Shifted Plans

by Brandy Walker

  After class ended and everyone had cleared the room, save for him and Mark, Declan approached the professor.

  “Excuse me, sir. I had a quick question I hoped you would be able to answer.”

  The tall, graying, older gentleman turned and gave him an assessing once over. “Of course, Officer Weller. Course related?”

  “Not exactly. There was a student here yesterday who didn’t show up today. I needed to talk to her about something, but I haven’t been unable to track her down. I had hoped to catch her today before class. Could you tell me if she’s still registered for this course?”

  The professor looked skeptical hearing his reason but seemed to let his inner questions go. Picking up his grade book, he turned to a list of names. “This is the newest enrollment form for this class. Delivered this morning. What’s her name? Last name first.”

  “Hillman, Avery Hillman.”

  The professor scanned the page, running a long, thin finger over the white sheet. “Havers. Henry. Hill. Howard. No, I’m sorry there’s no Hillman. Must have had a scheduling conflict and changed classes. It happens quite a lot. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you need to see her about?”

  Disappointment knotted his stomach, but he refused to let the other man see it. Shaking his head he said, “Nothing important. I’m following up on an incident on campus that may have been misconstrued. I wanted to speak to her and hear her side of the story. Straighten out any misunderstandings.”

  “Hmmm…good luck finding her. You might be able to talk to an advisor and find out what her schedule is now.”

  “Thank you for your time.” Declan shook the older man’s hand before spinning on his heel and marching out of the room. The radio on his shoulder squawked.

  “Weller, Hawk here. You and Stevens finished with class?”

  Declan reached up and pressed the button. “Yep, walking out now. What’s up?”

  “Chief wants us to check out the Canidae Sanctum. There are reports of rogue wolves stirring up trouble.”

  “Great,” Declan groaned. Another wrench in his search for Avery. One would think he would be happy about putting off the inevitable, but he found he grew more and more impatient to see her. “Meet you there in ten.”

  “Copy.”

  Declan and Mark made their way across campus in silence.

  “Looks like you can put off your little talk a bit longer,” Mark said drolly. “You must be thrilled.”

  “Yeah,” Declan grunted with displeasure.

  “Doesn’t sound as if you’re the happy camper I thought you would be. Changing your tune about her already? Did your big dumb brain finally kick in and realize you were fucking up your future with her?”

  He grunted and kept walking. Declan figured a non-answer would be answer enough. Happiness not even close to what he felt at the moment. He could act as if he’d never scented her, never saw her, and never felt the undeniable, near overwhelming pull to be with her.

  Out of the class and no any logical reason for them to run into each other, he should be on cloud nine. Business management and law enforcement classes didn’t go hand in hand. They were even on different parts of the campus. His plan should be back on track.

  He had checked. Her classes would be near the Canidae Sanctum, the outdoor area designated for wolves. “Shit,” he mumbled, but based on his chuckle, Mark had heard. Damn wolves and their business sense.

  Declan and Mark entered the Canidae Sanctum about the same time as Hawkins and his partner Jackson entered on the opposite side. A light breeze blew through the area, swirling the pungent stench of dog around. A group of wolves lounged in the sun while a couple more mangy-looking ones stood guard, heads raised, ears perked up, ready to bound into action if need be.

  Three girls walked into the sanctum, followed by two men. The wolves on guard stealthily moved forward. As two wolves snapped at the men, putting distance between them and the women, another two attempted to herd the females over to the lounging wolves. The head of one lazy-ass wolf lifted off the ground, studied the women, then let loose a low, short, sharp bark.

  Hawkins cleared his throat, pulled out his baton, and rapped it on a stone bench nearby. The heads of all the wolves popped up and zeroed in on him. The guard wolves drifted from the people they were stalking and made their way toward Hawkins.

  Jackson, a beautiful red-tailed hawk shifter, mirrored Hawkins’s actions, taking out her baton and smacking it against a wall. The lounging wolves slowly got to their feet.

  Declan and Mark closed in on the group from the rear, ready to offer support to the other team, though he doubted they would need it.

  A large blond wolf walked to the front of the pack and shifted. Once in human form, the guy appeared to be approximately six feet tall, muscular with a swimmer’s body, and shaggy hair. A trace of familiarity flowed from him, but Declan couldn’t quite put his finger on where he had seen him before.

  “Is something wrong, Officer?” the leader asked, addressing Hawkins as though the man was beneath him.

  Hawkins, a ferruginous hawk shifter, wasn’t a man you tried to intimidate. At six feet six, he had a muscular and lithe frame. Quick reflexes and a sharp mind. People often underestimated him and his strength, always to their detriment.

  Taking a step toward the blond man, Hawk let his steely look do most of the talking. “Are you students here?”

  The blond shrugged nonchalantly. “At times.”

  “Would this be one of those times?” Jackson asked.

  “No. But I’ve never seen a rule saying we can’t come to the sanctum to hang out with our people.”

  “True, but harassing the students is a good way to get kicked off campus.”

  The blond’s arm swung out in the direction of the mangy wolves. “The boys were only playing. No harm intended.”

  “Well, I suggest you have a talk with your boys and get them to stop. If you’re an occasional student, then you should know poor behavior isn’t tolerated. Next time there is a complaint, you and your pack will be escorted off the property and banned.”

  The blond seemed to mull over Hawkins’s words. He looked over his pack before his gaze landed on Declan.

  Widening his stance, Declan thrust his hands onto his gear belt. Sliding one down, he unsnapped the button on his Taser.

  The blond turned his head toward Hawkins. “I see. We planned to leave anyway. Lots to do in town. Places to prowl and what not.” Turning away, he held out his hand and was promptly supplied clothes.

  Around them, wolves shifted and got dressed. They sullenly walked off, but not without a backward glance and a sly smile.

  Campus security would have to have to keep an eye out for the pack. Declan didn’t think their walking away so quietly and easily would be the end of it.

  Declan and Mark moved to where Hawkins and Jackson stood.

  “Nice way to start the morning,” Jackson said breezily.

  “Nothing beats a little confrontation to get the blood pumping. Don’t you think, Dec?” Mark looked his way, a smirk on his face. Seemed they weren’t done talking about his failure to get his mate.

  “Yeah. Exactly what I had on the top of my to-do list.” Declan was suddenly aware of the weighted pressure brought on by someone staring. As casually as possible, he scanned the sanctum, his gaze resting on every face passing by. When he didn’t see anyone focused solely on him, he looked higher toward the building. On the second level he found the source. Avery stood, hands pressed against a window, looking down on them.

  Her eyes widened as she nibbled on her lip. Their gazes locked for a brief moment before she turned away.

  “Found ya,” he muttered.

  “What did you say?” Jackson asked.

  Mark bumped into his side and looked up. “Dude, she’s gone.”

  “Yeah. But now I have an idea of where to look. See you guys later.” Declan nudged Mark out of the way.

  “What about the paperwork from this little encounter?” M
ark asked, even as he followed Declan to the door leading into the Becker Business building.

  “Hawkins will get it, I’m sure. They were the ones who got the call. Besides, we can fill in our part later if they need it.”

  “Whatever you say, man.”

  Declan threw open the door then hooked a right. Fighting his way upstream through the mass of students switching classes, he took the stairs two at a time to get to the second floor of the building. As soon as he came out into the hallway, Avery’s floral scent knocked him over. It crawled over his skin, caressing it, coaxing his inner beast out of slumber.

  She’s close.

  He stopped in the doorway of the room he had seen Avery in. Empty except for the scent of his mate, he stepped inside to let the lavender and vanilla wash over him. He sucked in a deep breath, allowing his lion to push to the surface. He cruised the room, letting the animal to take the lead, show him the path to their mate. In the last row, the last seat, the scent was the strongest. Placing his hand on the chair, he soaked up the essence she’d left behind.

  Heat seeped into his body, opening a part of him he didn’t think existed. His heart and soul called out for her. With sudden realization he knew she was the missing part of him.

  If he could get her alone in a room with him, he knew he could sort out any misunderstanding or fears she might have about him and their mating.

  The previously unchanging ten-year plan would get an overhaul. He would create one that included her and the life they would have together. His need for her grew too quickly, becoming damn near uncontrollable. Claws extended from his hands, the lion making his presence known.

  Declan hurried out of the room when students began filtering in, disturbing his thoughts. Making his way down the hall, he followed the scent trail his mate had left in her wake. He hit the stairs at the other end of the hallway, rushing down and outside where he lost her trail again.

  “I have to give it to her; she’s pretty good at evading you. What in the hell did you do to scare her off so damn bad? I mean, if she really is your mate, wouldn’t she be waiting for you with arms wide open?” Mark breathed harshly, having rushed behind him in an attempt to keep up.

  “I didn’t do shit. That’s the problem. She’s my mate. I feel it in my bones. In my soul. I’m going to hunt her down, claim her, and never let her out of my sight again,” he growled.

  “Hey, Dec?” Mark said with a bit of humor bleeding through.

  “Yeah,” he gritted out.

  “Rein it in some. Your fangs are showing and scaring the co-eds.”

  Declan ran his tongue along his teeth and, sure enough, his canines poked through. A glance at his hands showed fur and claw tipped hands. His lion broke free more than he imagined he would.

  A couple of girls, eyes wide with fear, skittered around him, keeping as much distance from him as possible without running into the wall.

  They had the same look in their eyes as Avery had—fear, and he didn’t know why. What erroneous thoughts spun through her mind as she stared down at him? Did she think he hated her? Didn’t want her? Or could it be something entirely different. He wouldn’t know until he had her firmly in his grasp.

  There would be no more running from him. Even if he had to park his ass on her front porch and wait for her to come home. They would sort this out one way or the other. He was getting his damn mate.

  Chapter Seven

  Avery flopped down onto her bed and checked her phone again. And, like the fifty million times before, a wave of disappointment washed over her. Still no response from ROAR, and she wondered if there ever would. Maybe there was no help for rejected mates.

  “I refuse to believe that’s true,” she said into the silent room. “Maybe they’re taking their time figuring out what to say. Maybe they need to research my situation before they can get back to me.”

  Avery chewed on her bottom lip, thinking it through. “Yeah. That has to be it. They just need a little time to figure out where to point me. I’m sure not too many people have this problem. At least, I hope they don’t.”

  Sitting up, she placed her phone on the charger. She needed to practice the out of sight, out of mind mantra. Maybe if she didn’t stare at it 24/7, it would actually ring or ding or chime. Whatever she had text messages set to.

  Pushing up off the bed, she wandered into her living room. A sense of boredom swamped her as she realized she had nothing to do.

  Busy with the sorority and new pledges, Reese wouldn’t be able to get together.

  The other girls in the townhouse were probably all busy, plus she didn’t know them well enough to hang out with them.

  Since her schedule change the first day, she had no actual schoolwork to do yet. The professors at Shifter U preferring to wait a week before letting the real work begin. It gave everyone time to readjust to having a new workload, and it wasn’t only aimed at the students. Most teachers needed to get on track, too.

  Avery walked to her little kitchen area. Pulling open the fridge, she didn’t find anything in there she wanted to eat. Not that there was much in there to begin with. She had yet to go grocery shopping—something she loathed. Her stomach growled, and she frowned in response.

  Food. She needed to eat.

  Going to her room, she snatched up her phone and shot a text off to Reese.

  Heading to Chugs. Join me if you can.

  Avery grabbed a light jacket and her purse before trudging downstairs. She checked in on Blaire, Tess, and Riley, wanting to let them know she would be heading out and where to find her if need be. The girls were each in their rooms, either relaxing or prepping for the next day.

  She heard Riley talking through her schedule to someone on the phone. Avery bypassed her and looked in on Blaire, who stood in front of a whiteboard drawing stick figures in different positions. Okay, then.

  “I’m headed out, Blaire,” Avery said, waiting for some kind of acknowledgment.

  “Uh-huh. Have a good time,” she mumbled, never looking Avery’s way.

  A stop at Tess’s door found the redhead lounging on her bed, headphones on, eyes closed, and foot tapping to a tune only she could hear.

  Deciding to leave a note on the whiteboard next to the front door, she grabbed her keys and locked up. She shoved her keys into her pocket when her phone went off. The chime alerting her to a text. Maybe Reese could join her after all. A bubble of relief filled her. She wouldn’t be alone after all.

  Digging the phone out of her pocket, her mouth dropped open in shock. A response from ROAR—finally.

  You’re on the path you need to be. Follow it, and you’ll find the answer.

  “I’m on the path I need to be. What the hell does that mean?”

  She didn’t expect a cryptic message to confuse her even more. Her stomach growled again, jolting her into action. She must be hungrier than she thought. She couldn’t even remember the last time she ate.

  Last night.

  “Food. I’m on a path to food. That I can do, and it soothes the savage soul.”

  Walking through the neighborhood, she turned right at the end of the block. Another block and a left, then a right, and she arrived on foodie row. Both sides of the street advertised bars and restaurants. Pizza joints. Burger palaces. Not to mention Italian, Indian, and Mexican cuisine. Bars that served shifter-specific diets and bars that catered to all. If you craved it, you would find it here. A little something for everyone.

  Enticing scents of smoky beef and beer wafted over her as she approached Chugs. Landon stood near the door when she walked through, must be his turn to play bouncer. This time of day, about three in the afternoon, there were few, if any, patrons to have to compete for tables with. The atmosphere quiet and relaxing, the calm before the evening storm. Perfect for her mood.

  A few students sat together hunched over papers and books, talking in hushed tones to each other. A teacher she recognized from her first year had confiscated a corner booth, papers spread everywhere and a giant s
teak sitting to the side, waiting to be eaten.

  Levi rested against the bar, talking to Nik. She walked up, taking the spot on the other side of Nik.

  “I agree. A whole new paint scheme. Velvet fabric in dark purples and deep red. A couple of tassels here and there, and it’s a veritable sex den. Don’t forget about the plush cushions either. A girl’s knees start to hurt after a while.”

  Nik grunted and grinned at her. “Hey, Avery. You should have told me you were coming. I would have made sure your table was free.” He pointed to her usual corner table. Two men sat together, heads bent toward each other. Their closeness appeared intimate, cozy, and very personal.

  “No biggie. It’ll only be me tonight, so I think I’ll sit at the end of the bar if that’s okay with you.”

  “Sure, sweetheart,” Levi said, ushering her to the lone seat at the end. “Black and Tan, steak rare?”

  “Yep.” Avery settled in her seat and sat back to do a little people watching.

  Landon leaned against the wall, leisurely checking out the customers who came in. When a busty, raven-haired woman sauntered through the door, he perked up but deflated just as quickly when her girlfriend came through the door a few minutes later. The women fused their mouths together in a heated kiss before finding a table.

  Levi pushed her beer across the bar top and placed a napkin next to it. “Your steak should be ready in a couple of minutes.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled politely and looked away. She knew she wasn’t fit for company. The weight of depression heavy on her shoulders. She didn’t want to be alone either though, which is why she’d been drawn to the bar—familiar environment, familiar people but without the pressure to make nice.

  Levi made his way to the other end of the counter to serve a couple of women. Shame filled her when she realized she was thankful he moved away. The way he kept peering at her with that customer/bartender-bare-your-soul kind of look, gave her the impression he wanted to talk. She had no desire to do that.