Jade Rivers
The need to shift always came with an itch in my chest. It almost felt like a sneeze or an itch I couldn’t scratch. I was scared to go back to the university without being able to shift or knowing if I would do it randomly. But every time I felt the need, I would close my eyes and picture myself hitting Rafe in the face and the feeling went away. Even though I hadn’t shifted since the full moon, classes and life carried on like Rafe Crimson hadn’t tried to steal it away. Everything continued like he wasn’t the biggest thorn in my side.
Every evening after I was done with classes, Tracey would swing by the house and we would cook together while she schooled me on everything werewolf. It made it easier than me going back to the Crimson property. Or as Tracey called it, the Crimson Pack. I was too much of a wild card and couldn’t be trusted to not attack their Alpha again. Which, whatever, I didn’t want to go there anyway. This worked well in my favor.
Though every few days I would peer out my window and I knew he was there, in the woods, behind my house. It didn’t make me scared but only angry. He was lucky I wasn’t going around the pack. I was practically out for blood with that one. If he kept it up I would search him out. I didn’t like him lurking.
We were eating steaks, mostly raw, when Tracey brought up the pack life. Much to my disapproval, I let her continue on with the nonsense. “You’re going to need a pack.”
I rolled my eyes. “Says who?”
“Says the wolf inside of you.” Tracey took a big bite out of her steak before she scooped up some mashed potatoes. She reassured me that I would crave regular food again soon, but I had my doubts about that. Just the look of the potatoes had my stomach rolling. “When you do get control over your shifts she will go rogue if you don’t pledge to an Alpha.”
“What does that even mean? I have to bow down to Rafe and just be happy that he hates me and I hate him?” I wasn’t okay with that. I wasn’t okay with bowing down to the man that had done this to me. The man that had tried to take everything from me. No, I wouldn’t bow down to him, or anyone else. I could still be an independent bad-ass woman without an Alpha, right?
She shrugged. “Pretty much.”
The key jingled in the lock at the front door and my parents walked in. The door swung back and bounced off of the wallpapered entryway. My mom’s blonde hair was shorter than it had been last time they had been home and my dad’s black hair had more gray sprinkled through it. They both rushed forward and wrapped their arms around me. The sink kicked on as Tracey washed her dishes and smiled at theparent pileI was in. They were both wearing matching sweatsuits.Oh my gosh.This is what I didn’t miss at all. I almost expected a teacup pooch to prance in behind them, matching outfit and all. Thankfully, my inner prayers were answered when no dog was to be seen or smelled nearby.
Tracey grinned. “I love the matching outfits.” Leave it to her.
I wanted to tell her not to encourage it but I was being squeezed too tightly to get the words out. My mom finally untangled herself from my side and rushed to Tracey. She wrapped her arms around my friend and closed her eyes like Tracey was her long lost daughter. “Thank you so much for being here for our baby girl.”
Dad finally let go and I muttered, “Not a baby.”
“What have you two been up to?” My mom eyed my half-eaten rare steak like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She wasn’t the only one. I hardly believed it too. I couldn’t wait to hear what Dad thought. His face wasn’t as open as Mom’s.
Tracey and I looked at each other and grinned. “Nothing really. Lots of studying for the finals coming up.”
“That’s a few months away,” Dad said as I dumped the contents on my plate into the garbage.
Tracey leaned against the counter and her honey hair brushed over the side of her shoulder. “Can never be too prepared.”
Mom patted her hand. “I never thought she would stop partying, I guess we have you to thank for that.”
The smile slipped from my face. No, they had Rafe to thank for that. I was sure Tracey was thinking the same thing as her face mirrored my own. I popped my knuckles to get my thoughts on anything else. I didn’t have the luxury to think of him as often as I did. I hated that he took up so much space in my head.
“Thank you for coming over tonight, Tracey, I’ll walk you out.”
“Nice seeing you both! Enjoy being back in town, Mr. and Mrs. Rivers!” Tracey said over her shoulder.
She leaned over and grabbed her backpack before she followed me to the door. I didn’t say a word until we reached her car. “What do I do?”
Tracey started her car and leaned into her seat. “Act normal?”
“My parents are practically vegan. They never wanted to push the lifestyle onto me so I was pretty much vegetarian.”
Tracey’s nose wrinkled. “That explained you not finishing your dinner. If you feel like you need to shift or anything, call me immediately. I can run through the woods to get here.”
Everything would be fine. I hoped.
Chapter 21
Jade Rivers
Except everything wasn’t fine. My skin constantly itched. Eating vegan food was a no-go. I swallowed down a few spoonfuls of Mom’s interpretation of Vegan Curry a few nights later and barely made it to the bathroom to throw it all up. Nothing would settle in my stomach except for meat. So that night, around two a.m. with my stomach grumbling, I sent the text. The only call for help I would ever type out.
Tracey-“Meet me at the Pack House.”
