"You forgetting about the ceremony tomorrow night? If she's really your—"
"Don't," I cut him off, my voice dropping to a growl. Some of the students nearby glance our way, sensing the shift in energy. I take a calming breath, reining in my wolf. "Let's just get through today."
Dax holds up his hands in surrender, but the knowing look doesn't leave his face. As we head to the cafeteria, I freeze for a split second, my jaw tightening as I see her. Maya’s laugh catches in the air, and beside her is Rick, the human boy who's been orbiting her since she arrived. My wolf snarls, and I feel my eyes flash with heat before I cancontrol it.
"Easy there," Dax murmurs, steering me in the opposite direction. "Your eyes are showing."
I blink rapidly, forcing back the blue glow that would certainly reveal what I am. This is getting dangerous. I need to run, to let my wolf free before I lose control in the middle of the school.
Luckily, the pack has a run planned for tonight.
The forest embraces us as we race through the trees, then early full moon bathing everything in silver. In wolf form, my thoughts are simpler, more primal, but no less consumed by her. My paws dig into the earth, propelling me faster, trying to outrun feelings I can't escape.
My dad, our pack alpha, cuts through the forest with authority and grace. I run just behind his right flank, with Dax and five others forming our core pack. We're smaller than some of the other packs in the region, but what we lack in numbers, we make up for in strength and loyalty.
You're distracted tonight, Bolton,Dad’s voice enters my mind through our pack bond.
Sorry,I respond, pushing myself to focus on the run.
What’s going on, son?
What am I supposed to say to him?Well, I think I found my mate, but she’s not one of us?
The human girl?
I stumble slightly at his direct reference to Maya, recovering quickly and trying to shield my thoughts. It's nearly impossible to hide things from our Alpha—especially when it involves potential mates.
Yeah. She started school two weeks ago. She and her mom just moved to the mountain.
She'll be at the ceremony tomorrow,he says, slowing his pace to run alongside me.Principal Cooper has arranged for all seniors to attend the "cultural event." Ifshe's truly meant to be yours, we'll know then.
The ceremony. The traditional full moon gathering where unmated wolves might find their destined partners. Where the moon goddess sometimes reveals a mate bond between wolves—or, rarely, between a wolf and a human. If Maya is mine, the mark will appear on her skin under the full moon's light.
My wolf howls at the thought, eager and hopeful.
But the human part of me is terrified.
Because if she is marked, Maya Ortiz’s normal human life is over and she’ll be pulled into our world whether she’s ready or not.
We run until our muscles burn and our minds clear, until the stars shift in the sky above. But no matter how far or fast I run, I can't escape the truth that's been haunting me since the moment she walked into Stone Mountain High two weeks ago.
Tomorrow night, under the full moon, I'll finally know if the human girl who's invaded my every thought is truly destined to be mine.
And I have no idea if that would be a blessing or a curse.
Chapter 3
Maya
Ican’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something important.
Everyone seems nice enough, well, except for Cassie, but there's an undercurrent I can't quite identify, like the whole school is in on some inside joke that I haven't been let in on yet.
My phone buzzes with a text as I'm walking home from school. It's from Bolton. How did he get my number?
Bonfire tomorrow night. You coming?
I stare at the message, unsure how to respond. I barely know the guy, but there's something about him that makes my skin tingle whenever he's around. I pocket my phone without replying, deciding to figure it out later.
