Welcome to Princeton!
Emily's Point Of View
I stare outside the window as the cab speeds off to New Jersey. The sun casts its ever glow toward the glass, making me wince. A song from my favourite Band, Radiohead, pounds in my ears as I listen to it on my iPhone–Karma Police has been on a loop.
I can't help the smile on my face, excitement building up inside me. In a week, I'll be starting college, and not just any college– I made it into the prestigious halls of Princeton University, just like I had always dreamt of.
And what could be better than living college life with your big brother?
I know that some people might think it's weird and so terrible. How can I have freedom if we enrol at the same university? He's in his third year now, and I'm a freshman. So I'm sure I will get the freedom to experience new things and explore a normal world.
A normal life, living among humans would surely be nice.
Yes you heard that right, my name is Emily Stoneheart and my life is anything but normal. I am a werewolf.
And yes, my kind do exist, unlike what the majority of the oblivious world believes. The supernatural and everything written in those fairytales do exist–witches, vampires, goblins, demons and dragons– we are just so good at being non-existent.
My father, Leonardo Stoneheart is the Alpha of the Stonehaven pack, a small but prosperous pack in Michigan, and my older brother, Peter, is set to succeed him as next alpha.
My big brother Peter is the best, a bit overprotective but trust me, I can't complain. Truth is, he can be serious at times but I can have fun with him, and that's why I'm even more excited to be staying with him in college.
A smile forms on my lips as I remember his promise to me that he would show me everything about my new university, what things it can offer, his friends and the town. Everything I've missed.
"Trust me, Emily, I'm sure you will love it here in Princeton."
Those words he said to me on the phone ring back in my ear. I can't wait to see him again, but I refused him to pick me up from the airport because he still has classes this afternoon. I can just take a cab from New Jersey, which is what I'm doing right now.
I can imagine my brother, Peter, working his ass off to study. He never wants to disappoint our parents, just like me. He doesn't have to try that hard, though. Everybody knows that his glorious achievement in football got him accepted in college.
As for now, he's the football team quarterback. I remember back then in high school, Peter was the hottest and most popular guy in the eyes of many girls, and the most adored guy in our pack. He was a real hot topic, and his natural fame always got me unwanted attention, but not from the guys though. I guess most of the guys felt intimidated and discouraged because of my brother. Maybe that's why I never had a boyfriend, since no one dared to mess with Peter Stoneheart’s baby sister.
Oh my goddess. I forgot how girls swarm around him, just like every girl swarmed all around Leonardo DiCaprio in the 90s. It was that crazy!
If we live in the same house, will I disturb his privacy? I don't want to see girls making out with him when I'm around. But my parents won't allow me to have another option. They believe it would be much safer if I lived with Peter and he agrees too.
Gosh. Sometimes, I feel like he's more overprotective than Dad.
"We've reached the address, Miss." The driver's voice snaps me out of my train of thoughts, making me realize that I was so lost in my thoughts.
I look up at the big white-coloured two-story house and sigh in Contentment.
My heart leaps up at the sight of him opening the front door. While the driver opens the bunk to get my suitcases, I rush to Peter, and he pulls me into a tight hug.
"I missed you," I say.
"Miss you more, Emm." He pulls away and ruffles my blonde hair.
When I take a good look at him, I realize that he's more tanned than before. And still as handsome as ever.
Okay. I start to sound like a creepy sister. Well. I just miss him so much. Me and Peter shared so many facial similarities, like for example our blond hair and aquarium blue eyes.
"Come in," he invites me in.
I step into the house while he carries my suitcases. I gasp in amazement, his place looked so comfy and airy inside.
My eyes widen as I spot a black grand cello in the living room.
I snap my head around towards his tall frame, and he smirks. "I just bought it." He shrugs. "I know how much you love to play."
I gasp. "You're kidding me."
He laughs before walking off to put the suitcases in my room. But I'm still gawking at the surroundings of my room. I like how Peter organized all these bookshelves hanging on the wall. He really put a lot of thoughts into decorating my room to make me feel at home.
While I'm walking into the living room, I almost stumble upon the rug due to what I see.
Correction. Who?
It was a guy sleeping on the couch. But I can't see his face, since it's hidden by a book.
I can't help but be drawn to the sight before me. Like, I shouldn't be drawn to his arms.
They look muscular, but not too much.
Is he one of Peter's football team buddies?
He's lean and tall. His outfit is simple, though. Just a black shirt and jeans. But why does he look so good?
And his scent completely takes me away, it was the smell of the forest floor, damp earth and sandalwood, with a hint of something wild and untamed.
I feel heat crawling to my face.
Wait. Am I blushing? Because of a guy whose face I haven't even seen yet?
Blame my hormones. I'm an 18 year old she-wolf and my emotions are a lot heightened. And my wolf Esme can be really dramatic and nosy.
I lean closer to see more. The book. What was he reading?
‘The little prince’
My curiosity kicks in even more, getting the better of me and I touch the book slightly away from his face.
Right. I'm peeking. Just a little bit more won't hurt, will it?
‘Who is nosy now?’ I roll my eyes as Esme hums in my head.
Maybe I'm doing this guy a favour. What if he can't breathe in his sleep because of this damn book.
Damn book.
To my surprise, when I begin to move the book away from his face, the guy flinches before abruptly sitting up. I yelp, letting out a small scream as the book falls with a thud on the ground.
He grips my wrist, so tight that I wince. He probably thinks that I'm some kind of killer who wanted to murder him in his sleep.
Shit!
Why does his reflex have to be so good?
But that wasn't just it, his touch made my skin tingle –like a bunch of fireworks were lit in my mind.
Then my mind stops thinking as I stare into his piercing green eyes, which bore into my blue ones.
My heart freezes in place, and blood rushes to every vein in my body. I even think that my shaky legs wouldn't be able to hold me up anymore and that I would collapse if he didn't grip my wrist.
He was just so damn beautiful.