Bounded To My possessive Alpha

CHAPTER ONE

My blood jolted in my veins.

M

Hands tightening on the steering wheel, I drove under the black iron sign with the words Evergreen Elite University molded into the center. Even on this cloudy day, the words, thick with large gaping holes between each letter, were easy to see. Add in the two gigantic brick pillars on either side of the road that held up the sign in all its glory, and it was an old-world version of a neon light. Already, this school screamed prestige and wealth, and I couldn't believe I was here.

I hadn't even applied.

The thought had never crossed my mind.

My blood gave an extra jolt, informing me that coming here had been a bad idea-as if I didn't know.

Only the top five percent of applicants were admitted to this exclusive Portland, Oregon university, and one semester here cost more than what my parents made in a year combined.

I couldn't even dream of affording it, despite having straight A's from my two-year community college. The university was so prestigious that even most class valedictorians didn't believe they had a chance of getting in. Believe me. I knew. I was one of them.

This place was known for producing some of the greatest minds in America, along with shaping the future of students from the country's wealthiest and most influential families. Some people dared to say it was even more elite than the Ivy Leagues out East.

Mysteriously, I had received a full scholarship, including room and board. The advisor assigned to me still hadn't given me a clear answer as to why. All he'd said was that an anonymous donor had sponsored me and believed I had the makings of greatness, which this place supported and celebrated.

Anyone saying something that nice about me was a first, and my parents had practically pushed me out the door to attend. Mom couldn't believe I'd seriously considered not coming here, and Dad had piped in, proclaiming it as an opportunity of a lifetime.

Maybe it was, but I suspected my parents were also eager to get me out of the house. I tended to hole up in my room whenever I wasn't out hiking, and they worried about my lack of social life.

As I coasted onto campus, my heart sank. Two parts of me were at war, one part telling me to turn around and drive the two hours back home and the other part bursting with butterflies of excitement because this was a fresh start.

I had to calm down. How was I supposed to meet my roommate like this? We'd texted one another after getting our room assignments, and Lucy seemed like a fun person. I'd let her know when I planned on arriving, and she'd said she'd be there to meet me. But whenever I got anxious, weird shit happened, and "weird" wasn't the first impression I wanted to make.

No one I knew went to school here, so there would be no preconceived notions about me. I had a chance to make my first real friend and, maybe- just maybe-fit in.

The latter was the scariest hope of all because I doubted it would happen. My emotions were running rampant. The last thing I needed was to put pressure on myself, hoping to find a place that might feel like an actual home.

With my track record, that wouldn't happen.

I was setting myself up for an inevitable disappointment.

A huge brick stadium that housed the college's renowned football team towered to my right, and the student center loomed straight ahead. The pictures I'd seen online didn't do justice to my view of the towering cherry trees framing the lawn in front of the student center where myriad students gathered and lounged lazily on this Sunday afternoon.

The administrator had told me to take a left here for the quickest route to the apartment I'd been assigned, and I followed his instructions, driving

past soccer fields and tennis courts.

Hope expanded in my chest even as cold tendrils of fear knotted in my stomach. The two opposing emotions contrasted with each other like repelling magnets. My breathing quickened, and my blood jolted higher, informing me everything was about to crash and burn.

Whenever my blood jolted and worked up to a hum, strange incidents occurred around me-things that didn't make sense and proved that something was seriously wrong with me: Dishes rattled on the table, lights flickered, and a sense of how people were feeling sometimes swamped me. The jolt was the first sign of an episode, making me feel as if I'd gotten a dose of some drug and could go full-on humming at any time.

I took deep breaths to calm myself. Soon, I passed the administration building, and the parking lot the advisor had instructed me to use appeared on the left. I was here. As in, going inside and unpacking my stuff in my room imminently.

As I pulled into the lot, my breathing technique was not working, especially as my janky old Honda Civic passed by Lexuses, Mercedes, BMWs, and a Rolls-Royce.

My vehicle screamed outcast, and I hated to see what would happen when I did something so strange it defied the laws of physics.

By the time I pulled into the last spot in the back corner farthest from the apartment buildings, my blood had an extra fizzle to it. The fizzle came between the jolt and the hum.

If I didn't squelch this now, there would be no reining in the weirdness. My eyes homed in on the woods behind the apartment buildings.

Woods.

Comfort.

Freedom to be myself.

A place I could escape to get my anxiety under control.

I got out and slammed the car door shut, locking it with the fob. It was the only bougie thing my car could do.

Five students were loitering between the two five-story brick buildings, talking to each other like they didn't have a care in the world. The two women had an air of confidence, and three men towered over them, their muscular bodies emphasized by their tight shirts. Even as I told myself not to look, my eyes betrayed me, locking on the tallest one with dark hair and

a chiseled jaw, who seemed to tug at my very essence. The fizzing in my blood kicked up higher, teetering near a hum.

When his head turned my way, I forced my attention to the woods, not wanting to be caught staring at them. I needed to get out there and be alone so I could get myself under control.

Refusing to look at anything but the Douglas firs along the perimeter, I put one foot in front of the other. If I could get into the woods and immerse myself in nature, it should ground me.

It usually did.

Accepting the random scholarship hadn't been smart. I should've done the online college program at another university this fall. That had been the plan since I'd graduated with an Associate of Science from Columbia Gorge Community College last spring, but an online school would make it harder for me to get into vet school. Not like graduating from here. That was the only reason I hadn't fought Mom more.

Moments before I reached the tree line, my blood hummed. The needles on the fir I'd been focused on started to shake.

Shit. My heart squeezed uncomfortably, and I almost wished it would stop beating. I didn't understand why things like this kept happening to me.

The sounds of a sapsucker drilling into a tree filled my ears. No one was anywhere near me. Between the comforting sound of the bird and the lack of witnesses to my meltdown, I slipped into the woods, ready to surround myself with nature and calm down.

A few steps into the trees, I was sure no one could see me from the EEU campus. I rubbed my chest to relieve the tension. I hated how my emotions took over at times. It was as if something inside me amped them up, and the anxiety-controlling coping mechanisms countless counselors had taught me didn't do shit to help, though I still tried them.

I walked a mile into the woods, not slowing until I'd taken the edge off the hysteria. When I spotted a sizable fallen tree trunk, I sat on the wood, ignoring the faint dampness from the rain the night before that was soaking into my jeans.

A cool breeze contrasted with the warmth of the air, and I leaned my head back and looked skyward, hoping I'd see a bird fly overhead.

As I breathed in the forest pine scent, the wolf I'd helped right before I graduated from community college flitted into my mind. He'd been caught in a hunter's trap, a hunting practice that was illegal in that part of the

mountains. When I'd stumbled upon him, he'd growled, but those bright- yellow eyes had seemed so intelligent ... so real. I'd told him I was there to help him, and it was as if he'd understood me. It was the type of moment that made me want to be a vet.

A sense of calm embraced me. My lungs filled with fresh air, and the sounds of animals scurrying in the woods brought me serenity.

Home. The word echoed in my head, and a vision of the tall guy popped into my brain. My stomach bubbled, not out of discomfort but from excitement and expectation.

This had to stop. I had to clear my head.

The fizzle subsided to a jolt as I allowed the tranquility of the moment to wash over me. I dug my shoes into the mulch, slowing the momentum of the thoughts that kept invading my mind.

I was sitting there in silence, lost in the moment, when curiosity brushed against my mind. A branch snapped, and I wasn't surprised to find a deer twenty feet away. Its head tilted as it took me in and slowly inched forward. This was why I visited the woods: to be one with nature and see its miraculous creatures alone and up close. The deer continued toward me, curiosity brimming in its dark eyes. I held out both hands, wanting her to

see I meant her no harm.

A chill ran down my spine, and the hair on the nape of my neck rose.

I tensed as an all-too-familiar sensation washed over me, and the deer paused. She averted her eyes to my right, confirming my fear.

Someone was watching us.

Huffing, the deer spun and ran in the opposite direction, and the lump in my throat tripled in size.

I tried to swallow and failed.

Perhaps someone was merely hiking in the woods, but my skin was crawling. I'd seen the evil mankind could do when they encountered something they didn't understand-like a deer walking straight up to me without concern. Not that the deer had gotten that close, but it had been approaching.

I wouldn't stay here to see if the person meant me harm. After all, I needed to move my stuff into my apartment and didn't want to worry Lucy by how late I was.

I stretched as if I didn't have a care in the world. Showing my fear was the worst thing I could do; if this was a bullying tactic, it would make

whoever was spying on me feel more powerful. I pretended to yawn, hoping it would help my act, though my blood was already fizzing again.

I stood slowly, attempting to come off like nothing was wrong, but every cell in my body wanted to run. The last time this had happened was in high school. A group of students had cornered me in the back of the school and shoved me around. Worse, the ringleader had been Lizzy, a girl who'd been my best friend in preschool.

Acid inched up my throat as I started to hike back toward the campus. I had an inkling where the person was, thanks to my deer friend, so I made sure to move to the left of that area.

The woods were supposed to be my salvation, not a place where I didn't feel safe. This was the one place I could go to find a little sanity and feel as if I belonged.

Gritting my teeth, I listened hard for sounds that the person was following me or trying to cut me off. All I could hear was my rapid heartbeat.

Adrenaline shot through me, and the jolt turned into the fizzing sensation again. Something like sinister curiosity rolled over me, and sweat pooled under my arms. Something was definitely out here with me.

The trees thinned, and I was almost free.

My skin tingled as my blood hummed within me. I glanced over my shoulder, searching for the cause. Any pretense of calmness was gone, and I sensed that someone was nearly on top of me. I began to jog, often glancing over my shoulder for anyone behind me. Then I crashed into something that felt a damn lot like a brick wall.

CHAPTER TWO

My body bounced off the wall, and my feet slipped from underneath me.

M

I winced and was preparing for the inevitable crash landing when strong hands gripped my shoulders.

Heart dropping into my stomach, I forced my eyes to look straight ahead and found myself staring at a chest.

The gray polo shirt was molded to muscle, and I shook my head to clear it. It didn't help. I couldn't get over the way the muscles curved and tensed, and something inside me yanked.

Between the hard chest and the run-in, my blood calmed to a jolt.

I knew people could be strong, but I hadn't realized running into someone this fit would feel like hitting a wall. Like, what the hell? I ran my fingertips over the muscles, reveling in the heat and smoothness, then froze. Two snickers sounded from Muscular Chest's side.

Oh my God.

My face burned, and I dropped my hand like I'd touched something hot.

In fairness, I had. This chest alone had jumbled my thoughts. I needed space and air.

Fast.

I took a step back and stumbled all over again, but the hands were still on my shoulders, keeping me upright.

"Uh ... thanks." I jerked my head up, hoping to pull myself together, but when I locked eyes with the brick wall and his scent invaded my senses, my thoughts vanished entirely, and my mouth dropped open.

He was more than handsome but gorgeous didn't sound manly enough

-because this guy was all man. He had at least six inches on me, and his black hair hung into his crystal-blue eyes, emphasizing their color. I wanted to get lost in them, and his amber-sandalwood scent made me want to rub myself all over him.

Which would make this situation even more embarrassing; otherwise, I wouldn't have restrained myself.

His eyes warmed as he looked me over, but then he sniffed. His jaw clenched, and his full lips mashed together in a grimace. "Do you think you can stand without falling now?"

I was used to getting that look from almost everyone I met, but it cut deeper coming from him. Seeing the warmth vanish from his eyes hurt, which was preposterous. I didn't even know him.

"Man, I think you broke her." The guy on my right chuckled. "I swear she's got drool puddling in the corner of her mouth."

That snapped me out of my stupor. I looked at his friend, who was almost as hot as Sexy Chest. His friend's milk-chocolate-brown eyes danced with mirth as he ran a hand over brown scruff that was a shade darker than his short hair. His dark skin crinkled around his eyes-further proof that he was trying to hide a smile.

"Leave her alone, Keith." The man with lighter-brown skin on the other side of Sexy Chest scoffed. "She's scared." He stepped toward me, his shaggy, curly hair ruffling in the breeze. "She was running." His honey- brown eyes seemed warmer than the others, but his body was stiff, giving off clear stay-back vibes. He lifted his head to scan the area behind me. "It looked like something was chasing her."

These three were the sexiest guys I'd ever seen, and I'd proven that neither my mouth nor my balance was stable, but I despised being talked about as if I weren't standing right here. I had to say something. "I saw a deer."

Keith laughed, not hiding his amusement anymore. "And you thought it was chasing you?"

"What? No!" Deer weren't aggressive toward humans. Even nonanimal people knew that, so I was still speaking nonsense. "I meant, I ..." How did I salvage this? At least I wasn't exposing myself as a freak ... sorta. "I wanted to take a picture, but I forgot my phone."

As if there were a higher being that hated me, my phone dinged in my pocket.

"I believe we all found it." Sexy Chest's deep, husky voice rumbled.

My damn traitorous eyes glanced back at him, and my breath caught at the suspicion etched into every line of his face. He dropped his hands from my shoulders, and I noticed a detailed wolf tattoo peeking from under the sleeve of his shirt. The olive tone of his skin gave it more definition, making it appear almost lifelike.

I looked over my shoulder, wondering if I could catch a glimpse of whatever had been following me.

The nicer guy followed my gaze. "Judging by your expression, I'm assuming you aren't searching for a deer."

"Adam, come on." Keith snorted. "She can't walk, she was gawking at Raffe, and she can barely put together a coherent sentence. She probably bumped into a tree and thought it was someone grabbing her."

And here was when the teasing began. My blood jolted, and my mouth went dry. I needed to get away from them before I had an epic meltdown ... again. "It felt like I was being watched." I shrugged, staring at the mulchy ground. "I'm sure it was nothing ... just me being paranoid."

"Why don't you go to your room, and the three of us can check out the area?" Raffe said, a little bit of the warmth springing back into his eyes.

Part of me snapped to attention, ready to follow his suggestion, which irritated me. Why in the world would I want to obey someone I'd just met? But there was something about him that I couldn't explain.

I lifted my chin. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm sure it was nothing. And if something was chasing me, I'd hate for you to go out there and have something happen. I couldn't live with you all getting hurt because of me."

Raffe scowled, and his eyes narrowed as he stepped back into my space. For a moment, I swore his blue eyes glowed, but Adam punched him in the shoulder.

"We'll be fine, pigeon." Keith shoved his hands into his khaki pants pockets and smirked. "Besides, Raffe eats birds in his sleep."

Pigeon. Sigh. It was the equivalent of being called chicken, though most people didn't realize that. Unfortunately, Keith might be smarter than he seemed.

I hated what these people stood for. They were the type who bullied and berated people for being different. Hell, Keith was already doing that with

me even when it was clear I'd been scared.

I could either stand here and let them ridicule me or get my shit together and meet my roommate like I should have done already. The latter would let me hold on to a smidge of dignity. At least they were willing to search the woods in case something was off. That had to count for something.

I settled on saying, "Don't hurt the deer if you see her."

"Her?" Keith arched his brow. "Did you name her too? Let me guess, Bambi? Thumper? Flower?"

Raffe cut his eyes to his friend, and after a few seconds, Keith huffed and lowered his head slightly.

Here I'd thought weird things only happened around me. Something strange was going on between them.

Well, the last thing I needed was to learn more about it. I had enough freak inside me to last a lifetime without adding glowing eyes and people talking through expressions without looking at each other.

"No, but if you meet up with her, ask her what it is and let me know." The words had popped out before I processed my response. I couldn't stand smart-asses. "Unlike people here, I don't limit names to Disney movies."

"Hey." Keith sneered. "I can come up with more-"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Raffe took a giant step back and cut off Keith. He stared at me and frowned. "Please, head somewhere safe. If someone is out here, we want to catch them. And I don't want to leave you alone when you were clearly scared."

Even though he'd dismissed me, he'd done it kindly, and I didn't want to make a further fool of myself.

My phone dinged again, no doubt my parents wondering why I hadn't checked in. Without another word, I marched past the three of them and went toward my car.

I waited for the snickers and snide comments to begin, but nothing happened. The three of them remained silent as if they'd disappeared.

I glanced behind me.

Only Raffe was there. The other two had vanished.

Our eyes locked, and my heart started to race. Something strange surged between us. He sighed, shoulders slumping, and his face twisted as if he were warring with whether to say something. Then he said tenderly, "Be careful, okay? Things aren't as safe as they seem around here, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

Butterflies took flight in my stomach as our gazes remained locked. We both took a step closer to one another, something drawing us together.

Then his eyes glowed again, and he huffed. "I need to check on them, but I can't until you're away from the woods."

Great. I was lingering, his effect on me obvious. How stupid. It wasn't like something would ever happen between us.

Snapping my head forward once more, I hurried to my car, determined to forget Raffe and the eerie sensation of the woods.

"EVERYTHING IS FINE," I told my parents for the hundredth time, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. My poor lilac comforter was taking the brunt of my frustration. I yanked on the edges, smoothing out the wrinkles as I finished setting up my room. I moved away from my new queen-size bed and took in the room, which was far nicer than I'd expected.

I heard some shuffling on their end, likely a hand covering the speaker while they whispered to one another. They always thought I didn't know what they were doing, but it wasn't hard to figure out, especially since it happened every time they were worried about me.

Waiting for them to say whatever else was on their minds, I snatched the string of butterflies I'd cut out of craft paper to hang up and add some purple to my room. All shades of purple were my favorite colors. I hadn't expected the room to have a small chandelier, but it was perfect for what I had in mind. I removed my lilac sneakers and climbed onto the bed then threaded the butterflies through the curved arms of the light fixture so that the butterflies hung down like a cascading chandelier of their own.

"We know you try, honey, but ... try not to do those ... things." Mom sighed then laughed as if to lighten the mood.

Sometimes, I believed they regretted adopting me, and honestly, I couldn't blame them. I was weird, I freaked out teachers, and I'd been expelled from a few schools because parents refused to let their kids attend class with someone who petrified them. I did believe they cared about me, but I didn't fit in with them. Hell, my own biological parents had given me up, and I'd never once wondered why. I was a freak. "I'm going to try really hard, Mom. I don't like it when those things happen either."

"Of course, none of that matters to us. We love you," Dad interjected. "But if you want to make friends-"

It was the same speech they'd given me millions of times over my twenty-one years. You'd think they'd have realized it didn't help. "I know. I know. I love you too."

The door to the apartment opened, and I stiffened. "Hey, my roommate just got back. I need to go."

"Oh. Okay," Mom said excitedly. "Just remember-"

"Noted, Mom." I didn't let her finish. She'd already said it five times in the past five minutes. "I'll call or text you two later. Love you. Bye." I hung up and jumped down from my bed onto the fake wood floor.

"Skylar?" a warm female voice called out, and my blood went straight to fizzing.

Ugh. My hands grew clammy as footsteps walked down the small hallway between our rooms, and a girl stuck her head in my open doorway.

I swallowed and immediately felt inadequate. Her long caramel-brown hair hung over her shoulders, highlighting her light olive skin and delicate features.

"Hey, I'm Lucy. Sorry I wasn't here when you arrived." She stepped through the doorway, her hauntingly luminous gray eyes scanning my room and stopping on me. She sniffed, and her brows furrowed. "Something came up, and I had to leave."

"No worries," I squeaked then cleared my throat. With her looks, she fit right in with Keith, Raffe, and Adam, which meant the two of us probably wouldn't get along. "I'm Skylar. I got delayed too, and I don't blame you for not waiting." I rubbed my hands along my jeans, discreetly wiping the sweat from my palms.

"I figured something came up," she said as her gaze landed on the painting I'd hung on the cream wall over the bed. "Nice artwork."

"Thanks." It was a picture of a purple sky on a cloudy day with messy purple, pink, and white flowers that appeared to be wet with rain. It brought me calm when I needed it, and I'd pulled it out first thing after I'd moved everything into the room.

An awkward silence descended, and the fizz damn near increased to a hum. Fear clawed into my chest, and I felt naked. I shouldn't have come here. I couldn't even escape to my room because I had to share this small apartment with her, including the one bathroom.

Lucy glanced at her watch. "The bookstore closes in an hour. They stayed open for students who arrived last minute. You could still go if you need to."

In other words, she wasn't willing to take me there. That wasn't surprising. "Yeah, I should do that." I needed my books for tomorrow, and that was an amazing excuse to get away from here and explore the campus. "Thanks for the information."

"Sure." She ran a hand down her gray EEU shirt, which showed the outline of a black wolf and a silver full moon. "Anytime." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and yawned. "I gotta get some things ready for class tomorrow, or I'd offer to go with you."

"No worries." I sensed she was lying, but I wouldn't call her out on it.

At least she was being nice.

"Yeah. Okay. Text me if you get lost or need anything." She lifted her phone then spun and left just as quickly as she'd arrived.

That had gone well. And what was it with all these people sniffing me?

When Lucy's bedroom door closed, I hurried past the sterile gray dresser and headed through the den and kitchen out the door. The hallway was surprisingly empty. In all the shows I watched, students were always hanging outside their rooms in the hallways. Maybe that happened in the residence dorms and not here.

Lucy and I lived in an end unit. Apartment doors lined the light-gray hallway walls, and my sneakers padded over the dark-gray carpet to the elevator.

On the ground floor, I marched through the double glass doors and headed across the road toward the student center.

The damp wind filled my lungs, making things feel not quite so bad as I walked between two massive brick buildings that were damn near identical, except the one to my left was taller.

Some guys were playing frisbee in the open area between the buildings and the student center. I watched as they laughed and joked with several girls who lay on blankets, all of them comfortable in their own skin and with friends ... two things I'd never experienced.

A pang of jealousy surged through me, and I inhaled, keeping my gaze focused straight ahead on the student center. I needed to hurry before the bookstore closed.

I marched on, but the laughter and shrieks of fun behind me had tears burning in my eyes. I'd been foolish to come here. I wanted to go home, but if I did, my parents would never let me live it down.

Worse, I'd disappoint them again. Something I'd done far too many times.

When I reached the back of the student center, I blinked to clear my eyes. I found a back door and stepped inside.

The bookstore was to my right, and luckily, the lights were still on. Near the front, by four open glass doors, an employee stood at the cash register. I scanned the area and saw that each section was marked with subjects. On the left, by the history section, was one person I never wanted to see again.

Raffe.

That strange tug urged me to close the distance between us, but I wasn't an idiot. Someone like him would never want to be with a person like me.

He was handsome, strong, and confident. I was not.

Forcing myself to ignore him, I went to the section labeled Science. A sizzle ran down my spine, and I somehow knew Raffe had seen me. But that was crazy. It wasn't possible.

Shaking my head, I focused on locating my microbiology and chemistry books. This educational opportunity was important to me, and I needed to excel in those two classes to get into veterinary school.

My microbiology textbook was shelved at the bottom, and I dug around for a decent used copy.

Something rattled over my head, and metal groaned. When I glanced up, I couldn't believe what I saw.

CHAPTER THREE

y lungs seized, and I stared in horror as three textbooks tumbled off the bookcase toward me.

M

I'd pushed myself back to get out of the way when strong arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me against a human brick wall I already knew so well.

The tugging in my chest stirred again, confirming my suspicion, as three ginormous chemistry books landed, kicking up a bit of dust where I'd been squatting mere seconds ago.

Silence surrounded us as I froze in Raffe's arms. When his chest expanded, the moment was over.

"I swear, you have a fucking death wish," he gritted out and dropped his arms from my waist, taking a huge step back. "Are you okay?"

My blood was pumping, but it wasn't only from the jolt running through me from whatever strange phenomena I lived with. Pure, unadulterated fear had mixed with attraction to make my pulse race, which never happened.

I spun around, coming way too close to slipping on one of the fallen textbooks. I caught myself and hoped like hell he hadn't noticed my clumsiness. "Yeah, but I don't understand what happened! The bookcase wasn't shaking. Then suddenly, I heard a noise. It was as if something other than me pushed the books." As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted saying them. That was definitely weirdo level.

I blamed his rugged good looks and sculpted body.

The corner of his mouth tipped upward, and he shook his head. "You say that after almost tripping and falling over books that barely missed your head. You're a magnet for trouble, and that's a huge problem for me."

Of course he'd noticed. I was beginning to think he noticed everything about me, and the thought had my body thrumming with feelings I didn't understand. Feelings that risked me doing something incredibly stupid. I studied the top of the bookcase. "Did you see what made the books fall?" The shelf hadn't moved, and while I'd been scanning the course names for the books I needed, I hadn't seen any books near the edge. "It sounded like something scooted above me, but the entire shelf was sturdy where I was."

"Are you sure?" He stepped beside me, our arms brushing. "Because it'd be strange that something like that would happen to you."

Ugh, I sounded paranoid, but he was right. It wasn't like books could move on their own. I hadn't felt my blood humming, so maybe I was remembering wrong? "You're right." I exhaled noisily. The one time I hadn't caused the weirdness, I still sounded like I was imagining things. Maybe I would never fit in. "Sorry. I don't know what happened. I must have knocked into the bookcase while digging for a biochemistry book."

I kept my attention forward, not wanting to see the inevitable look of disgust on his face. He'd witnessed two of my "special" incidents in the span of mere hours. A new record for me.

"Hey, everything will be okay. It's been a long day, and I won't let anything happen to you," he said softly and turned to me.

Unable to stop myself, I mirrored his motion, the two of us a couple of feet apart. His focus flicked to my lips as he continued, "Maybe you should go back to your room like I suggested earlier."

My head jerked back. "Did you three find anything?"

His face creased. "No, unfortunately. But don't worry. We've alerted the school board that students aren't feeling safe in the woods."

He seemed like he genuinely cared. "Thanks for everything," I forced out, physically restraining myself from moving closer to him.

A worker strolled from the far side of the store through the door that led to the counter.

He rang a bell that was probably meant to alert customer service. "Bookstore is closing in ten minutes."

Of course. The worker must have done something to cause the books to fall. I was being stupid and paranoid. This was what happened when weird

shit always followed you around. You considered unexplainable things instead of thinking through the actual cause.

I bit my bottom lip, and Raffe's gaze moved there again. His eyes glowed faintly, and the intensity of his stare had me finding the thin gray carpet underneath me very interesting. "Thanks for saving me twice today." He hadn't hesitated when he'd thought I might be in danger. "I'll try not to cause any more scenes. I swear it's not intentional."

"Look, let me give you my number in case you get into another situation where you don't feel safe."

My head snapped up. Okay, I hadn't expected that. He stepped closer to me, leaving only a sliver of space between us.

"Or you can give me your number since you aren't taking out your phone." He pulled his phone from his back pocket and arched an eyebrow.

If I hadn't been in a complete trance, I would've laughed. He was so sure of himself. As if I wouldn't even consider not giving him my phone number. Worse, he was right. I rattled off my number, pretty confident he couldn't hear me since I was damn near breathless, but he typed it in with confidence.

Like he did everything. My phone dinged.

"There. If you ever find yourself in trouble, call or text me. Don't hesitate." He tilted his head and winced. "Even if you think I'm a jerk, please know that your safety is important to me."

With everything he'd done for me today, I couldn't imagine why I'd think he was a jerk. "Okay." The tug was becoming too damn strong to resist, and I leaned forward, about to close the distance between us.

"Raffe!" A voice echoed down the hallway of the student center. Keith. "I thought you were going to be quick."

Raffe tensed and took four large steps away from me, moving into the political science section.

The abrupt change left me reeling.

He turned and snatched a book from the shelf just as Keith and Adam walked into the store. Their attention landed on me.

Keith snorted and elbowed Adam as they strolled to their friend.

"Looks like the lost pup from the woods is nipping at your heels." Keith waggled his brows at me, still looking attractive despite his over-the-top antics.

I spun away, not wanting to engage with him. When Raffe didn't tell him to back off, my heart ached with disappointment.

Adam sighed. "All the new girls think they have a chance with you or any of us. She'll learn like the rest of them."

That stung, even though I knew it was true when Raffe remained silent. My blood jolted, and I snatched a microbiology book from the bottom shelf, not caring anymore if it wasn't used. The school had said they'd cover the cost of my books, and my effort to be frugal was going out the window, thanks to their snide remarks.

"This is my last book." Raffe yawned as if he was bored and wanted to be anywhere but here. "The rest of them are at the counter."

It was as if he'd taken on a different personality. Though he wasn't being cruel, he wasn't stopping his friends from making fun of me either. In my world, not speaking up for someone was just as bad, if not worse, than doing the actual bullying.

Wanting to gain distance, I moved down to the chemistry section and grabbed my advanced chemistry book and accompanying lab notebook.

"Hurry up, man," Keith said. "Josie is getting tired of holding the table and said your ass better hurry up or she won't be wearing your jersey at the game on Saturday."

Pain exploded in my heart, catching me off guard. My blood fizzed to damn near a hum. The thought of Raffe with someone else bothered me more than should have been possible. I didn't even know him, and developing a super unhealthy obsession with him wouldn't bode well for anyone, especially not me.

"She'll wear it." Raffe chuckled. "She always gives in to me."

Jealousy clutched my chest, and I eagerly moved across the bookstore, searching for my last two books-Statistics II and Economics I. Luckily, they were close together on the other side of the store where Raffe had been before the untimely fall.

The three guys laughed and headed to the register, and I loitered with my last two books. I would wait until they were gone before I made my way there. I didn't need any more comments thrown my way about following Raffe around.

When the three of them headed to the bookstore's exit into the student center, I marched to the cashier, ready to buy my books and hide in my room for the rest of the night. But when Raffe reached the door, he turned

and nodded at me. "Remember, calm down, and go back to your residence hall."

He must have thought I was a freshman, but I didn't care to correct him. What bothered me was that he thought he could boss me around as if I were worthless.

Before I could retort, the three of them were gone.

"You ready to check out?" the guy at the counter asked. "It's closing time."

"Right. Sorry." I shook my head, putting all five textbooks on the counter. "I'm a little out of sorts."

"They're assholes." The guy rolled his hazel eyes as he scanned the books. "Don't take it personally. They treat everyone who isn't in their little clique like they're beneath them."

My brows lifted. For some reason, the fact they treated me like everyone else bothered me. "And everyone lets them get away with it?"

The guy shrugged and flipped his auburn bangs out of his eyes. "What can you do when Raffe is the star quarterback, EEU's football team captain, and the son of a billionaire who owns a majority of all the commercial real estate in Oregon? Add in the fact that Mr. Wright donates five million dollars to this school annually, and they don't get into much trouble."

I snorted. That didn't surprise me. The way the three of them acted screamed of arrogance. The kind you got from having money. "And the other two?"

"Their dads are Mr. Wright's right-hand men." He pushed some buttons on the register. "They all grew up together, and from what I hear, they live in the same ritzy neighborhood in Seattle. Everyone in that group does. It's sort of strange if you ask me, but the girls here don't seem to care one bit. Any of them would love to be with one of those three."

No wonder the guys had made so many snide comments. They were used to girls doing things to get their attention. Part of me was disgusted that they would lump me in with other women, but it wasn't as if they knew me. Just because I felt something weird around Raffe didn't mean it was reciprocated. "Well, thanks for the info. I'll make sure to stay clear of them."

The guy grinned and leaned back against the counter. He chuckled. "Is that so? You won't try to lure one into your grasp? Raffe talked to you more than he does most other people outside their group."

My heart kick-started, and my blood jolted. Down, girl. "It wasn't out of the kindness of his heart. Besides, I'm here to concentrate on my studies." And make friends, but I left out that last part. It sounded a little too pathetic.

"That's smart."

That was the one thing I had going for me. Intelligence. Not beauty or a good personality. But hand me a test, and I could ace it with minimal effort. Besides, with my blood heightened, I could read he had sincere intentions, so I added, "I have a scholarship, grant, or something that covers my books." Hell, I wasn't sure what to call what they'd given me since I hadn't applied or turned in my financials. All I'd had to do was send my transcripts over two weeks ago. "They said it'd be under my name, Skylar Greene."

"Oh. Okay." He tapped on the computer and nodded. "I found it, and you're covered." He put my books into an evergreen plastic bag with the school emblem and letters. "Here you go."

"Thanks." I took the bag. "And sorry if I held you up. I know you must want to get out of here."

"Don't worry about it." He winked. "I'm just meeting with my band to practice. No big deal. But I'm sure I'll see you around."

I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt. "Yeah. Maybe."

Instead of heading to the cafeteria to get dinner, I made my way back to the apartment. I'd had my first normal interaction with someone, and I wasn't about to risk something else happening in front of Raffe and his friends to ruin the progress I'd made.

Part of me wanted to go find Raffe, but I pushed the instinct aside. He was with Josie.

The thought nagged at me, so I focused on the small win I'd just had.

Maybe coming here would wind up being okay after all.

THAT NIGHT, I didn't sleep well. I dreamed of Raffe with some woman with no face. I woke up in a foul mood and with red eyes, feeling as if I'd been run over by a truck.

I kicked off my comforter and walked to the closet at the foot of my bed then snatched up a thin lilac sweater and jeans and headed into the bathroom to take a quick shower, hoping I could soothe my swollen eyes.

The bathroom was between my room and Lucy's, and I wasn't sure when her first class was. I slipped inside, turned on the water in the marble- tiled shower, and placed my clothes on the sink while snatching a towel from under the counter so I could grab both easily when I was done.

Not wanting to be late for my first class, microbiology, I rushed to get clean then stepped out, the cool tile floor sending a chill down my spine. Within ten minutes, I had my hair dried, and I was dressed with makeup on. I checked my appearance for signs that some random guy I'd known for all of five minutes had kept me up all night.

Luckily, my amber eyes were back to their normal brightness and no longer swollen, and I'd gotten all the knots out of my long, dark-brown hair. My olive complexion was a hint lighter than usual, but at least I didn't look as pale as the cashier from last night.

I blew out a breath, opened the door ... and heard a whisper from Lucy's room.

"This isn't funny, Lafayette. Something needs to be done. This is unacceptable." Her tone held a tinge of anger.

Knowing I shouldn't listen, I froze because that was what normal people who wanted to fit in did: stayed and eavesdropped. Dammit, Skylar. Move. Nothing good can come of you being curious, and if she finds out-

"I can't be stuck with her as a roommate." She scoffed. "Do you think she'll be willing to go outside and run with me under the moon? Or understand when I need to disappear and take care of my own needs? This can't happen. You know the rules-you're on the housing board. She should've never been assigned to me in the first place."

My blood jolted and my chest constricted. I hadn't done a thing to Lucy, and she was making me sound like the judgmental one. I didn't care if she liked running under the moon or sleeping around. None of that mattered to me, but instead of talking to me, she was talking to the housing office, trying to get me moved.

Now I was thankful that I'd eavesdropped so I wouldn't be blindsided later today.

No longer worried about being quiet, I stomped to my room and grabbed my bag. It was eight-forty in the morning, and my first class began in twenty minutes. I didn't want to rush trying to find it.

I slung on my lilac backpack and was heading into the living room when Lucy's bedroom door opened.

"Skylar, wait," she said as she hurried after me. "Please, let me explain."

I stopped between the round wooden kitchen table and the TV stand and turned around as she stopped near the brown cloth couch across the room.

I swallowed the words I wanted to say and tried to act like the type of person people didn't mind hanging around. "No need." I forced a smile, but from her wince, I could tell I'd missed the mark for looking casual.

Okay, I needed to try harder, so I smiled even wider.

When her entire body cringed, I gave up. I didn't know how to people.

"Look, I heard you in the hall, and I'm assuming you heard my conversation. I just want to say-"

"Can we not?" I most definitely did not want to have this conversation. My blood was already escalating from a jolt to a fizz. The one thing I could control at the moment was getting out of this room and away from Lucy.

I adjusted my bag, needing to expend the energy before the walls started shaking or the kitchen table rattled. "I don't know where my class is, and I need to find it."

Her expression crumpled. "Yeah, okay." She placed her hands behind her head, her white shirt inching up to reveal a small section of her stomach. "Just ... can we talk later?"

"Sure." I had no plan to follow through. I could sleep in my car and come in here only to shower until Lucy got the room situation worked out. The idea of living in a residence hall surrounded by lowerclassmen worried me due to the lack of privacy, but I'd do whatever I had to. I'd learned that forcing people to be around you accomplished only one thing-becoming the butt of every joke.

With that, I marched out of the apartment.

The charge through me was now fizzing to the point that a hum would happen at any second, so I walked faster than necessary to the elevator and counted the seconds until I was outside.

I didn't understand why Lucy had such a problem with me. We'd said only a few words to each other, and she hadn't been in the apartment when I returned from the bookstore last night. I'd gotten ready for bed and eaten some crackers then hung out in my room, hoping that the nice conversation I'd had with the pale clerk at the bookstore was a sign that things would start to go right.

Clearly, I'd been wrong.

Even as I walked into the partially sunny day, I couldn't keep the pressure from building. I needed to squelch my anxiousness, but between the encounters with Raffe yesterday and Lucy's actions this morning, I felt out of control.

Students were milling around outside, several in groups, heading in the same direction I was.

And, as always, I was alone.

That was when the hum happened.

Shit.

I was going to implode.