Finally, my alarm went off. I was tired, but at least now, I would have a distraction. My mind wouldn’t keep wandering back to him.
“Damn, you’re a morning person,” Beth mumbled as she grabbed her pillow and put it over her head.
“I didn’t sleep much last night, so I’m ready to get this day going.” I walked over to the small closet we shared and pulled out a teal dress. It was my favorite color, and I needed something to cheer me up.
“Why not?” She threw the pillow aside and sat up. “Worried about Caroline going after Jacob?”
“What? No.” That wasn’t a concern, and it had nothing to do with my confidence. Shifters weren’t allowed to date outside of their race. It complicated things.
“Hmm…” Her blue eyes examined me.
“Okay, I’m going to take a shower and get ready.” I didn’t need someone trying to figure me out. That was one of the nice things about Libby and Grace. They only worried about themselves, so I was in the clear most of the time. I put on my robe and headed out the door.
After grabbing a bite at the Student Center, Beth and I rushed up the stairs to the third floor. We got to Composition One with ten minutes to spare.
“Look like we have our choice of seats.” Beth threw her wrapper into the garbage while balancing her cup of coffee and picked a desk at the very back. “Sit in front of me so I don’t have to smell the humans the entire time.”
“What about me having to?” I didn’t mind, but I had to give her a hard time over it.
“I’ll owe you one.” She pouted at me and lowered her head, which reminded me of a puppy dog. She had the look down pat.
She was not afraid to be herself, which made me respect her more. “Do you think that actually works on people?” I was already warming up to her, and that kind of scared me. It’d been so long since I’d let someone in.
“Yup, because you are already taken in by my charm.” She sipped her coffee.
“What charm?” I wanted to challenge her, but she was still mopey, “Fine,” I said as I plopped into the seat, pretending to be upset. I wasn’t, but I couldn’t let her think she’d won so easily.
Other students soon trickled in. The first ones stayed away from us. Humans naturally distanced themselves from us, even though they didn’t understand why. Supernaturals were predators. Hell, even witches were. Though our species was alluring, we also made humans feel uncomfortable.
“Did you already get your books?” Beth leaned over her desk and spoke a little louder than a whisper.
“Yeah, I did.” The spots in the front were filling up, and soon, only one spot was left—the one right beside Beth in the very back.
Beth groaned. “I’ll have to go after my classes.”
Something changed in the air, and my skin buzzed.
No, this couldn’t be happening.
Powerless, my eyes went straight to the door as the tall, dark, and handsome man entered.
It was almost like we were magnets because his eyes locked on mine at the exact same time.
His eyes glowed before he looked away in search of an open seat.
No… God, please no. I couldn’t have him this close.
Ugh, I was being stupid. There was no way he could be the boy I loved. He was too rugged, too hardened. His body was tense like he didn’t want to come toward me, and his chiseled face was sexy as hell.
The closer in proximity to me he came, the more my body hummed. As he brushed past me, the piney scent I had burned into my memory hit me like a freight train.
I wanted to run, but there was nowhere far enough to fix my already fracturing heart.
Chapter Four
Aidan
Her gray eyes locked on mine, and I knew she felt everything I did. Her mouth dropped open, and her breathing quickened. Judging by her reaction to me, there was no way she was in love with that guy.
But it didn’t matter. She was my target and nothing more. I had to remember that.
I should’ve left the class right then and there, but my legs propelled me toward her. My heart didn’t give a damn that I needed to stay away. I guessed it loved the torture of being near her and not having her.
As I passed her, the sweet vanilla scent hit me right in the gut. She wasn’t a girl anymore but a smoking hot woman. Her eyes looked haunted, and it hurt to think I’d caused her pain. I pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter. My choices were best for both of us.
Her friend watched me as I approached; her interest in me evident in her eyes. She was cute, but not Emma. No girl was, and no one would ever be. I would make sure they both stayed away.
Emma
I didn’t know what the hell to do. He was so close. I could smell his signature scent with each breath. The problem was that his scent was better than I remembered it. The memory of it had faded more than I’d realized. There was no question, whether this was Aidan or not, he was a shifter.
“Hey there, handsome,” Beth cooed.
He didn’t respond, and the tickling feeling in the back of my spine took over again. It was as if his eyes were locked on me.
“Oh, she’s taken.” Beth moved, and it sounded like she’d turned her body toward him. “I’m not.”
Once again, the guy didn’t answer her.
Maybe I was wrong. Aidan wouldn’t be that rude. Maybe he was a doppelganger or something. I wasn’t sure if that would make the situation better or not, but I couldn’t let hope fill me again. I almost hadn’t survived him. When he’d left me, he’d taken a part of me with him that I’d never get back.
“Are you deaf?” Beth’s tone was now annoyed.
“Not interested.” His voice was deep and low, heating my body.
I had to get myself under control before anyone noticed what he was doing to me.
Right as I was about to stand and run, the professor walked in, and class began.
Class crawled by. I couldn’t listen to a damn thing the professor said as my focus was on the person seated behind me on the left.
It wasn’t just me struggling. He had a hard time paying attention too. His pencil kept hitting the desk over and over again, a fidgeting motion that held my attention. When I’d shift in my seat, the tapping would increase.
God, I was a narcissist. It wasn’t like he was focused on me like I was on him. I was losing my mind.
As soon as class ended, I jumped to my feet and practically ran out the door.
“Emma,” Beth yelled as she followed behind, “wait up.”
I didn’t want to slow down, but people were stopping in the hallway to watch.
It was hard as hell to slow down, but I planted my feet. As I turned around to face Beth, I prayed, Please don’t let him be there.
“What is wrong with you?” Beth rushed to me and glanced around at the people watching as if they expected us to fight.
Of course, Aidan was a few steps back, his attention on me.
Why did he keep looking at me? I felt fourteen years old again. I wanted to throw a tantrum right here in the middle of the busy hallway.
“Sorry, just so worried about my next class.” I took a deep, calming breath and laughed a little too loudly. I was officially acting weird.