CHAPTER ONE
HARPER
TRACK STAR
My arms feel like they move in a rhythmic motion as my legs move as fast as they can carry me around the track. I jump over the hurdles, pushing myself to go faster. The news I received today has me trying to burn away sadness.
Nana Beana is sick. The doctors aren’t sure she’ll get better.
My father is a doctor. He often travels abroad to help those less fortunate.
Mom travels with him since retiring last year.
She was in tears when she called about her mother.
Said she was rushing home to be with her.
My mother had been a workaholic throughout her career.
She needs to stay on that vacation. I told her I’d transfer and watch over Nana.
I’d FaceTime with Mom so she can talk to Nana.
Nana Beana had been there for me all my life. The least I could do is help out. In my gut I knew I shouldn’t have left home. But I was bitter for what happened in high school.
The time at Lexington University in Florida had definitely been an experience.
I always wanted to attend Greywood University.
I gave up my track scholarship to escape them.
Coach DE ‘Oliver was ecstatic I was transferring there. He said I could run track at Greywood. Luckily, he still wanted me on the team. I’m done running away from my problems. I thought Lexington would be a good fit.
Not at all. There were some shady things happening at that school.
I’m happy to attend the school I had planned to attend originally.
I’ll hold my head high and attend my classes.
I will no longer let them ruin my life. Greywood is my town as much as it is theirs.
Well, in the sense I was born there. Their fathers run Greywood.
I come from a good home. We weren’t rich but I never wanted for anything. They on the other hand are filthy rich.
If my grandmother’s time is running out, I want to be by her side.
A faint smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I clutch my knees, struggling to steady my breathing. But the memory of Lionel’s attempt washes the smile away.
Right in the middle of lunch, my body betrayed me. Alpha eyes locked onto me from every nearby table.
My scent, jasmine, lavender, and apples, swirled around me like a magnet.
The Alphas growled and purred, stirring strange reactions inside me.
I bolted from the table, desperate to reach my dorm.
Every Alpha I passed looked as if they wanted to claim me then and there.
My heat was due in roughly three weeks. I couldn’t afford to go into it here.
Outside my room stood a short, stocky man in a hoodie.
“Casey’s not here,” I said firmly.
His dark brown eyes met mine.
My eyes widened, and my heart sank to my feet. “Lionel.”
“I’m here for you, little omega.”
I cast a quick look down the hallway. For the first time in what feels like forever, it’s completely empty. Slowly, I edge backward. He closes the distance, pressing me hard against the wall.
“You smell fucking incredible, omega,” he snarls through clenched teeth.
He yanks my coils and crashes his mouth onto mine. Panic surges as I fumble for the key in my pocket.
“Get away from me!” I shout.
“I’m going to knot you right now,” he growls.
With a surge of desperation, I drive my knee up hard, smashing him in the balls. He collapses, clutching himself in agony.
I slam the key into the lock and twist the door open, then lock it tight behind me.
Dizzy and shaking, I scramble for the scent suppressants, popping two immediately.
My hand finds the heavy wrench tucked in the nightstand.
I brace for the sound of pounding on the door, but there’s only an eerie silence.
Exhaling sharply, I resolve that once I’m back home and classes start, I’ll sign up for the heat clinic.
Someday, I hope to find strong alphas who will love and protect me.
***
I enter the house. “Nana,” I call out.
“We’re in her bedroom,” Nurse Vita yells.
I drop my luggage and stalk toward Nana’s room.
“Hi Nurse Vita.”
Her slanted eyes kick up. “Hello Harper. I’m drawing Beana’s blood.”
My parents brought Vita on fulltime when Nana’s health declined.
“Harper baby, it’s good to see you,” Nana offers a weak smile.
Her brown hair is piled on top of her head. Her brown eyes are telling me she’s tired. I choke back the tears because I don’t want her to leave me.
“It’s good to see you too.”
The nurse removes the needle from Nana’s arm. I move close and curl and arm around her while nurse Vita places a bandage over the area.
“Let me look at you,” Nana says.
I inch backward and spin around.
“You look thin, Harper. Were you eating?”
I chuckle. “Yes. But no one cooks like you and mom.”
“If I’m feeling up to it, I’ll whip you up something.”
My eyes widen. “Nana, you don’t have to.”
“Hush now, girl. I will do what I want for my grandbaby.”
She presses her fists into the firm mattress attempting to rise. I gingerly grab her arm and help her stand.
“I won’t argue. Mom will FaceTime you at two p.m.” I tell her as we walk toward the living room.
She grins. “Sounds good.”
Nana hangs onto me as she sits in her chair.
“Sit down, Harper. I’d like to have a little chat with you. Just let me catch my breath.”
I peek at Vita who gives me a reassuring smile that Nana’s okay.
“I’ll be in the office if you need me,” nurse Vita says.
“Thank you,” I reply.
“What happened at that school?” Nana asks.
“Nothing-”
“Don’t lie to me.”
I blow out a breath. “I awakened a few days ago. My scent caused some alphas to behave a little more aggressive than others.” I meet her gaze. “Will it always be like that?”
She smiles. “No. Your scent was probably more acidic in the beginning giving off that you were uncomfortable.”
I slip my hand over my dark coils. “The second I got to my dorm room I took scent suppressants.”
Conveniently, I leave out that Lionel, an alpha, attacked me.
“Your heat will come soon. You can turn your bedroom into a nest.”
“I made a decision to sign up for the heat clinic.”
Nana’s brown eyes widen. “Harper!”
“I don’t want to go through an extremely painful heat. I want to be helped through it.”
“Have you talked to Dustin?”
“No. And I have no plans to say more than hello in passing.”
“You could ask him to help you through your heat.”
“Like he helped Sarah?” I say.
“You told me you didn’t believe he slept with her.”
I sigh, “Nana, I know but I still want nothing to do with him.”
She leans over and squeezes my arm. “Okay, Harper. I’m here if you need me.”
I place my hand over hers. “Thank you, Nana.”
***
Monday, I walk across the campus taking in the trees lining the walkway.
The buildings hold rich history. I squeal at the realization I’m at Greywood University.
Peeking at my schedule, I dart into the economics building.
I step through the door and notice several empty seats in the large classroom.
I sink into a chair in the middle of the room.
The professor introduces himself and I exhale when I notice none of the guys are in my class. Good.
“Dustin, how nice of you to join us,” Professor Hopkins sneers.
“I apologize, Professor Hopkins,” Dustin says.
This is the first time I’ve heard his voice in almost four years.
Ignore him, Harper.
There’s this pull in my belly, begging me to look at him.
No, I won’t do it.
Professor Hopkins continues with his lecture.
Shit, Dustin’s close. I smell him. His scent pine and vanilla envelope me. I want to borough into his skin and never come up for air.
“What are you doing here, Harper? I remember telling you at graduation not to return to Greywood,” Dustin growls.
I remember how his cold dead eyes stared through me that day when he spit those words at me.
I blow out a breath. How did he know it was me sitting here anyway?
“You don’t own the town of Greywood,” I say over my shoulder still not making eye contact. I notice his long legs in my periphery. His knees almost hit my seat. Had he gotten taller?
“My pack leader’s father does though,” he snickers.
Asshole.
Archer’s father doesn’t own our town, but his family had been here the longest and his father is the Mayor. So he has some pull. But to ban me from the town I grew up in because his sons pack brother hates me is a bit of a reach.
“I’m trying to listen to the professor,” I bite out pressing my pen to my notebook paper.
“You awaken yet, little omega?” Dustin whispers in a mocking tone.
I want to claw his eyes out for calling me little omega. A term that once held endearment.
“Doesn’t concern you if I’m awakened or not,” I whisper shout.
I feel him close now and my body reacts to him.
Shit, when did I take my last scent suppressant?
I can’t let him catch my scent.
“Can’t smell you, little omega. Why is that?”
“My scent isn’t your concern. Just know my alpha ex-boyfriend loved my scent,” I lie.
“Ex huh? Did you break up because you accused him of cheating too?” Dustin sneers.
“Mr. Montclair,” Professor Hopkins snaps. “Stop talking in my class.”
“I apologize, Professor Hopkins. Just telling Harper about our study group.”
Professor Hopkins shoulders relax. “Tell her after class.”
Finally, I can focus on the lesson. But I can’t. Dustin’s giving off an acidulous scent. He’s angry.
I smirk. Good.