Chapter 2

Betsy Pov

A knock pulled me out of the sweet sleep I was having. And then—

“Betsy?”

 I heard the voice from outta my room. 

I jerked upright in bed, the blanket slipping from my shoulders as I reached for the bedsheet and pulled it tightly over my body.

Someone just called my name.

That voice… low, smooth, unmistakably masculine.

It wasn’t Nick’s voice. And I was very much sure mum would have gone to work, so it definitely wasn’t Mom’s. This was a man’s voice. It was deep and commanding. 

I blinked into the dim light of my room, my heart pounding like I had just sprinted ten miles. I was home alone, obviously. Who could have the key to the house?

“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice wavering slightly. My fingers reached for the pen I had left on my nightstand. The only thing remotely sharp in my room. Ridiculous, I know. But still, I gripped it like it could save my life if it had to.

No answer. For a second, just the low hum of the night air outside.

Then the voice came again, calm and clear.  

“It’s Drake. Open the door, please?”

I squinted. “Drake? Nick never mentioned anyone of that name.” I murmured, suspicious. That wasn’t Nick's voice. I’d known his voice since we were kids. And Nick wouldn't knock, he'd barge in.

I hesitated. “Nice try, but you've got to give a more clear answer. You can't just expect me to open the door.” I said warily, clutching the pen like a weapon as I stood.

No one replied this time. Of course. Coward.

I took a slow breath, gathered my courage, and reached for the doorknob. I opened it slowly, ready to jab my trusty pen into whoever thought it’d be fun to scare the new girl so very early in the morning.

But when the door creaked open, all thoughts of defense evaporated instantly.

There, standing under the warm yellow light of the hallway, was a man—no, not just a man. He had this presence that made me want to fall over him.

Tall. Broad. Sculpted like he was carved out of storm clouds and shadows. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, revealing the ridges of his chest, and his hair was tousled like he had just rolled out of bed and still managed to look like sin itself.

But it wasn’t just his looks that got me.

It was his smell.

Oh Moon, his smell.

Earth and pine and a hint of leather. My wolf stirred violently inside me, purring like a damned kitten. My knees nearly buckled. I’d never felt her respond to anyone before. Not like I got to meet a lot of people but this…

I blinked. Twice. I couldn't breathe for a full three seconds.

His eyes studied me carefully, those dark irises pulling at mine like magnets. I could barely look away.

I was still standing there, holding the edge of the doorframe like it might keep me from melting into a puddle, when he finally spoke.

“If you keep staring like that,” he said, voice laced with amusement, “I might start to think my best friend’s sister is checking me out.”

I blinked. Hard. As if that would reset my entire system. The heat rushed up my neck and straight into my cheeks.

Best friend? The Alpha? Nick's best friend was standing at my door?

“I—I wasn’t,” I stammered, shaking my head and stepping back into the room like distance could help me recover from the embarrassment. “I mean, I was just wondering why you’d be here instead of Nick. He didn't tell me he'd have his Alpha doing his budding.”

He smirked, not buying it for a second. “Nick asked me to pick you up for college. Apparently, he was up all night handling some issue that’s been disturbing the pack.”

Oh.

So that’s why he left dinner so suddenly last night.

It made sense now. And… I guess I owed him a little less attitude.

I nodded, trying to appear composed. “Right. Okay.”

“Can I call you Drake? Or…Alpha Drake?” I asked, unsure what to do.

He stared for longer seconds and leaned against the doorframe casually, his arms crossed, still looking far too relaxed for someone who just caught me gawking like an idiot.

“I don't care, just get ready. You might want to hurry though,” he said, glancing at the hallway. “Classes start soon, and I still have some games to play and rounds to make.”

“Oh…okay. Sure. Yeah. Right.” 

“Yeah.” 

Totally mate-possible.

Wait. Mate?

Ugh. I was thinking way too hard. I scolded myself as I dried off and changed into a simple outfit. Jeans. Hoodie. Keep it casual. Don’t look like you spent the whole morning thinking about how stupidly perfect your brother’s best friend looks. 

“He's your Alpha Betsy. You can't have a dirty mind towards him.” I scolded.

My mind wandered again.

What if he was my mate? He could be. Mum said that I'd find my soulmate as a she wolf. It was casual though.

It would explain the way my wolf reacted. The way her energy pulsed when he was near. She didn’t just stir, she purred.

But my mother’s voice echoed in my head, pulling me back down to reality.

“The best thing a young lady can do for herself,” she’d said, “is to not drool over a man that isn’t hers.”

Right.

I needed to keep my head clear.

Until I was sure, absolutely sure that Drake could be my mate. I had to chill. No fantasies. No what-ifs. Just focus.

College. Training. Learning to live like a proper werewolf among humans.

That was the plan.

Not falling for my brother’s best friend. Who's insanely hot.

…Right?