Tides Of Fate

Chapter Nineteen

Ann pulled into the parking lot. It was bigger, much different from my high school one. We got out and walked towards the administration building. I felt anxious and excited at the same time.

Maria looped her hand around mine. “Do you want us to go with you to get your class schedule?”

Yes. “No, I’m good.”

“Okay, just don’t get lost.” Ann handed me her cell phone. “Just in case.” Then she turned around and disappeared in a crowd of people.

“Call me, any time.” Maria gave my arm a tight squeeze then disappeared in the opposite direction.

I walked through the double doors and joined a line with other freshmen. They all looked as excited as I was. This was a new start for them, for me it was the only part of my life that remained constantly normal. I’m in love with a five hundred and twenty-five year old werewolf, my father is a werewolf and I am slowly changing into a werewolf too. College was the only normal part of my life.

“Lee!” A familiar scratching voice filled the room. Yes, school life was going to remain normal. I turned around with the best fake smile I could pull up.

“Hi, Jane, what are you doing here?”

She jumped on me and gave me a tight hug. “I’m going here, too, and so are George and Josh.”

“George.” I said his name with a laugh. If Ash knew we were in the same vicinity he would yank me out of school immediately.

“Yeah, they are right over there.” She turned around and pointed to the back of the line. Josh and George were ogling some girls. “By the way, Josh and I broke up.” She sounded depressed.

That didn’t shock me. His patience must have run out. “Why and when?” I tried to sound concerned but I just couldn’t drum it up.

“Right after graduation, he said we weren’t compatible and college was a time to explore.”

It was just like Josh to let her down gently. “I’m so sorry, but there are over four hundred guys within a hundred square feet of you to take your pick from. You’ll be fighting them off.” Or they’ll be fighting you off.

Her face lit up. “I know, the goodness of being so beautiful. Lee, I know we are best friends…” That caught me off guard. It was the first I was hearing of it, but I kept quiet, hiding the amusement from my face. “But do you mind giving me Ash’s number?” I looked at her shocked, the amusement all washed away.

“Why do you want my boyfriend’s number?” I could hear the infuriation in my voice.

“You two are still together?” Jane sounded shocked.

“Of course we are! What would make you think we’re not?”

“What other reason would there be for you to gain weight? I would be slimming up, not fattening up.” She looked me over as if I had slime all over me. It was amusingly weird but I’d missed the b***h in her.

“It’s a good thing Ash isn’t into all that.” He better not be, considering he had everything to do with it. I picked up my schedule and walked out Jane close behind me. Once we were out the double doors, Josh and George were next to us.

“Hi girls, it’s nice to see you again.” Josh spoke in his cool level voice.

“Especially you, Lee.” George undressed me with his eyes. I had missed Josh, but George not so much.

“Hi guys, did you get your schedule already?” I asked tagging on Josh’s short locks. I found his new look weird. He looked even more mature but he also looked even cuter with his new hairdo.

I know. He mouthed, smiling shyly.

I like. I mouthed back.

“Yup.” George began tugging me forward and away from Josh. “I know a guy on the inside so we didn’t have to wait in line like all the other freshmen.” He draped his arm over my shoulder. I shrugged it off suddenly wishing it were Josh walking next to me instead of him.

“What classes are you taking, Lee?” Josh bumped George to walk beside me. I relaxed feeling grateful for his kindness.

“History and Arts,” I answered, hooking my arm with his. I wasn’t going to give George a chance to walk beside me again.

“But you hate history?” Jane asked me confused, but I could feel the hint of exasperation in her voice. She didn’t like Josh and me so close together.

“It’s grown on me, and I have a really good tutor.” One that lived through three centuries of history. He could tell me more than books or professors.

“She means me,” George flaunted confidently.

“In your dreams.” Jane rolled her eyes. “She means Ash.”

George’s face dropped. He rushed and stood in front of me, forcing all of us to stop. “You two are still together?” It sounded like a shocked statement rather than a question.

 Before I could answer him, Ann’s phone rang. It was my dad. I exhaled in relief—he couldn’t have called at a better time.

“Excuse me.” I walked a few feet away before I answered it. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, sweetheart, how’s your first day? Make any new friends?”

“No, but I’ve met some old friends.”

“Is Josh there?” My dad’s pitch rose excitedly.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes he is. Don’t get your hopes up, Dad, I’m sticking with Ash.”

I heard the loud sigh and held back a laugh. “A father can dream, can’t he?”

“Josh’s father is also dreaming happy thoughts, nothing close to his son being mauled by a wolf for stealing his girlfriend.”

“Another thing you two would have in common.”

Ha! Sabrina almost killing me for stealing Ash, we were joking about that now?

“Very funny, Dad, so what’s up?”

“I have a phone for you. I’m standing by Ann’s car.” I waved at the guys before I turned and walked towards the parking lot.

“You didn’t have to bring it, I would have waited till I got home. Did Ash give that to you?” I was sure the tracker had been enabled in it.

“It’s no trouble. It gave me an excuse to come see you. Be grateful he isn’t picking you up and dropping you off every day.” My dad was getting carried away with this his-daughter-a-university-student thing. But I was willing to indulge him. It was the second thing we would experience together, first graduation and now university.

“I’ll give you a tour when you come next. I wonder what’s stopping Ash, I half expected him to do this.”

“Me. I know you’ll go crazy being constantly watched. And some space from each other would do you some good.” My dad didn’t hide his annoyance.

He must have reprimanded Ash this morning before I woke up. I understood his fear for my safety, but I didn’t understand why he was so against my being with the man who can best protect me. Yes, it was Ash’s vendetta and his crazy ex-girlfriend that put me in constant danger, but he was still the strongest of the pack, the alpha and the man who is completely in love with me. I couldn’t get any better than that when it came to bodyguards.

“This arrangement is more for you than it is for me.”