Year One

19

Jess had wanted to go with me outside, but I shooed her on. She didn’t need to be late for her training either.

Damien was waiting at the edge of the clearing. He sat on a stone bench and leaned back with his eyes closed, enjoying the faint breeze that ruffled his short hair. He was hot as hell when he wasn’t being so guarded.

The breeze blew in the opposite direction, causing him to stiffen and glance in my direction. “It’s about time.”

He was full of s**t, but I wouldn’t call him on it. In his defense, I did attack him last night, and he hadn’t hurt me. I owed him one.

After a moment, he stood and began walking toward the woods.

If he thought the silent treatment was going to work on me, he had another think coming. I was used to being invisible.

I hurried and followed behind him despite how fast he was going. It was obvious he knew this area. He didn’t slow down, so I had to keep pace. I hated to call up my wolf, but now was a time that I needed her.

She sprang forward just enough without forcing the change. When she realized I wasn’t going to yank her back, she lent me her vision and agility.

The woods smelled of water and flowers. Even though summer was only a few weeks away, the flowers still smelled as if they had just bloomed.

After several minutes, Damien slowed as a clearing appeared ahead. The grass was longer, and dandelions were scattered throughout. I was a little odd because unlike most people, I firmly believed that they were good omens. I’d let that secret slip to Greg once, and he laughed at me. He had told me that was ridiculous and they were just weeds. However, to me, I associated them with freedom. Usually, they only occurred where most people didn’t venture and where I could be myself, unafraid of judgment.

“I was surprised you did that well.” His voice caught me off-guard since it’d been a while since he last spoke to me.

If he was looking for a reaction, I wasn’t going to oblige him. I stood there, waiting for him to go on. Most people liked to talk. They underrated the power of observation and just keeping their damn mouths shut. Obviously, he was wanting me to ask what he meant.

It felt a little like we were having a standoff, but I refused to be the one who cracked first.

“Now, I want you to close your eyes. Tell me what you hear and sense.” He arched an eyebrow, as if he was daring me to argue.

In all transparency, I wanted to, but I wouldn’t back down since that’s what he wanted. So instead, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“What do you smell?” His voice was lower and seemed like a challenge.

“I smell the humidity, the flowers, and your scent … pine and cypress.” I couldn’t believe that I just said that. There was definitely something wrong with my filter.

“Nothing else?” His tone was condescending.

“No, nothing else.” I breathed deeply, hoping to discover something new.

“Push yourself.” His voice seemed to be getting closer, and he chuckled. “I mean, that is … if you can.”

Every time a cocky male acted this way, it made me want to wipe the smug grin off his face. I allowed my wolf to surge forward a little once more. “There is a nest of eggs above me and some squirrels in the tree to my left.”

“What made the difference?”

“My wolf surged forward.” An honest answer, there was no reason to lie.

“See that’s your problem.” Damien huffed. “You think of things as you or your wolf. You should be one being, not two separate entities living in the same body. Go ahead, and open your eyes.”

I had always felt like my relationship with my wolf was strange, but it was unsettling having someone else point it out.

“We’ve got to work on your connection. It shouldn’t be your human side fighting against your wolf.” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “So, we’re going to practice merging the two.”

For the next eight hours, he had me smelling and sensing things around me with my wolf at the forefront in my mind.

As I entered my dorm room, I noticed Jess was on the couch. She had supernatural anatomy and basic traits books scattered all around her. She glanced at me and grinned. “How did your day go?”

“I’m exhausted.” I walked over and dropped into one of the chairs beside her. “Apparently, my wolf isn’t fully integrated, so we’re working on that.”

She reached over and shut one of her books. “I didn’t see you at lunch.”

“That’s because I didn’t have one.” I leaned my head back on the seat. “I’m so exhausted.”

“Well, I’m about to head out for dinner. Wanna go?” She stood and stretched out her back.

“No, I’ll have to pass.” I yawned and melted into my chair. “I’m sorry.”

“I remember my first day.” She smiled at me and opened the door. “I’ll bring you back something to eat.”

“Thanks.” A shower was calling my name.

As the door shut, my phone dinged, alerting me to a text message. I reached down and opened it.

Hey. Call me when u can. I miss you. <3

Great, did I really have it in me to talk to Greg? Either way, I needed to check in with my parents. It had been way too late to call them when it was all said and done last night.

I dialed my parents’ number and waited as the line rang. By the second ring, Mom answered. “Raven, is that you?”

“Yeah, who else were you expecting?” They had caller ID. Mom was losing it.

“Sorry, of course, it’s you.” She let out a sigh and cleared her throat. “We were worried when we didn’t hear from you last night. How is everything going?”

“Come on, Liz,” Dad spoke from the background. “Put the girl on speaker.”

It sounded as if the phone was being shuffled, and then the TV in the background became clearer. “Dad, you there too?”

“Despite your mother’s best efforts, I’m here.” Dad chuckled, and Mom huffed.

I could picture her rolling her eyes and Dad grinning. “Well, I’m glad.”

“Everything okay down there, kiddo?” Dad’s voice got clearer as if he had moved closer to the phone.