“Cole!” My laughter rings out across the pond. “You said you knew what you were doing!” I yell at him, still laughing. I look back at him and he grimaces, “I didn’t think it’d be this hard!” Cole exclaims and I laugh again. We were one of the first boats on the pond and now there are only four behind us. “I thought you said you’ve done this before?” He laughs, “Well, to be completely honest I’ve always had more experienced partners, and they must have been taking up much more of the slack then I thought!” He huffs out, clearly disappointed in himself.I look around the pond, realizing we’re never going to get back to shore. “Cole, we’ve got to figure this out! I can’t swim!” I grimace, clutching my life jacket a little closer to my body. Just as I say that another canoe gently knocks into the side of ours. I grab onto the sides of our canoe for dear life. “Oh Goddess, we’re about to die.” I whisper, and I hear a deep chuckle beside me. “Not quite, new girl. I’ve come
This beautiful, funny creature is my mate, our mate. I felt it the second I locked eyes with her on that canoe. I may have seemed to be berating Cole, but honestly, I couldn’t be happier that he’s absolutely terrible at canoeing. It gave me a chance to talk to her and Goddess if I didn’t want to pretend I was horrible at canoeing too. Maybe Cole was onto something.That thought has me glancing at Cole, wondering if that was his end game. I look back at my beaming mate, when I hear her gasp. “Oh my Goddess! There’s three of you?” She looks between me and my brothers as we just laugh. Issac being late to the party, is still staring at her in bewilderment. Gunner and I already got it locked down on the canoes. She’s ours, weather she knows it or not.She looks at Issac, “Wait! You’re the one that saved me in history today! Thank you so much for that!” I already feel a small growl coming up my throat, I don’t like the idea of her needing saving. Issac responds, “No worries,
I close the door in their faces, and stare down at the food they brought me. They can’t possibly know it’s me, right? They can’t know I’m their rival's daughter; my mom took steps to hide me. How did I not put it together once I saw Gunner and Dean together? Goddess, I’m so stupid.Are they just trying to be nice, since they thought I was sick? It’s sweet as long as this food isn’t poisoned. How am I going to keep my distance from them, if they’re showing up at my cabin? Goddess, help me.I walk to the trash can and throw away the food, even if there was something in here, I could eat, I have no appetite anymore. They did ask to come in. Was that so it’d be easier for them to grab me once the drugs took effect?Stop, Grace! You’re being paranoid! Pull yourself together! There’s no way for them to know who you are! They were just being nice!After my little pep talk, I take a deep breath and head to my room. I was thinking about taking a shower tonight, but now I’m nervo
“Yeah, that’s how I refer to people who don’t tell me their names. By their eye color.” I explain, Sarah’s eyes dart to green eyes. “But his eyes aren’t green. I mean greens in there, but they’re not just green.” Sarah says, and my eyes dart to his. They’re green! What the heck is she talking about? I lean closer on the table, to look better. Everyone at the table now paying attention. Why do I only see green? Are they crazy, or am I? Sarah laughs, “All of their eye color is actually pretty close to yours, except around their pupils is more yellow, where yours is golden.” I stare at her in disbelief and then shake my head, “No. They all have different eye color. That and their scent, how else would you tell those two apart.” I say pointing to green eyes and Dean. Olivia laughs, “We don’t. I guess most of the time. You’re going crazy their scents the same too.” I narrow my eyes at her, “Are you guys fucking with me?” Everybody at the table laughs, but shakes their h
Issac eyes me the whole way to the door, but I give him a reassuring smile. With that Justin pulls him out of the classroom, as I make it to the front of the room. “Grace, your disruptions during class are very inappropriate.” Jefferson states and I nearly laugh. “With all due respect, Mr. Jefferson, if you didn’t point out every sound I made it wouldn’t be an issue.” I tell him and his eyes widen in surprise, then narrow in anger. “Grace, you may have the future Alpha protecting you right now but let me assure you that won’t always be the case. I suggest you take my warning and straighten up.” I roll my eyes having no idea what he’s talking about. Just because Issac stood up for me one time, he’s protecting me? “So, in your classroom we can’t have discussions, got it.” I turn on my heels and start walking away. His hand snatches my wrist, his claws come out slowly, piercing through my hoodie then my skin. I hiss in pain but hold his stare. “I suggest you stop acting lik
“Grace!” Jessica exclaims once I walk through the door. I smile widely at her. “Hey, Jessica!” I exclaim back to her. “What can I do for you?” She asks, standing up to walk closer to me. “Um… I was wondering if you could show me the nurses office.” She frowns, “What happened? Are you not feeling well?” She asks as she starts to put her hand on my forehead. I smile and shake my head. “It’s nothing big, I’m fine. Just need to see her.” Her frown deepens, but she throws her head in the direction down the hall.I follow her until we get to a well-lit room at the end of the hall. A lady looks up from her desk with a huge smile on her face. Her short brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail and green eyes are sparkling at me. Jessica nudges me into the room, “Grace here needs to speak with you.” The nurse stands and walks over to me, “Okay! Hi Grace, I’m nurse Shelia. What seems to be the problem?” She asks nudging me to the bed. Jessica stands in the corner, waiting
My brother’s and I circle around Grace as she clutches her stomach with her uninjured hand and refuses to move her other hand. “Grace, let me see your stomach.” I say aiming to head for her hoodie. My mate is injured and all I can think about is to what extent. She slaps my hands away still grimacing in pain. “No! Don’t touch me. I’m fine!” She yells, causing me to pull back a little bit. Any thought that thought maybe the hoodie wasn’t hiding something falls out the window right then. By the look on both my brother’s faces, I know they’re thinking the same thing.“Okay Grace. Can we pick you up, so we can get you to the nurse's office?” Dean asks calmly. “No. I’m fine.” She says, quieter now. She grimaces as she attempts to sit up. Her breathing labored and I can hear how fast her heart is beating. I want nothing more than to hold her to my chest, easing her pain. I don’t know if that part of the bond can be felt by her yet, but we could try. I can’t stand to see
I wake up, and the first thing I see is Sarah sleeping on a chair in the corner, still wearing the same clothes she was in yesterday. I grimace when I try and sit up, I look down hoping no one touched me in my sleep. I’m still dressed in yesterday's clothes so that’s good. I sit on the edge of the bed dreading the act of pulling my body into a standing position, but I really need to pee, and I wouldn’t mind a shower. I hear a gasp then someone stumbling over to me. I look over at Sarah again, she’s smiling and yawning on her way over to me. “You stayed the night?” I ask, pretty surprised that someone I meant yesterday stayed the night to make sure I was okay. She laughed, “We all did. Your living room looks like the aftermath of a frat party.” I stare at her wide-eyed than laugh. Why would they all stay with me? My thoughts are cut short when her arm lands in front of me. I look up at Sarah and she nudges me to take her arm to help me up. “You’ve been asleep for a while.
I rested until kitchen duty, then kitchen duty was uneventful. When I sat at the table, next to Olivia on the edge, the triplets were eyeing me to whole dinner. I can’t eat; I was too nervous for this conversation. I don’t even know why. I’m pulled from my thoughts when Gia squeals. “Midnight moon ball is coming soon?” She yells, beyond excited. I look past Olivia to see her. Her face is bright with joy, I can already see the ideas for her dress running through her mind. I smile, seeing how happy she is.Sarah smiles, “Yeah! My dad just told me! All the juniors and seniors here will have a pass to leave for the weekend!” She claps her hands together practically jumping up and down. I’ve never been to a ball. I’ve had dancing lessons, because Heath said once he marries me off, I needed to be a good wife. I roll my eyes thinking about Heath and his stupid rules.“What balls aren’t your thing?” Justin asks me. Olivia laughs, her mind taking a dirty turn.I look at Justin,
I can’t even think straight, with Grace being mad at us. My wolf won’t calm down, walking around in circles in my head. Us both trying to think of ways to make her feel better about us. Hopefully tonight we can work it all out. I don’t know what I’ll do if we don’t. I watch her and Cole walk down the hill, he starts walking towards us, but she takes a sidestep. Stopping next to the coach, waiting there for instructions on what we’re doing. Cole sighs loudly, when he gets closer to us and realizes he lost her. “Man, I don’t know if she’ll forgive you guys for whatever she’s mad about, but I do know she put Brycen in his place today. His charms are definitely no longer working on her.” He smiles, seemingly thinking of a memory. All of our heads shoot to him when he says that. “He got pissed when she told him she didn’t want to hang out with him tonight because she was hanging out with you guys. Definitely showed some of his true colors. Even had the nerve to act like he mi
“What do you mean, you’ve rarely ever been able to make choices for yourself?” Issac’s cold voice comes low and menacing. I just stare at him, not sure what to say. “It’s nothing.” I say gruffly, not having an actual excuse. I see his eyes narrow, but then he sits down, taking the desk in front of me and turning it around. Crap, I forgot about the group project. This should be fun. Jordan sits next to me, while Justin grabs the seat next to Issac, flipping his around to. We read over the battle and the boys start discussing it. I sit there listening, but not really participating. How has so much happened in my life in five days? “What do you think?” Cole nudges my arm tearing me from my thoughts. I look around all eyes are on me. “Sorry. What?” I ask and Cole gives me a knowing look, before repeating what was said.I somehow make it through the rest of the class, praising the Goddess when the bell finally rings. Grabbing my things and making a run for it. I don’t kno
I wake up with a splitting headache. I don’t even know if it’s from the alcohol, drowning, or the yelling. I groan loudly into my pillow, when I hear my door creak open. I pull my pillow off my face and see Gia standing there with a smile on her face and a mug in her hands.She walks over to me handing me the mug, along with some pain killers. “Tea, with my secret ingredient. It’ll help with the hangover. I take both from her, giving her a grateful smile.Gia sits down on the foot of my bed, looking at her feet. She finally speaks after what feels like forever, “You know I’ve known about Justin’s crush on me for a long time.” My eyes widen, she always acts oblivious to his crush. She continues, “I knew before the triplets were even aware of it. One day Dean hit on me.” She looks over at me, reading my face, but I give her nothing. Even if my heart feels like it’s shrinking on the inside. “Justin wouldn’t talk to him for days. Dean had no idea why. Finally, he put two an
We decided we shouldn’t all bombard Grace’s ‘whatever’ with Brycen. I could see if her eyes how much it freaked her out when the bond tried to take effect, making her not want to leave. Her not understanding why I had that effect on her. I wish we could just tell her. Maybe none of this would be happening. Dean wouldn’t be out there, making sure our girls okay after being out with another guy. Fuck, the jealously is real though. I can’t even sit still, I’ve been pacing since we left the dining hall, Gunner’s been brooding in the recliner. Jordan not understanding what’s going on, and Justin trying to help, but not knowing what to do. We need to find a way to figure out her birthday, so we know how much longer this has to go on. This is going to kill us. I hear the door open, and slam back shut. My head whips up to see a fuming Dean. Fuck. “I fucked up. We fucked up. I mean. Fuck! This is all fucked up!” He yells angrily, walking over to the fridge, swinging it open a
We walk in silence on the way to my cabin. She pushed me in! Was she actually willing to kill me? Just because I wasn’t willing to be her friend? Did it really effect her life that much? I’m pulled from my mind when a body comes flying out of no where, grabbing Brycen and throwing him into the nearest tree. “Why is she soaking wet? What the hell happened?” Dean yells at Brycen. Goddess, this is the last thing I need right now. “Dean!” I run over to him and try pulling Dean off of Brycen, but he doesn’t budge. “Dean, stop! He saved me! Stop!” I yell at him, and he finally relents, pulling himself off of Brycen, the latter falling to the ground coughing. Oh my Goddess. Was Dean choking him? I go to help Brycen, patting his back. Dean looks at me, “What do you mean he saved you? Why did you need saving?” I flinch at his tone but look up into his eyes. “I fell into the water. If he wouldn’t have helped me, I would have died.” I explain, getting angry. If it wasn’t
I change my shorts and Hoodie and then hear a knock at my door. I go to open it, being graced with a beaming smile from Brycen, “You ready?” I nod, giving him a slight smile. I’m still reeling over the turn of events from dinner.We walk in silence, til we get closer to the pond. “Are you okay?” Brycen asks, and I look up at him. “I’m fine.” He nods, “I saw what happened at dinner. It doesn’t surprise me that the triplets are trying to claim you.” My brows furrow in confusion, “I don’t think they’re trying to claim me. They’re just worried about me.” I say, not understanding why he’d think that. He chuckles, “Trust me. They’re trying to claim you. They have like a pact or something to sleep with every girl here.” My heart sinks when I hear that, regardless of it having no reason to. Why should I care that they’ve slept with every girl here. Granted, I guess I should care if I’m their latest conquest. Is that why they’re so nice to me? Is that why they don’t want me h
I managed to only slip and almost fall a handful of times before we finished. That was so exciting, so exhilarating! I’ve never done anything like that before! I end with a beaming smile on my face, having decided to forget about the weird moment I shared with Dean. “That was so exciting!” I lean into Gunner, who’s smiling down at me. He wraps his arm around my waist pulling me closer, laughing at my reaction. I quickly pull away, having forgotten he doesn’t like being touched, “Sorry.” I say quickly once I’m no longer touching him. He frowns, “For what?” “I was told you don’t like being touched. I’m sorry I didn’t realize.” I rush out, wanting him to forgive me for my previous transactions along with this one. His face changes to one of almost… Panic? That can’t be right. “No… I mean, I don’t mind. I don’t mind when you touch me. I mean its only certain people.” He stutters out, and my eyes soften. Before I can respond, Justin walks up, “Oh, please. You won’t eve
Music class was fine, I’m still miserable at the piano, but I think I’ve learned a couple things.Now, I’m sitting in Art, Cole by my side. Kids are still slowly making their way into class, when I see Brycen apart of the mix. He smiles when he sees me and starts walking over to me. “Hey Grace, Hey Cole!” He exclaims and I smile and give him a little wave. “Hey, Brycen!” I look at Cole, he just frowns and nods his head at Brycen. Weird. “Mind if I sit with you today?” Brycen asks, I nod my head pointing to the empty chair next to me. “So, Grace, me and a few friends are hanging out tonight, down by the lake. I was wondering if you wanted to join? You can come to Cole, if you want.” Brycen says, looking at me expectantly. I grimace slightly, thinking about hanging out at the lake, when I can’t swim. Then I realize I’ve been doing that all week. Cole shakes his head, “We’re busy.” My head whips to him. Did he just say we? “Doing what? I don’t remember making plans.”