Chapter 3

Jax

I couldn't help but reach out and touch her. She is most likely covered in bruises under her jacket. It's no secret that her father is a drunk. The way she turns around and glares at me with her green eyes through her square glasses brings my wolf to the surface, but instead of cowering like humans usually do at the sight of our wolves she stands her ground not budging.

I want to reach out and touch her again but Foster catches her turned in her chair. I'm speechless when she automatically recites the lesson back to the teacher. I didn't think she was even paying attention. I'm looking her over and when my eyes lock with her yet again I see something flash in them, it was small and so fast I nearly missed it.

It disappears and she turns back around in her chair. My wolf is surging beneath the surface. I'm not use to anyone holding their ground with me, especially such a tiny human girl. Her long dark hair falls over the edge of my desk Infront of me and before I can even stop myself I'm reaching out to touch it.

I lightly tug on a strand of hair and she visibly stiffens before moving her hair over her shoulders out of my reach leaving behind the sent of lavender and lemons. Absolutely intoxicating.

I watch as she leans back in her chair clutching tightly to her jacket obviously not wanting anyone else to see what she's hiding underneath. The back of her neck is exposed and I can't resist reaching out to touch the sensitive creamy skin there. She stiffens under my touch. I notice her friend wiggling uncomfortably next to her.

Before I can do more than graze her neck with my fingers she pulls away resting her head back on her desk. She's trying to avoid confrontation which is smart on her end. Though I'm pretty sure this girl is Albert Einstein reincarnated. She's seriously that smart.

I see my future Beta Jace eyeing Sage infront of me sceptically. He's noticed the unusual attention I've been giving the human girl and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head.

I haven't had the chance to talk to him about this morning yet. How I had caught her sent the moment I stepped inside the building and followed it to see her sitting on the floor in the hallway passing out papers. She smells of lavender and lemons. Sweet and tangy. It was a good thing Jess had found me before I could approach Sage Infront of the whole school. That wouldn't have ended well for anyone.

Jace is now looking at me outright his hazel eyes swirling with his wolf. I know he's figured it out but I don't say anything because I know it would definitely get out if I audibly say it. I just give him a sharp nod and bring a finger up to my lips so he knows not to say a word.

His face splits into a goofy grin and he flicks his fingers towards me in a silent salute. I relax a little in my chair knowing he won't dare say anything now. I try to listen to the Gothic horror lecture taking place but I'm distracted by lavender and lemons.

When shifters came out over a decade ago it was found that certain humans held the shifter gene. It lies dormant until they find their mate. Before most wolves would go their entire life without finding their fated mates but that changed when we integrated with the humans. Now the likelihood of finding your mate has risen a whole fifty percent.

Our numbers are growing exponentially and things have been going smoothly so far. The bell rings and as I go to stand up the girls Infront of me dart out the classroom quick.

Fuck. So much for catching Sage after class. I watch as she turns out of the door way my jaw clenched tightly. If I follow her it'll grab everyone's attention so I move my attention to my beta.

Jace walks slightly behind me as we make our way out of the classroom.

"So what's the plan?" He asks as we turn the corner into the main hallway. His brown hair reaches the top of his collar bone and he pushes it to the side out of his face looking at me sympathetically.

"Not sure. I just know I don't need anyone bombarding me or her. I haven't even had the chance to talk to her yet." I say looking down the hall where Sage and Lacey has opened their shop for the second time today.

Jace sighs exasperatedly running his hands through his hair again. "Well Foster just assigned a wicked essay over Frankenstein. Since you were clearly preoccupied maybe start by placing an order with her." He says a grin on his face.

I let out a breath, that's actually not a bad idea if I think about it. I definitely need to boost my grade and the added benefit of being able to talk to Sage is pretty ingenious.

"Just keep it under wraps until I can talk to her. I don't need a bunch of alpha males sniffing around her." I say pointedly at him. He's staring at her again and it's agitating me. "That goes for you too." I say curtly.

He gives me a slight smirk raising is hands in defense. "She all yours bro. Good luck." He says clapping me on the back of my shoulder. I inhale sharply before starting in her direction.

Sage

I'm standing at my locker opening my bottle of ibuprofen. This migraine is gonna be the death of me if I don't do something about it. Maybe I have a tumor? Wouldn't that be interesting. The past few weeks my headaches have been getting worse and worse and today it's at an all time high. I'm popping two blue pills into my mouth when I feel someone behind me.

Lacey's eyes grow wide and I place the bottle back in it's place in my locker. I grab my folder before turning around. "We only have three C+ papers left." I say before I realized who's standing behind me.

My eyes meet Jaxson's icy blues. They're swirling with silver. Crap. I must have offended him in class but he entered my personal space.

He's scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably eyeing Lacey before he looks back to me.

"I was actually hoping to place an order for Frankenstein." He says his voice rough and just loud enough to hear over the students around us.

I open my folder and pull out my note book. He's never asked for an order before and Lacey and I are both weary of new customers. I pull out a pre order form I had drawn up when we first started doing papers for cash.

"Pre orders come with a non-refundable down payment of fifty bucks and you pay the rest when you get the paper in hand." I say handing the paper to him and he looks it over. "Fill this out and bring it to me by lunch. It's pretty straight forward, with the way your grades are going you need at least a B+ on this paper to stay above fail." I say closing my folder and turning away to place it back on it's shelf.

I switch out my English book for history and grab a stack of papers. History essays are due in two days and I have five papers to write. I close my locker when the bell rings for students to get to their next class.

I have free period with Lacey and she usually helps me with the essays in the library but today she has a meeting with the guidance counselor over her top picks for college next year. We're both hoping for ivy league.

She squeezes my arm before turning down the hall towards the office, a sympathetic look on her face. Neither of us are good with confrontation and Jaxson has her wanting to bolt. I'm right there with her.

I turn to the shifter standing only inches away from me now. Too close.

"Can I help you with anything else?" I say not wanting to be rude looking up at him once again. He stands a whole foot and a half taller than me making me feel smaller by the second.

He runs a hand through his blonde hair as if he's trying to figure out what to say next.

"Actually if you have free period I would like to talk to you. Alone." He says looking me up and down again. I instinctively pull my jacket tightly around me looking up at him. Another pang goes off in my sinuses and I take my glasses off pinching the bridge of my nose.

Damn the pills need to kick in soon.

The hallway is nearly empty now and I eye him warily. "I have papers to write in the library." I say and his interest is peaked. Damn I was hoping he wouldn't want to follow me but after not saying anything for a moment he turns in the direction of the library and starts walking.