I look in the rearview mirror at Lavender laying on the back seat of my car. Even with the air conditioning on, she is still panting heavily. When I get to a stoplight, I reach my hand back and place it on her belly where there isn’t as much fur. Her skin is practically on fire.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. We will get you in the tub when we get to my place.” I make eye contact with her through the mirror. When the light turns green, I press the accelerator a little harder than usual to get home.
Rocky urges me to go faster, but I remind him it would be bad if I got pulled over by the police with what they think is a wild animal in the back seat of my car. Even worse, if she shifts and there is a girl wearing nothing but a suit jacket in the back seat. He drops the subject but paces nervously while I drive.
I park in the garage and open the car door, but Lavender doesn’t jump out. She lifts her head slightly and whines between her fa
I order a pizza and pull a couple of bottles of water out of the refrigerator while I wait for Zara to come out of the bathroom. “Rocky, I think I should have Zara stay here instead of in the dorm,” I cave to the idea. “So she can be our mate now?” he sounds so hopeful, “You’re finally thinking straight.” “I was thinking more like a roommate who needs someone to look out for her,” I clarify for him. “We can’t have a sigma for a mate, Rocky. I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if my family found out. She’s safer if we have her move into the guest room and just make sure she is being taken care of.” “So a beautiful roommate?” his demeanor drops when he realizes what I’m saying. “Yeah, she is beautiful,” I agree, “But I think I overestimated her ability to take care of herself.” “So we will protect her.” I sense a shift in his energy to a more serious nature. “Yeah, we will protect her. That’s a g
“Zara?” I call out. A sense of panic settles in my gut. She couldn’t have left. I was at the front door. She would have had to walk past Mom and me. “Where are you?” “I’m here,” I hear her voice from behind the counter. I walk around and see her on her hands and knees, wiping the floor with a rag. The t-shirt barely covers her ass, making me stop short again. I run my hand over my face and bite my finger, not able to look away. I’m not interested in her as a mate, but a pretty girl, wearing only a t-shirt, on all fours on my kitchen floor? Goddess, have mercy. I need to control myself. I try to find something else in the room to look at, but nothing else seems to exist at the moment. “Control yourself? Are you crazy?! Mate with her!” Rocky exclaims, “She’s on her hands and knees, Keller. She wants to do it!” “That doesn’t mean she wants to have sex, Rocky,” I correct him sternly, trying to make myself look aw
I consider my next move before I leave the bedroom. Should I go try to speak with Zara or should I give her space? I need to explain, but I also need to tread lightly. If I have to tell Rocky she's gone when I unblock him, who knows what his reaction will be? One thing is certain, it won't be good. I need to clear the air and see if I can convince her to stay. I listen for her, but without Rocky, I can’t hear that far. My human senses aren’t sharp enough, so I walk to the guest room to speak with her. I’m about to knock, but think better of it. If the sound of the air conditioning makes her jumpy, what would happen with a knock on her door? Especially after what happened earlier. “Zara? Can we talk?” I lean my ear against the door and concentrate. From inside, I hear shuffling sounds, then something falling over with a hard thud. She’s whispering to herself and something is being dragged across the floor, then silence. “Za
Zara’s POV When I open my eyes it’s dark outside. I’m in a warm, comfortable bed. It smells like rosemary and basil, just like Keller. I sit up and look around. It looks like his bedroom, but he isn’t here. I pull my legs up to my chest and sigh. “Lavender, are you there?” I call for my wolf. “I’m here, sweet girl,” she sounds relieved as she speaks soothingly to me. “Are you okay now?” “I-I think so. I just don’t understand what happened. Keller got so mad, but then he held me in his lap.” I tap my lips while I recall what happened. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything about wanting a boyfriend. Do you think that’s what made him upset?” “Originally, I thought he might be dangerous, but now I think he and his wolf are just confused. I don’t know if Keller’s trying to protect himself or protect you, but we need to be patient. He will come around,” Lavender’s voice sounds so reassuring, “I think he’s r
When Keller looks me in the eye, he stops speaking and looks unsure of himself. He stands up and rubs his fingers over his forehead, then looks at me again. He sighs heavily and drops his shoulders. “So here’s the thing, Zara. Is it weird that I don’t feel the mate bond the way everyone says I should? Yeah. I think it’s weird as Hell, but there’s nothing I can do about it. That being said, you seem like a sweet girl. If things were different, maybe we could try to make it work. You know? Figure out where we could take things and find out what is going on with this messed up mate bond.” He rubs the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable at his words. “You know what? Hold on. This shit is heavy. I need a shot. You want a shot?” “You mean alcohol?” I look up at the clock, “Keller, it’s eight-thirty in the morning and I don’t drink. I just turned eighteen.” “You’re right. Maybe just a beer,” he wanders out into the k
“I’m sorry, Miss Wilson, but you were gone for over a week. We contacted your parents, and they said they haven’t seen or spoken to you since July. It’s school policy to revoke room and board privileges to students who abandon their dwellings,” the Resident Director hands over a small box of belongings from my dorm room and some paperwork, “You missed two required meetings and we couldn’t contact you, so we assumed that’s what you had done.” I look inside and see my cell phone charger and laptop, a few notebooks, and things from my desk, but none of my clothes or bed linens. Not even my toiletries. “I-I understand the policy and I know I should have read the student life handbook better, b-but this isn’t even half of my belongings, ma’am. Where is everything else? Could I please go upstairs and get the rest?” I feel my lip tremble. After I paid the room and board fee for the spot in the dorm, I only had a couple hundred dollars left to buy ever
Keller’s POV “Shhh! I have a roommate.” I stumble into the kitchen with Jasper, who’s still gripping the empty bottle of 151 I bought at the bar, followed by a few girls we met there. “She’s probably asleep.” “You have a roomie?” Jasper squints at me to focus. “I don’t believe it. Who?” “Yeah, she’s my mate.” My hand makes its way to my chest to cover my heart as an image of Zara flashes in my mind. Her long blonde hair with natural waves and crystal blue eyes. That sweet little smile she has when she doesn’t realize anyone is looking. I close my eyes, thinking about her features. “Your mate? What are you Australian now?” Jasper pulls me from the thought with a laugh. The redhead standing next to him smirks and whispers something in his ear. He quickly looks at her and wraps his arm around her waist. I watch him nuzzle against her neck, whispering something back. “Sorry, yeah, sh-she’s a friend,” I corre
“Mom? Are you home?” I mind link her when I pull up to the house. “Out in the garden, Honey,” her voice sings sweetly in my head, “Why are you here?” I make my way to Mom’s vegetable garden. She is pulling carrots out of the ground and putting them in an enormous basket. “I can’t make time to stop and say hello to my mother without getting questioned?” “You know I didn’t mean it like that, Honey but it’s true. You never stop by during the week. Did your meetings go okay this morning?” She looks at me with concern. “Oh yeah. We should expect some big donations in the next couple of months from both companies.” I give her a convincing nod. “Is there anything you can’t do?” She flicks dirt at me playfully. “I can’t keep Rocky in check,” I squat down next to her, taking a serious tone. “I had to block him, Mom.” “Oh Keller! I’m so sorry to hear that,” she tilts her head and looks at me remorsefully, “How long