket. She couldn't wait to get home and curl up in her bed, away from the drama of the night.She checked her phone for a text from Tegan but wasn't surprised
AlexBy the way Jane stared at him from the crowd at the pep rally, he figured Tegan took his threat to heart. After he made sure Jane made it to her car and apartment, Alex came back and found him.It wasn't his proudest moment-by far, but he'd cornered him outside of the frat house and scared the piss out of him. It worked, obviously. Tegan couldn't have run away quicker if dogs had been after him.Jane’s gaze shifted toward Alex and held. He felt her anger from yards away, and he couldn't even be sorry for it because he hated the thought of her with another guy. She turned on her heel and marched over to her friend, who glanced in Alex's direction. He didn't care if she was pissed or if her friend didn't like him.**********************The crowd clapped once Cash finished his speech. The football players all left the stage for a steak dinner in the cafeteria before their game the next day. Alex was dying for a steak. His diet mostly consisted of meat being a werewolf, and nothing