When Maeve Met Caleb
Autorzy
S. M. Merrill
Lektury
617K
Rozdziały
40
Maeve McLaughlin is in her last semester of college when her twin brother, Liam, is attacked by a rogue werewolf. He is taken in by Caleb, the intriguing alpha of the Sapphire Pack, and Maeve is thrown into the world of shapeshifters. Alpha Caleb Gallagher has an epidemic on his hands. He keeps finding crazed rogues on his land, and to top it off, the Darkwoods Pack is trying to encroach on his territory. When one rogue attacks a human park ranger, Caleb ends up meeting his mate. Now Caleb and Maeve will have to navigate life as a wolf and a human pairing in a wild world of werewolves. They need to figure out what is making their wolves attack the weak and stop the Darkwoods Pack from stealing their land.
Age Rating: 18+
Chapter 1
MAEVE
I park my car in one of the campus parking garages. Taking a moment, I reflect on my upcoming semester. I have four more classes standing in between me and my business degree.
All winter break, I worked on creating my new line of precious gem and colored stone jewelry. I already have an online store with a religious following.
I use white gold–plated material or leather because I am allergic to sterling silver, and I pride myself on my jewelry being hypoallergenic.
Stepping out of my car, I shiver as the cold Vermont air blows past me. I retie my scarf, making sure to block out all wind.
One thing you should know about me is I hate being cold. I don’t know why I didn’t go to college somewhere warmer. I long for the warmth of my bed in the apartment I share with my twin brother, Liam.
Liam works for the Department of Fish and Wildlife as a game warden. His program was a year shorter than mine, but luckily he got a job nearby.
My phone dings, and I look down to see my best friend, Penelope, sent me a message.
Penelope
Maeve hurry to class. I saved you a seat!
Maeve
I’m on my way.
I shoot back a reply and pocket my phone, then slip on my backpack. I hurry out of the parking garage and across the quad to make it on time to my 8 a.m. class.
As a senior, I had hoped not to be in any, but alas, Professor Whittaker refuses to teach anything later than an 11:30 class.
Hurrying into the lecture hall, I don’t notice a blond guy and bump right into him.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I ask, looking up into the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.
“I’m fine. Are you?” he asks me, and I nod, tongue-tied.
He goes to leave the hall, and I blurt out, “Skipping class already?”
“Don’t go here. I was bringing my brother his laptop.”
His deep voice makes me shiver, and shockingly, I blush. I nod like an idiot and scurry over to where Penelope snagged us seats in the back.
“You okay?” she asks me, looking into my eyes.
“Peachy,” I lie and pull out my notebook to take notes. Call me old-fashioned, but I find the material sticks in my brain better when I have to write it down.
“Liar,” she whispers as the professor walks in.
“I’ll tell you later,” I promise and try to focus on what our professor has to say.
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER
“Maeve, I can’t believe we already have a paper due in two weeks,” Penelope moans, tucking her computer away.
I laugh and say, “What did you expect? We have sixteen weeks until we graduate. Did you look at the syllabus?”
We walk out of the hall, and I see the same man I bumped into leaning against a wall. I feel a tingle shoot down my spine when our eyes connect.
He gives me a wink and pushes off the wall. I think he’s coming over to me when another guy with the same white-blond hair steps in his way.
“Hey, Caleb. Why are you still here? I thought you had a meeting?” I recognize the guy as Owen. He and I have had a lot of classes together throughout our four years here.
“Maeve, come on.” Penelope pulls on my arm, and I follow her to the student union and get a cup of coffee with room for cream and sugar.
“What do you have next?” she asks me when we settle on two couches.
“Accounting 300. I need it to be able to do my books for Moonlight Jewelry. It’s the only other one I have today. I have my capstone class and one other management class tomorrow.
“Fridays I don’t have a class. I’m going to use that day to get homework done. Then the weekend can be focused on jewelry making.”
“Speaking of jewelry—my mom loves the earrings and necklace set I got her for Christmas. She was so impressed she wants to host a party for you to sell to her friends,” Penelope tells me and I gape at her.
“Seriously?”
“Yes. She wore them on New Year’s Eve at a party and all her friends wanted to know where she got them.”
“I’d love to do a party on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Tell her to give me a call, and we can set it up.
“I do custom orders too, so I’ll bring my materials and people can see their options,” I tell her, trying to contain my excitement.
My parents haven’t been very supportive of my business, so maybe this party is just what I need to show I can be successful.
I’ll need to double up on supplies to make multiples of each style I carry.
“I’ll let her know. How is Liam?” Penelope asks, and I smile.
She has had a huge crush on my brother since freshman year. We look alike with our bright red hair and emerald green eyes, but he is a foot taller than my five feet two inches.
“Fine. He is gone for the week doing a stakeout. He said something about trying to catch offseason hunters,” I reply, sipping my coffee. Thank goodness for coffee, or I wouldn’t be able to function.
“Is it dangerous?” she asks, her hazel eyes showing her worry.
“No. He said it was routine,” I say, trying to help alleviate her worries.
“Good. Oh, I’ve got to run to my next class. I’m so jealous you only have to take four this semester. I have six,” she complains, and I laugh.
“I took two eighteen-credit semesters freshman year. Now I get to reap the rewards,” I gloat, and Penelope glares at me.
“See you Wednesday,” she bids me goodbye, and I’m left on my own.
I take this time to pull out my textbook. I need to outline the first three chapters and then I can get started on my paper. I have another hour until class starts.
Getting comfortable, I put my earbuds in and blast my favorite country station from my phone.
