Chapter 4: Olivia

“We’re here,” Dillon says brightly. He pushes open my dorm room door, and if I weren’t so tense, I might have admired my new space.

There’s a small bed pushed to the wall, a sturdy-looking desk beside it, and a large window overlooking the whole setup.

It’s nothing special, but I'm just grateful they didn’t make me sleep in a dustbin or something.

Dillon sets my box down, “You’re lucky you get to move in during the weekend. You have Saturday and Sunday to rest before it all begins.”

Lucky isn’t the word I'd use to describe my situation, but I try to smile at him regardless, “Thank you, Dillon.”

“If you need me, you know where to find me, or Hunter.”

I swallow. The last thing I want to think about is Hunter.

Looking back, I should have kept my struggles to myself. What if he tells the whole school the council is trying to kill me? That’ll definitely make me a target.

I nod, and Dillon squeezes my shoulder, “Be safe, Olivia.”

‘I’ll try.” Not like it's my choice.

He leaves. But instead of making my bed or checking the en-suit bathroom, I pull the scrunched letter out of my pocket.

There her name is again: Quinn Willow.

My heart hammers. The only thing I know about my parents is that they were mauled to death in the middle of the war.

My father died quickly, but my mother managed to escape with me before she was killed as well.

This is all I have of her.

I flip it over, too scared to see what it says. Once I read it, that’s the end.

“Be brave Olivia,” I whisper to myself.

I breathe out and finally flip the crumpled paper open.

I read the four words on the sheet, growing more and more confused with each re-read:

“Until we meet again.”

There’s something I think is a signature at the bottom: a circle crossed with two lightning bolts, but it could just be more senseless scribbling.

My cheeks heat. Surely this is some kind of joke the council is playing on me? To taunt me for my losses?

I crumple up the paper in embarrassment. How could I be so stupid to hope that my mum wrote to me?

“Fuck this” I say angrily, throwing the paper hard in the direction of the door.

A boy’s toned hand reaches out and catches it.

“I have a better idea,” he says, an amused look on his face, “You could fuck me instead.”

I stagger back, my heart pounding as he leans against my door frame.

Goddess, he’s beautiful. Almost too beautiful; with a head of curly blonde hair, mesmerising green eyes, and a sharp face angled at me.

He almost looks Hunter-level perfect, if not for his crooked tie and blazerless uniform.

And the fact he’s currently breaking into my room.

“What…How…?”

“Maybe lock your door next time?” He drawls, “You don’t want hot men walking in and seducing you.”

“Who are you?” I finally manage to bite out.

He gives me a lazy smile, “Ryker Saint. Claire.”

Something about the way he’s looking at me isn't exactly saint-like. I’m suddenly aware of how bare my legs look in this short school skirt.

When I finally find my voice, I mutter, “You can’t be here.”

“Yet, here I am.” He pushes off the doorframe, my letter still in his hand, and slowly moves toward me. Alarm bells go off in my head.

Ryker drags his gaze down my body, “Hunter was right, you are hot.”

“You know him?” I ask, tingling at the fact that Hunter called me hot.

“Oh darling, he’s my packmate.”

My stomach flips. Of course they’re in the same pack. Like my life isn’t complicated enough.

Before I can respond, Ryker starts unravelling the letter.

I gasp. What right does he have to my personal property? As he squints at the paper, I lunge at him.

I smash into his hard chest as he leans away from me, reading out loud, “Until we meet again. Interesting.”

I stretch to reach it, but I don’t even get to Ryker’s neck, “Give. That. Back.”

“As you wish.” He turns suddenly, backing me up. I gasp as my back hits a wall and Ryker leans over me, green eyes glimmering.

He sniffs near my ear, and I swear he purrs.

I wonder what my scent is like?

Hunter’s was all fresh fruits, but Ryker’s is dark, smoky, and overwhelming me.

When he crumples the letter back into my hand, our fingers brush, and I blurt out the first thing I think of, “If you kiss me I will kill you.”

“Only if you do it choking me.”

I gag, “Leave. I don't like you.”

He smirks wickedly, “Maybe not. But you want to know what this letter means, don’t you? And the signature at the bottom?”

My eyes widen, “You know something? Tell me!”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I swear he’s still inhaling my scent.

“I have a party tomorrow.” he finally says, “my other pack mate knows all about this stuff. His name’s Talon. Come by my house with your invite and you guys can talk.” he winks, “and maybe we could discuss you choking me again.”

I scrunch my nose, pulling away from Ryker. Who the hell does this guy think he is?

But if this letter means something, if there's even the slightest chance that my mum is sending me a deeper message, maybe I could discover some way to escape my fate without having to graduate or die.

Maybe I'm special.

“I can't go to a werewolf party,” I say, trying to talk myself out of this outrageous idea, “Everyone will try to kill me.”

An odd emotion flashes through his eyes, and for a second, his irises shift into dark slits.

Shifter eyes.

“Darling,” he whispers, “I think you underestimate the power of me and my pack. If we tell people to fuck off, they will.”

I remember how Hunter cleared the halls earlier, and I don't doubt him.

“It's decided then,” Ryker says with finality. He heads for the door, stating, “Come to the Crestridge house at 10pm, and make sure you wear a skirt as short as this one.”

Once again, my cheeks redden, and I curse the heat pooling at my core.

“I don't even have an invite!” I call after him.

“Yes, you do,” he answers smoothly, closing the door behind him.

I shake my head. I do not need a Ryker in my life. Ever.

I move to unfold my letter again, but instead of the letter, I realise Ryker has stuffed a completely different paper in my hand.

It's the invite.