by Leia Stone
Remove my cuffs. He said … remove.
I so badly wanted to allow the tears that were trying to spring forth to roll down my cheeks, but I sucked those little weak droplets back.
No way was I crying in front of this giant dude and the witch. I’d wait until I was alone in my room and cry under my covers like a respectable woman, dammit.
I’d worn these cuffs since as long as I could remember. They kept a very natural part of me from being free. To remove them … it was all I’d ever wanted.
The witch strode forward. “Does the room have soundproofing? This might hurt.”
I immediately backed up four paces until my back hit the wall.
Hurt. No one said anything about hurting.
The man just nodded, walking over to a wall panel, and suddenly a menu popped up on the glass. He tapped a few buttons and then nodded at the witch.
She looked at me, eyes narrowed. “You want them off or not? I have another appointment in fifteen minutes.”
Geeze, was this like a notary? She just penciled me in her little timeslot? My tongue felt like sandpaper and I swallowed hard, nodding. I did want them off, so badly.
She waved me forward and I stepped slowly toward her.
“You were born outside Werewolf City?” she asked, looking down at a paper on the glass desk beside her.
I nodded.
“When were you first cuffed?” she asked.
I swallowed hard. “My first birthday was my first set. Then a second set at age five, and this set I got when I was twelve.” I held them up.
They never hurt to take off before, when the witches changed me out for a bigger set, so I was wondering why they would now.
“They never hurt to remove before…”
She raised an eyebrow. “That’s because they weren’t removing the magic in them, just changing out the metal to grow with your form. I’ll be stripping the spell that’s been attached to your body for the last…” She paused, looking at the sheet of paper, “Twenty years. This will most definitely hurt.”
Fuck. My wolf rose to the surface then, and I knew my eyes had gone yellow. Silverish white pelts of fur rippled down my arms and the witch stepped back a pace, looking at the gorilla man, Eugene.
“She … shouldn’t be able to do that…” she said with a frown.
The pelts of fur hit the cuffs at my wrists and electricity shot up my arms, causing me to cry out.
They both looked uncomfortably at each other, unsure what to do.
Eugene tapped something on his tablet. “She’s been reported to the principal’s office…” He paused and then looked at me. Was that pride in his gaze? “Three hundred and ninety times for showing signs of near shifting.”
I tried to keep the grin off my face. My parents never near shifted. Other than some occasional yellow eyes, their wolves were kept pretty much in control by the cuffs, unlike mine.
The witch scoffed. “Well, whomever did her original spell was an idiot. Who was it?”
He looked at his tablet again. “Belladonna Mongrave. Your high priestess.”
Her cheeks pinked and she waved him off. “No matter. It’s coming off anyway.”
A black satchel sat on the edge of the table and she reached inside, pulling out a copper knife.
I flinched, my wolf rising to the surface again with my fear, but I shoved her down.
If I did this, went through with the pain, I could be free. I could finally, for the first time in my life … shift.
Eugene placed his tablet on the table and came up behind me. “I’m just going to hold you in place so that you don’t move and get a main artery cut,” he told me.
What?
“Main artery cut” were three words I never wanted to hear again.
I nodded, tears filling my eyes as the fear became too much.
When his strong hands gripped my forearms and offered the cuffs up to the witch with my wrists facing the ceiling, it took every ounce of control I had to not bite him and fight him off.
I felt the anxiety and panic fill my body as this situation brought me into a dark memory, a memory I didn’t even think about anymore, something so horrific I’d locked it away, only glimpsing it when I was put into situations where I felt cornered, trapped.
Eugene’s hands, pinning down my arms, took me back to that awful night six years ago. My breath became shaky as I fought the flashback assaulting my mind. The black silk bedsheets, the four vampire males, the blood…
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts as a whimper ripped from my throat.
I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay, I chanted inside my head, knowing that Eugene didn’t intend to hurt me, that he was actually trying to help me.
I was finally going to be free. To be a wolf, to shift whenever I wanted … I couldn’t even comprehend such a thing.
My mother and father were cuffed too, so before today, I’d never actually seen a werewolf in wolf form until seeing the students lying on the grass. I could do this.
Just thinking of my parents sent sadness sinking into my stomach like a stone. What time was it? Were they home from work? Wondering where I was? Was Raven telling them right now? I tried to focus on them and ignore the panic attack that had me in its grip. Whatever pain was about to befall me was going to be worth it to be free.
The witch brought the copper dagger to the cuff and sliced downward, causing it to open and fall to the floor. I flinched, bracing myself for the pain, but nothing happened. She did the same to the other cuff, and it cut like it was made of butter … but caused me no pain. A sigh of relief went through me. Then she placed her hand over my chest, palm splayed out until her nails were digging into my skin.
Hard.
“Entora dilumin wolven forchesto,” she began to chant.
Witch speak.
I knew enough of it to pick up the words wolf death.
Before I could dwell too much on the wording, searing pain ripped through my chest. I bucked in Eugene’s arms but he pinned my back to his chest and it was like I was being held in cement.
Panic and pain swirled within me, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming.
The witch took the copper blade and held it to my hair. Using one hand, she cut a chunk off and then placed the hair under her palm, which was still on my chest. I was in too much pain to care that she’d just given me a hack-job haircut. What was once a sharp jabbing pain in my chest now reached down my spine and into my toes.
“Stop!” I wailed, fearing I was about to pass out. Sweat prickled on my skin and my wolf rose to the surface, my teeth lengthening in my mouth.
Whoa.
“Wolven risenoto becara,” she whispered, and that’s when I died.
I mean, it felt like I’d died. It felt like a fucking semi-truck ran me over on the road and then I’d been put into a blender. I must have fainted, because when I came to, I was slack in Eugene’s arms. He was holding me up by the armpits and the witch was across the room washing her hands with hand sanitizer like touching me was gross.
“You okay?” Eugene huffed in my ear, his voice laced with compassion.
I nodded against his chest and he deposited me into a chair. My whole body dropped into the seat like a sack of flour and I just sat there panting, trying to catch my breath. My skin felt like I’d been left out in the sun too long, and I had a feeling I was going to be sore tomorrow.
“Payment,” the witch muttered, holding out her phone to the giant man.
Eugene tapped something on his tablet, casting worried glances my way, and her phone beeped. She looked down at it and smiled. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
He glared at her as she left the room, the door softly closing behind her.
I stared at the cuffs, sliced in half and lying on the floor. Then I looked at my wrists. They were white, like butt white where the cuffs had been, and golden tan everywhere else. At the edges were scars from the constant rubbing over the years, the constant shocks.
/> I was free…
Eugene seemed to notice my distress and cleared his throat, picking the cuffs up off the floor and walking over to the trash can.
“No! I want to keep them,” I blurted. I didn’t know why but throwing them in the trash felt like throwing a part of me away.
He nodded, setting them on the glass desk in front of me.
There was a light tap on the door and he seemed to be expecting it. Standing, he tapped something on the glass menu board and spoke. “Come in.”
The front desk lady was back with her tablet. She took one look at the cut-off cuffs on the table and raised an eyebrow. Then she took a seat across from me and tapped on her tablet with record speed. “Okay Miss Calloway—”
“Call me Demi, please. My mom is Mrs. Calloway.”
She nodded. “You have been entered into the system here. I’m just arranging your school schedule. What do you want to be your major?”
My major? That was absolutely the last thing on my mind. At Delphi, I was a business major because that’s all they would allow me. Everything else was too witchy or too far suited for one of the other magical races. Wolves never got banished, so they didn’t have wolf curriculum I guess. Whatever that would be.
“What … do you have?” I hedged.
She handed me the tablet and I started to scroll.
Lycan surgeon.
Physical therapy.
Cosmetology.
When my eyes landed on photography, I nearly squealed. I had a pretty loyal following on Instagram because of my photos. I loved taking pictures. When I was behind the camera, something inside of me came alive. I could see the world in a different way.
“Photography please.” I handed it back.
She frowned and shared a look with Eugene before looking back at me. “If you are to be a potential suitor to Sawyer Hudson, then you can only minor in photography and would need a more respectable major.”
I snort-laughed, but quickly covered it when I realized she was serious.
Okay … gotta keep up with the lie that this was the reason I was here. Sawyer was a cool dude who took pity on me. I wouldn’t want him to get into trouble.
“Do you have a business major?”
Relief crossed her face. “Yes. Good choice.”
She tapped away at her tablet and then looked to Eugene. “Do you think we have enough guards at Emory Hall if I place her there?”
She was talking about the dorms. Why would I need guards?
“Actually … I was hoping to be at Lexington. Near suite eleven?” I threw as much charm into my voice as possible, remembering what Sage had said about taking me under her wing.
The woman looked at Eugene, and he nodded once.
Then she tapped her tablet a few more times. “I have the suite across the hall recently available. Number ten.”
I didn’t want to know why it was “recently” available, I was just glad I might actually have one friend here.
After a few more minutes, she held up her phone in my face. “Smile.”
What?
Oh geeze, a picture? Right now? I was still sweaty from my panic attack and dying.
I gave her a lame smile and she tapped the screen before setting the phone down. Peering over her shoulder, I looked at the pic she’d snapped.
Oh man, that was pretty bad. Hopefully just for her records or something.
A few moments later there was a knock at the door and a tall but scrawny older man entered holding a black leather backpack. He placed it in front of me and then handed me a credit card type of keycard. “Don’t ever lose this. It’s your key into everything,” he told me and left.
I glanced at the keycard.
Fuck my life.
A two-inch square showed my scared and fake smiling face, with Hot Mess Barbie haircut.
Awesome.
“In the bag will be a tablet with your class schedule, map of the campus, school, Werewolf City bylaws, and anything else you should need.” She tapped the black leather backpack. “There is a food app where you can order meal service to your room, and there are electric scooters and bikes all over campus. Just swipe your keycard and take whatever one you want.”
Okay … I’d officially reached information overload. This was too much, and clearly expensive.
“And … how much will all of this cost me?” I gestured around the room.
She looked offended, sharing a scandalous glance at Eugene. “All expenses associated with the females that are invited to school here during the mating year are paid for by the alpha.”
Holy shit, I was totally on Werewolf Bachelor.
Just breathe.
“Even if he doesn’t pick me?” I hedged, “Like, do I have to pay it all back?” Because obviously he wasn’t going to pick me. I was fucking twenty-one years old, I wasn’t ready for marriage, I didn’t even want to be picked. Mostly. I mean he was hot, I’d give him that. Being picked wouldn’t be the worst thing to ever happen to me. But this whole thing was nuts.
“One second.” She tapped her screen. “There, I’ve signed you up for etiquette classes. A lady never talks about money.” She patted my hand and stood.
Ouch, did I just get burned by some old lady wearing pumps and pantyhose?
When she left the room, I stared at Eugene incredulously.
He only smirked. “She’s one of the elites. Born of money, likes having an important job. She doesn’t understand people like us.”
People like us.
When I didn’t say anything, he leaned forward. “My dad was the Werewolf Elementary School janitor and my mom the lunch lady. The only reason I got this job is because I’m built like a truck and I win every fight I get in.”
I grinned. I liked him immediately. I liked everyone here so far. My parents made it sound like some dark and scary place they’d had to flee.
“Sawyer pays for everything,” he told me. “It’s never a question and you won’t pay a dime back, no matter what happens. It’s all in the bylaws.” He tapped the backpack.
I guess I had some reading to do.
He stood and gestured to the door. “You can go. You missed the first day, but classes start eight a.m. sharp, and Sawyer will be picking his first date tomorrow night at the dinner gala.”
My eyes widened.
Picking a date?
Dinner gala?
Freaking Werewolf Bachelor.
“Umm, gala usually means a dress … right?” I gestured to my clothes.
He pointed to the backpack. “Check the campus map. There’s a mall behind the tennis courts that has everything ladies like to wear. Use your keycard to pay. Sawyer picks up the bill, no questions asked.”
What. The. Fuck. Was. Happening?
At this point I just felt stupid for asking questions, so I nodded and stood. “Thanks for um…” I pointed to the broken cuffs and shoved them in the bag. “Everything.”
He tipped his head, standing as well. “In twenty years of serving the alpha, I’ve never seen him get in a fight with his son. Until today. Sawyer fought for you. Don’t ever forget that.”
Then he walked out and left me shocked.
Sawyer fought for me? Those words stuck with me all the way to Lexington Hall.
Lexington Hall was clear across campus and I rode a badass electric scooter to get there. This place was amazing. Minus all of the assholes who kept staring at me and whispering. It took me four tries to get the dorm door open, until some blond waved her key at a little square thingy and it opened automatically. I stepped in behind her into a large entryway with a concierge type of woman sitting behind a desk. She had a phone to her ear. When she saw me, she hung up and flagged me down with a flustered look on her face.
“Miss Calloway?”
I nodded. “They didn’t put your food preferences in. My chef needs to know, are you vegetarian? Gluten free? What are your dietary restrictions?”
I forced myself not to laugh. “None, ma’am.”
Sh
e frowned. “Paleo? Keto?”
Keta what?
“Umm. I like all food.”
This seemed to confuse her and her eyebrows drew into a frown. “No special diet, then?”
I shrugged. “Pizza, pasta, chicken sandwiches.”
Her eyes ran over my body and she seemed … I don’t know what she seemed, but I was confused. Luckily, Sage popped into view and saved me from further embarrassment.
“She’s normal, Kendra. Normal food,” Sage told her, speaking the last two words slowly like Kendra didn’t understand.
The front desk woman glared at Sage and waved her off. “Very well.”
Sage looped her arm through mine and leaned in closely. “All of the ‘prospective girls’ are on special diets to be rail thin for my cousin.”
“Gross,” I said. My thighs definitely jiggled when I walked and my nickname all through middle school, before Wolf Girl, was Bubble Butt.
“Eugene texted me that you would be across the hall from me. Have you eaten dinner?”
I shook my head, taking in all the girls walking around in high heels and the luxury of the open entry room.
“We can go to the mall and go shopping so you have clothes to wear to school tomorrow. We can grab a bite to eat there. Or you can just borrow mine and we can order in.”
Eugene texted her? He probably guarded her too since she was … I dunno, were they royal? She was the alpha’s niece, so obviously that was special. My head was spinning. I did need clothes, like … I didn’t even have extra underwear. They basically kidnapped me midday without any of my stuff.
“Sure … um, let me just freshen up. Call my parents.”
She nodded. “Meet you in the lobby in thirty minutes?”
I gave her a thumbs-up and then she gestured down the hall. “You’re on the first floor, down to the right.”
I started to walk that way, and she broke off to talk to some girls who were playing ping pong. I was pleased to see that the bedroom doors were not in fact made of glass. A few of them were open and girls were sitting on each other’s beds talking, but they quieted when I passed. Suite eight, suite nine, suite—
There was a tall blond leaning against my doorframe, wearing a feral grin. My wolf immediately rose to the surface as the blond pushed off the door and looked me up and down. “This is the girl Sawyer begged his dad to free from banishment? Hmm, I expected more.” She stalked a slow circle around me, looking at me like I was a piece of trash.