Chapter 5 Five

CHAPTER FIVE

snorted and tried to ignore my body's demand to close the small distance between us. "I was in class, and now I'm walking to my car. I'm not sure what danger you're alluding to, other than your hand gripping my arm." I hated people who thought they could manhandle others, and my blood jolted as my emotions rose. Worse, I wanted the Raffe I'd met before we

I

exchanged numbers. Not this version.

He snarled almost animalistically and released his hold on me. His face twisted as if letting go were painful. "I need you to be safe. And you're making it hard by hanging out with people like Slade."

My head snapped back. He was being domineering, implying I should avoid Slade when he'd been nothing but welcoming to me. "Are you serious? Slade's been nice to me, even around other people." I wouldn't let him think I'd take this split personality thing in stride. Lifting my head defiantly, I stared straight into his eyes while keeping my emotions in check. "I have my own mind and will say no to something if I believe it's dangerous." My blood fizzed as anger replaced the shock of him being here with me.

Leaning forward, he inhaled and searched for something on my face.

The intensity of his stare caught me off guard, and his unique sandalwood-and-amber scent made me dizzy. My mind went blank, and something in the air between us pulled me toward him like a magnet. It calmed everything inside me.

What the hell?

"Is everything okay here?" Slade asked from behind Raffe. Raffe stiffened, becoming as still as a statue.

Whatever had been brewing between us vanished as he turned away and stood between me and Slade.

The fizz returned in one huge burst.

"What do you want?" Raffe snapped, disgust and contempt dripping from each word.

"Skylar rushed out of class, and I was worried, especially when you followed her." Slade stepped to the side where he could see me. "And it seems she's very uncomfortable in your presence."

Uncomfortable wasn't the word I'd use, but I wouldn't correct him.

"Seeing as none of this is your business, maybe you should head back to your own kind." Raffe's hands clenched at his sides.

"Interesting." Slade crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. "Are you saying she's one of yours? Because-"

"I'm not saying that." Raffe relaxed his hands. "You should know better than to insinuate such a thing. There's something I need to talk with her about." His demeanor relaxed though his tone hadn't changed. It was as if he'd changed personalities a third time in the span of a minute.

They were talking about me as if I wasn't here, so this was an excellent time to leave. I wasn't comfortable around Raffe, nor did I want to be caught up in whatever was brewing between them. I had enough issues without adding theirs to my own.

I spun to leave, but Raffe somehow moved quickly enough to block me. How the hell was he that fast? No wonder he was the quarterback of the football team.

"We aren't done with our conversation." Raffe lifted a brow, his attention back on me.

"Uh ... when you two started pretending that I wasn't around, that was the end of ..." I trailed off, unsure what to say. We hadn't been having a conversation to begin with. More like accusations and glares. "Whatever it was we were having." I couldn't come up with a better alternative. "So, please, carry on with your posturing. Pretend I'm still standing here. It'll be better for all of us." My blood was so damn close to humming I couldn't breathe.

Slade laughed. "Yeah, she's definitely not one of yours."

Why did they keep saying that like they owned people? I glared at Slade and said, "I'm no one's." My heart ached at that sentiment, which was ridiculous. But it would've been nice to fit in somewhere.

Slade had the decency to wince, but Raffe's expression slid into a mask of indifference.

"Listen, as fun as this is, I've got somewhere to go." This time, I meant it. I had to get out of here before the ground started shaking again or something equally bad. The best way to relax was to remove myself from the situation. I needed to leave all this bullshit with Raffe and Lucy behind for a few hours.

When I walked past Raffe, he didn't stop me, but he strolled next to me to my beat-up, black Honda Civic. He looked the car over, and his nose wrinkled.

Elitist jackass.

I had nothing to be ashamed of just because I hadn't been born into money. I made a show out of unlocking my car with the fob because that was the one perk it had-beyond the electric windows-and opened the car door.

When he sidled up beside me, my breath caught.

"Things here aren't what they seem," he murmured softly. "Be careful. You're a magnet for danger, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Remember to call or text me if you get into trouble, and that includes getting stranded."

The concern in his voice made me pause, and when I looked at him, I realized I'd gotten myself into more trouble. Instead of the standoffish expression and fuck-off attitude he so often projected, he looked like a different person.

One who truly cared.

My heart stuttered, and words wouldn't form, so I nodded. My blood warmed, but it wasn't from the usual strangeness inside me.

"Good." He sighed, and his expression hardened as he took a step back and laughed coldly. "And if your car acts up, let me know." His eyes flicked to Slade.

And now he was insulting my car. The sexy jackass was back. That was good. I understood how to deal with jerks. It was when he seemed to care that I became tongue-tied.

When I didn't respond, he arched a brow. "You will, right?" He sounded uncertain.

"My car runs fine." I slid into the driver's seat, slammed my door, and then started the car. I shifted into reverse. I needed to get out of here and fast. Fortunately, Raffe moved out of the way quickly, and I was able to step on the gas and back out.

My window rattled, and my stomach clenched. It was like being at EEU had increased the volatility of my abilities more than ever before.

When I braked and put the car into drive, I couldn't stop myself from glancing in his direction.

The corners of his mouth tipped upward, and dammit, he somehow looked even sexier. It was enough of a shock that my blood cooled marginally to a high fizz.

A sense of mischief overtook me, and I saluted him with my middle finger as I drove away.

I forgot that Slade was there until I pulled out of the university and headed toward Portland, wanting to lose myself in the city and get my blood back under control before I ran into one of them again.

AFTER A FEW HOURS of driving around and visiting bookstores and an animal shelter, I finally pulled back into the school parking lot.

I'd managed to calm down and find a way around one stupid stipulation the university had set on me for attending-I couldn't get a job. My entire focus had to be on my studies to ensure I maintained good grades.

But I'd thought of a loophole.

The administration hadn't said anything about volunteering, and obtaining hours at an animal shelter would increase my chances of getting into a top vet school. I'd filled out the application, and they'd informed me that I'd have to take a required class before I could begin, but I was more than happy with that. They'd even said they would work around my schedule, so EEU shouldn't have an issue with my hours there if they did find out.

As I returned to the school, my blood jolted again. I grimaced. Just pulling onto the campus had me all amped up.

I parked back in the far-end spot that no one wanted, likely because it was the farthest from the apartment buildings and residence halls. In a way, it symbolized what I warred with inside myself-being in the back and invisible while wanting to fit in.

It was around five o'clock, and students were milling around everywhere. I hoped that meant Lucy was out and I could slip into the apartment and grab some clothes. I suspected she had a ton of friends, so if I wanted to avoid her, I could pack several days' worth of clothes and shower in the gym locker room or something. I hoped the housing admin would figure out where to reassign me soon.

Slipping from the car, I surveyed the area. With my luck, something would attack or chase me.

Things here aren't what they seem. Raffe's words replayed in my mind.

I'd pushed that weird situation from my mind while I was gone, but now that I was back, the conversation and strange interactions sprang back up. He'd been trying to convey a convoluted message to me, but I had no clue what it was.

I gritted my teeth. If he wanted to tell me something, why didn't he come right out with it?

Whatever.

If he cared, he'd be direct. I didn't need to waste any more time thinking about him.

I hurried through the front doors and up the elevator. Soon, I was at the apartment door. I paused and listened for any noise from within.

Nothing greeted me, so I punched in the code and opened the door quietly.

I stepped inside.

Then I heard a noise coming from Lucy's bedroom. Shit.

I spun around to leave, but I heard her step into the hallway. What was it with people moving so fast here?

Before I could go, Lucy said hurriedly, "Skylar, wait. Please. I've been upset over how things went down this morning."

For a moment, I considered marching out the door, but she sounded sorry. I didn't want to be the asshole. I understood what it was like to be on her end, wanting a chance to explain things. I'd wished so many times that

people would hear me out, so what type of hypocrite would I be to deny her?

My blood jolted as I shut the door and faced her.

I lifted a hand. "You don't have to explain anything. I get it. You weren't expecting someone like me to be your roommate." It was clear I wasn't on the same level as her. She was gorgeous, dressed nicely, and screamed money. "I just came to grab a few things so I can get out of your hair until you sort this out with Lafayette." I forced a smile, wanting her to believe there were no hard feelings. At this point, I'd do anything to end this conversation.

"You aren't the problem." She wrung her hands. "Well, not you as a person."

I was trying to be nice, but I hated when people skirted around the truth. The bullies who'd tormented me all my life had gotten away with most of their shit because they chose their words carefully. Whether it was the wide- eyed, innocent stare and the proclamation that they hadn't meant it that way, or that I must have slipped and they'd only been trying to help, every time, the teachers and principals had believed them because they were the favored students or because it was just easier than dealing with the problem. I was so tired of people getting away with things. "Actually, that was exactly what you meant. But just so you know, running under the moon sounds amazing, and if I had guys hitting on me like I'm sure you do, I'd sleep with the ones I wanted to as well."

She blinked then laughed.

Great. This was when her nice facade vanished and her claws came out. "You're blunt." She pressed her lips together. "I've never met anyone

like you."

"Most people don't like me, so there's no point in playing nice. All it does is make the rejection hurt more." I hadn't meant to say that, but it was the truth. "I'll get out of your way until it's handled."

"You have a person willing to let you room with them?" She dropped her hands to her sides.

"No, but don't worry about it." Since we were having this conversation, I might as well get my things now instead of having to come back later. "I'm just going to pack some stuff."

"There's no need." She blew out a breath. "Lafayette told me there's no way to change the assignment. All the apartments are full, so we're stuck

together."

Ugh. I couldn't sleep in my car forever. It would eventually get cold. The fizzing sensation swirled within me, and I deadpanned, "That's great."

She snorted and placed a hand on her chest. "This might actually be a good thing."

I tensed, waiting for the punch line.

But she didn't continue. Instead, she smirked.

"Why? So I can wash your clothes? Clean the bathroom?" Cinderella status made sense to me. I doubted she wanted to ruin her long, burnt- orange nails. I glanced in the kitchen at the black stove. "I hate to tell you, but my cooking skills are subpar at best."

"What?" She flipped a hand, looking genuinely perplexed. "Why would you do any of that? We have a cleaner who comes in weekly, and I wouldn't be surprised if the stove is just for looks. Besides, I mainly eat meat, rare, so I doubt I'd want you to fix me anything even if you were a great cook."

I wrinkled my nose. "Rare?"

"And you said you weren't judgy." She arched a brow.

She had me there. I shrugged. "Food is a whole different thing. If it can moo or cluck, you might need to rethink your stance on things. Maybe even possibly life."

"I could say the same thing about you." She plopped onto the couch, making no move to slink back into her room.

Strange.

My chest expanded, and I tried to rein it in. I didn't need to get my hopes up that we could get along. She'd tried to get a new roommate earlier. If someone left university housing, I had no doubt she'd try again. "You'd be wrong."

"You know what? I'm glad he wasn't able to change our arrangement." Her eyes twinkled. "Because you are so refreshing."

Sweat pooled in my armpits. She was acting nice and sounded sincere. But I didn't know how to respond. This was new territory, and what if she changed her mind later? I needed to keep my distance. I twirled my key ring on my finger. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

She shook her head. "I'm just sorry for not talking to you first. When I realized you might have overheard the conversation, I felt like a huge bitch. I'm sorry."

"It's not a big deal." I caught the key in my hand and sighed. "On that note, I'm going to head into my room and rest. It was kind of a big day."

"Sounds good." She stood and rubbed her hands on her arms. "I'm going to meet my cousin and friends for dinner, so I'll see you later."

She was leaving, and I'd have the place to myself for a while. That sounded amazing.

When the front door shut, I let out a shaky breath and went to my room. I tossed my keys onto my dresser and sat on my bed, taking deep, calming breaths. That conversation had gone better than I'd expected, and as icing on the cake, I no longer felt compelled to sleep in my car.

Now that the weight of that had lifted, I was restless, and my body began to fizz again.

Shit. I had to move.

After spending so much on gas today, I could think of only one option. The woods.

But I wouldn't go in deep. I'd stay near the tree line. Just deep enough to breathe with no one watching.

I grabbed my phone and headed back outside.

The cool evening air brushed my face, refreshing me.

Only a few people were around now, and they were in deep conversation, not noticing me as I stepped out.

I hung a right, going in the opposite direction, and walked toward the woods. Knowing that I'd soon be immersed in nature had me quickening my pace.

When I stepped past two towering Douglas firs, I inhaled the crisp, clean air, the kind that only nature could provide, away from pollution and smog.

I walked in about a quarter of a mile, deep enough that no one could see me from the university lawn.

The fizzing floated through me, but I wasn't petrified. No one was here to witness anything weird. I stopped and listened, ready to completely relax.

A whimper sounded close by, and a knot formed deep in my stomach.

Then I heard a suckling noise that sounded like a rabid animal feasting on a fresh carcass.

"Please," a shaky female voice murmured. Acid burned my throat.

Someone was in trouble.