Chapter 5 #2
“Wow.” Xinyi blinked at me, then shook her head. “Sorry, it’s just hard to remember when I was first bonded. It’s been twenty years for me, and I still feel like a baby compared to some of the others.”
I opened my mouth to ask more except my luck ran out as my pile of books tipped to one side. Before they could crash to the floor, a dark figure appeared above, grabbing the books with an, “I’ve got it.”
My head lifted… and lifted even further before my eyes locked with the dark brown eyes of the same werewolf from before. This time, close up and not in defensive mode, I took the time to look him over.
Built like he spent hours in the gym, his white t-shirt was fitted against his muscled biceps and torso, a shocking contract to the dark brown shade of his skin. Going with the gym theme, he wore grey sweatpants that showed off his tapered waist and thick thighs.
The shadow of a beard hugged his jawline, framing the broad smile on his lips. I had the sudden urge to trace those lips, to finger the silver hoop decorating one side. A matching barbell pierced his eyebrow, the same eyebrow that lifted the longer I stared at him.
As someone who had been around a lot of gorgeous men, my dads included, he had to be one of the prettiest I’d ever seen in my life.
“You again,” I said dumbly, trying to take my books back, but he held them out of my reach.
Which, at five six, was hard to do in most cases, but I barely reached this guy’s chest. I suddenly imagined having to push up on my toes to kiss him.
Shaking the thought away, I cleared my throat and held my hand out. “Can I have my books please?”
His lips jumped up even higher. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I let the princess carry her own books?”
“The kind that doesn’t want to get throat punched in the bookstore,” I retorted, choosing violence over the twisting attraction in my stomach.
“Jack! You didn’t tell me you knew Tate!” Xinyi pressed up next to us. “You’ve been here for a hot minute, and you’ve already met one of the most important people on campus,” she practically gushed and, if she were a cartoon, she’d have animated stars in her eyes.
Tate didn’t even try to act like it wasn’t true. In fact, he puffed up his chest and smirked. “So your name is Jack, huh? I think I like princess better.”
Not wanting to cause a scene with the campus’s resident wolf-in-prince’s-clothing, I took a deep breath and shoved down all the parts of me that demanded I stab first and ask questions later.
“You can call me whatever you want. Can I please have my books back?”
Tate held my books in one arm and threw the other around my shoulders, making me tense. “Would you look at that? She can say please! And here I thought you were just as hot-headed as the wolves.”
“You would know,” I snapped back before I could think better of it.
“There she is,” Tate crooned, as if it pleased him to no end when I lashed out at him. “I’ll tell you what, princess, you let me carry this to the checkout and then I’ll give them back.”
I paused, giving him a wary side eye. “Just to the checkout?”
“Yep,” he popped the letter, practically vibrating with energy.
Shooting a look to Xinyi, who gave me a subtle thumbs up, I sighed. “Fine. Just to the checkout.”
Tate followed behind Xinyi and me all the way to the checkout. A few people stopped to stare or greet Tate by name. Obviously, plenty of people knew him.
This could be useful to my mission. Maybe he knew where the rebels were meeting? Though I couldn’t just outright ask him. I’d have to make friends with him first. Gain his trust.
The very idea of spending time with the touchy werewolf made something inside of me warm. No, it was a bad idea. I didn’t have time for distractions. Friends, yes, but the way he kept staring at me…
I snuck a look over my shoulder finding him blatantly checking me out. There was no way he had friendship on his mind.
We reached the cashier, and Tate dutifully placed my books on the counter. I told her my student ID so it would be charged to my account and turned to the lingering wolf while she bagged up my books.
“Uh, so thanks for carrying them. I think I’ve got it from here.”
Tate leaned against the counter, peering down at me with that flirty grin. “I’m more than happy to carry anything you need, princess.”
Xinyi watched from the side like we were her favorite drama on T.V.
I ignored his implications and took my bags, awkwardly shrugging a shoulder. “Guess I’ll see you around.” Then I turned to Xinyi. “See you in class?”
“Definitely,” she said, almost in awe.
Before Tate or Xinyi could find a reason for me to stay, I practically ran out of the bookstore.
My face heated as I recalled the entire interaction.
Geez, I’d been such an awkward spaz. Sure, I was homeschooled, and most of my friends were hunters, but it wasn’t like I didn’t know how to interact with people on a normal basis.
It was probably because the people I did interact with knew I was a Durand, so they treated me with a kind of deference.
I’d never quite be one of them, and yet they couldn’t ignore me.
It was probably why it took so long for me to lose my virginity and, of course, to the most inappropriate person ever.
But there weren’t any others trying to date me, not with the lingering threat of my seven overprotective dads.
As I made my way to my dorm room, I realized this was the first time in my life someone flirted with me because of me and not because of my family. It was a strange revelation, and I couldn’t decide if I hated it or if the warmth in my chest was begging for more.
Pushing smiling werewolves from my mind, I dropped my books off at my room. It wasn’t a huge room, not that I’d expected it to be. My roommate wasn’t there yet, so I had a moment to myself.
There were two twin beds on either side of the room with matching desks lined up next to each other. The desks acted as a divider for each side of the room. We each got our own dresser and closet, not that I needed it.
I hadn’t packed much. Most of my outfits consisted of the same thing. Hunting didn’t require a variety of clothing. As I made my way down to my bike for my bag, I realized I might need to add to my wardrobe.
This was college, and I’d likely have to mingle with the other students. From what I’d noticed from the hunters, that usually meant parties and drinking. Two things I tended to shy away from.
Not that I was being antisocial. More because, when I was there, it seemed as if everyone had to be on their best behavior. Like I’d tattle on them to my godparents. It was just best all-around if I wasn’t there to kill the vibe.
Thankfully, I didn’t come across any more issues with werewolves while grabbing my bag and then returning to my room. My roommate still hadn't come back, so I decided to shoot a quick message to my mom before taking a shower.
Me: what do you wear to a party?
Mom: did you get invited to a party already?? ?? I knew you’d make friends.
I rolled my eyes.
Me: clothes? Ideas?
Mom: depends on the party. Is it outdoors? A kegger? In the dorm room? The options are endless.
I sighed heavily. This was becoming more complicated than it needed to be.
Me: nvm I’ll just wear what I have.
Mom: No you won’t! Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I’ll send you some options.
I didn’t respond, worried what my mom considered options.
Instead, I grabbed my shower things and headed for the co-ed bathroom. For being so strict about gender-matching roommates, they sure didn’t care about us sharing a bathing space.
Long counters with sinks filled the center of the room, while stalls that turned out to be toilets lined one wall. The other wall had stalls of curtains instead of doors, leading to a bench before another curtain which held the shower.
There weren’t many students lingering in the bathroom, which gave me a much-needed moment to breathe.
My mom must be ecstatic about me being here, and anything that made my mom happy made my dads happy. I had to be careful how much I shared with her, or I’d have all seven of my dads blowing my cover within the week if some guy so much as looked too long at me.
Tate's face came to mind, and I pushed it away before that warm feeling could take hold again.
No, I definitely couldn’t be too giving with my information. There was too much at stake to blow this for me now.