Third Person POVSo, Sheryl is Ashton’s student and his apparent crush.It’s quite obvious that Sheryl has a thing for him as well, but it is simply a thing that can’t ever happen.It’s a scandal that Ashton wouldn’t want to get out and Bethany was planning on eating that up. Whatever kind of crush he had on her, wasn’t going to last with Bethany there. There was nobody like Bethany and she was going to make sure that everybody in this pack, including Ashton, knew that. Soon, they won’t even remember Sheryl’s name. Ashton was in his office when Bethany brought him his food. He’s basically been living in this office since he arrived home. “How about you take a break and have some food,” she said, placing a plate of stir-fry in front of him. He glanced at it briefly, uninterested, before looking back at his computer. “I thought maybe we could eat together,” she finally said after a long pause. “I’ll pass,” he said without hesitation. “I’m a little busy.”“I can see that, but even an Alp
Ashton’s POV“Something is wrong with our mate. She’s feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness. Her wolf is cryingout to me,” Max said with a strained tone.I had anxiety boiling in my chest and I knew he was right. I didn’t stay around the packhouse for long. I knew Sheryl was in the Calypso field with the local children, training them in combat. As I reached the field, I saw exactly what was making Sheryl upset. Or rather, I saw who was making her upset. Bethany stood beside her with a smile on her face as she spoke words to Sheryl that looked wounding. Sheryllowered her gaze and for a moment, I thought she was going to cry.I couldn’t explain the rage I was feeling at that moment. I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth. I knew I had to remain calm; I couldn’t lose my cool in front of everybody.Including these children. The only thing I could think to do was approach them without making a sound. Sheryl, of course, couldsense my presence. She saw me before I reached them, but Be
Third Person POV“You should seriously eat something, Ashton…” Bethany pouted as she stood at his office door. Ashton glared at her from his desk; there was no trace of amusement on his face. Getting him to love her was going to be more difficult than she thought, but she certainly wasn’t going to give up. “I’m not hungry,” he said, standing to his feet. “I ate a late lunch.” Bethany knew for a fact that he wasn’t being truthful. She doesn’t recall him eating at all today. “I’m going to bed. Please, don’t disturb me,” he said as he brushed past her and left his office. Bethany placed the plates of food on his desk and folded her arms across her chest. This wasn’t fair. Heclearly cares way too deeply for that lowly student of his. Even his packhouse staff seems to care for the girl for whatever reason. What made her so special? She wanted to find out everything she could about Sheryl, but until then, she was determined to get Ashtonto want her. Perhaps if he saw what he could have, t
Sheryl’s POVI woke up feeling an overwhelming sense of comfort and warmth.I had never felt this relaxed before and it took me a minute to figure out why. As I opened my eyes, I wiggled against something, and his arms tightened around my body as his face nuzzled in my hair.I froze completely when I realized that it was a man. “Not just a man…” Val breathed lovingly. “Our mate.” Ashton?I nearly gasped when I realized she was right. Ashton was lying in bed beside me with his arms tightly around me and he was snuggling against me. Or rather, I was snuggling against him.I turned my body to face him and saw that he was still asleep. He looked so peaceful that it put my entire heart at ease knowing that he was right beside me. But my question was, “Why?”“Because he could feel our pain,” Val explained. “He wanted to provide us with comfort.” My heart felt like a bolder had been lifted off it. Could that be true? Could he feel our pain and want to make it better?I didn’t understand why
Sheryl’s POVWe could hear the music a mile before we even got to the house. It was so loud, and it wasn’t anything I even recognized. The house was packed when we got there; there were students from the academy inside and outside. Most of which I recognized.I supposed if we got in trouble, at least we’d all be in it together. It’s not like they could suspend all of us. Rachel draped her arm through mine and pulled me through the crowd of students who were already drinking and dancing. Becca trailed closely behind us, seemingly nervous. Like me, Becca wasn’t much of a partier. But after the week she had, I couldn’t blame her for wanting to let loose. We made our way inside and I instantly smelled beer. The music was making my brain rattle because of how loud it was. Ryan had the lights dimmed andeverybody was drunk and dancing. This was nothing like the school dance.I felt like I was at a frat party. “Ryan!!” Rachel screamed as she ran to meet up with her boyfriend. Ryan looked gen
Sheryl’s POVI dropped the can of beer from the ground, watching it spread across the hardwood floors. My mind was whirling as the smoke began to fill the living room. I saw the smoke before I saw the flames, andthen the explosion came last.I wasn’t sure I could stand up from the couch without falling over, but Brody was on his feet quickly, pulling me up with him. The screaming pierced my ears from those who were caught in the explosion. My heart was racing quickly against my chest; Brody kept his hold around my waist and was shuffling me toward the door. “I need to get Rachel and Becca…” My words came out as a hoarse whisper, and I thought he didn’t hear me. But he glanced down at me and narrowed his eyes. “I need to get you to safety,” he told me firmly.I shook my head; tears filling my eyes as I shoved him away from me. “I need to get my friends,” I said louder, surprising him.I took off toward the flames before he could say or do anything.If I knew one thing about Volana’s i
Sheryl’s POVThe hospital was crowded with frantic and drunk students. Most of them were covered in soot from thefire and some of them had blood on them. Thankfully, I only had a little bit of soot because Ashton managed to wipe most of it off my face. It was myclothing that was doing the most damage. Ashton and some of the paramedics thought it would be best if I went to the hospital so they could get me sober. It was clear that I didn’t sustain any actual injuries, but they would rather be safe than sorry.I was brought into a section of the hospital with a few other students who also sustained minor injuries. They hooked some fluid IVs to my wrist and gave me a water bottle. “This IV will help sober you up quickly,” the nurse told me in a kind tone. “You just rest. Is there anyoneyou’d like me to call?”I thought about my parents and how they’d be worried about me. I didn’t want them to know that I snuck out to go to a house party. They would be so disappointed in me. Then, I th
Sheryl’s POV“What’s going on?” I asked as Brody quickly pulled away from me.I recognized the sound of Rachel’s piercing scream right away. I had never heard her sound like this before, but I knew it was her. The sound made its way through the hospital, bouncing off the walls and sending chills downeveryone’s spine. My heart fell into my stomach as I imagined what could possibly be wrong. Then, she said words that felt like a knife to my stomach. “Ryan!!! You can’t be dead!!!” She screamed and sobbed. The hospital nurses and doctors were holding her back, pulling her out of the room. Brody had thecurtain of my section open, and I could see them physically pulling her away. She fought them everystep of the way though.It broke my heart to see her like this. My only hope was that she was just so distraught that she didn’t know what she was talking about. Perhaps she was still a little drunk. My eyes found Ashton’s and they locked for a moment. My breathing got caught in my throat an