A Ridge Mountain Pack 1: The Beta's Daughter

SERENA

A week later, Serena and Amanda walk across campus to the Student Hub. Despite her fears, college in Billings has been going well, and today Serena craves some good coffee. She hasn’t had a decent latte since she left her little town. The diner there made amazing ones.

“Come on, Amanda. Can’t we just go to Main Street and hit that little coffee shop? Everyone says their coffee and pastries are great. I’m sick of campus coffee.”

Amanda couldn’t argue. “Let’s go to City Brew instead. It’s about two blocks, so we can walk it. I don’t feel like moving the car.”

At City Brew, Serena and Amanda order a couple of cinnamon dolce lattes and grab a table on the sidewalk. While they zip their hoodies against the cool breeze, Amanda warns, “Won’t be much longer before we won’t be able to sit outside or walk anywhere. It’s going to get cold soon.”

Serena nods.

As they are finishing their coffee, and deep in conversation, a guy bumps into the back of Serena’s chair, almost knocking her over. “Oh, hey…sorry,” he mumbles. Looking down at Serena, he holds out a hand and adds, “Oh, I know you! You’re in my accounting class. You sit in the back.”

The man gives Serena a big, cheesy grin. She smiles back at him, noting his scent. He is a werewolf but not from Ridge Mountain Pack.

“I’m Ja—”

“Is there a problem here?”

Recognizing the voice, Serena jumps. Alpha Sebastian had apparently walked up behind Amanda.

Noticing the alpha’s aura, the man immediately retracts the hand he had offered to Serena. “No, sir. I just bumped into her chair. I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”

Serena can’t figure out why the man seems so uncomfortable. To try and get him off the hook, she says, “Well, nice to meet you. We have to get back to campus.” She grabs her bag, and taking the hint, Amanda grabs hers as well.

When the boy walks off in the opposite direction, Sebastian looks down at Amanda. “Why are you guys off campus? You know you shouldn’t be wandering around town alone. What if one of the rogues were to scent you?”

Amanda shifts uncomfortably. “Sorry, Alpha. We just wanted good coffee, and I figured since it was only two blocks from campus, it would be okay.”

“It’s my fault,” Serena jumps in. “I asked Amanda if we could go. I wasn’t aware there were concerns with rogues in town.”

Sebastian stares at her for a moment, then sighs. “I just prefer you go in groups. It’s safer. Let me walk you guys back to campus.”

Serena finds that odd but doesn’t protest. Sebastian turns around, gives a nod to two of his warriors—he never goes out alone—and starts toward campus with the two girls.

After a minute, Serena glances at him. “You know, Alpha, I can fight. I mean, if there is ever any trouble. So can Amanda. She is a good warrior as well.”

“I don’t doubt you, Serena,” Sebastian says. “Just let me see you back safely, and then I will go. I have business in town anyway.”

They walk in silence and part at the campus with just a wave. Once Sebastian is gone, Serena looks at her cousin. “Um…that was kind of weird, don’t you think?”

Amanda shrugs. “Yeah, kind of. I don’t know… Maybe there have been rogue attacks in town. I haven’t heard of any, though, and usually my dad is all over that stuff, spreading the word about where it is and isn’t safe. Although”—she stops and turns to Serena—“I have noticed the alpha watching our training sessions a lot more lately. I’m not sure if he’s worried we aren’t training hard enough or if he’s watching a certain warrior in particular.”

Serena raises an eyebrow. “Ha, that’s crazy… Who would he be watching?”

Amanda bursts out into giggles. “Oh, you seriously don’t know? Wow. And I thought I was oblivious to all things related to the male species, considering I’m only ever around them.”

Serena starts walking again, listening as Amanda jogs to catch up. “Was it something I said?” her cousin asks.

Serena doesn’t reply. “We are late to class,” is all she says as they walk into the building where they have English Literature.

Later, once her classes are done for the day, Serena makes her way to the parking lot and leans against her cousin’s car. As she waits, she scans the campus grounds, trying to get in the habit of paying more attention; even the campus might not be safe.

There are certainly a lot of places to hide, and the tree line leading up into the mountains isn’t far. In fact, she and Amanda went running there just last week. Considering what the alpha said, though, Serena decides that won’t happen again for some time.

Serena starts to turn around to see if Amanda is coming up from behind, but then she notices someone leaning against the wall of the Horticulture building. Her impeccable werewolf eyesight zeros in on the guy, and to her surprise, it is the man from the coffee shop. He is staring right at her. When he sees Serena looking back, he gives her a little smirk, pushes off the wall, and goes into the building.

Wow, Serena thinks, ~that was weird. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence.~

At that moment, Amanda comes bouncing up to the car, full of energy. “Come on, let’s get home. We can study for our accounting test and drink wine. I need wine to get through this material.”

Serena laughs, and they climb into the car. As they head toward Ridge Mountain, she doesn’t look back at the spot where the man was watching her.