Chapter One
‘Callie! Come on we’ll be late!’
I could hear Ella Jackson before I saw her. Her bouncy long ash blonde locks, a stark contrast to my shoulder length raven hair. I could see them bouncing around her shoulders as she came bombing over to me. Ella has always been my opposite since I have been here the last 18 months. She loves a dress whereas I would opt for a white t shirt and skinny jeans. Her warm chocolate brown eyes complement her sun kissed skin.
I make my way towards her through the copious amounts of couples, snogging each other. Oblivious to the world around them. That’s what it’s like here at Crescent University when the heat season strikes.
Horn dogs.
Horn dogs everywhere.
I don’t mean some Arizona heat; I mean as in dogs on heat. Which is quite fitting considering I am surrounded by werewolves. Everyone, everywhere. Just eating each other’s faces off or dry humping in the hallway. I would advise to avoid the cleaning cupboards; you’ll find more than cleaning products in there.
‘Let’s go day dreamer! Professor Atkins will have both our heads.’
Our music production professor wasn’t exactly the most forgiving. As Ella linked her arm through mine, I couldn’t help but smile at her.
Not all students at Crescent University are werewolves, however. Around 65% are but the rest are humans. The Alpha of the pack who owns the territory the university resides, Alpha Jason Yeager of Royal Blood Moon Pack, set this up some time ago.
He believed it would allow wolves to mingle with the humans and give them a chance to find their mates, should they turn out to be human or wolves from out of pack territory who enrol into the university. It’s proven very successful so far which is why the Elders have allowed it to continue for as long as they have.
The one rule to follow, do not let the humans know of werewolves’ existence.
This rule hasn’t been broken since the university started. The only time a human is made aware, is if they are a wolf’s mate. Even then they are sworn to secrecy by the Alpha and Elders. Even human best friends are off limits. The walls have ears so the offending wolf would be found out and dealt with.
‘Remember I am coming over to yours tonight to work on our production project’ Ella reminded me.
‘I even asked mum to cook your favourite dinner, sausage casserole,’ I chuckle at her, ‘still amazes me that it’s your favourite dinner.’
She shrugged her shoulders, ‘What can I say? I am a simpleton.’
We make our way inside the university doors and walk to our lecture. We push past bodies who are none the wiser about other people around them. They’re too busy fooling around to care.
As we turn a corner, one of Ella’s study books clips another student’s arm. The book drops from the small stack she was holding and as Ella picks up her book, she looks up to face Morgan Dale and Aspen Wicks.
Morgan is one of the semi-popular girls at school. Everyone knows about her, but she only has a limited number of friends. The university’s drama queen.
‘Watch where you’re going next time! You could’ve scratched me,’ Morgan whined, her face slightly contorted.
‘Perrrlease! If I wanted to scratch you, it wouldn’t take much,’ Ella scoffed back, ‘that porcelain skin of yours would tear easily, just like paper.’
I knew what she meant by that; Morgan is human whereas Ella is a werewolf. It was quite amusing when the wolves would tease humans. Sometimes, it seemed, that wolves have a better sense of humour than humans.
Morgan’s brow furrowed, ‘Careful blondie, otherwise, I’ll rip some of those hairs from your head!’
‘I’d like to see you try.’ Ella’s remark was dripping in sarcasm. She knew full well how a cat fight with Morgan would end. It’s Aspen I feel sorry for. Morgan is only friends with her for one thing.
That one thing being a boy.
Aspen is mated to Cade West, who is the Royal Blood Moon’s Beta’s son. Who also just so happens to be best friends with Alpha Jason’s son, Zane Yeager. The real reason Morgan keeps Aspen close. Morgan sees it as the perfect opportunity to get close to the future alpha.
If Aspen is going to go out with Cade, Zane is more than likely to tag along as well. Morgan worms her way into their meet ups with the old excuse ‘well if Zane is going, I should go as well, I am your bestie after all’ or some type of crap like that. I would love to be a fly on the wall if Morgan ever found out she was mated to a wolf. The faces she would make when she found out. Pure gold.
‘Just keep out my way Ella.’ Morgan looked me up and down before she twirled around, her chocolate brown hair flowing as she did so and off, they went. I stood there looking after her. The audacity of the girl.
‘At least I don’t have to fight with her bullshit today,’ Ella said as she relinked my arm.
‘No one wants to put up with any shits of hers,’ I chuckled back. I don’t understand why Morgan has such an issue with everyone, although I get why Aspen might not like us.
‘Callie Miller! Ella Jackson! Where were you last night?!’ Impeccable timing from the devil himself. I roll my eyes as I turn around to face the beef cake stomping towards us. Cade stood tall at 6’2 with his golden locks and piercing blue eyes. He was the definition of sex. Shame he is off limits.
‘Studying idiot, keep your voice down!’ Ella hisses at him.
‘I missed you both at the party. I was all by my lonesome,’ he made puppy dog eyes at us.
‘We all know that never happened. Knowing you, you were probably the centre of the party.’ Ella chirped at him.
‘Actually, to be fair, it wasn’t as good as James made it out to be. I think sometimes if it’s on a uni night, people tend to not drink so much.’ Cade smiles at us.
‘Not that alcohol would have any or much effect on you anyways, which doesn’t give you a reason as to why you are a goofball at parties.’ I loved teasing him.
‘Excuse me Cal if you must know I still have to walk to the walk. You know, act as though it does have some effect.’ Wolves have an excellent tolerance to alcohol.
‘Still not an excuse for your dad dancing,’ Ella smirked.
‘Honestly I don’t even know why I’m friends with you two sometimes, I get bullied most of the time,’ he sighed, ‘I’ll meet you for lunch in the usual spot.’ He waved goodbye and went in the same direction Morgan and Aspen went. No doubt going to look for his mate.
Must feel nice for Aspen to feel wanted by someone like that all the time. Cade was such a goof, but I loved him dearly.
‘Did you hear that Zane will be back next week from his alpha training?’ Ella asked as we continued making our way to our lecture.
‘Yeah, I’ve heard. Mum mentioned she heard about it at work. He’s been away for 2 years, right?’ I push open the door to our lecture hall which in turn received a raised eyebrow from Professor Atkins, who had already started.
I shoot him an apologetic smile and we quietly make our way through the back seats so as not to disturb anyone.
‘Correct, you haven’t seen or met him yet either as you’ve only been here a year and a half. He’s 25 years old and still hasn’t found his mate yet. Tragic if you ask me.’ Ella said sympathetically as we sat down in our seats.
Werewolves normally find their mates not long after their 18th birthday, but as in the case of Zane, this is yet to happen. Werewolves can take a chosen one, but many wait out for many years in hope. Many even cross the earth to find them. You do also get some cases where many don’t find them at all. It could be that their mate died before meeting, or they just simply never meet.
I could smell sex in the air.
As I look further down the row of seats, I could see two entangled bodies on the floor, hidden by the seats in front. I could hear the sound of kissing as well as deep breaths.
Why in this place of all places? I run my hand over my face in disgust. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no virgin but surely, you’d have more dignity than to do it in a lecture auditorium.
Ella also smells it; a wolf’s sense of smell is unbeatable. She leans forward to look where I’m looking and acts as though she’s going to vomit.
‘Anyways back to Zane, wonder if he’ll find his mate when he returns?’ Ella whispers, ‘I suppose Alpha Yeager would want Zane to have a future Luna for the pack.’
Almost instantly, Ella’s eyes widen, and she turns in her seat towards me,
‘Or she just wasn’t around but has since transferred here whilst he has been away from training?!’
I could see the cogs turning in her head.
‘I don’t think that’s going to happen’.
‘Why is that? The Alpha’s son not good enough for you? He’s very nice on the eye.’ Ella says matter of fact as she turns back in her seat.
I know how good he was on the eye. I’ve seen the pictures. Who could forget those striking emeralds that sit in his eye sockets or those midnight locks sitting on that perfect head.
If Ella only knew that her theory is nigh impossible, it wouldn’t happen to me.
I am half human and half vampire after all.
