LOGINI make my way to the lunch hall as if nothing happened. But inside, my heart is pounding a million miles per second Nester has a way of getting in my head, that much is clear, but I know escaping him wouldn’t be as easy this time as it was before. Students dodge me as I pass by. Clearly, the idea that I murdered my dad is enough to make me public enemy number 1. Anger I’ve been struggling to keep down urges me to lunge at them and really give one of them something to be fucking afraid of. But I shake it off, walking faster. Something in me pulls me to that lunch room, and I just know when I get there I’ll find the four people left on earth capable of making me feel normal. Sure enough, as I burst through the lunch hall doors, the chatter stops, all eyes turn to me, but I immediately lock on my CrestRidge boys. My heart calms a little. They look at me with the same worry I feel, and I have no doubt that Nester has gotten to them as well. Ignoring the rest of the student body, I
The idea to run away is so bogus I nearly ask Talon if he’s thinking at all. But he would never joke about something like this, especially when it comes down to Olivia’s life. The wall I'm leaning against no longer feels solid enough to hold me and all my stress. I stand straight, asking Talon grimly, “In what world should we run away?” His lips turn down, unsure of the answer himself. Right as some rebuttal is about to fall out of his lips, the last person I expected to talk chimes in. “He’s right,” Dillon agrees quietly. Hunter’s head quickly snaps his father’s way. I'm shocked it doesn't pop off his neck: “Dad, what do you mean he’s right?” “Okay, maybe right is a stretch,” Dillon explains. “But I think Talon is proposing the best alternative, considering all that’s happening.” I usually respect Dillon, but I can't help how harshly I say, “What is the best alternative? Running away? Leaving behind everything we’ve worked so hard for? School ends in a month. We graduate in a
I'm a hybrid. Or… I'm becoming one. I look down at myself as Principal Watson/Nester continues to hover over me. I feel the bite Ricklan left when he thought I had died, throbbing like a ticking bomb about to burst under my skin. He bit me and left me. And now, I'm a hybrid. I stare up at Principal Watson and into his shadowed eyes, the threat he poses feeling almost non-existent with this new revelation.I knew, didn't I? The doctors in the office alluded to it. Me growling at Talon’s parents confirmed it. I’ve known, but I kept refusing to believe it.And now my bite is refusing to be ignored. I try to reorient myself, remind myself where I am and why I should be fucking terrified of the man in front of me, but the only words that come out of my mouth are, “Why haven't I turned?” “Odd, isn't it?” he answers smoothly. “The truth, Olivia, is I have no idea. Sometimes transformations are delayed because of trauma, like losing Rick. Sometimes a full moon may be needed to complet
Hunter barrels for the council office the second we make it out of the hall. We struggle to keep up with him as he barges into the office, yelling, “DAD!” “Son?” Dillon’s confused voice rings out before the rest of us even reach the door. Hunter’s shoulders sag, relief in his eyes for approximately one second before they go steely. “Where were you?!” Dillon's scrunched face finally comes into view. He fixes the glasses he rarely ever wears to look at his son properly. “Erm… right here?” “I see that!” Hunter throws his hands up in exasperation. “But why here? Why not upstairs!” Poor Dillon scratches the back of his neck. “Son, is everything okay?” “Is everything…” Hunter squeezes his eyes shut, heaving out a long sigh as he pinches the bridge of his nose. I don’t know what Principal Dillon said to him, but it shook him up terribly. I have to hold myself back from reaching out to comfort him, especially in front of his dad. When Hunter opens his eyes again, the warmth has retur
I nearly piss myself. The lights from the stage are too bright. I try to peer into the crowd to see my boys, but I can’t spot them because the students look like a sea of ants. Millions and millions of ants just staring at me. The faux confidence I had when I stepped on stage melts immediately. I crouch back, overwhelmed by the attention surrounding me. Principal Watson doesn’t miss a beat. “Of course, this is all from the police report. Olivia has been a stellar student so far. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” At those last words, he looks to me, shadows swirling in his eyes. My Nester Rist bite throbs. I know what this is, know what’s happening, and still I’m trying hard to believe that it isn’t true. The hall becomes too rowdy, students throwing questions at Principal Watson. Eventually, he raises a hand to shut them all up, then informs, “The assembly is over. Everyone can leave single file.” I don’t miss the chance to try and jump off stage, but Principa
Why does Principal Watson have the rose? How does Principal Watson have the rose? And why the hell isn’t my dad up there with him? Olivia’s grip in mine slackens, and I snap to her, already fearing the worst. Her face has turned ashen, lips parted in terror. All the happiness she felt just a second ago has been snatched away by the principal and his rose-filled fingers. I squeeze her hand as desperately as I’ve been doing these past few days, silently pleading with her to come back to me, back to us, but her eyes are already glazing over. Something is wrong. “Axel?” I say pleadingly, looking over at him. Fuck me being Alpha; he always knows what to do or say. He stares at me with intense grey eyes. “Can we get her out of here?” Yes, if the assembly hadn’t started, but right as Axel suggests this, the whine of a microphone fills our ears, causing me to wince. “Welcome, students.” Principal Watson’s sober voice fills the auditorium. Fuck. He has the rose in one hand and a mi
This was a mistake.Someone pushes his girlfriend behind him, growling at me like my disgusting human genes will corrupt her.But his hatred doesn’t even match the one from the large, tattooed Lycan standing in front of me. We lock eyes.“Human.” He snarls, making goosebumps flare over my skin. W
Hunter’s mouth is magic against mine. My whole body goes hot; my lips, my nerves, my core. Everything. He pulls away as quickly as he bent down and I gasp, “Hunter.” I can already see some sort of apology building in his mind, but I shake my head, pulling him closer, “Don’t. Please, kiss me
Shoving. Pushing. Snarling. Breaking through this crowd in any way I can to reach that strawberry and cinnamon scent. She’s here. Why the hell is she here? “Move!” I snap, shoving a boy out of my way. Axel’s the impatient one. But right now, I’m not focused on manners. I
The door closes behind them, but the threat rings in my ears.*Trust me, human. I haven’t even begun with you.*All I wanted was to meet Talon, and the person who was meant to introduce me to him just walked out with the wolf that assaulted me.My chest constricts with panic. What if there is







