Hunted by the Shadow Division

Chapter 7

Ryan POV

Years later, after graduating, I decided to join my roommate at the graduation after-party. According to him, it was supposed to be the biggest event of the year. I knew my football mates would be there so at the very least I knew I would enjoy myself.

Unlike my mates who would be going off into the NFL and other football leagues, I had used my football scholarship to gain my degree in teaching. I had known I wanted to be a teacher ever since Mr. and Mrs. Rogers rescued us. They were both retired teachers and happened to be the best people I knew, so as a kid I decided the two things must be synonymous. Since I wanted to be a good person just like them, I studied teaching. Mr. Rogers had secured a voluntary position for me at my local school, the same one Nat and I had attended, which provided me with a leg up when I applied to be a teacher there.

What could be better? I had just finished my degree, I had a job lined up for the new year, and since I had a full scholarship I had no student debts.

I took the time to shower and change for the party. I kept changing my clothes, which was unlike me.

"Rhy, what's wrong? How come we feel so anxious? Is it you?"

"What? I don't know what you mean. It's not me!"

"I can feel it's you, Rhy. What's happening? Are we about to change again?"

"No! I don't know. Something feels weird, that's all!"

"Feels weird? You are a wolf. Can't you give me more than that?"

"Let's just get moving and keep our eyes open," he finished.

I ended up with black pants, a white t-shirt and a white shirt over that. This was the nicest I had ever dressed while at varsity but since it was the last party, I figured why not.

Soon we were making our way over to the student centre. The biggest hall on campus was decorated with congratulatory graduate banners, school colour drapes, school mascot images and the football team's logo all artfully placed in between the pre-existing multicolour fairy lights. It was great.

After doing the rounds, greeting and congratulating my friends, it was time to get a drink. Mostly I didn't drink too much. It was just too risky. Although wolves could drink a ton before feeling drunk, it did heighten our emotions a little and that meant risking a grand appearance from Rhy and scaring half the university. So Rhy and I always kept to a three-drink minimum for safety reasons.

"Hey, there is something delicious smelling coming from the balcony. We should check it out," Rhy said.

"Delicious smelling? What, are you hungry?" I asked.

"Just go. Or I will make us." He threatened to take over.

"Fine," I finished as I made my way over to the balcony.

Rhy was right though. Something smelled so good out here, like fresh cinnamon rolls from our favourite bakery. My mouth was watering already.

But as we stepped out onto the back balcony, there was nothing there. No food table was set up out here. There was barely any light as this was the back balcony and usually went unused.

Suddenly, a shadow moved in the distance on the far end of the balcony and both Rhy and I froze to our spot.

"Hi!" we heard, but still couldn't move. It was as if the whole world had stopped and our sole focus was on the shadow now walking toward us. All we could make out was the sway of hips and the shadow of long hair being blown by the slight breeze.

As she stepped into the light we were met with the most amazing chocolate brown eyes we had ever seen.

"Hello?" she questioned, while we stood staring at her.

Suddenly, Rhy let out a howl at the top of our voice, making the girl step back.

"Dammit, Rhy!" I scolded him internally.

"Well, I think that was the first time I heard that pickup line," she giggled and stepped closer.

"Wait, that didn't scare you?" I asked, astonished. That had been a thorough wolf howl.

"Should I be?" she asked, taking another step toward me.

Rhy suddenly took over and growled the word "mate" at the mysterious girl.

"Dammit, Rhy! Wait — WHAT?" I froze.

Mate. He had said mate.

"Um, yeah, sure, I guess. Maybe after a few dates first," she continued to giggle.

This was weird. Rhy had howled and growled at her and she giggled. How was she not running for the hills?

"Because she's our mate!" Rhy screamed in my head. "Now do something or I will!"

"Hi. I'm — um — I'm Ryan. Sorry about that. I hope I didn't scare you."

"Cassandra. Or Cass. And no. Should I be scared, though?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. I swear Rhy swooned.

"Are you going to take me to a second location and kill me?"

That had Rhy rolling with laughter. "She's funny! Must mate her, Ryan. Must make her mine."

"Woooh, slow down. And she's our mate, not yours alone."

"Um, I don't mean to disrupt your inner turmoil, but I am really hoping you're not a serial killer, so if you can let me know, that would be great."

"What! No! I am not a serial killer. I promise."

"Good, because I have had the worst luck with guys and that would just suck."

Rhy growled loudly at the thought of her with other guys and took over, stalking toward Cass and pulling her gently to him.

"No one else! Only me. Only us!" he finished, and stuck his head into her neck to get another whiff of her mouth-watering scent.

"OK, handsome, but I meant what I said. Only after a few dates. And only after I am sure you are not a serial killer."

Cass was moulding her body to ours, completely unafraid. I was so stunned I had forgotten to take back control for a moment, which gave Rhy enough time to do the unthinkable. He held her head gently to the side with our hand and ran his tongue slowly along her throat and her would-be marking spot and whispered "mate" in her ear, causing Cass to moan out loud.

Stunned, she stepped out of our arms for a moment.

"Rhy!" I screamed, trying to take back control.

"Afraid?" he asked her, now concerned he may have gone too far.

We both held our breath and Rhy gave back control, afraid he had messed it up.

We looked at Cass while the silence stretched on. She was holding her neck where Rhy had licked her, a faraway look on her face as if working things out.

"I am so sorry," I started. "I don't know what came over me. I promise we are — um — I am not a serial killer."

Suddenly Cass snapped out of her deep thinking and closed the distance between us. She took my face in her hands, forcing us to look at her.

"Shhh," she cooed. "It's OK. You didn't scare me."

Now it was my turn to step back.

"How did you — how did you know I was upset?"

"Well, your face kind of gave you away, peanut," she finished with a giggle.

"Now," Cass said, bringing me back to her. "Since I am still not fully convinced you're not a serial killer, would you like to take a seat on the bench over there and have a chat?" She pointed to the bench on the far end of the balcony where she must have been sitting when we arrived.

Rhy and I nodded yes, aching already at the loss of her hands on our face.