Page 5 of Protected Promise
Theta was an all-girl sorority of mixed shifter breeds. There were a few wolves, like me, but really it was a mix of a little bit of everything. We had a bad reputation for being the party girls on campus, but really, most of us weren’t that bad, though there were a few that gave us all a bad name.
Most of the girls stayed two to four to a room, but I’d had my own room since freshman year. I liked my space, and the others knew it. It made all of our lives easier to just leave me be.
I loved my sisters, but I had never really felt like I fit in there and truthfully, I didn’t trust most of them. They kept me around for my connections to the guys of Delta Omega Gamma. Those boys were my true tribe. I loved every single one of them and I knew that I would remain in touch with each of them for a lifetime still to come.
Still, I participated in all sorority required events, but as each year passed, I spent even less time there. It was far more common to find me hanging out in the doghouse, where aside from parties, mates, and specific invitations, girls in general were off limits.
I had always been the exception to that rule.
There were enough of the guys mated now that I no longer stood out. I hated the rumors and speculation it caused, but mostly I just ignored the gossip and went on with my own business.
With my final grades in hand, I certainly wasn’t heading for the Theta house. Nope, I was going straight to my boys where I knew the celebration and excitement for me would be genuine.
I let myself into the house and flopped down on the couch kicking my shoes off and stretching my legs out. It sure was quiet.
I looked around and saw them all there standing in a circle and staring at me.
“Uh, Kaitlyn. We’re sorta in the middle of a DOG ceremony right now,” Chad said.
“Oh.” I jumped up and started to leave. “Sorry.” That’s when I remembered I’d already taken off my shoes. I quickly ran back to collect them. “Sorry,” I mumbled again.
“Wait,” Jackson said. “You looked really happy when you came in.”
“And oblivious,” Hudson pointed out.
“What’s going on, Kaitlyn?” Tyler asked.
“Can we just finish the ceremony already? This is ridiculous,” Brett said.
“Can’t she just stay? We’re almost done,” Lachlan protested.
“You guys are always saying how she’s just like one of the guys,” Jamie pointed out. “It seems fitting to me.”
“Are you sure, Jamie? This is your induction ceremony,” Jackson reminded him.
“I’m sure. Are you cool with it, Kian? It’s your induction too.”
“Yeah, Kait’s great. Come on over and join in the fun.”
Brett rolled his eyes. “Well, come on, Kaitlyn. We don’t want to be here all day.”
Chase grinned at me and motioned me over to him.
I smiled back and hurried to stand next to him.
“Technically several of us aren’t really part of the ceremony here, just observing, so stay with me and you’ll be fine,” Chase whispered.
Chase Westin used to attend the ARC. He met his mate a few years back and they moved as she finished up her classes online. I loved Chase and Jenna and always looked forward to them visiting. I assumed he was in town for graduation.
Lachlan, Reid, and Neal were all graduating with me. Jackson was dabbling in some graduate courses while Tobi finished out her degree the same way Damon was still hanging out for his mate, Karis. Chad and Ember were both graduating but staying on for grad school at the ARC too. Brett and Jade planned to do the same, but he had gotten a great job offer and they were currently reconsidering their options.
Basically, everything around me was changing. People I cared about were moving on with their lives and I was stuck in mine. No plans, no place to go, nothing. I knew I had to sit down and make some serious decisions. I’d put it off too long already.
As the ceremony came to a close Damon draped an arm over my shoulder.
“You looked extremely happy when you crashed this sacred moment of brotherhood.”
“Shut up. I didn’t know this was happening today.”
