Thirteen

"Okay,this place is a lot better than I expected," Hayes says.

I'm not paying him any attention because my mind is still on my pretty little mate who just left me standing here.

She might not be willing to talk to me right now, but I meant what I said. I'm going to prove to her that I'm sorry and that she means the world to me. Might not throw in the fact that I love her and she's my mate right away. I'm trying to win her back, not send her packing.

"Lucius, you alright man?"

"Sorry, what?" I blink, turning around to find Hayes looking at me oddly. "Yeah, sorry what were you saying?"

"The room. It's massive," he says and I take a moment to really take in the room. He's right. Brows raised, I find myself impressed. There's not much to the room, just two beds, two dressers and two desks. But everything looks to be the right size for us. The beds are king and the desks have enough room for us to sit and work.

"The pamphlet does say these dorms are newly built. It's like they designed it so that it's big enough to accommodate monsters."

Another point for Coral Springs in my book.

"That sexy little human tour guide did mention how eager the school is to make this program work. I'm just glad they are putting their money where their mouth is, if you know what I mean."

Jealousy shoots through my veins. "What did you just call her?"

"Who?" He looks at me confused.

"The tour guide," I say through gritted teeth.

"Oh." He flashes me a grin. "Sexy. I mean, you have eyes, man, you have to admit, she is fine as hell."

"Don't talk about her like that," I snarl, breathing roughly through my nose as my fists clench in anger.

"Ohhh, looks like Lucius has a crush." Garrett chuckles as he steps into the room. "Relax, man. We haven't even been here for an hour and you"re already calling dibs on the pretty human? What would your mate think?" he asks and I want to punch that smug look off his face.

"That is my fucking mate," I growl and his eyes widen.

"Wait, what? Really?"

"Yes. Were none of you paying attention when she introduced herself? She told you her name." I swing my gaze between the two of them.

Hayes gives me a guilty look as he scratches the back of his head. "Not really," he says hesitantly. "I was kind of distracted by her tits, if I'm being honest."

"I'm going to fucking kill you!" I roar, launching myself at him. His eyes widen in surprise as he stumbles back, but I don't get to take a swing at the fucker because Garrett grabs me and pulls me back.

"Hey, man, relax. We didn't mean anything by it. We didn't know she was your girl, okay?"

Chest heaving, I pull myself out of his arms and shoot a glare at Hayes. "Don't fucking look at her like that again. Not her ass, not her breasts, got it?"

"Yeah, man." Hayes nods. "Like Garrett said, I didn't mean anything by it. Yes, she's a good-looking girl. But she's your girl. You"re our best friend. We would never make a move on her."

I can see the sincerity in his eyes. Both of them are known to be what some might call players, but they are loyal friends and I trust that they won't try anything.

"Plus, this school is just swimming with sexy human girls." Hayes cracks a grin.

"Yeah." Garrett chuckles. "I don't think we're going to have any trouble finding a woman."

"Oh," Hayes pips up. "Maybe you could ask her if she has any hot single friends?"

"No." I give him a blank look. "You are not going to fuck your way through my mate"s friends. That"s just a messy situation waiting to happen."

"Fine." He rolls his eyes. "We'll look elsewhere."

"So, the rooms are awesome, yeah?" Garrett says. I'm rooming with Hayes, while Garrett is rooming with Dawson. "It's big enough to fit me and Dawson's massive ass."

"Hey." Dawson's deep voice rumbles from the hall. "You've got no room to call me massive. You"re literally the size of a fucking bull."

"Well, because I fucking am one," Garrett grunts and we all chuckle as Sawyer pokes her head inside. "You dumb asses ready to grab our shit? I don't think I'll be able to fit the bus in the dorm parking lot, but I should be able to on the street outside. I saw a moving van just barely fit, so I'd rather not risk it."

"Yeah, we're good to go. Let's go unpack and then we can check out the campus," Hayes says, clapping my back as he passes me.

"You coming?" Sawyer asks me.

I nod and follow her out. "Is she okay?"

"Who?" She shoots me a cheeky look. I glare at her, she knows damn well who I'm talking about. "She's fine, Luci. Pissed, and rightly so, but she's fine."

"She hates me," I groan as we step into the elevator. Even this thing is massive. Like the size of a freight elevator.

"She doesn't hate you." The doors close. "She's just hurt. You took off without talking to her and didn't allow her to defend herself or hear her out. The woman confessed her love over a voicemail for fuck's sake." She shakes her head. "It's only been a few weeks, if that. She's not over you. I can see as much. But I don't think she's going to make it easy. You"re going to have to work for it."

"I plan on it. Sawyer, I love her. I know it was only a few months, but fuck, she really is everything to me. I miss her so damn much it hurts. Knowing she's here, on the same campus, and not being able to see her, touch her, it's going to be pure hell."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm rooming with one of her friends. So, I have a feeling I'll be seeing a lot of her. I'll make sure only good things are said about you in her presence."

"What, really? You"re rooming with a human?"

"I was surprised too. But the room is a good size and well, seeing how I'm not as big as most monsters, I guess they didn't want to waste one of the massive rooms on little old me. I don't mind, really."

"So, your roommate? Is she nice?"

"Nope." She chuckles. "She's a bitch. And I can tell she's not a big fan of monsters."

"What the fuck?" I pull her to a stop as we head out of the dorm. "They roomed you with someone who doesn't even like monsters?"

"To be fair, she didn't tell me that. But the way she was looking at me said she either hates me or wants to fuck me." Sawyer grins. "And I'll be honest, I wouldn't be opposed to a bit of hate sex."

A laugh bursts out of me. "Your taste in women is questionable."

"Maybe." She shrugs. "But I love the ones who keep me on my toes. Who will give me a challenge. I don't like it when it"s too easy. But, it's not going to happen. Judging how some jock dude showed up and practically shoved his tongue down her throat, I'm going to say she's taken. Bi maybe? I don't have time to deal with that kind of drama anyway. I'm here to go to school, do my work and that"s it. I'll be over at your guys' place more than anything anyway. To me, it's just a room to sleep in."

We don't talk about it again as we head back to the bus and move it over to the dorm. Two hours later everything is unloaded and into our rooms, and we help Sawyer move into hers. Her roommate wasn"t there, but her things were. Part of me is disappointed, hoping that maybe Marley would have helped her friend or something.

On our way out, I'm on high alert, looking for the chance for the smallest glimpse of her.

"You"re a lovesick fool." Sawyer laughs, bumping my shoulder. "Relax and let"s have some fun, okay? It's only the first day here, you have tons of time."

I don't want time, I don't want to wait. I want her with me now, in my arms. I want my hand in hers as we walk through the campus to see what it all has to offer.

But I know it's not going to be that easy. Marley is a strong, stubborn woman. She's going to make me work for it. And good, I'm glad she's not so easily swayed. I am going to work for it and I am going to win my mate over. I'm coming for you Marley, baby. You can't get rid of me that easily.