Chapter 1
“Alright…it’s good to be back!” Adler grinned widely as he got out of his friend’s truck and looked out over the campus carpark and grassy bank to the main building, stretching his back out.
It was the first day back after spring break and there were people walking, laughing and catching up everywhere, but they all took a pause to watch the idols of campus arrive and walk across the lawns. Adler and his best friend Trey were from the same ‘family’ and Trey would become Adler’s beta, just like his father was Adler’s father’s beta now. In these modern times werewolf clans seldom ran in territories or kept pack houses, they had become more integrated into human society…instead running business empires that paid and employed their dedicated pack members, who lived in separate homes just like everyone else, just like humans – hidden amongst them. Alphas today were more like CEO’s keeping financial businesses running smoothly for the next generations of wolves. The pressure to maintain these conglomerates was immense and so alpha heirs like Adler and his friend Colton were sent away to university to garner esteemed qualifications in the business community and make all the right connections needed for the future.
This particular university was well known as a supernatural haven, an elite school in a small town that was actually owned and run by fox shapeshifters. Established over two centuries ago it had seen both Adler’s father and grandfather attend…being alumni meant power and the werewolves were not shy in showing off that fact to their peers. They were handsome, athletic, cocky and (in some instances) bullies. Rich and influential the werewolves attracted attention but Adler liked being away from the critical eye of his father – over four hours away by plane in actual fact – and loved the freedom of campus life.
Spring break had been filled with pressure to perhaps find himself an elusive fated mate - these things were extremely rare these days, some blamed the disconnection to the earth and the Moon goddess. At best he was being groomed to find a suitable chosen mate. His birthday had been organised as a huge event bringing in several other top werewolf families to attend with their daughters in the hopes that one of them would be found to be his mate, but no luck. With turning twenty Adler was in no rush…he had a couple of human girls he ran with on campus…cheerleaders of course, well he was a jock, a footballer…so sure…he intended to enjoy himself and as long as he kept his grades up at the top of the class he knew his father wouldn’t care about the rest as long as news didn’t reach back to him or bring the family into disrepute – a little rough housing and partying was expected, it was a fraternity after all and steeped in tradition.
.
He saw one of the blond human cheerleaders standing off to the side like she was waiting for him, coyly twisting her hair around her finger as she danced on her toes, thrusting out her ample bosom bulging from its tight crop top, her friends subtly egging her on as they stood slightly behind her, giggling.
Adler was just about to change direction to make his way over to her when he caught a scent trail…his wolf immediately reacted to it, leading him by the nose to change direction and head towards the main building entrance. Adler breathed in deeply, it was like cotton candy and fresh spring rain mixed together, filling his nostrils and leaving him feeling light and uplifted.
As he followed the scent he realised it was taking him into a hallway of the main administration building where lockers lined the walls. In the hum of the crowd his eyes focused on one slender girl with long shiny black locks, with her locker open placing her things inside. He frowned as he felt drawn to her and the closer he was getting the stronger the scent was becoming.
“No!” He muttered to himself, shaking his head, snorting out the scent lingering in his nostrils. “No, no, no…anyone but that one…” His wolf growled within him and relentlessly pursued the scent. “Mate!” His wolf instincts surge in his head as he finds himself standing directly behind the girl. He involuntarily lowers his head down and takes a huge inhale at the back of her neck, almost burying his nose into her soft shiny hair. Adler grimaces at his wolf’s actions not knowing how the hell he’s going to explain this.
.
Jesse, the girl in question, instantly stiffens her back, her shoulders flinching up in reaction as she ever so slowly closes her locker, without even turning around.
“Excuse me…but did you just sniff me?” Her voice comes out measured and slow with a hint of angst and disgust.
Adler flinches as he straightens up and coughs awkwardly. “Ah…yeah…sorry…”
Jesse turns to face him, putting her back to the lockers, a text book hugged in front of her chest defensively as she levels a flinty look at him, which turns to surprise as her eyes widen impossibly in size to stare at him in complete disbelief. Adler stares back into amazing deep green eyes.
“Adler!? What the f**k!? I expected it to be Trey! I almost punched you! What the hell dude!” Jesse lets go a tirade as she clenches the book tighter to her chest and stares at the muscle bound footballer over-shadowing her.
“Ha!” Adler backs up a step, rubbing the back of his neck, well aware that his friends and team mates are now watching, having followed him in. He meets the girl’s stare which is deadly, her eyes glowing with the glint power. “It was a joke…take it easy…” Adler lies to try and quell the situation from becoming a scene.
“f**k you, Adler! Keep to your side of the damn grounds!” Jesse spat, shoving him in the chest making him take another two steps back. “And stay the hell away from me! Haven’t you got some slutty cheerleader you can sniff?” She stormed off but he heard her mutter a final insult. “Damn f*****g dog in heat!”
Adler watched her with a dark smouldering scowl in his pale hazel eyes as his friends rush up on him. He shakes his head. She can talk, she’s the f*****g vixen here, isn’t she? Damn fox hybrid.
“Of all the damn females alive in this world….why did it have to be her?” He muttered, shaking his head.
She was the complete opposite of what he had hoped for.
Instead of blond, bubbly, busty, sporty and lustful he got raven-haired, long-legged, take no bullshit, feisty, tomboy and grunge angst.
He sighed, but when he had looked into her eyes he had immediately noticed something he had never noticed before. She had the most amazing depthless emerald green eyes rimmed with the darkest, longest eyelashes he had ever seen that weren’t fake. When she had walked away in her tight black jeans he also noticed for the first time just how perfect her butt looked in them, shapely, firm and perky. He groaned and wiped a hand down his face in exasperation as his wolf stirred like a puppy within him making his heart thump erratically. Deeper down however, even more disturbing, the beast stirred in interest also.
