1
I was speeding down the freeway without a care in the world while my friend, who sat in the passenger seat, screamed for dear life. I couldn't help it. I loved fast.
As a werewolf, I was used to racing through the forest with wind in my face, gravel under my paws, and adrenaline pounding through my veins. This? This was nothing. Just another thrill.
“Remind me why I ever get in the car with your crazy ass?” Marsha, my only human friend, asked while trying to save her hair from the chaos.
Marsha's curls were gorgeous, even if she claimed they were impossible to tame half the time. After this drive, though, they'd practically have a mind of their own.
"Because you love my Lambo," I said, kissing my steering wheel and laughing when Marsha gave me an odd look.
“I seriously don’t know why I hang out with you,” she muttered, shaking her head.
“Because you love me, hoe.”
“Damn. You might be right,” she shot back, smirking.
We both burst out laughing. I turned to look at her. “What would I do without you, Marsh?”
Her eyes widened. "First of all, aww. And second, you crazy bitch, keep your eyes on the road!"
I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I muttered and pressed on the gas even harder. Naturally, Marsha nagged the whole way to school.
We arrived on campus with our lives intact. Marsha blew me a kiss as we said goodbye and headed in opposite directions.
As soon as I stepped into class, Professor Crane greeted me with a brief nod and continued her lecture. Honestly, it was refreshing. Back in the pack, I would’ve been chewed out for being late. Here? Just a nod. Gotta love human college.
I was heading for my usual seat when a very familiar scent hit me.
I followed it to the back row.
There he was, propped in a seat with a book in hand. Upon closer inspection, I realized the book was on psychology. I rolled my eyes. If he was going to sneak into an anthropology class, he could at least bring the right book.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped.
The man before me grinned and flipped the book open to reveal his phone tucked inside.
“Oh, just checking out this meme I found on Discord. Did you know otters hold hands while they sleep? They do it so they don’t drift apart.” He turned the phone around and showed me a picture of two otters cuddled together.
It was cute, sure, but I wasn’t falling for his antics. I knew him too well.
“Drew, what are you doing here?”
Drew was my twin brother. Older by three minutes and way more arrogant by at least a decade.
“I need you to come back,” he said, his grin fading into something serious. There it was, his true self.
“And you came here to tell me that yourself? You just left the pack unprotected?” I hissed under my breath.
Drew was an Alpha and way too careless for the position.
“It’s not unprotected. Ken’s watching things. You know I couldn’t send someone else. You’re too damn stubborn. I’m the only one who might get through to you.”
I relaxed a little. Ken, our Beta, was the only person I trusted to lead when Drew and I were gone.
“Come with me,” I said, grabbing his wrist and dragging him out of the classroom.
We’d caught the attention of half the students. Great. As if I didn’t already feel like an outcast.
I shut the door behind us and spun around to glare at him.
Drew sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I don’t get why you left all of us for these humans,” he said, like the words physically hurt him to say. “You and I...we’re blood. These humans? They’re nothing. This isn’t your home.”
“Drew, I left for a reason,” I said, arms crossed.
“I know,” he said, voice low. “But I can’t change the arrangement with Claus, Lily. That was Dad’s decision.”
“And that’s exactly why I’m not coming back. You’re the Alpha now, Drew, not Dad,” I said. “I’m not marrying that pampered, arrogant snob. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got class.”
I shut the door in his face before he could respond.
As I made my way back to my seat, Professor Crane shot me a look of disapproval.
I muttered a curse under my breath.
Thanks a lot, Drew.
