Annalyse

I walked through the forest, a little faster than normal, my breath coming in pants and my pulse thrumming through me from head to toe.

What was that back there? I mean, I’d seen my share of cute guys, but this one….

He had me questioning what the word ‘crush’ meant! I felt, I don’t know, different with him and it was driving me crazy, trying to pinpoint what it was about him. The way he looked at me though. I think it may be some time before I can get his eyes out of my head. 

I had to talk to Cassidy. Maybe she’d know. She’s my best friend. She could help me figure this out. The question was: how much did I want to share?

I opened the front door and ran upstairs to my room with a quick yell hello so they’d know that I was home. I threw my backpack into the corner and flopped face first with a groan onto my bed, thoughts of this afternoon in my head. Chase. Goddess, he was beautiful. And muscular. And he emanated a strong aura. One of dominance and power. An alpha aura. Though he held it in check, it seemed. I have always had the ability to sense the auras of those around me, more than other wolves. I could feel strength, weakness and illness more than most. I have always been told I was special, but what parents don’t say that about their kids?

I shrugged the encounter off as a bit odd and a little embarrassing (okay, a lot embarrassing), but probably something unlikely to repeat itself because it’s not like I was ever going to see him again.

That thought left me feeling off for some reason; deflated and sad, Oh well. Cassidy was probably on her way. Time had gotten away from me and I was running late, so I texted her to let her know so that she didn’t worry about me too much. She knew I got sidetracked out there sometimes, but always worried because I went alone.

“Hey, Cass!” I huffed as I hurried downstairs to meet her at my door. “Sorry I’m late. I got caught up a little longer than I planned at Tranquility”, I explained, as I felt my face get a little hot. Cass was the only one who knew about ‘my spot’ and understood my need for time to myself to think in the quiet.

“Everything good?”, she asked, bumping my shoulder with hers as we walked through the front door.

“I’m not really sure”, I offered, not knowing how to explain my encounter with Chase, the mysterious stranger.

Cass looked at me, her red curls bouncing as we walked up the stairs and a look of concern creasing her brows, as she took in my flushed face and my new inability to look her in the eye.

“What’s up, Lyse?”, she asked as we got to my room and started pulling out books to get ready for finals.

“I’m not really sure.”, I answered, looking everywhere but her.

“What happened? Did something happen with Jace? Because I swear, if he…” 

I held up my hand and looked at her. “No, Cass. Nothing like that. I’ve been feeling really, I don’t know, off, for the last couple of weeks.”, I started. “So after school, I headed toward Tranquility. Today was different though. There was someone there when I got there.”

Cass started at that because no one ever went there and there have been whispers of rogues around our territory lately, though no one was really confirming it.

“What do you mean, ‘someone there’? Who? And why didn’t you hightail it outta there? Or did you?”. She had a million questions and was sending them at me rapid-fire.

“Cassidy!”, I said in a raised voice. “Yes, someone was there. I feel like I know him, or at least like I’ve seen him before somewhere. I didn’t turn around and head out because I was more curious than scared….”, I started. 

“You know what they say about curiosity and the cat, don’t you?”, she admonished. I smiled. Cass and her sayings.

I looked at her, a half smile on my lips and gave her a small roll of my eyes for good measure.

“Anyway”, I restarted, “I was more curious than anything, and Cass, ohmygoddess, I wish you had been with me to see him. He was…perfection. Walking sex.”, I told her.

That got her attention. She was sitting bolt upright, curls bouncing as she fidgeted on my bed, surprise lighting up her emerald eyes. I never talked about anyone this way. In fact, it had been a couple of years since I even mentioned a guy. Since Jace. And that was just a crush. A really big one, but still, a crush.

“Who is he? Does he go to River Moon? What’s his name?”

Leave it to Cass to have all bases covered. 

“Well, I don’t know who he is, exactly. He’s not from around here, unless his family transferred packs, like today. And no, he doesn’t go to school with us. Definitely older. Bella was going nuts. I mean, outer limits crazy. He’s gorgeous, Cass. He’s got the most amazing green eyes I’ve ever seen. So green that it seems like they could glow. He said his name is Chase.”, I answered. “Oh, and I almost fell on my ass in the mud. Right in front of him.”, I added, blushing in embarrassment at the thought.

“Chase, huh?” she replied, her detective brain in full discovery mode. “I can’t think of anyone in our territory with that name. Did you at least get his number?”, she wiggled her eyebrows at me, eliciting a laugh.

“No. I was way too embarrassed. I did tell him that maybe I’d see him around, though.”

“Well’, she said, “That could be considered flirty, I guess. Especially if you were swishing your hips as you walked away.”

That thought brought out a giggle that was threatening to turn into uncontrollable laughing at any second. I did NOT do sexy well.

“Wait! Did you?”, she asked, giggling with me.

“No!”, I answered, thinking with all ridiculousness now in the midst of laughter that maybe I should have.