Fall Semester (Omega Wolf Academy #2) - J.J. King

Chapter 1

I swallowed the nerves that skittered up my spine as I walked across campus, glancing nervously around as if I were about to be jumped in plain daylight.

It was normal to feel this way, I reminded myself. The sun had still been in the sky when Randall had drugged me and stole me away from what was supposed to be my safe haven. Omega Wolf Academy had lost its sheen for me somehow. It felt… violated.

That didn’t mean it wasn’t mine, though. OWA had been a huge part of my first step away from my family, away from the past, towards a future of my own. It was where I’d staked my independence, found my voice, and my guys. It was where I’d found my mates.

A smile lifted my lips and chased away the nerves as I climbed the stairs of the Psychology building and found my classroom.

“Lexi!” a familiar voice exclaimed as arms wrapped around my body from behind.

I stiffened, then sagged a moment later with relief as I realized my assailant was Emily, not a twisted asshole from my past with a syringe and deadly intentions. I twisted my head to look at her and made a face. “Huh?”

Emily pulled back and smacked me lightly on the arm. “You disappeared in the middle of the semester, dummy. I was worried about you.” She looked at me with a mixture of relief and confusion in her eyes, which I noticed were a beautiful mossy green. I wondered absently if I’d ever noticed her eyes last term or if I were just seeing the world through sharper eyes, now.

Questions leaped to my tongue. Why did she care? We hadn’t spent much time together outside of class.

But that was stupid. She’d been kind and sweet to me from the first moment we’d met. I’d been the one that had pumped the brakes on a potential friendship. I’d been so wrapped up in my own little world of drama that I’d missed out on a friend. I decided to rectify that right now and pulled out two chairs, one for me and one for her.

“I had to go back to Ireland. Family emergency. It was really sudden. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know.” I offered her an apologetic shrug and turned the conversation back to her, hoping it would work as a distraction. The last thing I wanted to discuss was the details of my so-called family emergency. “What have you been up to?” I slid into the seat and began pulling things out of my backpack while listening to her chatter about taking a trip to Hawaii during break.

“I wish I could tan,” I complained, holding my arm up to hers, which was a golden brown that practically glowed. “I’d probably burn to death if I went to Hawaii for a week.”

“Not much sun in Ireland?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow inquisitively.

I just laughed.

Emily chuckled. “Not so much, I take it. So…” she drew out the word suggestively. “What’s going on with Chase?” She added unnecessary clarity that she was referring to sex by wagging her eyebrows.

I felt the blush like a sunburn and dipped my head to hide the flare of color.

“Mmmm hmmm,” Emily made a knowing sound and nudged my knee. “I’m going to need to know more. Are you free for coffee after class?” Her hand shot out and grabbed my knee, making my head pop up in alarm. “Oh! I almost forgot about Dimitri! What’s going on with him?”

I nearly bit my tongue.

There was a lot going on with him, with Chase, and with Lucian. They were my guys, my mates, my everything, and they’d been anxiously awaiting my return to campus. I chewed my lip and shrugged.

“We’re still figuring things out,” I murmured, leaving it at that. It was true, after all. We had a shit load of things to figure out. “Can I get a raincheck for the coffee?” I asked, hopefully. “I literally got in this morning just before class and barely had time to change. My stuff is still in my suitcase.”

“Sure, yeah.” She shrugged easily. “No problem. Here, give me your phone.” She held out a hand and quickly programmed her number into my memory, then passed it back as Dr. Daniels strode into the room, wearing his familiar suede elbow patch jacket. It warmed my heart a little and made me feel like I was somehow home.

“Welcome to Psychology 2023. I’m Dr. Nixon Daniels, your professor for this term,” he