The Queen of the Rogues

Late

The crowded halls of the university were buzzing. Freshmen were running around frantically, looking for their classes, while senior students walked through the chaos un phased.

Amanda stared at the room number again, trying to align it on the map.

“It doesn’t exist! I’m f****d!” She mumbled to herself, heaving a large sigh of frustration.

“It does exist, and you beautiful, have a potty mouth,” a deep voice spoke from behind her.

Amanda whipped her head around, her long dark hair, cascading in waves around her, like a dark cape.

She found herself staring into the most beautiful blue eyes. They looked like pools from the ocean, a blue so deep it would be easy to be lost in their depths. She took in the young man’s face. He looked to be in second or 3rd year. He had a dazzling smile and blonde hair that was cut and shaved in a side sweep. He was large. Very large. At least 6’2, and a foot taller than Amanda. He oozed confidence. Like an Alpha.

“Ummmmm I can’t find it on the map,” she smiled as if to scream “help”, causing the man to chuckle. She liked the sound of his laugh. It was friendly. Warm. It sounded safe.

“It’s right…here,” he pointed on the map to the room she was looking for.

“Ugh! Why is it called something else?” She shrieked, looking down at her watch and realizing she was about to be really late for the lecture. “And why is it across campus?” Her brown eyes widened in fear.

“Thanks stranger!” She called over her shoulder, as she started running.

“Jake!” He called back, causing her to turn back to him.

“What?” She asked, a smile playing on her pretty face.

“My name is Jake,” he grinned at her.

“Thanks Jake!” She called, before running off, leaving Jake standing there smirking in the middle of the crowded corridor.

Amanda ran through the large university. Her white converse sneakers moving swiftly along the tile floors, taking her in and out of groups of students.

She skidded to a halt and looked at the room number again before entering. She could see that the class hadn’t yet started and students were mingling and chatting creating a loud buzz throughout the auditorium.

“Are you going in?” A male voice asked from behind her. She turned almost expecting to see that nice guy Jake she had met, but instead her eyes met chocolate brown ones. A slight smile played on his light pink lips.

“I think so!” Amanda smiled at him. “Is this Social Work 101?” She asked.

Amanda felt as if he was staring into her soul. She noticed the stubble of a beard around his face. His dark brown hair was tied back into a bun. She couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was.

“This is it, Princess,” he told her with a grin. “And I’m your professor,” he smiled as he gestured for her to enter the room ahead of her.

Amanda gulped and felt her cheeks start to blush as she hustled into the auditorium. A lot of the seats were already full, so she was stuck taking a seat in the second row near the front. She opened her bag and pulled out her laptop as she waited with the others in the room for the professor to get class started.

“Good morning! I’m Professor Smith, but please just call me Shawn - I’m far too young as you can obviously see, to be a ‘professor’,” he started with a smile.

Amanda felt his eyes on her and she looked up carefully, nervous to meet his soft chocolate eyes. His eyes held hers with intensity, causing her stomach to flutter. She maintained her composure and held his gaze before he continued.

As the lecture continued Amanda found herself captivated by his words. His passion for social work. The way he spoke about supporting individuals on a different level. The importance of empathy. Of boundaries. but the ability to show compassion and care. To listen. Amanda focused intently to his words, as he spoke so eloquently about the essence of social work and couldn’t help but notice how incredibly sexy he was. Blushing again at thinking her professor was sexy, she turned her mind back to social work. It had always been her passion. She wanted to be able to support people. To show them that they mattered. She wanted to work with individuals experiencing homelessness. Or, in her world - rogue wolves with no pack.

Amanda turned her thoughts to her kingdom. Letting Shawn’s words connect with her as she imagined space in the kingdom for wolves without a safe place to be, to be welcomed with open arms. To feel safe and cared for.

The hour lecture flew by and before Amanda knew it, others were packing up to go. She quickly saved her notes and closed up her laptop. As she was stuffing it back in her bag, she felt some intense eyes on her. She followed the energy with her eyes, and found Shawn standing a few feet from her.

“What did you think?” He asked her with a smile.

“It was wonderful. Motivating. Captivating,” she told him, feeling the blush creeping on her cheeks again. “This has always been my passion,” she told him.

Amanda could feel her heart beating faster as he leaned towards her. He then bent down and then stood up. “Don’t forget your pen,” he smiled at her, handing her a pen she hadn’t realized she had dropped.

Amanda gulped, feeling the close proximity to him. She could smell him. He smelled like a wolf but there was something different about his scent. She couldn’t quite put a finger on it. “Thank you,” she smiled, hoisting her bag over her shoulder, giving her long dark brown hair a toss over the other side.

“See you Wednesday,” she smiled politely as she hurried out of the auditorium.

“Not if I see you first Princess!” He called out his response.

Amanda paused at his response. That was the second time he had called her that. There was no way he could know. “Actually - it’s just Amanda,” she told him over his shoulder. She then pushed open the doors to the auditorium to get out of there as quickly as she could.