Year One

17

Great, right when I thought I was being smooth and unreadable, I look constipated. “No, sorry. Was thinking about something.”

“Girl, we need to work on your thinking face.” She sighed and shook her head. “Anywho, all three guys are jackasses. Only makes them even more dreamy, and Isadora has taken to them.”

“So, I’ve met Cole and Rage, but what’s Damien like?” I had to get my mind off of focusing on Rage and that girl.

“Damien is kind of a loner, and he’ll only really associate with Rage and Cole.” A small smile spread across her face, and her cheeks turned rosy. “He’s a bear shifter so …”

Jess was still talking, but I couldn’t focus on her words any longer. I attacked a bear last night. Could that have been him? Did I hurt Cole and Rage’s best friend?

“We’ve got to work on your zoning out thing.” Jess opened the door and motioned for me to walk in.

“I’m sorry. Everything is still a little weird for me.” I stepped outside, and the warm sun hit my skin. It rejuvenated me a little bit. I was determined to grab Cole and make him tell me everything.

“I get that. It’s hard taking all this in.” We moved along the sidewalk that connected the dorms to the main building. “Hell, let’s be real. I’m still not acclimated, not really, and I’ve been here a year.”

That was hard to believe. Jess was nice, gorgeous, and sweet. “Well, if you aren’t, then there is no telling if I’ll ever be.”

“Not everyone is welcoming and accepting.” Her face dropped a little, but she shook it off and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Enough of me being a Debbie Downer.”

We entered through the set of double doors that led us into a modern connection between the main building and the cafeteria. The connector was all glass, and I glanced through, noting there were several tables and chairs. Students were scattered throughout with open books.

As soon as we made our way inside, the smell of bacon and eggs made my stomach grumble.

“Come on, we’ll grab some food up here.” Jess motioned for me to follow her to the middle of the cafeteria. “Let’s get it before they start packing up.”

My eyes were so focused on the food that I didn’t even see Jordan. She stuck out her foot right as I was taking a step, and I fell to the ground hard.

“For a wolf shifter, you are pretty damn clumsy.” She giggled and glanced at Madison next to her. “And she did that right in front of Cole. Obviously, she has no class, and that’s why they stuck her with the pathetic excuse for a fae.”

My wolf growled and began forcing herself forward. “I could see why you’d need to trip others and put them down. That’s the only way your fake ass will ever get somewhere.”

The cafeteria became silent as Jordan’s chest heaved each time she took a breath. “You stupid b***h! Don’t make me show everyone how easy it would be to bring you to the brink of death.”

I refused to give her any more ammo or even react to her words. However, I felt a pair of eyes burning into my backside.

“Are you proud of yourself now?” Cole’s voice was cold with an edge to his words.

At first, I thought he was talking to me until I saw his eyes were glued on Jordan.

“It’s best she learns where she is in the pecking order.” Jordan smiled at Cole and licked her bottom lip.

“Which pecking order would that be?” He tilted his head and crossed his arms. “Would it be the biggest b***h or the most manipulative heartless b***h?”

“Are you being serious right now?” The normal golden hue of her eyes seemed to darken. “She’s a f*****g newbie, who obviously has issues with her wolf.”

How the hell did she know that? It seemed as if I had my issues plastered on my forehead. “If you want to pick on me, fine, but leave Jess out of it.”

Something flickered in Cole’s eyes. “You best leave Ravey alone, or you’ll have to answer to me.”

Jordan’s mouth dropped open, and she kind of looked like a fish out of water the way she was opening and closing it.

“Come on, Jordan.” Madison grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the door to leave. “They aren’t worth it.”

Both girls walked out the cafeteria door, slamming it in their wake.

A big grin spread across Jess’s face. “You took her head-on and on your first day.”

“Don’t encourage her.” Cole chuckled and grabbed my arm, pulling me in the direction of Rage and another guy.

“Hey, I want breakfast.” Besides, I didn’t want to be around Rage, especially now that I knew he’s got a girlfriend.

“Don’t worry about that.” He stopped at a random table and looked at the guy sitting there. “Go get her breakfast. Get her one of everything.”

The guy nodded his head and stood.

I glanced at him. “You don’t …”

A hand reached around me and covered my mouth. “Ignore her, and bring it to us.”

That bastard had some nerve cutting me off. I opened my mouth and bit down on two of his fingers.

“Now, now.” Cole chuckled, and his breath hit my ear. “I’m all for that kind of foreplay. I just didn’t realize you were one for PDA.”

A drop of his blood fell into my mouth. Somehow, the taste was sweeter than chocolate and even more delicious. Surprisingly, I wanted more.

“Damnit.” He pulled his hand away and shook his head. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Shit. I can’t believe that I did that. However, I wasn’t going to admit it was an accident in front of him. “Good. Don’t ever try to keep me quiet.”

A devilish grin crossed his face. “Maybe I like it loud.”

Oh, dear God. Did he turn everything into a dirty innuendo? I glanced around and realized that the guy was already putting food on plates for me.

“Come on, Ravey.” He tugged on my arm and led me to the table. There was only one extra chair there, and it just had to be between Damien and Cole. Or at least I was assuming that he was the bear shifter.

The guy had some gauze on his shoulders that peeked out from his white polo shirt, and his dark, gray eyes examined me. He was built similar to Rage but looked like an MMA fighter.