Lost silver falls univer.., p.6
Lost: Silver Falls University, page 6
That would need to change.
“More.”
The low growl in my head had me nearly rolling my eyes because I didn’t think we could purchase anything else from here without causing a scene, so I would need to order some food to the dorms. Plus, I honestly think that it still wouldn’t be enough for him unless she had all the available food at her fingertips. I understood it, even agreed with it, but the change of having him so actively in my head was… a lot.
It was overwhelming just how much I wanted to give to a woman that I’d met less than an hour or ago. I couldn’t help it though—mating bonds were like that. I knew we would get to know each other better over time, but everything was instinctually telling me that this woman was the most important and most essential person on the planet. I didn’t disagree.
“I don’t need this much food,” she mused, looking up at me as I noticed a small smattering of freckles across her nose. Fuck. That was unfair. I swear, she turned more gorgeous the longer I looked at her.
As I pushed open the doors for her and we exited, I laughed lightly. “Who said this was all for you? I haven’t eaten today either.”
“Really?” She offered me a concerned look that had me wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing the top of her head gently.
As we crossed the icy, muddy street, the sound of a car horn had me scowling and looking over the top of her head to where a familiar truck had pulled up to the crosswalk. Caedmon offered me a wave and grin before his eyes flickered to Effie, who was no doubt offering him a curious glance. I almost laughed as I saw the instant change in his expression.
Good to know I wasn’t crazy.
Urging her ahead, I tried to offer him a warning look to chill out, but he didn’t see it, his gaze completely fixated on her. Not that I blamed him. Effie hopped over an icy puddle and I found myself smiling, distracted from glaring at the bastard.
When I looked back, his truck was backing up and driving up the Eclipse community driveway. Caedmon was going to scare the living hell out of her.
“Effie?” I kissed the top of her head, drawing her attention.
“Yes?”
“I am going to apologize in advance for what is about to happen.” I ran my fingers over the back of her neck, causing her to shiver slightly as she leaned into me. The sound of a heavy car door slamming shut had me raising my gaze back to where Caedmon was storming over.
“Are you fucking serious, Julian?” he demanded, his voice harsh and filled with anger. “This is why you needed to get back to campus, and you just decided to not fucking tell me?”
I frowned as Effie winced, shrinking back into me. Surprisingly, or maybe not so much considering the circumstance, worry flashed across Caedmon’s face at the sudden hesitancy in her mannerisms. He looked back at me and ran a hand over his face, clearly not knowing what to say.
“Effie,” I provided as she looked up at me, “this is Caedmon. He’s an asshole.”
“Effie.” He pinned her with a look, seeming to absorb her name and ignoring my insult. “How fu—how long have you been here?”
I chuckled at his attempt to not swear.
“Thirty minutes, maybe more?” she reasoned quietly as I saw him relax. See? The bastard had thought I’d been trying to hide her. Which I sort of had been… but he deserved it, in my mind. It wouldn’t have been forever, just long enough to get her comfortable with everyone else. But that clearly wasn’t an option anymore.
“Where is she staying?” he demanded from me, any softness gone when not directed towards her. I could feel the curiosity coming off of Effie, and I wondered how the hell she was going to deal with his bullshit. Maybe she wouldn’t have to—he seemed willing to adjust for her already.
“In our fifth room,” I leveled as his jaw clenched. I fucking dared him to say shit. Instead, he looked back at our mate and took a hesitant step forward. My brow raised, curious on how he was going to handle all this. Honestly, I couldn’t lie—this was kind of amusing.
His hand came under her jaw as he looked for something before he swore, turning away and storming towards the car, leaving Effie flushed and confused. I didn’t feel bad for him, because we all knew this would happen eventually.
“What’s wrong with him?” she asked sincerely, looking concerned.
Where the fuck did I begin with that?
“I’ll explain after we eat,” I promised as we made our way towards Eclipse Three. Suddenly, I was very glad the other two were busy for at least a bit. I knew it would be a shit show tonight with Caedmon moving back on our floor and Effie being here. I could guess how the other two would react, and even in best scenarios, it was going to be a fucking mess, unfortunately. In part because I knew how pissed they were at Caedmon still—especially Dakota.
Squeezing our fingers together, she looked up at me with a small, bright smile.
Oh well. It was worth all the bullshit, because I finally had found my fucking mate, and she was perfect.
4
Effie Harlow
“These are beautiful,” I commented, my eyes tracing the stunning dorm buildings that surrounded us, feeling severely out of place. I didn’t belong in a place like this. I may not have fully understood where I belonged, but it wasn’t here. That much I knew.
Although, with Julian’s hand intertwined with mine, it was very difficult to remember that. Difficult to remember that just because he caused a reaction of warmth and contentment in my chest, didn’t change the little fact that I was a bitten wolf. I was at the bottom of every single system of hierarchy.
My eyes flicked up to his neck and his mark that made us so similar despite being so very different. How was it that he was treated so differently than how I had been in my previous pack? Why did people seem to move out of his way? Maybe it was because he was a man? Maybe that made a difference? I just wasn’t sure.
I could feel a unique sense of power radiating off him that somewhat reminded me of the dominance that Alpha had, but stronger and far more controlled. It made me wonder who this man was and how someone became an Alpha as a bitten wolf. If that’s what he even was. I was realizing moment by moment how little I knew about the world I had been thrust into after being sheltered inside of a tiny apartment for the past five years.
My brow furrowed in confusion, realizing I’d yet to be offered any dirty looks or cruel comments since arriving. In fact, everyone from the taxi driver who had dropped me off to the woman at the front desk had been exceptionally helpful. I had assumed it was just good fortune that I’d happened to come across a series of ‘nice’ shifters, but maybe it was more than that.
Was it possible that the way I’d been treated before had not been normal?
Or maybe I had just been lucky so far.
In some ways I wanted to believe the luck theory, because the concept of being singularly selected for that type of mistreatment served by my pack left a dirty taste in my mouth and had my wolf growling in distrust and betrayal.
I knew it sounded messed up, but in some ways, I was far more comfortable with being treated poorly. I knew what to expect when someone was being cruel. Everything about this place was throwing me off, though, and not just the people. No, it was the people, the campus, the attractive man holding my hand. All of it was overwhelming.
Plus, campus was literally like a forested winter wonderland. Only on postcards and in photos had I ever experienced a place this stunning, pure in color and landscape, as if no part of real life had ever truly touched it.
There was a complete absence of broken beer bottles, cigarette butts lining the stone staircase outside of our apartment complex, and leering looks from pack members that drank just a bit too much and hung out inside of the foyer, hoping to run into someone willing to offer them a place to crash instead of walking all of two or three blocks to their own place. That was the problem with living right next to a bar. Pack or not, it didn’t draw the greatest group of people. Yet, I was more comfortable with that than this.
Everything about this was idyllic in nature, and that terrified me. I just continued to wait for the perfection of this place to shatter like a snow globe thrown against a wall.
I had always loved snow globes and how they captured such a beautiful untouchable scene. Until a few weeks ago, I’d had a handful to call my own. Then, when Theresa and Gerald had fought on Christmas, the small collection of miniature snow globes I had lined on a cabinet in the living room had taken the brunt of it. Not that they noticed or cared.
No, when they retreated to their bedroom, partaking in their rather violent and loud post-fight routine… I had been stuck slowly cleaning up the shattered remains of the one collection that I had valued, while trying to block out the noise of their rather loud activities. Even now, tears welled in my eyes just slightly, wishing there was a way to bring them back. It didn’t even have to be the exact snow globes, I just enjoyed having something that beautiful I could call my own. I felt like it was a small little penance for all the other crap I had been served up, right?
Maybe this snow globe, this magical experience, wouldn’t shatter. Maybe the Goddess really had cut me a bit of slack in my life. One could pray, and I very much had.
Despite my nervousness and caution, I was eager to explore the campus. It wasn’t large by any extent of the word—smaller than our pack territory—but according to the map, I had yet to even walk past the first section of facilities. It felt larger than what the map suggested, a brand-new world that I was going to get to experience.
The campus was built along a single stretch of mile-long road that cozied right up to Lake Michigan, and the campus buildings were split on either side of the road. One side had the Student Union, which was on the side that led towards town, while the dorm buildings we were headed towards faced Lake Michigan.
I couldn’t blame them for wanting this view for the dorms. It was essentially perfect, and I found myself in awe of the Eclipse community housing. I hadn’t thought it was possible to find a building beautiful, but maybe I’d been surrounded by so much ugliness in my life that this felt inspiring, nearly dream-like.
“I think they only built these maybe five years ago,” Julian responded to my ‘beautiful’ comment with an easy smile. “After you get settled in, I’ll show you the rest of campus. The further down you go, the buildings change from dorm and student centers to academic buildings. It’s all a fairly short walk though, even when it’s fucking freezing.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his swearing. I shouldn’t have found it attractive, but he said it with a smile, so instead of making me nervous, it just had me amused. Normally swearing meant Gerald was upset, which meant pain or yelling for Theresa and possibly me. I knew that wasn’t the case with Julian, though. In fact, the man was different from anyone I had ever met before.
I loved the idea of walking around campus with him, and a small part of my insecurities began to settle that he clearly didn’t mind being seen with me. I mean, we were literally holding hands right now. I frowned slightly, wondering if that would last once classes started up tomorrow.
“We can drive instead.” He nudged my shoulder. “It’s less than a mile, but I don’t want you getting cold.”
I blinked up at him, realizing he thought that was what my frown was about. I smiled softly. “No, walking is completely fine. I promise.”
His golden gaze searched mine before he nodded and continued to lead me forward. I looked up at the dorm we were headed towards, which looked more like a modern high-rise condo with its blunted triangular shape and sleek concrete and glass facade.
Had my scholarship really included living in a place like this? Why? I knew there were probably less luxurious options.
Not that I would want to change now. My cheeks heated, thinking about the way Julian had insisted on changing my building placement just so I could be closer to him. The man was an intoxicating mix of both demanding and firm, knowing exactly what he wanted yet still maintaining a lighthearted air to him. I loved the way he expressed himself so bluntly, and I found that made it easier to trust him, which was a feat for me.
I would still need to be cautious… but I couldn’t lie, the concern he seemed to show for me had me letting my walls down a bit. I mean, it was possible he wanted something from me, but that shoe had yet to drop. Instead, he had been focused on getting me food and making sure I was warm. I had never had someone take such a vested interest in my well-being before, and it was amazing.
I felt like the Goddess was probably getting tired of me, because I may have shot up another prayer hoping this wouldn’t backfire. Then again, maybe it would be better if that did happen. I mean, it couldn’t be healthy for me to feel this amazing because of one man being around me, right? That seemed like emotional dependence.
Maybe I really did just need some food and sleep right now. I wasn’t feeling like myself, and I worried about what that would mean for my decision-making.
Julian’s fingers tightened around mine again, almost like he was continuing to reassure himself that we were still holding hands. I don’t think he realized that unless he wanted me to, I didn’t plan on letting go. His warm, rough hand was much larger than my own, and the small action had me feeling far safer than I had assumed I would be today. Even amongst this overwhelming situation.
The six Eclipse buildings were aptly named as I studied the way they curved in a half-moon-like shape that followed a rounded circular driveway. In the very center of the space was a green area that was currently covered in snow with several massive pines growing skywards towards the icy blue skyscape above us. The shade matched almost perfectly the massive span of lakefront that I could see between each building we passed.
Despite the frigid nature of the environment, it was stunning, and I found myself eager to curl up in the dorms and watch as it snowed. I may have preferred to be warm, but the arctic wolf inside of me very much loved the snowy landscape.
I did wonder what it would be like to walk on the beach when it warmed up. The natural slope of land down towards the water looked like the perfect place to explore, and I wondered if Julian would join me. If we were still talking by then…
“This is a lot different than the city,” I admitted.
It was true—the massive amount of natural surroundings in comparison to the cold urban structures I’d grown up around reminded me of something out of a movie. Instead of loud trains hurling by your place every half an hour, there was the sound of icy waves crashing against the shores. It was a nice change, but a bit odd if we were being honest.
Even the surrounding town of Kirkwall seemed absent of any massive city structures, the taxi driver pointing out the beautiful small downtown area that we passed, somewhat reminding me of a Hallmark movie.
I loved those. I knew a lot of pack members, mainly Theresa’s friends that I occasionally interacted with, said they were cheesy, but it was one of the only channels that we had on constantly around the house during the holidays, despite both Theresa and Gerald claiming they hated it. Apparently they didn’t hate it enough to shut it off, which I was thankful for because they were already fairly strict on what I watched.
One aspect that had been nice about homeschooling? When they would leave for the day, I could watch whatever I wanted, but I’d always had to keep an eye on the door, because if they caught me watching something they didn’t approve of, I knew Gerald would lose it. Sometimes it just wasn’t even worth the risk.
I shivered, thinking about how scary he was angry, the way his light blue eyes would turn black and his fair skin would flush purple as his magic would surround him in an aggressive and terrifying way, making it feel as though he truly was going to shift. The concept had me twitching nervously as my wrist pulsed in pain. At least when it came to reading, they didn’t question it as much. I mean, they didn’t bother checking if I was actually learning anything from homeschooling, so for all they knew, everything I was reading was related to that.
“Where did you grow up in Chicago?” Julian asked curiously.
“In the Whitepaw Pack territory, South Side of the city.” I assumed he knew I was from Chicago because of where we had met. I honestly only knew the name of our pack and where the territory ended. I had no idea what other packs were nearby or how many were in the city as a whole.
In fact, how long had he been on the train? Did he live in the city or come from there? Was that the set of eyes I’d felt on me this entire time? I had so many questions, I was nearly bursting at the seams, wanting to ask him but afraid to. There was too much I didn’t know, and I was worried I would embarrass myself.
In retrospect, I should have taken a more vested interest in learning about the supernatural world, but at the time, I had wanted to spend as little time as possible focusing on it. Now it was biting me in the butt.
Julian pulled out his ID and turned to face me, confusion clouding his handsome face. “You grew up in a pack? And they just sent you here by yourself?”
I blinked at him, because I was confused in return by his line of questioning. “I mean, yeah—no one else from my pack would have applied here. I…”
I paused, not knowing if I was supposed to say the next part but deciding to risk it because I not only trusted Julian, which was probably naive of me, but I did worry that my situation was unusual.
“Effie?” he urged gently, his fingers brushing my cheek in a gentle but commanding touch. Despite the cold, my skin heated under his touch and gaze.
“I don’t even know why I’m here, Julian,” I admitted in a small whisper, the wind breaking past us and over our skin. “I just received an acceptance letter with a full scholarship about three days ago. I never even applied.”
