I gave him an even stare. I finally had friends to go out and do stuff with, and I wasn’t about to waste my time twiddling my thumbs around campus.
“Here’s the deal. You do some learning and try to adjust to the wolf today, and if you’ve improved at all, we’ll see what we can do about tomorrow.”
“A surprise?”
He nodded.
“An off-campus surprise?”
“Not sure. We’ll have to see.” Mr. Dawson went to the small wooden bookcase and pulled a thin hardback from the middle shelf. “Read this. I’ll be back in a bit and we’ll talk about whatever you have questions about. Okay?”
I glanced down at the cover. A Werewolf’s Bible stared back at me. “I’ve got one of these.”
“Oh, so you’ve read it?” He said it in a higher pitch than his normal voice. The guy knew perfectly well I hadn’t read it.
“No, but—”
“Read.” He strode to the door. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
I was stubborn only for a little bit. I sipped my tea slowly. Mr. Dawson was insane for drinking hot tea when it was a million degrees outside.
I braced myself for the visions that would come. When the first wave of them was over, I began to read. I hadn’t finished the first chapter before the door slammed open.
“What are you doing here?” Dastien stomped over to me, his eyes a bright shade of amber. He was pissed and looking like a crazy-man.
“Reading.” What was his problem? I lifted my mug and took a sip while he stared.
He gave a desperate laugh and sank into the seat across from me. “I haven’t felt this out of control in years.” He leaned forward, putting his head in his hands. “No. I don’t think I was ever this inept.”
I should’ve felt bad for him, but I didn’t. It reassured me. If everyone thought Dastien was this awesome guy and he’d lost control, then me making an ass out of myself all the time maybe wasn’t such a big deal.
“Glad I’m not the only one feeling crazy.” I tugged on my ponytail. “Why’d you storm in here like that?”
He sat back. “It’s too embarrassing to admit.”
“That’s a stupid thing to say. Now you have to tell me.”
“I thought…” He scrunched his eyes closed. “I thought you and Michael…”
My mouth dropped open. “He’s like the principal!” A smile spread across my face. The guy was jealous and I loved it.
“Yeah well, he’s Alpha. He could handle you. If anyone here could take you from me…” Dastien let out a desperate sounding laugh. “I don’t know what my deal is. I just keep thinking that you’re going to change your mind about me. About us.”
“You’re saying that like it makes sense. Have you seen yourself?” I grinned when he started laughing. I picked up my book. “Everything has been out of my control lately. And now I found out I can’t leave campus.” I sighed dramatically. “I’m tired of not understanding. Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s completely frustrating. I’m going to read this thing, and then I won’t feel so freaking lost all the time. So no distracting me.”
Before I could read one sentence, Dastien yanked the book from my hands. “You don’t need this.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “Just because you’re handsome doesn’t mean you get to boss me around. I’m trying to learn some control. I can’t be stuck at this school forever. I’ll go crazy.”
“Don’t be so stubborn. When you feel lost or don’t get something, just come to me. I’ll always be there to help.”
That was sweet. “I can’t always lean on you. I have to figure this out for myself.”
He nodded slowly. “I admire that, but sometimes it’s smarter to ask for help when you need it.” He walked around the nook and pulled me up. “Let’s go for a walk.”
My heart sped at the thought of being alone with him. It hadn’t been just us since the party.
I separated our hands to pull off my gloves and tuck them in my pocket. It was Dastien, and I never got much of anything from him. And if I got something from him today, I didn’t think I’d mind it. Extra intel on the boy would be more than welcome. “Okay,” I said. “Let’s go.”
He held out his hand. As soon as we touched, an electric spark stung my fingertips. I pulled away, shaking my hand. “What was that?”
Dastien looked at his hand as if it were a stranger. “I don’t know.”
“I’d say static electricity, but that doesn’t quite cover it.” I’d felt it in my soul.
“No. That was something else. Something more.” He reached out again.
I hesitated this time.
“Let’s just see if it happens again,” he said.
I closed my eyes as I put my hand in his. It was different the second time. Something clicked into place and I could almost sense a line of energy connecting us. I gasped as it tightened around my heart.
When I dared to open my eyes, he was staring again at our linked hands. “What was that?” I said.
“I don’t know for sure.”
My heart raced. “Guess.”