Chapter One: The Human Girl

Things are about to change this school year.

Amanda P.O.V

My name is Amanda Light, and in a town full of werewolves, that makes me different.

I am an only child with two loving parents, a good GPA, and a future that stretches far beyond Stone Rock Pack.

Unfortunately, none of those things matter when you're the only human attending a high school filled with wolves.

To everyone else, I'm just Humi.

That's what they call me.

Not Amanda.

Not Amanda Light.

Just Humi.

The nickname started years ago when Sage Stone decided I wasn't worth talking to. The rest of the school followed his lead like obedient puppies. My former friends, my classmates, and even my own cousins fell in line.

At first, I fought it.

I begged for answers.

I tried talking to them.

I tried pretending nothing had changed.

But eventually, I learned the truth.

Once Sage Stone makes up his mind, nobody dares challenge him.

Not if they want to keep their place in the pack.

So I stopped trying.

I focused on my grades instead.

Books couldn't betray me.

Homework couldn't abandon me.

And unlike people, studying actually paid off.

That was why I was currently driving to school in the car my parents had bought me for my eighteenth birthday.

The thought still made me smile.

For years, I had ridden the bus while enduring whispers and laughter. Now, at least, I had a little freedom.

My senior year had finally begun.

One more year.

Just one more year until graduation.

Then I could leave Stone Rock behind forever.

Unfortunately, the universe seemed determined to test my patience.

I circled the student parking lot three times before spotting a space.

"Finally," I muttered.

I turned my blinker on and started pulling in.

A bright red SUV shot into the spot before I could.

I slammed on my brakes.

The driver's door opened.

Of course.

Vanessa.

She climbed out of the SUV with a grin that could only be described as evil.

"Snooze, you lose, Humi!"

Her friends burst into laughter.

I clenched my jaw.

This was the third time she'd stolen a parking space from me since school started.

Third.

Time.

But arguing with Vanessa was pointless.

People like her never faced consequences.

Not when they were part of Sage Stone's fan club.

I eventually found another spot near the far end of the lot and across the street, at the bank where my uncle works as the president of the bank in town. I had to rush toward the building.

Thankfully, I made it to English class with five minutes to spare.

I dropped into my seat and pulled out my notebook just as the teacher began passing out the test.

Perfect.

I had spent half the night studying.

If I failed this exam, I'd personally walk into the woods and let the wolves eat me.

The test ended quicker than expected.

As students filed out of the classroom, I headed for my locker to grab my supplies for Art.

That was when I smelled it.

I stopped walking.

The scent was faint.

Sweet.

Warm.

Almost impossible to describe.

It reminded me of rain falling on wildflowers during summer.

My heart skipped.

I looked around the hallway.

Nobody.

The corridor was practically empty.

The scent disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.

Weird.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my sketchbook and headed to Art.

Maybe I was imagining things.

The quiz went surprisingly well.

By lunchtime, I was feeling optimistic.

Which should have been my first warning.

Nothing good ever lasted long at Stone Rock High.

I picked up my lunch and carried it outside.

The cafeteria tables were off limits.

Not officially.

There wasn't some written rule.

But everyone knew Sage didn't want anyone sitting with me.

No one talked to me.

No one partnered with me.

No one acknowledged my existence unless they were making fun of me.

So I sat alone on my usual bench beneath a large oak tree.

I unwrapped my sandwich and stared across the courtyard.

One more year.

Then Yale.

The thought made me smile.

Last week, I received my early acceptance letter.

Yale.

An actual Ivy League university.

The principal had called me into his office along with several other students who had been accepted.

For a few minutes, I had forgotten who I was.

Forgotten where I was.

Forgotten that everyone around me treated me like I carried some horrible disease.

Then the meeting ended.

Reality returned.

I practically ran out of the office before Sage could catch up to me.

The last time he cornered me, he humiliated me in front of half the school because I had said hello to my cousin Arica.

My own cousin.

Apparently, that was a crime.

I sighed and took another bite of my sandwich.

A strange feeling crawled up my spine.

Someone was watching me.

I looked up.

Vanessa and her friends stood nearby.

Staring.

Again.

"What are you doing out here all alone, Humi?" Vanessa asked with fake concern.

Her friends giggled.

I ignored them.

Years of practice had taught me silence was usually safer.

Then Vanessa suddenly squealed.

"Sage, darling! Hi!"

My stomach dropped.

No.

Please not today.

I turned slowly.

Sage Stone walked across the courtyard like he owned the entire school.

Which, honestly, he practically did.

Tall.

Dark-haired.

Perfectly built.

The future Alpha of the Stone Rock Pack.

Every head turned when he entered a room.

Every conversation stopped.

Every wolf noticed him.

Including me.

Unfortunately.

I hated that.

Sage barely glanced in my direction.

Instead, he walked straight to Vanessa.

She practically melted.

With an easy grin, he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off the ground, and kissed her.

Right in front of me.

The girls surrounding them erupted into excited squeals.

I immediately looked away.

Gross.

I had no interest in witnessing whatever public performance this was.

But something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Usually, Sage never ignored me.

Usually, he found some new way to make my life miserable.

The fact that he hadn't even looked at me should have been a relief.

Instead, it made me nervous.

Because whenever Sage Stone ignored me...

Something worse usually followed.

I stood abruptly, tossed the rest of my lunch into the trash, and headed toward the gym.

The familiar scent from earlier suddenly drifted through the air again.

Sweet.

Warm.

Intoxicating.

This time it was stronger.

And for some reason, it felt like it was following me.

I froze.

A chill ran through my body.

For the first time all day, I couldn't shake the feeling that something important was about to change.

And somehow...

That change had everything to do with Sage Stone.