She was flawless, and glamorous, and understated in a way that screamed old money. Her eyes were green, like a cat’s, and edged in the longest, blackest eyelashes I had ever seen in real life. They appraised me now with boredom, as if I were so far beneath her that spending another second considering me would be too much. Her black retro inspired pumps stepped delicately over the last book in the way and she was off with her tribe in tow.
I pushed the books into the young man’s arms and offered him a gentle smile, then went to grab my bag. I’d be late for breakfast if I didn’t get going myself. My stomach growled loudly at the reminder.
“Miss Jensen.” The clipped tone brought me to a halt. I turned slowly to find Headmistress Donahue standing just a few feet away with her shrewd eyes narrowed.
I lifted my chin and met the headmistress’s gaze directly, trying for strong but respectful. “Good morning, Headmistress Donahue. I enjoyed your commencement speech.” I flinched, hearing myself and hoped I hadn’t come off as a suck up.
She nodded curtly, a simple dip of the head in acknowledgement. “Miss Jensen,” she began again, so formally it made my teeth hurt. “I personally oversee all scholarship cases at Alpha Wolf Academy. You are expected to meet with me on a weekly basis to discuss your progress in academics and social activities.” Donahue glanced at her fancy schmancy watch and blew out a quiet breath. “I’ll see you in my office at 1:00 p.m. today. We’ll discuss my expectations then.”
I mentally ran over my schedule for the day and was pleased to realize I had a break between classes that would allow the meeting. My eyes widened slightly that the Headmistress of such an illustrious university would have taken the time to memorize my schedule.
I nodded. “Yes Headmistress. I look forward to it.”
I dropped my gaze as the woman moved to glide past me. Would I ever be able to drop the forced formality?
“Oh, and Miss Jensen?” Donahue’s voice snapped my attention back into place.
I spun around to face the woman. “Yes?”
Her lips quirked up ever so slightly, then dropped so fast I couldn’t be sure I’d actually seen the ghost of a smile. “I saw what you did for Benson Davidson.”
My mind flew into action as I tried to figure out who Benson Davidson was. Since I’d only interacted with one male today, I surmised he must be the unfortunate young man that had dropped his books in front of the mean girl clique. I swallowed and nodded.
“I appreciate students who help others,” Donahue said softly, tilting her lips up once more. “You showed compassion where others would not. Don’t lose that part of who you are.” Then she was off, striding away with purpose as I watched with astonishment.
I’d just been commended by the Headmistress of Alpha Wolf Academy.
Nice.
I was grinning when I rounded the corner, stepped up onto the landing, and slammed into a solid object.
I flew back, staggering on the edge of the step for a split second before crashing to the floor, ass first. A moment later, the back of my head made contact with the marble. It landed with a crack that sent stars floating freely in the darkness behind my eyes.
I moaned and reached for my head, feeling the emerging bump through my thick hair. I blinked several times to clear my vision and thanked the Old Ones I was a wolf. A strike like that would have sent most humans to the hospital with a concussion.
“Ow,” I mumbled, pushing myself up so I was sitting on the floor instead of sprawled across it.
“Shit.” A voice followed by a slightly blurry face filled my vision. “Are you alright? I didn’t see you.”
I blinked again as the guy’s face came into focus. My stomach tightened and flipped almost painfully. Eyes so impossibly green they looked like emeralds stared into mine. A flush started at my knees and spread like wildfire up my body to my cheeks.
“What?” I said because none of the words he was saying were quite making their way into my brain.
Maybe I needed to worry about a concussion after all. I pressed my hand to my cheeks and wondered if I’d actually passed out and he was a figment of my imagination. It would make more sense than the way I was reacting right now.
His hands touched me gently, then I was being lifted into his arms with what seemed like no effort at all. I grimaced as pain shot through the back of my neck, and buried my face in the crook of his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him without thinking. The butterflies fluttered again.
He set me down on a table I hadn’t noticed at the back of the auditorium and crouched to catch my gaze. “Hey.” His voice was gentle but insistent as he tilted my head up. “Look at me. I think you hit your head pretty hard.”
I missed his arms as soon as he let go and was fighting the urge to snuggle into him again when the flawless leader of the brat pack stepped into view just over his shoulder and cleared her throat.
Chapter 2
“Sebastian.” The single word came out clipped and sharp.
My gaze shifted, going back and forth between the beautiful green-eyed princess and my gorgeous green-eyed savior several times before my addled brain could make sense of what I was seeing.
“I’m kind of busy right now, Dani,” the guy, whose name was apparently Sebastian, said without sparing a glance. His eyes, so intense behind the thick black lashes that framed them, stayed locked on my face. “How’re you feeling?” His hand reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I’m alright,” I said quietly, still not sure I was processing events properly. “Just a little light headed.” I lifted a hand to the back of my head again and felt the knot there. It wasn’t that big, I realized. I’d be fine in a few minutes.
“That’s good.” His voice was like a deep rumble and impossibly sexy. I literally felt it in my knees. “I’m Sebastian Reeves, by the way.” He extended a hand with a crooked grin. “But everyone calls me Bash and that,” he gestured behind him absently, “is my twin sister, Daniella.”
“Elena,” I responded automatically, never having loved going by my full name. Elenora just seemed too formal and old fashioned for me. “Elena Jensen.” I slipped my hand into his and felt the buzz of it race up my arm.
His eyes widened just a little, just enough to make my breath hitch as I recognized his response to me. Heat flooded my body, releasing a wave of pheromones that his nose easy picked up on. There was no hiding attraction as a wolf shifter, especially not when the response was this intense.
He swallowed and inhaled sharply, then leaned in just the slightest amount. I froze and forced myself to push out the oxygen that stagnated in my chest. Man, I wanted him.
“Pleased to meet you, I’m sure.” Daniella Reeves moved in swiftly, pushing her arm between us to take my hand. “I do hope you feel better soon but my brother and I really must be going if we are to make our appointment.”
My gaze turned to Daniella’s in astonishment. Growing up in Newfoundland I’d never heard anyone speak in such a precise well-mannered way except for the few times I’d caught the tail end of Downton Abbey or some other fancy show. To hear it coming from someone my age’s mouth was downright bizarre. It threw me off so completely, I automatically slipped my palm free of Bash’s and offered it to his sister who grasped it firmly, shook twice, then disengaged.
Daniella’s eyes, so similar to Bash’s in color that it made my stomach twist, were as hard as the precious jewels they so resembled. Understanding, on a deeply female level, passed through that connection, and I shifted back, putting distance between myself and Bash. The message was sent and received.