I don’t think anyone saw it coming. I, Terrell Gladson, was at least the most surprised. When the beautiful raven-haired cheerleader shifted her first time, we all knew, just knew, that she and Gavin were mates.
But her scent… it drove me mad. I could smell her showering, in her house, over a mile away. She was the beauty queen, and it surprised no one that everyone loved her. Her sleek white smile. Her graceful, anvil cut calves. Her soft tanned skin glimmering in the sunlight.
She was truly beautiful.
I could smell her. I knew it was her. And I was horridly confused.
I followed the scent, almost unwillingly, deep into the heart of the woods. I saw her body go through the pain staking first shift. The sickening crack of her ribs, her knees inverting as the jeans she wore shredded effortlessly aware from them. Her falling forward, paws out-stretched, exhausted. I shifted before she saw me.
But she could smell me, and she knew I wasn’t Gavin.
She sniffed the air, her head revoltingly twisting this way and that. I could tell she was also confused, but couldn’t seem to find where it was coming from. Finally, she turned around and locked eyes on me.
That once gleaming smile sneered in my direction. She shifted back into her human form, not even flinching to cover herself.
“Terrell?” she asked in her dazed confusion.
I shifted back too, grabbing my pants and hurrying to put them on. “Yes, Anastasia. It’s me, Terrell.”
She walked up to me, still naked as the day she was born. She scoffed as she sniffed me, tussling my already crappy hair. “I don’t think so,” as she sneered again, this time in my ear.
“W-what do you mean?”
“You, my mate? I don’t think so!” She wretched her back and laughed. It was one of those laughs that makes your hair stand on end, like from a witch in a movie. It was high pitched, evil, and cruel.
She grabbed my chin and pulled me down on all fours. My wolf was raging inside, wanting her, grunting.
“I reject you.”
The words came crashing into my soul like a sword through my eyes and heart. I fell over, the pain rampant through my mind. I could feel my own cells dividing as the neurons flashed their pain sensors through every inch of my body.
Then, the laugh. She laughed at me in my moment of desperate pain. She walked away, not so much as trying to pick up the tattered remains of her clothes.
She may as well had cut my balls off that day. Or at least that’s what it felt like. I knew what this meant. I knew what torment I would continue to feel if I didn’t respond.
But I couldn’t respond. I lay there, whimpering like the pup I felt like.
“Alpha Terrell?” a soft voice asked from behind the door. He stood, slowly making his approach. Terrell cracked the door open to see Danica standing outside on trembling legs. “May I come in?” Terrell opened the door just wide enough to allow the young lady into his room. As he turned to her, his wolf growled, panted and pawed to be released. He stopped f
Terrell's POV:Ican'thelp but stare at her. My brain keeps going numb with everything she tries on. The dress though, oh sweet heaven above. What a looker under that apron and untidy hair.But she keeps noticing me staring at her. I shouldjuststop. Shedoesn'tbelong to me by any means. But I can change that. I mean, a few words to Gavin,maybe athought or some border control agreement... Idon'tknow. I do know that I want her to come back to Stanford with me. Even if shedoesn'tstay. Just away from, well, this shit hole that I left so long ago.
Danica:Wait, what? Did I just hear that correctly? Alpha Terrell just asked me on a date?Where in the serious fuck did that come from? Am I dreaming? Oh good God, if I am, I never want to wake up!This is such a gorgeous dress. I really shouldn't be letting him buy it for me. The price tag, oh good sweet Jesus! Two thousand? What? Oh shit. I better step this up. “Alpha, I don't know that you should buy this dress,” I said, trembling as the words left my lips.“Too late,” Charley exclaimed, receipt in hand.My mouth gaped. Never before had someone just, well, done something without me asking for help, or even offering to make sure that I paid them back for it all.I didn't get a chance to protest whatsoever. Charley had me right back in the fitting room with a seamstress, ensuring every nook and cranny of my body came
Danica came down the stairs slowly after showering, listening carefully to conversation in the main hall. She tiptoed down the last step, hoping not to be heard or sniffed out.“A dress, for the dane?”“Yes, Charley, a nice one, like for church. You can get her two, just so she has an extra one for whatever. She might end up needin' it.”“And shoes? Or do you plan on her padding around in sneakers.”“Whatever. I gave her the credit card. Get her what she needs, but don't be stupid with the money. I got bills to pay, too.”“Uh-huh, sure.” Charley rolled her eyes at Gavin, knowing that the entire town supported the Alpha, and the Alpha family hadn't wanted for anything in almost 150 years.Danica came around the corner, her eyes turned down, and her hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. She looked up slightly only to see Charley waiting, impatiently.Charley stood about five foo
<Danica> I have no idea what just happened. It was lunch, and then, he was in my head. How? I didn't think that there would ever be a telepathic that close to me. Mom had always told me my touch was unique. I could think out loud, she would say, literally, and she meant. Sometimes, too loud I suppose. I never thought I would meet a wolf that was a telepathic either. A talker is one thing, but a shifter and a talker? What? My mind is whirling. He is so detrimentally handsome. I swear he might end up being the death of me. I also never thought I would end up cleaning slop and filth from these pathetic redneck slobbering coon hounds. That's all they really are to me, not even worthy of being called wolves. Oh I wish I could just sail away in the wind, like my mind does, like the world does around me. Leave here and never look back. It's almost like dreaming of being in a fairy tale re
Terrell: “Well, that went better than expected,” Jason said on the other end of the line. “Yeah, they weren't happy seeing Kyle on a gurney. But these nightmares. I think they're getting worse.” “I think you need to see a doctor to find what's causing them. It isn't something you ate is it? Maybe bad Chinese again? You remember that one time in college? Oh man, I thought you were never going to stop puking!” “Don't remind me, and no. I haven't eaten anything actually. Apparently they are having a big lunch for me here at the pack house. Kind of wish I had a personal food taster on hand.” “Just say the word, Alpha, and I will be there.” Terrell stayed quiet for a moment. A deep sigh left him. “No, let me do the thing. They need to trust me. Something about this other pack is looking for the iris.” “Iris died a long time ago,” Jason responded, confused. “That's what I said, but Gavin insisted that it wasn't