CHAPTER FOUR

My parents were thrilled when I told them that I had gotten invited to a party on my very first day at the new school.

Of course, I didn’t tell them any other details - like the fact that no actual students at Ponderosa High seemed to want me there, or that I was only going because the pack Alpha, who was a year or so older than me, had told me to come.

When my dad drops me off, I make sure he leaves me at the bottom of the road. I’ll hike up to Badger Lodge myself. The last thing I need is everyone seeing my lame Omega parents taking me to a party.

I start walking up the long drive, keeping my eyes on the twinkling lights up ahead. The Badger Lodge is high up on a mountainside overlooking the town, and it’s a nice enough walk through the tall pine trees.

I’m halfway up the drive when I hear the sound of a car behind me. It’s not the first time a car full of shifter kids has passed me on their way up to the lodge, laughing and yelling. Most of them didn’t even notice me. I step off the road, standing in the dark of the woods waiting for the car to pass.

But it doesn’t. It stops.

Now I can see that it isn’t just any car - it’s the same Jeep I saw earlier. And it’s being driven by the same guy.

Caleb. The Alpha.

He’s alone.

“Hey,” he says, squinting into the darkness where I’m standing. “”What are you doing out here?”

“Going to the party,” I say, feeling awkward.

“Need a ride?”

I don’t know what to say. I look up the road, trying to gauge how close the lodge is. “Uhh…”

“Come on. Get in.”

There’s something about his voice that makes me want nothing more than to do what he says. And it’s not just because he’s the Alpha and I’m an Omega. It’s something I’ve never heard before, never felt before. Something new. Something special.

“Okay.” I walk around the Jeep, shading my eyes from the bright headlights, and get into the passenger seat.

Even before he starts moving again, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster, pressed back against the seat. His scent permeates the Jeep, musky and powerful, and it makes my head spin.

“I’m glad you came,” Caleb says as the Jeep climbs up the mountain slope.

“You told me to,” I reply, my voice breathy and soft.

Caleb reaches the lodge and parks the car, turning off all the lights, but he doesn’t make any move to leave the Jeep. Instead, he turns toward me, his silver eyes locked on mine. “Is that the only reason? Because I’m the Alpha, and I told you to?”

“No,” I confess, my hands fidgeting in my lap. “I...I wanted to see you again.”

Instead of getting angry at this, Caleb smiles. “I knew it. I knew it when I first saw you, back at the school when I was picking up Malcolm and those guys.”

“Knew what?”

“That you’re my mate.”

My heart skips a beat. It feels like the world is spinning around me. “You - what?”

“You felt it too.” He leans over and places one hand on mine. It’s warm and strong. “I can sense it. We’re supposed to be together.”

That phrase - “supposed to” - it’s one I’ve been hearing my whole life. I know all about what I, as an Omega, am supposed to do. And what I’m not supposed to do.

It snaps me out of the trance Caleb’s voice seems to put me in. “We can’t,” I say, hanging my head.

“I know.” Caleb’s tone is angry. Grim. “It’s forbidden. I’m the Alpha, and you’re…”

“An Omega.” My cheeks burn with humiliation.

Caleb reaches out his hand and cups my cheek, gazing into my eyes. “I don’t care what you are. You’re perfect, and you’re my mate.”

He kisses me. In the dark, with the late night sounds of the forest surrounding us, I fall into the kiss, into his scent, into the heat of his lips on mine. It feels like fireworks are crackling between us, like we’re connected by some electric pulse.

We are interrupted by the lodge door opening. Noise spills out, the sounds of kids shouting and the pounding bass of the dance music inside. The light from the open door catches us, and Caleb pulls away from me, quick as lightning.

“Hey! Caleb!” Malcolm and a few of his friends jog over to us as Caleb hops out of the Jeep. I climb down too, standing awkwardly off to the side.

“Sorry I’m late,” Caleb says, joining the group.

Malcolm sniffs the air, sensing something, then his eyes fall on me. “What’s she doing here?”

“I invited her,” Caleb says casually.

“Eugh.” Malcolm crosses his arms, clearly unhappy about my presence at the party. “Why?”

Caleb shrugs. “She’s part of the pack now.”

Malcolm is obviously annoyed at Caleb’s decision to let me come to the party, but he isn’t willing to argue with his Alpha. Only Caleb’s status keeps Malcolm from pushing the issue.

“Well, let’s try and have some fun anyway,” Malcolm says, throwing an arm around Caleb. He and the small group of shifter boys make their way toward the lodge, me following a few paces behind. Caleb catches my eye and gives me a significant look, but I can’t quite decode what he means.

Once we get inside, I lose track of Caleb and his crew right away. The lodge is packed with shifter kids, all around my age, and the music is blaringly loud. I see Malcolm dancing with Miranda, his tongue nearly halfway down her throat, and I suppress a gag at the sight.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I take it out to see who’s calling. It’s my mom.

Great. The last thing I need at this party is to be talking on the phone with my mommy.

I know why she’s calling, though.

See, there’s something I haven’t mentioned, because it’s really not that important. At least, no one else seems to think it’s important.

Tomorrow is my birthday. At midnight tonight, I’ll be eighteen.