Chapter 1: Olivia

Fuck my fucking life.

I stand in front of Lycroft College, my heart pounding so loud I’m worried all the werewolves inside can hear.

“Don’t just stare.” Alpha Rick commands, yanking my box after me.

“You didn’t tell me there would be so many wolves,” I say back, and he heaves the heaviest sigh I’ve ever heard.

“This is a werewolf town, Olivia. Of course, there are going to be wolves” He mutters.

Great. Like everything else in my life, I'm the only living, breathing human to exist.

Like he can smell my panic, he adds, “Just wait for Hunter, he’ll take you to Principal Watson and protect you for the rest of the year. Everything will be fine .”

I spy a poster of a large wolf stepping on a human’s skull. The bleak headline reads, “We Always Conquer.”

I gulp. Does that look fine to him?

A boy by the poster spots me, and I freeze right as his eyes widen.

“GET LOST!” Alpha Rick barks, and the boy scurries down the corridor, but it’s too late.

He’s already aware that I’m around, and now the news is going to spread like wildfire.

The human has arrived.

I turn to Ricklan desperately, all my fear crashing down on me. His grey eyes crinkle and he pulls me closer till I melt in his familiar forest scent.

“It’s going to be fine. You have trained for this your whole life. All you have to do is graduate and the council will allow me to turn you into a hybrid.”

“But what if I-“

“No what ifs.” He snaps, “I didn’t raise you to think you can’t do this. You can. You will. Don't let any asshole make you think you don't belong.”

I nod. Only because I have to believe him.

The alternative is panicking for the rest of my life. And if I don’t pass, the rest of my life will not be very long.

My mouth is dry, but I manage to croak, “Okay.”

He looks like he has something else to say, but then his gaze shifts over my shoulder, and he straightens.

“UNCLE RICK!” A voice merrily yells behind me.

His lip quirks up slightly, “Hunter.”

Hunter? I whirl around to face Rick’s Godson, and the second I spot him, my brain short-circuits.

His tall, muscled frame fills his uniform perfectly. I've never seen someone look so delicious in school wear.

The wind blows his dark, curly hair as he pulls Rick in for a hug.

“Did you get taller?” Rick asks, looking up at his godson.

“Don’t be a dramatic uncle. Many boys my age are 6 foot 3.” He says brightly.

My mouth nearly falls open. Does he even know many boys his age?

“Tell your dad I said hi,” Rick adds, before gesturing at me, “and this is Olivia.”

Finally, Hunter’s blue eyes slide over to me. He seems to do a double-take, his smile slipping, and it only makes me more anxious.

“This is Olivia?” He asks incredulously.

I can’t help but get defensive, “Is that a problem?”

His cheeks redden, “What? No! You're just…small.”

There’s a look in his eye that tells me he was going to say something else, but I don’t press. The last thing I want is to challenge a wolf who could crush me with one hand.

Luckily, the school bell dings, and it gives me the chance to tear my gaze away.

It's time to go.

Rick sucks in a sharp breath. Even though I'm not his daughter, I guess this must have some impact on him.

He raised me. Rick pulled me from the shambles of war and fought like hell to make sure I survived.

The issue is, he didn't consider what it would be like for me living in a world dominated by predators.

Even though he’s not affectionate, I consider reaching for a hug.

But Rick takes a mechanical step back, and when he stretches out his hand for a handshake of all things, I have to swallow my disappointment.

I clasp our hands, hating him and already missing him.

“Be safe, Olivia,” he says in his commanding Alpha voice.

“I will, Alpha Rick,” I promise.

He looks at me head-to-toe one more time, then he nods and turns away

“I’ll call.” he declares, not giving me time to respond before he dashes to his car.

I watch as he gets in, not looking back, and zooms off, leaving me alone for the first time in my whole life with nothing but an aching heart.

And his Godson.

I turn back to Hunter, who already has my box in hand and a kind smile on his face.

I can't help the desire that clenches my stomach.

I expected the first wolf I met after Rick to freak me out, but so far Hunter has treated me like I belong.

I force myself to look away and march into the empty halls.

Why are the halls empty?

“I told everyone to go away.” Hunter says suddenly, like he read my mind, “I didn’t want to add stress to your arrival.”

I’m too shocked to speak. He just… sent them away? And they just listened?

Who the hell is this guy?

We head for the Principal’s office door, and when the silence stretches too long, Hunter pipes up again.

“Every time Uncle Rick visits Dad and me, he talks about you. I've been so eager to meet you, and I know Rick is going to miss you like hell.”

Miss me? A stubborn spark of anger flares in me, and before I can control it, I blurt, “Alpha Rick doesn’t miss anyone.”

“Not even his daughter?”

“I’m not his daughter.” I deadpan.

He must tell he struck a nerve cause he says, “Sorry, I just… You get what I mean. He loves you.”

My cheeks heat as we reach the principal's door. Loves me? I’m his responsibility, sure, but no one who loves me would agree to what he did.

Everything in my brain tells me to keep my mouth shut, but something about Hunter has me asking, “Do you even know what Alpha Rick did to get me into this school?”

“Everyone knows.” Hunter says carefully, “ He adopted you as a baby. He saved you from the war between wolves and humans and is giving you the best education there is.”

So that’s what people believe? That he’s my big, sweet hero? I swallow my scream and grit out, ”You left out the part where he made a deal.”

Hunter crinkles his perfect eyes at me, “What deal?”

Shit. Bad idea.

I reach for the principal's door, ready to put this whole thing behind me, but Hunter’s large palm wraps around my forearm, and he forces me to face him.

“Olivia, what deal?” he practically begs.

“I-” I stop, breathing out my hesitation, “The werewolf council wanted to kill me as a baby. They told Alpha Rick the only way they’d allow me live is if I pass Lycroft College. If I do, Rick will get to turn me.”

I pause for this next part.

I hate this next part.

“But if I fail… I'll die.”

Hunter reels back like I slapped him. I almost feel bad that this is his first impression of me.

“Rick would never!” Hunter gasps.

“Rick has,” I insist, stepping into the office, "and you want to know the worst part?”

His distressed eyes tell me he absolutely doesn’t want to know, but there’s no stopping me now.

“Alpha Rick has to be the one to kill me.”