Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
RAVEN
M y car trudges through the asphalt that's sparsely covered in snow. The tall trees lined up on each side of the road are covered in white streaks, the green of their leaves weaseling their way through the white shade to be seen. Snow mounts on each side, an evidence of the change in season.
My car slows as it approaches the signpost with the inscription, Atlantic Animal Hospital. It indicates that my destination is just right around the corner. I take the turn leading to the left.
A smile tugs at the corners of my lips, a wave of satisfaction washing over me. I had stumbled on a flier a few weeks back, containing info that the biggest Animal Hospital in the city was scouting for volunteers both at their shelter and clinic. I couldn't contain my excitement and that made me sign up immediately.
I love animals and I didn't see a more perfect way to show that than to volunteer to take care of them for the holidays.
The huge building materializes before me in no time, sprawled out on a gigantic piece of land that I can barely begin to decipher its measurement. My jaw drops as I take in its modern, futuristic outlook. The pictures online don't, in any way, do justice to its physical appearance.
The building is a blend of soft brown color, white and sheet glasses that are strategically strapped in different places, giving a little peek of the flawless interior. The neon sign at the highest part of the building boldly glints with the inscription, “Atlantic Animal Hospital.” But then, a glance is all it takes before I notice the smaller building attached to the bigger building. It's a stagnant neon sign that reads, “Atlantic Animal Shelter” and its size is what sets it apart from the first one.
From the outset, I had read through the Brochure enough to know that the hospital is divided into two. First, the Hospital that provides medical care for domestic animals. Then, the shelter where different domestic animals are being taken in from different sources, cared for, looked after and also animal adoption takes place.
That's the division I volunteered at. And God, it fills me with so much excitement to be a part of something so huge, promising and beautiful.
I see the large, empty volunteer bus in the parking lot when I pull over. I need no soothsayer to tell me that I'm running late.
The bus had set out to pick up the volunteers earlier this morning, but I didn't apply for that option because I don't particularly look forward to being in a bus for the first time with people I don't really know. It's safe to say that I stayed back home a little and drove myself here just to gather some nerves.
Even at that, I can still feel the anxiety pooling in my guts.
I plaster a smile on my face, gathering my things and letting myself out of the car. I walk towards the entrance, pushing the glass doors open.
The interior looks cozy and homey, dominated by a warm ivory shade and touches of brown. It's utterly minimalistic yet attention-grabbing, and from where I'm standing, gawking shamelessly, I can hear the noises coming from the animal section. The lobby is crawling with volunteers draped in the signature black tee with red imprints of the shelter's name.
The thrumming of the heater's energy against my skin leads me to the reception desk where I meet the receptionist as I shrug off my coat.
“Good morning,” I smile politely.
“Hi, honey. Good morning.” The older woman who looks like she's in her thirties flashes me a receptive smile. “One of the volunteers, I see?”
I nod, blushing softly.
Her chocolate brown hair is tucked in a low, conservative bun, framing her soft blue eyes that's highlighted with soft makeup.
Warmth crosses her features. “Thank you for volunteering. We do not take it for granted. Please, enter your arrival time here and sign. I'll give you the keys to your locker.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Anastasia. It's a mouthful but you can call me Ana.” Her kindness makes my heart melt on the spot and my words crushes at the tip of my tongue. My gaze lingers on her before I pick up the pen, append my signature and enter my arrival time.
“Thank you, Ana.” I say as she hands me my keys.
“The locker is right at the end of the lobby. You can miss it.” She tells me.
I grin at her, turning on my heels. I drop my coat on one of the numerous hangers on the wall, heading to the locker to stuff in my things.
My eyes wander around the enormous space until I find my legs leading me to the animal section. Each species is caged into a different section, shielded with transparent iron bars.
My heart tugs, softening when my eyes land on the cats section. They are curled up in their cage, their mewls almost overshadowing the barking of the dogs that were in a cage a few feet away.
I walk towards the cage, wrapping my arm around my frame with a soft smile lingering on my lips. Cats are stunning creatures, each curled up in different shades and colors but there were two cats that were nuzzling against each other that caught my attention. Mocha brown and dark orange, respectively.
I furrow my brows, narrowing my eyes on them. There's something utterly off about the way they are quiet while the others lurched forward in their cage, mewling and releasing low, threatening growls.
As though they can sense that they are being watched, their chestnut brown and green eyes, respectively, shoot in my direction. If dissatisfaction and edginess are animals, it'll be the duo. But, I don't allow that to deter me.
“Hey, you two.” I wave childishly at them, grinning. I inch closer just to show them that I mean no threat.
“What do you think you are doing?” the angry, feminine voice comes up behind me. I flinch, looking over my shoulders.
A frown immediately settles on my face when I recognise who it is.
Kylie Craig. A junior at Blue Hampton University just like me. The Resident Queen Bee.
Confusion and irritation engulf me all at once. I'm irritated because I don't understand why she yelled at me like that. Two, I'm confused because knowing Kylie, this is totally not her type of scene.
Kylie is so fake and vain. The last place I expected to see is at an Animal shelter, doing a volunteer service that involves caring about domestic animals. The bitch doesn't have a single empathetic bone in her. So, if she's doing this, she's definitely getting something out of it. I just don't know what it is yet.
“Are you deaf?” she sneers, placing her arm akimbo and jutting her hip out.
Her red hair cascades down her shoulders in gorgeous, sheeny loose curls. It's styled to perfection as usual. Her fiery hair compliments her porcelain skin in a beautiful contrast, highlighting her flawless makeup and pronounced peach gloss.
The dark tee she's wearing is styled in a DIY crop top, tied around the navel. It's paired with a scandalous denim skirt and strappy black heels. There's absolutely nothing about her outfit that screams volunteer. Instead, she looks like she's dressed for a night out at the club with her minions or one of her numerous arm candies.
“I heard you.” I grimace, unfazed. Kylie encounters way too many attention seekers and wannabes. I'm not one of them and as much as she doesn't know who I am, I'm not about to allow her to boss me around. “I'm just waiting for you to skip to the part where you tell me why you yelled at me.”
She scoffs, appalled by how brazen I am. “Well, if you didn't notice. You are scaring them off!”
“How?” I arch my brow at her.
“With a face like that, girl, please.” She rolls her eyes, sashaying forward.
“You look like you can't last a day in here. How could you possibly know anything about these animals?” I'm irritated because I find it overly annoying that she showed up here for whatever reason she has, knowing she won't be able to put on the work.
She marches forward. “How dare?—”
“Is everything okay here, ladies?” The deep masculine voice fills the air in interruption.
Our heads snap in the right direction. My breath instantly hitches when they land on a pair of baby blue eyes. His tall, ripped frame strides towards us like a large panther, his muscles rippling beneath his figure-hugging dark shirt with every movement. It causes my mouth to instantly dry up.
“Everything is fine.” I manage to speak up, clearing my throat incessantly.
It suddenly clicks when my eyes revert to Kylie. Her reason for volunteering just walked in, judging by the way her cheeks are flushed red and how she's shamelessly eye-fucking him.
“Oh, I was just telling the hideous lady how to take care of the animals, Gray. There's nothing to worry about.” I cringe at her choice of words.
“Why don't you go check in on Ana at the reception? I'll take it from here.” Gray responds, eliciting a low scoff from me.
Kylie looks frustrated but she masks it with a smile. “Sure,” my guess is, she doesn't want to appear too cheap, that's why she went along with his subtle dismissal.
She stomps away from the animal section, leaving the two of us alone. Then, it dawns on me that I'm alone with him, causing my heart to pound furiously in my chest. A twinge of consciousness spreads out rapidly in my body like poison, scorching my cheeks.
I have never been the type to go all out with my appearance. My dark hair is thrown in a ponytail. I'm wearing the shelter's customized tee on a pair of skinny jeans and some sneakers. The only makeup on my face is the strawberry gloss on my lips. A few moments ago, my outfit seemed appropriate but now, I feel so underdressed.
He doesn't make me feel any less conscious with how his intense blue eyes are scanning every inch of my body with utmost scrutiny. He's not hiding the fact that he's checking me out.
“Are you okay?” he smirks a little when he notices that I'm doing the same to him.
I blush, looking away. “I'm fine. You didn't have to step in. I had it under control.”
I'm met with his gaze again, and my throat works harshly on cue as he strides forward.
“I didn't see you around earlier. You just arrived?” he asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.
“Oh, yeah.” I shift uncomfortably on my feet. “How did you know Kylie? You are not from around here, are you?” I can't stop myself from asking. I almost slap my palms over my mouth but he chuckles.
The deep, rich sound echoes through the room. For a moment, it's the only thing I can hear.
Damnit.
“I know Kylie from school.” He replies, grinning. My breath catches in my throat at the simple action, but I dwell on the shock I'm feeling instead.
“You attend Blue Hampton too?” my eyes bulge.
Blue Hampton is a huge school, so it's literally impossible to know everyone. Stupid me. I should have known that he's from our school since Kylie knows him.
“Yeah, junior year. Business major. I play basketball too.” His gaze lingers on my face.
“Oh,” I mutter in realization. “I'm an English major. Junior year too.” I add awkwardly.
He must find my consciousness amusing because his lips twitch before he closes in on me. My breath wavers as I take him in up close; tousled dirty blonde hair that falls over his face, kissing his flawless tanned skin, chiseled jawline, prominent cheekbones and sensual lips.
He looks like something straight out of my deepest fantasies.
Yeah, another Jake. The little voice in my head snickers but I ignore it.
“So, what did you do to get in Kylie's bad books?” he diverts the conversation elsewhere.
I snort, looking towards the cat cage. “I was just worried about that duo and she had a problem with it.” My nose catches his masculine, head turning scent when he inches closer.
The heat that radiates off his body swallows my frame, knotting my insides and abdomen. I turn around fully so that I'm facing the cage and he's standing beside me.
“Those two?” his lean veiny fingers dart in the direction of the two cats from earlier.
I gulp, trying my best to focus.
“They used to be three. You could say they were a clique, but the last of the trio was adopted two days ago. That's why they are so distant.” He explains, his voice riding low, coming out husky.
My heart squeezes, realization dawning on me. I don't understand why I was so drawn to them at first, but now I do. Somehow, they both remind me of what Blue used to be like in the early days that I took her in.
“Oh, that must hurt a lot. I can…I can feel their sadness.” I murmur. “How did you even find that out?” I frown, looking away from them to meet his gaze. It feels as though he has been staring at me before I look towards him.
My cheeks redden.
“I can be very resourceful when it comes to finding out information.” He grins, eliciting a faux scoff from me.
“Show off,” I huff.
He laughs, the sound throaty and husky. It makes my skin erupt with tingles. I bask in it until it ceases. And then, his gaze rests on mine.
A tense silence ensues. “You never told me your name.” He says softly.
I unconsciously tuck my lower lip between my teeth, suddenly feeling shy. “Raven. I'm Raven.”
“It's nice to meet you, Raven. I'm Gray.”