I walked out of class and headed straight to the forest. I needed a run. I was frustrated. These past few weeks have been frustrating, and I didn’t know why.Yes, you do. Nix’s voice was amused. “No, I don’t.” I ran the rest of the way to the forest trail. I needed the wind on my fur, the dirt under my claws. Megan rolled her eyes at me. Yes, you do.I stumbled to a stop and threw up my hands. “No, I don’t.” I screamed and had a few people stare at me. I shook my head and apologized to everyone. I ran the rest of the way and shifted into Nix. She took off. She wove in and out of trees, jumped over fallen ones and skid under bushes. “You know why you’re angry. You just don’t want to admit it to yourself.”Just get to the point, Nix. Rowan. Megan sat back on her haunches beside me. You haven’t seen or heard from him since the last call. She looked over at me. You have had a sub in class and he hasn’t called you back, so you haven’t called him.Well. He should have called me back lik
“Nix. Stop.” I growled out as my head snapped to the light grey wolf of Alpha Vince came sliding into the clearing. “Please.” The other wolves gasped as he gave that inch, but his wolf wasn’t stupid. I was twice his size, and just as vicious.I turned my head back to the others and sat. “They attacked me.” Was my only answer.“We did not.” Nina, or her wolf, yelled back, but Vince ignored her and turned to me.“What happened?” His preference was noted by everyone there. “I was chasing after a deer. I thought in these woods, as a student, I was safe to roam.”“And you are.” His answer was swift. I felt my eyes widen in surprise. “Then why did the little brown wolf, the one I haven’t met, why did she intercept me? Why did they surround me?”“Who is this bitch?” Nina’s response was vicious, and very confusing.How does she not know who I am?Nix and Megan looked at each other and then answered. We changed your scent when you shifted into Nix. That way, if you wanted, you could stay ano
I watched as they all shifted and covered themselves. “Please don’t make us do this.” One small brunette asked. But I scoffed. “You attacked me. You teamed up on me. You were going to force me to leave a place that I was allowed to be and now you want mercy?” I called out and turned. “We are sorry.” Another called, and they dropped to their knees. “Nina told us there was a rogue wolf out here, and we needed to protect the school.”I whirled. “In what world does that make sense?” I stalked back to the naked women. “You are all weak, untrained, mostly unranked wolves. You caught me unaware because I thought I was safe to hunt in these woods. Which honestly was my fault. But if it really was a rogue, you would have died. Nina knew the wolf out here was either a student, but based on my size, she probably assumed it was an alpha male out hunting and she wanted to stand out.” I cut a glare at her. “I can only assume she knows who the alpha male is, and knew he would be out here today. Sh
She chased after the deer and ignored the male, who was still trying to get some attention. He nipped at our heels, chased after us, and tried to get us to play the entire time, but we were on the trail of the deer. She skidded to a stop, with Erubus stopping next to me. He opened his mouth, but she sunk down and edged under the bush in front of us. The deer was in a clearing, ears twitching, eyes alert. She felt him sink next to us and he went on alert when he saw the deer. We separated and then circled the deer, working together to get the deer. We both lunged as if we were one unit. She went for the neck while he landed on the buck, taking him down to his belly. I pulled back as our teeth dug into the buck’s neck and I felt the first gush of blood hit our mouth. Megan cackled at me, gagging as Nix focused on the kill. You don’t have to hunt with us. Megan’s voice was cheerful. You can pull back enough that it is just her.I know. I pushed my hand deep into her coat. But I want to
I rushed into class right before it started and slammed into my desk. I had lost track of time during my run and had to eat my lunch late. Even though we ate half the deer, when I shifted back, I was starving. I thought I would have more cushion, but everything that happened in the woods, I barely made it. I opened my laptop and waited for the sub to come in. Mr. Oran was a decent teacher. But Rowan had promised to help with my hacking and then he disappeared. I shook my head as I wanted to growl. This was all stupid, and I shouldn’t be wasting my time waiting on him. I buried myself in coding. We were working on setting up basic firewalls at this point, and I was thoroughly engrossed in the subject. Not only was it fascinating to see what goes into this kind of system, but knowing how it’s built will help me get around it better. Mr. Oren had gone over the subject the past couple of classes, and we were working on our first project. Setting up a firewall around one file. By the
“You seem to be thinking pretty hard there, Amy.” His voice, once again, made me jump. I hadn’t realized that the class was over. I was still fully absorbed in what I was reading and this time I let out a squeak. He chuckled as he settled next to me with his laptop. “Um yeah.” I wiped my face. “This is all confusing.” I waved my hands at the screen and he nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t think it was hacking principles that made you make that face.” He turned to me. “So spill.”“How old are you?” I blurted it out and then winced.“What?”“How old are you?”“Why do you want to know?” He leaned back in his seat. I raised my hands and shook my head. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.” I wiped at my face. “Just when you said that you have been at this for years, it made me think about you age. Wolves barely grow old, heck my parents look to be about thirty, and my dad is almost two hundred years old.”“How old is your mother?” Rowan tilted his head. “She is closer to sixty. They met when she
I got back to my room very late. I barely crawled into bed before I fell into a deep sleep. I was running through a dark forest, searching for something. I needed to find something, or someone. They needed me. I could almost hear crying. It was pushing me harder, trying to reach them in time. I heard a rushing and crash, a familiar sound, and I knew without the sea salt on the wind that I was by the ocean. I bounded through the woods and I heard a twig snap, but no scent hit my nose. Somehow I knew it was Erubus with me. We ran through the woods.The light barely made it under the deep canopy of this forest. It felt old, older than the trees I grew up with, older than the trees in the forest I ran near school.I knew without even seeing it; I had never been to these woods before. This was somewhere I didn’t know yet, but with clear certainty, I would. I had no idea how I knew this, or when it would come to be, but this dream was going to come true. I knew it in my bones. I searched
His words resounded in my mind. This is war. I stared at my phone for what seemed to be years, but was merely seconds before his next texts came through.I tried Vince’s system myself, and it looks like you have to be physically tapped in. Good luck.The last few messages flashed on my screen for a second, and then they were gone, as if they had never been delivered. I held my phone in my hand, confused. But there was nothing else, no explanation, and no more little bouncy three dots to let me know there were more messages to come. I messaged my dad first. And I knew I didn’t want him to worry, so I just sent him a quick voice memo. “Stay safe. Keep me updated. If something happens, I want to know.”I knew he wasn’t going to let me know. But I hoped he would. I saw the three dots appear. Dad- Worry abut yourself babe. We will handle this on our side. These next four years will fly by, I promise.I typed back a quick I love you and his response was quick. Then I flipped back to Rowa
I felt the world fall out from under my feet and I staggered back. Only Toya kept me upright. I knew he was going to do this. I just didn’t think it was going to happen so close. “You have got to be joking.” Wendy cried. Hanna and Micca both growled, and I saw Sterling wince. Not in submission, but just from the ferociousness of the two. They sounded like they would kill someone. “Tell us you are lying, Sterling.” Micca’s voice was low, and I didn’t have to glance to know her wolf, Muse, was very much present.Sterling looked away again. “I’m not sure. Jora just told me. But the King made a statement that there was going to be an announcement tomorrow. And I figured you should know.” I nodded. “Don’t let them up. I’ll come down in a minute.” Sterling nodded, grabbed his bag, and left. But I turned to my friends. “I have to go check my email and my phone.”Everyone nodded, but Toya followed me back into my room. “If there isn’t an email or text, or voicemail from that fucking man ab
Months later…“I can’t believe our first ‘year’ is done.” Wendy collapsed onto my sofa as we all shuffled into my living room. “I know. It’s been insane. But at least they are giving us a week of being class free before we start classes again.” Hanna stretched out onto the floor. She groaned as she rolled on my thick fur carpet. “Next time you nest, come to our place, please.” She laughed as Wendy threw a pillow at her. She tucked it under her head. “What?” She turned onto her side, staring at the rest of us. “You’re telling me you aren’t super jealous of her fur lined, super comfy everything?” She laughed as Micca curled up on the other half of the sofa and Toya lounged on the love seat. She pointed at my chair. “Look at that thing!”I smiled as I settled in, and the contented purring of my wolves came back to me. “It’s honestly great.”She huffed and crossed her arms. “See.” The rest of the girls laughed. I looked around, and it blew my mind, seeing the difference. All of them had
I laughed as I clutched her hand as a lifeline. My mind kept dragging me back to that day. I had spent so much of my time focused on my next move that I had pushed my last life to the back of my mind. Or I tried to.But when ever I was asleep, my mind would bring me back to that day. To my son’s softly staggered breathing, and his face pressed against my skin. I wake up with his scent in the air and I have to search my bed to remember that he is gone. Never even existed in this life. “Before I tell you, I need to explain this. In my last life, I knew nothing I do now. I didn’t even know about my second wolf. It had always just been Nix and me.”“Nix?”“My black wolf. My secret Lycan.” I snorted. “She is my alpha. Megan, my grey wolf, is a gamma. Still Luna rank, just not as strong.” I heard a snort in my mind. I sent back love, and she sent a wave back. “Your power?” Toya asked, but I shook my head slowly.“Because of who I am, I needed to balance my power and be able to control it
The longer she stared up at me, the more I felt the need to squirm under her gaze. “Toya…”“Holy fucking goddess.” Toya jumped to her feet. “Are you serious? This makes so much sense.” She turned in a circle, talking to herself. “The fact you are so powerful.” She started to list things off. “That I felt drawn to you. Instantly, we had a connection.” She whirled back to facer me. “You said wolves. Does that mean you have a wolf, and a Lycan…Do you have two forms? Do you have actual powers, or does it just bump up your aura and power level?” The questions poured out of her like vomit. She couldn’t stop.I held up my hand, and she froze. “Come sit back down.” She sat next to me and I concentrated on my hand. A wisp the size of a tennis ball appeared, and she gasped. Her eyes growing wide as she stared at me. “You have power?” I laughed and nodded.“Yes, I have power, actual power. That’s why we can always talk openly here and not have to worry about being overheard. I snap a shield in
I watched Toya settle. “Good.” Her answer startled me a bit. “Good?”She nodded. “I was worried you were going to say yes.”I laughed. “Why?”“I don’t trust her. Never have. But I thought she was already your friend when she came over with us, but when I saw you didn’t know her, I was thrown.” Toya picked at her nails. “My wolf doesn’t trust her.”I laughed. “Neither does mine.” I settled into my new couch and I felt a content filled purr work its way up from my chest. I had to shake my head and push up off the couch before I embarrassed myself even more. Toya stood with a groan. “Is there anything else coming today?” We both looked around the room and stared at the new couch and love seat. Both we a soft grey that was over plush. I knew as soon as I saw them with Sterling, I needed them. I shook my head. “The chair was on back order.” I smiled when I thought of my reading chair. It was a double wide seat with a soft plush cover. That one really made Nix want to purr. Just the ide
“Push.” I called out and I felt the sofa shift. “We almost have it.” I heard a groan, and then we were through the doorway. “Ugh.” I moaned. “Finally.”“Why did you have to change the fucking furniture?” Toya groaned as she placed the new piece down in my bare living room.I collapsed onto the last piece of the huge sectional we just moved in. I could feel the need to nest itching at my skin and I didn’t know why. “Has your nesting ever kicked in?” I turned to face her where she had sunk into the overly plush dark grey fabric my wolf craved as soon as she saw it in the store.I turned my mind inward and called out to my wolves…but other than the random needs she sends my way, Nix has been MIA since Rowan left and Megan has stayed away too.Hello? I called out, but nothing. I miss you both. I hoped I could see them, but I understood; she needed her space. I just wanted them to know how much I missed them. I was so absorbed with my wolves that when Toya finally answered me; I was surpr
“Punch Wendy.” I screamed as she tapped her hand against my glove, and I wanted to growl my frustration. Well, frustration was an understatement. I was pissed. Rowan’s words still ricochetted in my mind. ‘I’ll court these women and see what I can find.’ He was mine…the thought still bounced in my mind. He was mine. You are oddly territorial over a man that isn’t our mate. Megan pointed out but Nix stayed silent. She had been silent since Rowan left last night. Why are you so quiet? I asked as I focused on Wendy’s attempt at a combination. She was getting better. I cracked a smile when she landed the last punch.“Good job Wendy.” She panted as she grinned. “Thank you.” She panted as she caught her breath. “I’ve been practising at home.” “I can tell. Go grab a drink.” I pointed to the sideline and turned my attention back to Nix, but all I got was her tail disappearing into the trees.What is going on with her? I asked Megan, who got to her feet.I think she is trying to figure ever
We kissed for longer this time. Nix and Megan came to the edge of my mind. I know they were there to watch me, stop me from making a choice that would affect all of us. But they were letting me have this. I reluctantly pulled away from his face and the smile that lit his face made me want to kiss him again. “I’m sorry.” I completely let go of his face and I felt my face burn.“You are perfect.” He whispered, which made my face burn even more.“Why does my father want you to accept a chosen mate?” I turned the conversation back to what was important.“He doesn’t. He just wants me to pretend I have.” Rowan leaned back, but grabbed my hand in his and threaded our fingers together. “The council has been pushing Nina at me because she is the niece of one member, but there are a few other candidates. He wants me to fight against the council and then maybe next year or so, when you are ready, to court these women.”“Why?” I felt the telltale burn at my gums. My fangs wanted to descend again
His words were a soft balm on the pain I was feeling. But I needed to get a little space. So I slid off his lap, and I saw a flash of hurt flash in his eyes. “I like him too. But my wolf actually feels the same about another, so I understand.” I slid next to him and grabbed his hand. “But what did you mean about an opportunity?”Regret flashed in his eyes and then they faded to his normal brown. Rowan was back. “Hi.” He was struggling with something.“Hey.” I smiled and grabbed his hand. “What’s wrong?”He sighed. “What I’m about to say will make zero sense and I know already it isn’t fair, but it’s how I feel, okay?”I turned to face him. “Okay.”“I don’t like that your wolf likes this unknown male.” Hu huffed out a laugh. “And like I said, I know I’m a hypocrite. Okay, I do, but I wish you both just liked me…”I listened as he explained and smiled, but it was a little sad. “I feel exactly the same way. But we can’t change our wolf’s mind. They have to figure out their own feelings,