Year One

6

My eyes went back to the game and watched as Ian threw the ball to Darren. Darren caught the ball as the runner ran on first.

“Safe!” Yelled the umpire.

“Dammit.” Sheila slumped back on the seat. She sighed and glanced over at me. “Look, it’s just now settling in. I’m sure you guys will make it work.”

If only that was what was bothering me. “Yeah, you’re right.” For some reason, I didn’t want to alert the others. My wolf wanted to be the one to call the shots with this guy.

I glanced over my shoulder, and of course, tall, blond and mysterious was right there. He lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers at me.

Who the hell was this guy? I stood and held his gaze. “I’ve got to run to the bathroom.”

“Why didn’t you go on the way to the concession stand?” Sheila asked, but her eyes were still locked on the baseball field.

Good, it’d be easier to slip away again. “Sorry, I didn’t need to go a few minutes ago.” Without any further explanation, I ran down the steps and behind the bleachers that were near the woods.

Yes, I was being stupid, but reinforcements weren’t far away. That’s how I was justifying it.

“I’m surprised you came out here alone.” He appeared on the other side of the bleachers, heading straight toward me. “Don’t you realize what I am?”

“A leech, right?” As soon as those words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back.

“Oh, wolves have a sense of humor after all?” His face appeared as if it was made of stone. He wasn’t giving anything away.

“Why are you here?” I had to figure out why a vampire would show up now. It made no sense.

He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t they tell you?”

My heart stopped. Is this why my parents were acting so strange? They knew a vampire would be here. “No, they didn’t.”

“Well, then. For once, I get to make the introduction and share the ever so lovely news.” He chuckled at the end and began to move closer to me.

“I won’t be your dinner if that’s what you’re getting at.” I didn’t back away. I wouldn’t act like prey. Even if he took me down, it would be with me fighting ’til the end.

“You know, when I first laid eyes on you earlier, I thought that somehow she was wrong, but now I’m not so sure.” Now he was only a few feet away from me, and his candy cotton scent picked up in the breeze.

“What are you talking about?” This one time, I let my wolf take control but didn’t allow the shift. A low growl came from my throat, and I lifted my chin defiantly.

“There she is.” A smile filled his face, and his body began to relax. “I’m the recruiter from Bloodshed.”

Wait. If he was the recruiter, why was he standing here with me? “Oh ... Well, Greg is playing in the baseball game, but I’m sure he’ll make time for you after.”

“Why would I want to talk to him?” His forehead creased, and he scratched his head.

“I thought you were coming to recruit him.” None of this was making any sense.

“No, I’m here for you.” His words were clear and direct.

“But a girl can’t be an alpha.” Those were the words my parents had told me ever since I was a child. “I’m not eligible to be there.”

“That’s not true at all.” He raised both hands in the air. “Hell, the headmaster is a woman and the toughest person I’ve ever met. She’s the one who told me how to find you.”

“I don’t understand.” I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Maybe someone was playing a trick on me. “Is this a joke?”

“Okay, let’s try this again. A redo if you will.” He held his hand out toward me and smiled. “Hi, I’m Cole, a recruiter for Bloodshed Academy.”

This had to be a dream or a nightmare. At this point, I wasn’t really sure which way this would go. “Hi, I’m Raven.”

“Nice to meet you.” He extended his right hand and reached for mine. “I promise I won’t bite … unless you want me to.”

I wasn’t sure if he was laughing or hitting on me. I reluctantly took his hand and shook it. “I thought you were trying to make a good impression.”

He chuckled as he crossed his arms in front of him. “No. I think it’s you who should be trying to make a good impression.”

“If this is some kind of joke Ian is playing on me, tell him to go jump off a cliff.” That’s the only way this would make any sense.

“Hey, whoa.” He approached me slowly as if I was a rabid animal. “I swear. This is no joke. I don’t know why you’re assuming I’m here for …” He paused and tapped his finger to his lip. “What’s his name again?”

“Greg,” I growled in my throat and then took a steadying breath. I couldn’t let this asshole know just how riled up he was getting me. “You called his father last night to tell him you were coming to meet him.”

“Wolves.” He chuckled and smirked. “People say vampires hear what they want. Every supernatural is guilty of it just like Greg’s father.”

“Okay, so what did he misunderstand?” Instead of arguing the fact, I decided to turn logic around on him.

“Well, I did call him ...”

“See.” I interrupted him and cheered in my head.

“You didn’t let me finish.” Cole lifted a hand and waved it in circles. “May I continue?” His eyes filled with mirth.

“Fine.” If he was going to play games, so could I. “You may.”

“But I only said I was coming to meet one of his pack members.” He dropped his hands, and any trace of mirth vanished. “As I said; you’re the one we want.”

My heart picked up, and my stomach felt as if it was performing somersaults. “Me … But why?”

“Do you ever feel like you’re battling something inside of you?” He moved so there was only an inch of space between us. “That you want to become unhinged?”

That’s exactly how I’d been feeling lately. Like if I didn’t contain my inner animal, I would explode and raise havoc.