[Elise’s POV]I don’t speak as Serenity drags me through the school and into her dorm, where she whirls on me with a look that screams panic.“What’s going on?” She demands, unable to hold back her worry. “Why were your parents, no, Eleanor’s parents, trying to take you away?”Smirking, I show her the bite mark on my arm. With each passing day, it was slowly expanding, covering more and more of my skin, and looking like absolute shit.“Someone blabbed.” I huff. “And word got to my parents.”“Who do you think it was?” Serenity asks, eyeing me. “And why would they…”“Isn’t it obvious?” I ask. “It was that bitch hanging around William.’“You mean Lydia?”“Who else.”Since meeting that bitch, I got the feeling that she wasn’t fond of me, which was pretty damn crazy given the fact that I was no one to be concerned about. Maybe if I was still in my original body, it would be different.Huffing in annoyance I try not to think about that smug bitch and how I missed the opportunity to beat the
[Maverick’s POV]I stand at the edge of the hall, watching as William and the pipsqueak speak quietly. I didn’t mean to overhear anything, but shouldn’t they have picked a better place to speak? Anyone could overhear, and if what I just heard got into another's hands, well, I feared what would come.Deciding maybe it was best to end things before someone comes up, I clear my throat, drawing both William’s and the pipsqueaks gazes toward me. And when they realize I’m here, both of their expressions reflect shock and then panic.“Don’t worry,” I sigh, shoving my hands in my pockets and beginning to move. “I didn’t hear anything.”Ignoring their gazes, I head past them and then into the dorm, where Rosco sits with his eyes fixed on the door.“Why are you here?” He asks, frowning. “Didn’t we agree you would go to the men’s dorm?”“About that…” I begin, but stop as William’s hand clamps on my shoulder. “We couldn’t move him.” He announces, taking me by surprise. “So, he will need to stay
[Serenity’s POV]I kissed him. I kissed him. Holy shit! I kissed him.These words repeat themselves in my head again and again as I rush down the hall and then burst into my first class of the day.“What did I do?” I gasp, taking my place and burying my head in my hands. “What were you thinking, Serenity?”Shit. I acted on impulse. Was it because of what I discussed with Aunt Elise?No. I couldn’t blame that talk for what I did. Deep down, I knew that I did it because I wanted to do it, and now that it happened, what would happen with Maverick and me?Screaming internally, I hear a round of giggles. Lifting my head, I watch as some of the girls in my class watch me with looks of amusement.“Take a picture,” I huff just as Maverick enters.Tensing, I watch while he lazily heads in my direction. When he reaches, he takes his normal spot beside me. Holding my breath, I wait to see what will happen, but when he acts like normal, pulling his books out of his bag and preparing them for the
[Serenity’s POV]I grab Aunt Elise’s hand and begin to lead her out of my room, only to find that Maverick and my parents are in the living room. For a moment, they simply stare at me and Aunt Elise while we remain in place, and when my father’s expression darkens, I know that he’s going to show his ass.“Serenity,” he says slowly, looking from me to Aunt Elise. “I think it would be best if you didn’t…”“Hold that thought!” I yell, stopping him. “I know what you’re going to say, but I’m going to have to say I won’t listen to you.”Swallowing, I watch as a wave of emotions flashes in my father’s eyes before they settle on anger.Shit. Maybe that wasn’t exactly the best way to put it, but by this point things were too serious to back down, especially if we wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening with these rogues and what could possibly happen to Aunt Elise.“I know that neither you nor Uncle William trust Eleanor.” I continue now, pulling Aunt Elise against me and wrapping my
[Elise’s POV]I stare at Forrest for a moment while I try to make sense of what he is saying until I remember William’s fucking punishment he gave me.“Disciplinary committee.” I mutter in annoyance. “Right, I was put on that, huh?”“You kidding?” Forrest asks, tilting his head to the side. “How could you forget something like that in the span of a week?”A lot has happened. I think inwardly, but remain quiet outwardly.Sighing, I feel a bit of fomo starting to settle in over the conversation I was certain would be taking place in Serenity’s dormitory. It looked like I wasn’t going to be able to be present for it, and that was so damn annoying.“Earth to Eleanor,” Forrest says, waving a hand in front of my face, snapping me back to the present. “We gotta get going.”“Yeah, yeah,” I sigh, my frustration growing. “Lead the way.”Growing quiet, I allow Forrest to lead me toward a classroom where the rest of his delinquent crew is waiting along with a teacher that I don’t quite recognize.
[Serenity’s POV]I sit quietly, waiting with my parents and Maverick for my uncle William to join us. With each passing minute, my curiosity was growing, and by the time the man shows, I’m almost chomping at the bit to know if Aunt Elise’s hunch is correct. However, before I can even say anything, I realize that Uncle William is alone.“Where’s Aunt Elise?” I ask, peeking around Uncle William. “Didn’t she go to fetch you?”“He knew too?” My father hisses before Uncle William can even respond.At his words, Uncle William’s gaze shifts to my father, and a smug look flashes on his features, but I continue to stare at the door he just came through.“Jealous?” Uncle William asks completely at ease. “I guess they trust me more than you and for good reason given that temper of yours.”“Are you trying to pick a fight?” My father growls, beginning to get up but stopping as my mother grabs him.“Rosco,” she sighs, shooting him a disapproving look. “Now isn’t the time.” Growing quiet, she waits
[Serenity’s POV]I open my mouth to ask Maverick what it is that he means, but before I can, his mouth is slamming into mine, causing all rationale to go out the fucking window.Goddess, it’s like heaven erupts within me as his tongue pokes at my lips, urging them to open so that it can meet my own and begin to dance. And his hands that touch me are so fucking rough and gentle at the same time.No. A small part of me screams, trying to remind me that this wasn’t the time or place. You can’t keep this up.But I could. In the moment, I found myself wanting this to last forever because it felt like something that I wanted for so long but didn’t even realize it.Pulling away, Maverick stares at me with dark eyes while his breath comes in deep puffs.“Do you get it now?” He asks, brushing his fingers along my cheek, running delicious lines of fire along my skin. “Or should I continue showing you?”“I…” I begin, honestly wanting him to kiss me like that again. “I don’t…”I don’t get to fini
[Elise’s POV]I let out a howl, attacking the rogue closest to me, but as its blood explodes in my mouth, I feel something in me stir that leaves me scurrying back. Gagging, I attempt to get the overly sweet taste to go away in hopes it will stop the stirring that I feel.‘What is this?’ I hiss, trying to ignore the sudden desire I feel to taste more of it. ‘What’s happening?’‘The bite,’ Anna responds, causing my heart to skip a beat.Looking down, I examine the wound on my leg and feel a wave of horror rush through me as I realize the spot of my injury looks just like the rogues bodies, rotting and dirty.‘Fuck.’ I growl, understanding beginning to flare. ‘So that’s how they came to be. But where did the first come from?’As this thought hits, a rogue slams into me, sending me crashing into a tree, and when I hit, I feel a rib break and the air puff out of my lungs.Ugh, I really need to pay attention. Otherwise, I was going to end up getting myself killed here. Or would I? Could I