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That year, one woman was taken by the shifters at the offering. Since then, the wolves have upheld their end of the bargain to protect the town, but they haven’t taken anyone else. Only that one woman at the first offering. She went without a word, without a fight. It’s said she went into a trance of sorts and no one ever heard from her again. That’s the story we’re told and taught, anyway. And that’s the reason we’re headed to the local college to “offer” ourselves.
This is our first year and we’ll have to attend for the next two as well. To put it mildly, I’m freaked the fuck out. I try to remind myself that the shifters haven’t taken anyone in a hundred and sixty years. Maybe this is nothing more than an outdated tradition. How the hell should I know? But knowing they haven’t taken anyone in over a century and a half only drops my fear down a notch, a very small notch.
The fact that I’ll be presented to them gives me mixed emotions, but the overriding feeling is complete and utter fear. I finally have a home and safety and a life that I cherish. I don’t want to leave. No one really knows what happens if they take you, but it’s not hard to guess. If you’re chosen, you don’t come back. The very idea throws me into full-on panic mode.
With her lips turned down and her gaze looking off to nowhere, I know Lizzie’s thinking the same things I am. My hand grips hers as fiercely as she held me that first night she cried in my arms, in my bedroom when we were only kids. “It’s going to be fine,” I reassure her, surprised my voice is even as the words come out.
A tight smile is my reward, followed by a shrug, then my Lizzie is back. “I’m fine, just … remembering.” It takes all my strength to simply nod, pulling ahead in the line for coffee.
Silence brings memories.
We came last year to watch, just to see what it would be like. It was Lizzie’s idea. She was far worse than she is now. Just being around the werewolves made her tremble.
We nearly left, but we had to know what to expect so we could prepare ourselves. About a hundred girls were lined up single file and in alphabetical order, then they crossed the stage. If I had seen a picture of it and didn’t know the context, I would have thought it was a graduation. A snort leaves me at the comparison. Unlike a graduation, the atmosphere was ominous and grim with no speeches or sense of joy. The werewolves came, the women walked in front of them, and then the shifters left. It was somber and perfunctory, almost like neither party wanted to be there. I know for a fact that was true on our end.
Even though the werewolves were mostly covered by their cloaks, it wasn’t hard to tell that they were pure muscle. Nothing but killing machines. I couldn’t see much from the other side of the stadium but Sherri, one of the cashiers at the bookstore, told me that they looked “scary as fuck,” as she so eloquently put it. She’s a senior in college now, so her last time to walk was last year. She told us she couldn’t be more grateful.
I wondered why all the women walked quickly and quietly with their heads bowed, but I guess that’s why. Not that I can blame them. If someone were staring at me like they wanted to rip my throat out—again, Sherri’s phrase, not mine—I wouldn’t want to look them in the eye either. Especially knowing they could legally take me against my will.
So yes, head down and a fast pace.
“You okay?” Lizzie asks with a bravado I know is fake, but I love her anyway for trying to be strong for us both. Lizzie licks her lips and then pulls out a tube of gloss from her bag. She can barely look me in the eyes.
“Fine. We’re going to be just fine.” I pat her hand before pulling up to get our drinks and then taking off. Time to face the music, so to speak.
“Of course we are.” She smacks her lips after applying a thin, glittery coat of gloss but I notice how her hand trembles. “And then we’re going to whoop it up at Jake’s party.” I force a small smile for her and try to shake off my nervousness. If not for me, then for her. At least I’m concentrating on the party tonight instead of the offering. Arriving at the college a few minutes later, we park in the designated spots for “those participating in the offering.” I turn off the car and grab my stuff from the back seat, keeping my snide thoughts to myself.
“You think Mike’s going to be there?” she asks as she opens her door. I follow her lead and walk quickly with her to the stadium entrance, trying to figure out what she’s even asking. Right. Jake’s party. We only have a few minutes left to get in there for the offering. If you don’t make it, you’re forced to leave town. Supposedly. No one ever risks being kicked out of a protected area, so I don’t really know if that particular law would be enforced. Not that I have any intention of finding out firsthand.
“He told me he would.” She’s been trying to decide whether or not she wants to make a move on Mike. I don’t think she should. He keeps coming into the bookstore just to flirt with her and never buys a book. He’s worked at his father’s construction company since last year when we all graduated. Whenever I suggest he buy something, he always tells me he has no need for any books, not that he has any time to read. He could use a book, though. He’s kind of an ass and she deserves way better than him.
“Do you really have the hots for Mike?” I question, not bothering to hide my disdain. I’m all for blue-collar guys. Just thinking of those rough hands on me sends shivers across my shoulders in a good way. I’m just not into assholes. And Mike is way more ass than he is anything else. A shrug is all I get in reply while we both sign our names at the check-in station. After we’re each handed a pamphlet, we make our way up the steel steps to sit in the back. I toss the handout into the trash as we walk. It’s full of facts about Shadow Falls and how the treaty was formed. I read it last year and I’m not really a history type of girl. Even if I was, that’s not the history I want to read about. It’s basically designed to sugarcoat the one unquestionable requirement from the wolves. If you’re chosen, you must leave with them that instant. No packing your things, no saying goodbye to friends and family. They take you. Plain and simple. I don’t need a pretty piece of paper to brighten up that bit of information.
“I really want to get my cherry popped before college.” The absurd statement brings me back to the present.
My gaze shoots over to Lizzie. She’s practically the only virgin I know. I wonder if she told me because she’s looking for a major distraction right now since we’ll have to line up soon. Even if she’s not, I am, so I’ll run with it.
We decided to only take a year off of school between high school and college to save up money, so that means she’d only have a few months to lose it. If she’s serious.
“For real?” I can’t help but to question her. She’s never shown any interest before. She nods her head, but it’s quickly followed by a bite of her lip. I know she wants my approval. Not that I’m an expert or anything, but I’m far more comfortable with sex.
“Why?” I ask in all sincerity. “It’s really not what people make it out to be.” We take our seats and stare at the empty stage as Mr. Horga, the gray-haired mayor of Shadow Falls, makes his way across the field with a wireless microphone. “Seriously, I have a better time with my vibrator.” She laughs at me and goes back to sucking down her drink.
“I just feel like such an outcast, you know?”
“Yeah, I know how you feel.” We’ve always been two peas in a pod, dancing to a different beat than everyone else. I clasp her hand with the intention of talking her out of pursuing Mike, but suddenly the whole stadium goes quiet as our gazes are involuntarily pulled to the entrance, waiting for the shifters to walk in and show themselves. Their authoritative presence is felt before anything else. My heart skips a beat and my blood runs cold. It’s overwhelming. I swallow thickly. They’re here.
“Oh shit,” Lizzie hisses in a low whisper. She dropped her drink and what little bit was left is all over the floor in front of us. Her hands are shaking even harder now. “Sorry,” she whispers and half the people around us give her a wary glance before turning back to the cloaked werewolves who are striding across the field toward the stage.
“Just come here,” I say, begging her as if she’s running away when she’s still right here next to me.
“Did it get on your heels?” I look at her like she’s lost her damn mind, silently willing her to be quiet, but when I look at her as she tries to clean up the mess, her expression is distressed.
“It didn’t get me,” I say quietly, focused on easing her worry. I wish I had something to help her wipe up the spilled coffee, though. She’s only got the one tiny napkin that was wrapped around the cup so it’s already soaked and useless. I give in and laugh a little bit before I look back up, which at least makes her grin in response. Her smile makes me feel like we’re okay. Only seconds later, my own vanishes and my heart sinks. I try to swallow but my throat closes as three of the werewolves turn their heads in our direction. Their gaze on us feels like a cold blanket draped over my shoulders and my mouth goes dry. Fuck.
“All right, that’s better.” Lizzie’s comment breaks the spell. I let out a small breath of relief when I realize she didn’t notice the werewolves staring our way.
I reach for her hand and it feels hot in mine.
