Chapter 1

We're just 30 minutes into my Merfolk physiology class and I'm beyond bored and tired. Most times, I feel like I made a mistake choosing to major in Supernatural Physiology. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I literally would rather watch paint dry.

“Vee… Miss Vee, can you hear me?”

I feel a tap on my lap and it's from Briana. I'm immediately jolted back to reality, and I can feel every eye in the room on me.

“Yes, professor.” I answer sheepishly.

“I've been calling you for the past five minutes. Where in the mythical realms did your mind wander off to?”

“Anywhere but here, professor.” I think to myself, and I can feel my wolf let out a tiny yip at that.

“I'm sorry, professor.” I say while trying really hard not to roll my eyes.

“You better be. Please pay attention in my class.”

“Yes, sir.”

And just like that, Professor Blackburn is back to teaching about the respiratory adaptations of merfolk.

“Depending on the air quality, merfolks develop differently. Some learn to breathe through their skin, while others develop lungs complete with alveoli and other physiological components of a complete lung…”

His shrill voice makes it hard for me to pay attention. My wolf senses pick up every decibel of it.

I feel my phone vibrate in my lap.

Text from Jax💕: ‘Hey babe, watcha up to?’

I smile despite myself.

I look to the front and, when the professor isn't looking, I reply.

Me: ‘I’m currently in Blackbum's class. And I wish the wild winds would just take me away.’

Jax: ‘Lol. Still on for the movies tonight?’

Me: ‘Yessss! I'll ttyl. LY.’

Jax: ‘Sure thing bunny. ILYT’

Bri looks over at me and whispers, “Ugh, you've got the ‘I just texted Jax’ smile on your face.”

“I have no such thing.” I whisper back.

“You do too.”

“Miss Fang and Miss Ghouldin, can I have a little bit of decorum in my class?”

“Sorry, professor.” We both say in unison amidst giggles.

The class ends thirty minutes later and we leave together for the greenhouse. I accompany her because I feel calm in nature too, and it's the only thing that has been able to soothe my wolf in the few weeks leading up to the lunar cycle.

“So, what'd Jax text you?”

“Oh, nothing much. He just wanted to clarify if we were still on for our movie date tonight.”

“Tonight!? Vee, you know the lunar cycle is in a few days, and from what I know about werewolves, it makes you guys super erratic.”

“I know, I know. But we've been dying to see this movie together for weeks now.”

“Okay, love. Just be careful.”

“Don't worry, shortie. I will. Besides, I've got my scent blockers on.”

“Okay.”

We head into the greenhouse and I instantly feel my wolf settle down. The smell of roses, the warmth of the place, the tiny hum that I can't quite place makes me want to live here forever.

There are a few other creatures here: nature fairies, sprites, elves, and the occasional gnome. Everybody is busy tending to the plants. I can't do much, so I just sit and watch them all work.

I pull out my new mystery book from my bag and start to read. I'm almost done when I hear Bri walking over, my senses picking up on the peculiar sound of her walking, the tiny, ever-present late footfall from her slightly uneven feet.

“Alright, Dawg. Ready to head out?”

“Yes, shortie. Let's go.”

We walk until we get to our dorms. We hug, say our goodbyes, and I head off to the right wing of the dorm. I see people lounging in the floor lobby, most of them in pairs, others sitting alone and getting some work done on their laptops.

I spot Jax's friends all huddled up in a corner. I walk up to them, hoping to find him with them and surprise him too. I draw nearer and hear them talking.

“Wait, he's still keeping the stuff going with her? I mean, it's been a year now. The lunar cycle is almost here…”

“Hey, babe!”

I let out a yelp and nearly jump out of my skin as I turn around to find Jax behind me.

“Oh my stars, babes. You scared me.”

“I'm sorry, love.” He says as he leans down to kiss my cheek.

I turn around to greet his friends, but I find them all looking uneasy, like they've been caught doing something they shouldn't have been. Their heads are bowed, and they avoid my eyes. I'm confused, but I brush it off as boys being boys. They might have had a squabble earlier and now feel guilty for whatever they did, and with Jax being the only Alpha amongst them, they usually end up almost always apologizing.

“Are you ready, babe?” Jax says.

“No, hun. I just got back from the greenhouse. I thought I'd find you talking with the boys. I just need to head up and go shower and then change.”

“Okay, love. Please, hurry.” He says as he kisses my cheek hurriedly.

“See you in a few.” I say as I hurry off, but I don't miss the “What the fuck were you guys thinking?” from Jax, which is directed at the boys in front of him. I just walk faster to the elevator, trying to ignore what I just heard.

I get to my room and it's just as I left it in the morning. I toss my backpack on the bed, take off my clothes, and head into the bathroom. I'm done bathing in five minutes. I dry off, then step out of the bathroom.

I rummage through my tiny closet to find something to wear. I go for a blue, slightly cropped top, bootcut jeans, and a sweater just in case it gets cold later. I draw on some eyeliner, put on some light lip gloss, and then head out.

I meet Jax sitting alone in the lobby, the pack gone, which is strange.

“Where'd the boys go?”

“Oh, they left for a quick lap in the woods.”

“Okay, and who's leading them?”

“Danny is.”

Danny is Jax’s best friend and Beta. Most likely, he'll be his second-in-command when he takes over the Alpha title.

“Okay.” I reply.

“You look beautiful as always.” He says as he lands a peck on my cheek.

I push him away and then look around to make sure no one sees that.

“Thank you, boo.” I say while feeling my cheeks and ears heat up.

“Relax, babe. Nobody's gonna say anything.”

“I know, but you know what the pack rules say.”

“Yes. The whole rule against dating until you meet your ‘destined mate.’” He says, putting his fingers in the air and air-quoting the destined mate part.

“Yes, that one. I don't want the pack elders punishing us.”

“Babe. Nobody can punish me. I'm the next Alpha.”

“I know that. But I can be punished. I'm just an Omega.”

“Yes, my Omega. I'm gonna protect you, okay?”

“Okay. Let's go.”

Wolves are only bound to one mate, and this is usually revealed during our lunar cycle, which happens every year. Most wolves find their mates between the ages of 18 and 25, with a few finding theirs later in life, but that's super rare.

And dating is extremely rare in wolf culture. My pack, alongside others, frowns against it. We're all expected to keep ourselves for our future mates, but Jax doesn't care about some dead person's rule. He just does what he wants, and him being the future Alpha means everybody just turns a blind eye to it.

We head out and Jax hails a taxi. He opens the door for me, and I get in. He joins me, and the driver starts to move.

“So, how were classes today?” he asks.

“It was the literal worst. We had to learn about Merfolk physiology. I wish they would just pick a side. Either they stay on land or they stay in water.”

“Babe, you can't say that. It's politically incorrect, and you might get canceled for that or, worse, killed.” He says with mock seriousness.

“And who's gonna cancel or even kill me?” I say with a smug smile.

“Well, for starters, I'd say our humble driver here.” He says with a slight chuckle.

I look at our driver for the first time tonight and see the unmistakable scales on his hands. I immediately go pale. My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, and this makes Jax laugh even harder.

Luckily, we get to our stop and we both get out of the car. Jax is still laughing as he pays the fare. I punch his arm to get him to stop, and he just laughs harder.

“You're such an asshole.” I say with mock irritation, slowly feeling myself about to laugh.

“Says the person who just said the most racist thing to a Merfolk?”

“It was just a joke!”

“Yeah, right.” He says with a smile.

We both head into the cinema, get our tickets, and sit down to watch the movie. Thirty minutes into the movie, Jax excuses himself to go pee.

I just nod, totally engrossed in the movie. After a while, I hear a notification sound from his phone. I look over and pick it up to mute it. That's when I see a message from a group titled, ‘Bros at Arms.’

Damian: ‘So, when are you gonna tell her, bro?’

Luthor: ‘The lunar cycle is almost here.’

Charlie: ‘We can't keep this shii up, lad.’

With each text that comes in, I feel my stomach drop and my hands get clammy. I have a feeling of impending doom as the nausea builds in my stomach. I just shove the thoughts to the back of my mind and drop the phone, hoping that I'm just being paranoid.

I try to pay attention to the movie, but my wolf is restless. I take a few deep breaths and try to focus on the movie, but I just can't. Suddenly, everything feels too much. I can hear the crunch of popcorn being eaten a few seats ahead of us. The seats feel too small.

I don't know when Jax comes back and touches me.

“Hey, babe. What'd I miss?”

“Oh, nothing much.” I reply, trying to hide my unease.

“Are you okay? You look pale.”

“I'm fine. I'm good.”

“Okay, love. Come here.” He says as he pulls me closer to him.

I inhale his scent and feel my body calm down a bit. I nuzzle deeper into him, breathing in his scent and enjoying the warmth of him.

Finally, I'm calm, and I continue watching the movie.

But my wolf still isn't.

I can still feel her pacing around in my head.