Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
“But he’s human, do you think he’s one of the ones that knows about shifters?’ “Maybe. I mean working in this field, he’s bound to come across us. I can’t put my finger on it, I don’t trust him, but I have a feeling we need to get close to him, like he has information even if he doesn’t realize it.”
“l trust your instincts, something is weird about him.”
None of the rogue wolves reacted to any of my questions, but I wasnt sure they would. It was pretty harmless to begin with. I’ll just have to come up with things that are going to make them more uncomfortable as the semester goes on. I keep asking mundane questions, to make it look like I am just overly curious and excited. I throw more wildlife questions in too, not focusing on just wolves, but all of them. I don’t know if I am doing a good job of asking for information and sounding nonchalant, but Professor Chance has answered everything without hesitation. I make a mental note of everything he said, not really sure what could be useful to the team or not. We finish the tour and head back to the ‘shed’ to grab our things. I say shed loosely. That’s what Professor Chance called it and there is a beautifully made sign over the door, but this place is anything but a shed. It is a massive 5,000 square foot barn with all the tools and equipment necessary to work these forests. has gutters and rain barrels to collect rainwater and the roof is covered in solar panels, there is even a wind turbine to collect energy. professor Chance says that it is not one hundred percent off the grid, but could be if needed. “Hey! New girl, wait up.”
Someone shouts behind me as I start to walk away from the shed. I stand up with my bag and look around before making eye contact with a very beautiful looking guy jogging straight at me, flanked by two friends. It reminds me of the guys and for a brief second I am homesick.
“Me?” I question pointing at myself, looking around again. “Yeah, you.”
He smiles. “You’re new to campus right.”
I nod. Yep.”
I can feel my heart rate rising. I don’t talk to guys on my own. Mina is usually here with me and she does the flirting and pretending to be interested and all of that stuff for the both of us. “Dont tell me you’re shy. Not after the way you were drilling the professor just a little bit ago. Man, you are tiny aren’t you?” He asks no one in particular as he steps right up to me, completely invading my personal space. “The forest doesn’t make me shy, people do.”
I shrug and move to turn around and find Mina. If they choose to follow she can at least help steer the conversation. “Wait! We won’t bite, I promise.”
He gives me a grin that must work on most people, He sounds like the kind of guy who knows he’s handsome and usually gets his way because of his charm. I turn back towards them and cock and eyebrow. “l have to meet up with my sister.”
I point a thumb over my shoulder. “We’ll walk with you then. It’s not often we see pack members here. This is like a neutral territory for several packs, but no one comes here voluntarily.”
He says as he starts forward like we always walk together. I didn’t expect him to just come out and imply he’s a rogue, that’s new. I just tilt my head and say nothing, just keep walking. “Is your sister in the same pack?’ “Yes.”
Kind of. We come across as pack members because of the warrior brand we both have. Most pack members can tell their own versus a member from another pack. I guess rogues would have the same ability to sense another rogue versus a pack wolf. “You are so full of questions, but not really answers aren’t you?” He asks playfully, not really sounding offended, more like he is enjoying the challenge. “The best way to get answers is to listen, not to talk.”
I shrug.
“Okay, so you look twelve, are roughly the size of a large toddler, but you sound like a sixty year old seasoned teacher. Who are you?’ He sounds amazed and incredulous at the same time. I am saved from answering as Mina approaches shouting my name. “Sky! How was your first day?!” She wraps me in a big hug. When she pulls back, she looks over my shoulder. ‘You made some friends, what’s up guys?”
“Are you ever not flanked by hot guys?” She asks over the link. I just roll my eyes at her and turn around, at least with her here the conversation will be way less awkward. ‘These guys are in my Ecology class.”
I wave a hand behind me cause that’s all I’ve got, I didn’t actually catch any of their names. “Tyler,” The charming one sticks out his hand to her and she shakes it. “This is Mike and Robbie.”
He points over his shoulder to the two guys who have said nothing during this whole interaction, choosing like me, to let their friend do all the talking. “It’s nice to meet you Tyler, I’m Mina, Skys sister.”
“Sky?! I like that.”
He looks right at me again. “You’re in class with her. followed her out to the parking lot and didn’t know her name?” Mina laughs. He at least looks sheepish. “l was working on that, Sky is a bit single worded when it comes to small talk in conversations.”
He looks at me again even though he’s talking to her. I shrug again. “l still like listening better.”
“Well, listen to this.”
He smiles that big cheeky grin that tells me he is trouble on legs. ‘None of us have class friday morning so we all go out on Thursday nights and do a bonfire when the weather stops being sh*tty, so we blend in a little better with the humans. It keeps us out of the way of the regular Friday night partiers. We run and then hang out, if you are interested can give you my number and get you all the details.”
He smiles that smile again and before I know what is happening, Mina has swiped my phone from my back pocket, unlocked it and handed it over to him. “What the hell?!?’ “Umm, he’s hot and he’s flirting with you and he has a connection to the rogues. Did I mention he’s hot and flirting hard? This is the kind of boy you practice with.”
I roll my eyes at her and scoff, but I must have made the sound out loud, cause Tyler stops typing on my phone and looks up at me. “Is this okay? I don’t have to give you my number.”
Why is he shy all of a sudden? “I’m not a big fan of my sister meddling, that’s all.”
I force a smile to him and it must be enough. He smiles and winks at Mina and keeps typing. ‘Is your full name a novel? What are you putting in my phone?’ I go to reach for it, but he holds it over his head out of my reach, laughing. ‘You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“You’re asking for it now.”
Mina mumbles under her breath and Mike and Robbie both laugh like my tiny little wrath is nothing. I take a breath and let it out slowly then lunge forward grabbing Tyler s extended arm and launch myself under it, behind his back and hook a leg over his shoulder from behind ripping my phone from his hand. I pat him on the head before swinging my leg over his shoulder and jumping down like I was getting out of a saddle and landing on my two feet looking at my phone like I didn’t do anything. “Oh sh*t! Mike says. “You can straddle me any time.”
“No way, d*ckhead! I talked to her first, get in line.”
Mina and I are full on laughing now. “There’s no line guys, so quit while you’re ahead.”
“That sounds like a challenge, is that a challenge Sky?” Tyler asks, tilting his head to the side. For sure flirting and it’s cute, for someone else. I am just not affected by it at all. Maybe it’s the warrior brand, but somehow I dont think “Uh, no. Just not interested. I’m here, with special permission in the early college program, for class and need to focus. Whatever you guys have in mind does not fall in the category of staying focused.”
“So strong and smart, I might actually be in love.”
Mike taps his heart and pretends to swoon. ‘Marry me?’ “Uh no, my mate probably won’t like me being married to someone else when I can actually find him. I appreciate your effort though:’ l am laughing again. “You are seriously looking for your mate7 Mates are overrated.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.