“I can tell. Go grab a drink.” I pointed to the sideline and turned my attention back to Nix, but all I got was her tail disappearing into the trees.
What is going on with her?I asked Megan, who got to her feet.
I think she is trying to figure everything out.Megan followed Nix into the darkness, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
What the heck does she have to figure out?I shook my head and promised them I would go running the next day. I waited for their reply, but nothing came, just silence. This was the first time since I turned the age where Nix talked to me that my mind has ever been this silent. This felt wrong. Something was wrong.
“Earth to Amy.” I snapped back to Hanna standing in front of me, waving her hands. “Hello?”
“Holy goddess, you scared the shit out of me.” I jumped back and laughed, doubling over and catching my breath. “Yeah. Hanna. What’s up?”
She giggled and shook her head. “Where were you off in that head of yours?” I just smiled and stood. “We were heading to the cafeteria for breakfast before class. We called you out. You were zoned out. Did you want to come?”
“Yeah.” I held up my finger and trotted over to where I had my stuff, and grabbed it. Slipping my sweater over my head and slinging my bag on my shoulder, I hurried up and caught up to everyone else.
“What were you thinking about?” Toya looked at me, and I saw a glint of something in her eye. I quickly scanned the hallway and saw that Vince and Brandon were off in a doorway.
“My dad.” I let my voice catch. “I was thinking about my dad.” I answered, my voice soft but still loud enough for them to hear me. I saw the two men smirk a little and then turn away. I wanted to attack them. Their only saving grace was my fatherwas still alive. But they didn’t know that and they both enjoyed my pain. My brain froze as I thought about it again. They both enjoyed my pain.
The two of them, Vince and Brandon.
I thought it was just Vince who was pulling the strings, but Brandon, my despicable mate, seemed to be involved too. I felt a mourning howl from deep inside and I sent a wave of love back to Megan. She was still hurting and since she hadn’t been able to reject him yet, Brandon was still her mate.
Fuck.
How were we supposed to let him get close if he was still our mate?
That was something I would figure out later. I returned my focus back to Toya. “Yeah.” She gave a sad smile, and she grabbed my arm and pulled me along. “I think about my dad a lot, too.” I sniffled a little for added dramatics, but then we were out of earshot and I wanted to growl.
“I’m starving.” Micca’s voice pulled me back to the present. I found my mind was wandering more today than was normal, and I shook it off.
“Me too.” Everyone agreed.
“It’s the workout. You are training your body and your wolves to be stronger, and that needs more fuel.” I patted her head as I walked by. “Have your moving requests been approved yet?” I grabbed my tray and waited in line.
“What?” Wendy shook out her hair.
“Today is the reassignment day, isn’t it?” I pulled out my phone and wiggled it. “You all put in the request to move into the apartment. I know that most of the apartments are now furnished. Sterling has been working half the night just bringing stuff up to the places.” They all froze for a second before they all pulled out their phones.
I kept everyone moving as they all scrambled to their emails. “Where is it?” Hanna whispered.
The speaker crackled in the cafeteria “Good morning students. The emails regarding reassignment were just sent out. You should receive them in a minute.” Wendy’s mother’s voice was sweet over the speaker. “Good luck and have a great day.”
“Push.” I called out and I felt the sofa shift. “We almost have it.” I heard a groan, and then we were through the doorway. “Ugh.” I moaned. “Finally.”
“Why did you have to change the fucking furniture?” Toya groaned as she placed the new piece down in my bare living room.
I collapsed onto the last piece of the huge sectional we just moved in. I could feel the need to nest itching at my skin and I didn’t know why. “Has your nesting ever kicked in?” I turned to face her where she had sunk into the overly plush dark grey fabric my wolf craved as soon as she saw it in the store.
I turned my mind inward and called out to my wolves…but other than the random needs she sends my way, Nix has been MIA since Rowan left and Megan has stayed away too.
Hello?I called out, but nothing.I miss you both.I hoped I could see them, but I understood; she needed her space. I just wanted them to know how much I missed them.
I was so absorbed with my wolves that when Toya finally answered me; I was surprised. “No, but I have never had a reason to nest.”
“Wait, what?” I rolled onto my side and stared at her.
She smiled but shook her head. “I want you to understand this is just my mother’s rambling and has in no way been proven even a little bit.” She faced me and waited until I nodded before she continued. “My mom, in her travels, has studied the nesting habits of the she-wolves of all the packs. And she noticed something, or so she said. The she-wolves of unranked and low ranked wolves only nested when they were actually pregnant, leaving the rest of the time to focus on their lives and roles in the pack. Gamma’s and Beta’s they nest when they first move in with their mates, and then again when they are pregnant. But Alphas, well… we nest when we meet our mates the first time, when we have sex for the first time, when we finish the mating ritual, when we are pregnant, pretty much any excuse with our mates do we nest.” Toya rolled her eyes. “A little overkill, but that was her theory.”
