Chapter 2

The auditorium was already crowded when I arrived. I slipped inside and searched for an empty seat determined to become as invisible as possible. It was going reasonably well until I walked straight into someone.

"Watch it."

The words were sharp. I stumbled backwards, clutching my bag to my chest. "Sorry, I wasn't looking."

Then he looked at me and everything stopped.

He had silver-grey eyes, dark hair with a distinct silver stripe at the front. His hair fell carelessly across his forehead and his jaw that looked as though it had been carved from stone.

He was tall, broad shouldered and dressed in a black shirt and slacks.

As though the entire world had disappeared and I was the only thing left in it. My heart slammed against my ribs. Heat spread through my body.

My wolf surged so violently that I grabbed the edge of a nearby desk.

My wolf was clawing, no tearing at the surface now. Was I about to shift? No not like this. Not in front of all of these people.

The boy's expression changed, too. His nostrils flared, and his fingers curled at his sides.

For one strange moment, neither of us moved.

Then he took a step towards me. I instinctively stepped back. Something flickered across his face and his eyes flashed from silver to black.

It was gone so quickly that I wondered if I'd imagined it. "Grey!" Someone called from the other side of the auditorium.

His head snapped towards the sound. The spell between us broke as he glared at a girl with blonde hair and extremely tight clothes. He looked back at me, his expression suddenly guarded.

Then he walked away without another word.

I stood there, feeling as though the ground had shifted beneath my feet. Who was he?

And why was my wolf reacting to people like this.

My phone vibrated. A message from Elena appeared on the screen.

Elena: We did good, sis. That boy that defended you was Lucien Thorne. The girls let me in on who is and I need you to convince him what he saw was wrong. I can't be on an Alpha's bad side.

I stared at the message, not in the particular mood for Elena and her antics right now. I locked my phone and went to find a seat as most of the other students were already seated.

I found an empty seat at the back of the auditorium. There was one space beside a boy with reddish hair, warm brown eyes and freckles scattered across his nose. He glanced at me as I sat down.

Again my wolf surged.

Perhaps this was hot flushes... no don't be ridiculous Daliah. Menopause didn't start at eighteen and could I get a pause from men when I have had none to begin with.

"Kieran," the boy said, offering his hand.

I looked at it uncertainly before shaking it. "Dahlia."

The moment our fingers touched, his smile disappeared and it felt like a surge of electricity crawled up my arm.

His eyes widened slightly.

Then he released my hand quickly. I stared at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah... did you feel that?"

Before I could answer a voice boomed through the speakers. "Welcome students, I am professor Dawn the dean of this fine institution and I am pleased to welcome all our first year students and returning students for another academic year at Crescent Hollow Academy."

I noticed kieren still staring at me and I smiled at him to be polite. I fidgeted with my hands in my lap, my wolf still having a mental episode and me threatening her that I will drink a whole bottle of wolfsbane if she didn't quit it.

I was not about to wolf out for the first time in a room full of students like some uncontrollable teen wolf.

I spent the rest of orientation trying to concentrate on the dean's speech. "The academy is one of the oldest institutions in the kingdom. We train future pack leaders, warriors, healers and scholars. Students come from influential bloodlines across the world. Beyond that some of you will grow into your full potential while here."

When orientation ended I stood to leave.

"Hey wait," Keir grabbed my arm gently and that gesture alone made me weak in the knees. "Can we get a cup of coffee."

My breath caught in my throat. Male attention wasnt something completely foreign to me yet it still shocked me that anyone would be interested in me. My phone beeped and I broke away from Keiran remembering I did not respond to Elena's message.

I lookee down at the screen and it was another text from her saying that I should meet her outside.

I looked up at Keiran ."I can't," I said and his face fell.

"Oh," he scratched the back of his head, "yeah sure. Maybe another time."

I hurried outside, without another word. If I were someone else maybe I would have accepted that coffee with Kieran.

But I was Dahlia and the moment I stopped giving Elena all my attention she would throw the biggest tantrum, calling me a bad and selfish sister. So I never had any relationships.

I spotted Elena standing with a group of girls by the school benches. I just happened to hear bits and pieces of their discussion as I walked up to them. They were discussing the best parties, the hottest boys and which families had the most influence at the academy.

When she spotted me, her smile tightened. "Finally. Where have you been?"

"In there?" I looked at her confused.

"Well, come on. We need to unpack before dinner." I followed her across the courtyard.

I'd almost convinced myself that the strange events of the morning meant nothing when I felt my wolf scratching again the further away we got from the auditorium.

Him, she whispered. And I froze. I had never heard her voice before.

I stopped walking and Elena tugged my arm. "Dahlia! Honestly, what is wrong with you today?"

I forced myself to move. "Nothing..." I hope.