Chapter Four

Duffel in hand and backpack on my shoulder, the heavy doors closed behind me with a whuff, as if sealing me in. For an instant, my feet itched, and I glanced over my shoulder, wanting to run back to the car, if only the driver hadn't left. This wasn't my end. I would work and save up to get a place of my own.

Anything but the Werewolf Academy for a girl who clearly wasn't a shifter.

If my wolf was inside me, as my mom and dad implied, then I didn't know how this place would help, but for the sake of not getting arrested or charged with arson, I had to try.

A metal sign above the first door I saw read Office, and I meandered that way, mentally steeling myself for this adventure. Because if I called it an adventure, then I wouldn't break down crying and thrashing against the turn my life had taken.

I checked in and received my schedule and all the pertinent information about dorms and dining halls and thanked the gods there were no uniforms.

Outside in the hallway, I fumbled with my crisp, folded map, hoping it would help me find my dorm. The giant duffel grew heavier by the minute.

With my bearings in check, I walked toward what I thought was the exit of the main building only to find myself standing in front of a group of students, all at separate desks, everyone with their heads down, reading or writing in silence. No one talking in small huddles, sneaking snacks, or making out in the dark corners.

This place was proving to be the pits already.

Before I turned around to squeak out without alerting the entire place of the new, fumbling student, three students in particular caught my interest. I dropped the duffel to the gleaming hardwood floor with a loud thump.

Great.

They all sat at the same table, each strikingly different in appearance, but I lumped them together in my mind as though they were a package deal.

One of them had a carved jawline, his eyes almost as dark as the inky strands that were long at the top of his head and shorter on the sides. If I didn't see him smile at one of the other boys, I would think he was some demon Viking returned to end the world.

The one beside him was more of the boy next door, if someone like that made your toes curl and the entire neighborhood swoon. Wheat-colored hair and green eyes made my heart thrum a little faster.

The silky length of the third's medium-brown hair skimmed his shoulders faced away from me. His muscles and valleys made him stand out from his peers and my fingers twitched, needing to delve between the dips, feeling every inch of them.

I really should get out of there and stop all this gawking, but my feet had anchored themselves to the floor.

"Shit," I whispered and turned on a heel.

I let out a breath once I was back in the hallway and safe from myself and my ogling. Gods, I'd never been so attracted to three men in my life.

"Good afternoon. Can we help you?"

My heart leapt into my throat. My body felt caressed by his voice from the base of my skull all the way to the end of my spine.

I turned slowly to find the three guys I'd been leering at standing right in front of me.

Maybe if I pinched myself, I would wake up from this dream, but did I really want to? No.

"I was looking for the dorm rooms and got turned around. I didn't disturb your studying, did I?"

The guy with the long hair spoke up first. His warm, amber eyes completed his otherworldly handsome features.

"You didn't disturb us, female. What's your name?" He stepped forward, towering over me by at least a foot and, for a second, I wondered what it would take for him to close the distance, bend down, and kiss the life out of me.

Where in the hell did that come from? I just met them.

"My name is Minx. I… This is my first day. Going as smoothly as the rest of my life, apparently. If you could point me in the right direction, I'll get out of your hair."

"I am Theron. This is Bodhi." Golden-brown hair winked at me. "And this is Grim."

Yes, he was grim.

"It's nice to meet you all. The dorms?" I pressed, wanting to get to my room and find my bearings before the next day. I didn't want another episode of new girl stumbles into the classroom.

"This looks heavy. Allow me?" Grim came forward and took the duffel from me. My arm was relieved to hand over the weight, but I swore when he took the bag, he inhaled a bit deeper. Growing up with shifters as parents, I knew that scent was a big deal but only to mates.

"Thank you," I muttered, stricken by his good looks once again.

"What dorm are you in?" Theron pushed his hair behind his ear and took the card I offered, my name and dorm room along with other pertinent information printed on it. "Good. You're right down the hall from us."

Bodhi flattened his palm to the small of my back, and we walked to the end of the hallway where an elevator waited. He punched the button, and we waited for the car to arrive. The doors slid open, and we all boarded. "This will take us to the dorm rooms. You're on the third floor with us."

"What brought you here late for the semester?" Grim asked. He was less built than Theron but having no trouble hefting my bag.

"There was…" Damn, I hadn't prepared for this. I should've had a standard answer at the ready for when people asked questions. "I got in trouble, and my parents took me out of the human school."

"Why were you in a human school to begin with?"

They didn't realize, I'd bet, that they were questioning me on something I was a bit embarrassed about. My mother said my wolf was simply latent. I, on the other hand, assumed I was a dud of a shifter. Destined to never phase into my other form.

I drew in a long breath, prepared to be laughed at or at least pitied. "I've never shifted. There's no need to put a null in a shifter school. Or there wasn't. My parents think it will be good for me to be around more shifters my age."

Bodhi stood next to me, his shoulder touching mine as the elevator doors opened. "I'm sure that's not true. About the null part. Maybe that beautiful wolf of yours is waiting for the perfect time to reveal herself."

"Beautiful?" I asked, but his response never came. A woman, older than us but energetic and stunning, approached, wearing a smart pantsuit and low sneakers. Her hair piled in a messy bun, her legs moved as though she were on a runway instead of the hallways in a prep school.

"Minx Johanssen. I've been looking for you. I spoke to your parents, and we'll need to go over some rules and other issues before tomorrow."

I heard the words, but my mind betrayed me. While I should've replied with something coherent, a sound came out of me that could only be described as a cross between a whimper and a yes. My eyes darted between all three of the guys. They called out to me, each of them in his own way. My chest constricted. In the next few minutes, they would go about their day, and I would probably never see them again.

The sadness sparked my eyes to blink and, if I thought about the notion for a second longer, I might cry.

Cry?

Over men I only met a few minutes ago?

I forgave myself a little bit. Boys at school had avoided me like the plague. I had never been on a date. Never been kissed. Certainly never had three of the sexiest men ever voluntarily escort me anywhere.

Even though I told them I was wolfless.

"Boys, make sure she knows the rules. I suppose we can talk about the rest later."

She walked away while the men chuckled. Probably at me.

I shook my head. "I'm just aiming to embarrass myself with every breath today."