Page 18 of Forsaken

The first section is about finding your mate, but the next may as well be written in bold lettering for as much as it’s been on my mind lately. “Mate Feelings: Real or False?”

I gaze up at the librarian as I hook the book under my arm, returning to the table to settle in with what I should already know about fated pairs.

This will either be eye-opening or boring as shit.

8

The book wasn’t exactly as illuminating as I wanted it to be. Still, it’s in my travel bag with me the next morning as I wait on the front stairs of Greystone Academy with three other Daybreak shifters—all of whom went to school with me on pack grounds. Most of them came to see me when they first got here, like I was the Godfather or something. I was surprised they didn’t kiss my non-existent ring.

Nathan strolls out last. I swallow at the sight of him walking down the stone steps, backdropped by the imposing structure behind him. He’s done something different with his hair and trimmed the scruff on his face. He looks like a heartthrob from one of those teen movies. If the real world only knew he was actually something supernatural, human girls would be throwing themselves at his feet.

Not that he’ll ever get the chance to go to the human world. The eight packs isolated us away from them, and even then, it’s as if humans know there’s something different about us. They don’t come near.

“Hey.”

I smile as he rolls his luggage next to mine, butterflies erupting in my stomach. I can’t stop staring at his five o’clock shadow, the same hair I felt scrape against my thighs. I didn’t know that was a kink of mine, but I certainly do now.

Wait. Reverse that. Not a kink. Can’t be.

His eyes narrow at me, and I glance away. It’s hard enough having to fight this attraction internally. I really don’t want to have another conversation about it. We’re both on the same page; unless we want to end up Feral, we have to make our mates accept us. I’ll deal with my weird attraction to my best friend after I make that happen.

“Nervous?”

I shrug. “A little. My mom’s probably going to piss me off, so there’s that.”

Nathan nods knowingly. His parents are more chill than mine, but Daybreak has a lot of families in the pack who are all about appearances. To have a daughter or a son sent to Greystone, it’s practically socialite suicide. That’s why my mother tries so hard to act as if I don’t exist.

“What do you think Sean and Gayle are going to say?”

He chuckles, and the sound goes straight to my core. I’m so caught up in the sensation that I almost miss his answer. “Let’s hope they throw themselves at us. It’ll be a lot easier.”

Yes and no, apparently, because I can’t get my head to shut up about the shifter in front of me. We never should’ve fucking kissed. Even when we felt that pull between us, we should’ve fought it. All we’ve done is open a door that neither of us should step through. Well, step through again.

“You look good,” I tell him. “Gayle’s crazy if she doesn’t see it.”

His gaze slides to mine. Everywhere he looks is like a physical touch. He takes his time perusing my face until I’m so caught up with what he’s doing that I lose myself. He reaches out, and my heart nearly stops ticking. The ends of my hair slip through his fingers. “I always thought Sean was crazy.”

It’s like the forbidden fruit is in my throat, and I have to swallow hard to gulp it down, hiding it from view. With nerves skating over my skin, I brush my hair behind my ears and stare ahead. Two black cars are moving up the drive, the Daybreak symbol etched into the rear glass.

This is it, I tell myself.

The doors behind us open, and heels clack against the cement. Ms. Ebon moves in front of us while the cars are still traversing the lengthy driveway. “Daybreak Pack,” she addresses us with a tight smile, and I wonder where the hell our own advisor is. Did she up and forget that we’re actually her job and not Ebon’s? “I’ve just received communication from your pack. Instead of spending the festivities with your parents, you’ll be housed in a dwelling on your alpha’s property. They also wish for you to wear your Greystone Academy uniforms at all times.”

“What?” Nathan growls while the other three pack members whisper to each other hoarsely.

I catch Ms. Ebon’s gaze. This is not what we discussed. The point in returning to Daybreak was to put Greystone behind us, as if that’s the factor that’s keeping Sean and me apart. “So, basically, we’re still going to be branded rejects,” I retort.

“I assure all of you that this was not a decision that Greystone Academy made. This is coming from your pack.”

Alice, the latest Daybreak member to show up here, steps forward. “I didn’t even pack any of my academy stuff. Why would I? I thought we were going to enjoy the Winter Solstice.”

Ever smooth, Ms. Ebon doesn’t seem the least bit flustered. “You’ll have to take that up with your alpha.”

Ms. Ebon strides up the stairs, and I hurry over to her. She stops, waiting for me to get there. “This isn’t right,” I tell her.

Nathan stands next to me. Ms. Ebon takes him in, then directs her stare to me. “I’m not happy about it either, Miss Adams, but there’s nothing I can do. I had a brief communication with the office of your alpha this morning, and they assured me that this was what your families wanted too.”

I glance over my shoulder to find the others watching me like I’m their savior. Let’s get real, I can see my mom doing this because she wants to pretend I don’t exist, but their families? Could they all be like mine? Or was this something that the alpha wanted in exchange for letting us back there?

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