I found Kristen and Chad downstairs, their smiles greeting me as I approached. But guilt gnawed at me. I’d hurt a member of my pack, a clear sign that I was losing control.
“Chad, I’m really sorry,” I told him.
“Are you kidding? I just survived a brawl with an alpha. I’m feeling pretty damn proud right now.”
I laughed, playfully punching him in the shoulder. We spent the rest of the night together, and Kristen and I stumbled back to our dorm, both of us a little tipsy.
I couldn’t even remember meeting the new members. I hoped Tom had made it in.
“Kristen!” I called out to my friend as we were about to enter our room.
“Yeah?” she responded.
“I love Jason so much. Why does he have to be such an ass?”
“I know, honey. The worst part is, he loves you too, more than his own life. He told Chad once, and Chad told me. But you’re both acting like asses about it.”
“I apologized for hurting him.”
“That’s a start. It’s good… Can we talk about this tomorrow? I feel like I’m going to hurl.”
“Sure, I’ll hold your hair. Let’s go.”
We entered the dorm, and as expected, Kristen made a beeline for the bathroom. I held her hair back while trying not to throw up myself. After tucking her into bed, I hopped into the shower.
I could still feel Jason’s arms around me, his breath on my skin. It sent a wave of heat through me, making me wet for him.
He was undeniably handsome. Tall and muscular, with a golden California tan, soft blond hair, and eyes you could lose yourself in.
I loved him before I knew he was my mate, and I would love him for the rest of my life. But I’d hurt him because I wasn’t ready, and he’d made me pay for it. I wasn’t sure I could forgive that.
I sighed, slipped into my pajamas, and crawled into bed, thoughts of Jason filling my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
Thank Goddess it was Saturday. I could sleep in before tackling my homework. Then I felt the mind-link.
I nearly jumped out of bed. It was Jason. What now?
I severed the link before he could say anything else. I was too scared to hear more. I threw on a tank top and leggings, then woke up my still-sleeping friend.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” I said softly, shaking her arm.
“Hm… Five more minutes, please,” she mumbled.
“We need to go to the frat house. Jason says it’s urgent.”
“And you’re just going to do what he says?” she asked, surprised.
“It sounded important,” I shrugged.
“Great…”
She got up, grumbling under her breath as we left the dorm. The sun was already high in the sky.
We walked into the frat house to find the entire pack there. They bowed their heads as I entered. I made a beeline for Jason in the living room.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
He pointed to the wall. There was a message scrawled on it…in fresh blood. I could smell it.
It wasn’t signed, but it could only mean one thing. Hunters. And they knew we were here.
I gasped, and Jason moved closer, his presence comforting even though he didn’t touch me.
“It’s not from the pack,” I said, thinking about the blood.
“No, no one was hurt,” he confirmed.
“Which means they have wolves in custody. Bastards… This is serious, they know what we are. I need to call my dad.”
He nodded as I pulled out my phone. I wasn’t looking forward to this conversation with my father, but it was necessary. He needed to know that our small pack was being threatened.
“Arya, how did it go?” he asked, getting straight to the point.
“Later,” I replied. “We have a problem here, Dad.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“Hunters. They know we’re here, and they left a message for us on the wall.”
“Shit!” he growled. “Any idea who could have done this?”
“If I had to guess, it’s probably one of the pledges. We’ve never had this problem before.”
“You’re probably right. Can you handle it, or do you need help?”
“I think we can manage as long as it’s only one Hunter.”
“Keep me updated.”
“Will do.”
I hung up and turned back to Jason. He was watching me, waiting for my orders like the perfect beta he was.
“I need to see the list of all the pledges.”
He nodded. “It’s in the office.”
I followed him upstairs. He opened the door, and I walked in, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. He placed his hands on my shoulders, a simple gesture that meant a lot.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Show me the list.”
He removed his hands and went to find the list. Jason was always organized, so I knew it would be in a folder.
I watched him grab one and smiled. I knew him so well. He handed me a list of twenty names.
“Who got in?” I asked.
“Your guy and a girl named Ashley,” he answered.
“Okay. We proceed with the party tonight as planned. We’ll check the new members first, and if they’re not Hunters, we’ll investigate the others,” I said.
“What if it’s not them?” he asked.
“I’ll figure it out when we get there.”
“If you need help, just say so. I’m your mate, you can always count on me.”
I sighed. “I don’t know about that, Jason. You’re still pretty pissed at me.”
“Yesterday, you were right. I didn’t get you,” he confessed. “I was so stung, I didn’t pause to really think it through.
“You were spot on about college being a big deal for us, but I didn’t want to see it. I’m sorry if I made you feel cornered.
“The pack has all these expectations of you and I let you down by turning away. I’m really sorry, Ary.”
“I’m sorry too, Jason. I blamed you and did things to hurt you on purpose. I haven’t exactly been the best mate,” I admitted, a wry smile on my face.
“Can we start fresh? Even if we don’t complete the mate bond, we could always date like regular people do, right?”
“I’m not sure. I need to think about it,” I replied, uncertainty creeping into my voice.
“Why?” he asked, his brow furrowing. “We’re mates. It’s high time we stop this bickering.”
I frowned back at him. “I get that, but you hurt me, Jason. I need time to process that we’re not at odds anymore.”
“Okay,” he conceded. His face was unreadable, but I knew he was hurt. “We’ll do it your way, but I mean it when I say I want us to be together.”
“I heard you.” I nodded. “I want that too, more than anything, but I need some space.”
I left the office, list in hand, and headed towards Roxie, who was engaged in a hallway conversation. She turned to me, her eyes respectfully lowered.
“Roxie, I need you to run a background check on our new members.”
“I’m on it, Alpha.”
“Thanks. Keep Jason, Chad, and me in the loop,” I instructed.
“Understood.”
She exited the house, and I went to find Kristen, who was deep in conversation with Chad. That seemed to be a recurring theme lately.
“I need to talk to you,” I told her. “About Jason.”
Both of them looked taken aback, which was understandable. I was still reeling myself.
“After two years, he wants us to try dating like regular people,” I shared.
“That’s awesome!” Kristen exclaimed. “That’s a good plan, isn’t it?”
I let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. I’m so hurt. I don’t know if I can forgive him.”
She stood up and placed her hands on my shoulders. She understood my fear that we might never be able to repair our relationship after everything that had transpired, despite being true mates.
Jason descended the stairs, anger radiating off him. It was time to go.
“Let’s head out,” Kristen suggested.
“Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.”
We both exited without a backward glance at Jason, but I could feel his gaze on my back all the way to the door.
