Chapter 10: Chapter Nine

SAVANNAH

His presence was like a flame licking at my skin, making me uncomfortable. Even his sweat-drenched hair and gym clothes were enough to turn my stomach.

That barely-there kiss, the mere brush of his lips against mine, had turned my world upside down. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Trent’s kisses never made me feel the way Dax’s did.

Something inside me purred, ignited. The irrational part of me fantasized about grabbing his T-shirt and keeping him captive in my dorm room.

The rational part of me, the part that reminded me ~You have a boyfriend and you don’t know this man~, won out.

But now, as he stood at my table, my memory strained to replay everything that happened in my dorm room. From his strong hands on me to the intoxicating taste of his tongue.

~Stop it!~

“Hey,” he said. “I think we need to talk.”

I glared up at him. “~Oh, do we~? Are you going to break the table if I don’t?”

Jaka made a nervous face, but I didn’t back down. Alpha or not, I wouldn’t let him treat me any way he pleased. My Grammy taught me enough to know not to take a man’s crap.

And crap I would not take.

I watched as he seemed to have a silent conversation with himself. Annoyed, I crossed my legs and propped my chin on my palm. “My food is getting cold, Dax. Can we speed this up?”

Jaka kicked me from underneath the table, but I kicked her back, giving her a stern look.

She sighed, and got up, silently excusing herself. I wanted to reach out and tell her not to leave me with the caveman, but she disappeared out of sight.

Dax slid into the booth opposite me. “I’m sorry I broke your door.”

I stabbed my roast with my fork. “Well, some poor maintenance worker is repairing it. Apologize to him.”

Dax’s dark gaze studied my face, and heat crept up my cheeks.

“You said we needed to talk?” I asked. “~Talk~.” I continued to eat my food.

His fingers tightened around his fork. “I’m sorry about your door, but I’m not sorry for kissing you, because I liked it,” he said.

I met his gaze. His plush lips even looked soft from across the table. That stormy stare he gave me… my body responded to it, making me feel dizzy.

I clenched my thighs together in an attempt to keep myself composed.

“And I know you did, too,” he said, taking a casual bite as if he was ~so~ sure of himself.

“You don’t know anything,” I spat, waving my fork at him. “And I don’t appreciate you barging in like the Hulk to take down my door and whoever you thought was in my room.”

“I look better than the Hulk,” he mumbled. “But regardless, I would have snapped your little boyfriend in two. Remember that when you invite him—” he stopped and took calming breaths.

“~Listen~,” he said. “I don’t have a right to dictate your life. I’m aware. But this is hard on me. Do you understand? I know you don’t know much about our kind, but mates are ~bound~ to be together, Savannah.

You’re ~fated~ to be with me. Mating is the equivalent to being married. It’s serious, and for life. And I take my luna seriously. You’ll learn a lot about being my second once you start classes.”

He sighed heavily. “Being near you and not shoving you against the bed and taking you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

A bud of heat blossomed inside of me, and I felt myself become too heated.

“I ~don’t want~ to be a luna, and I ~don’t want~ to shift into some kind of beast. Do ~you~ understand that?

As far as I’m concerned, this is some screwed up dream I’m having. I’m waiting for tomorrow morning when I finally wake up from this nightmare.”

Dax slid his tongue across his teeth. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” he mumbled.

“What does that mean?” I asked. “Do you think that you can make me feel better than any other man? Do you think because ~you’re an alpha~ that you can blow my boyfriend out of the water?”

Well, guess again, because I’m not bowing down to you just because you claim to be some kind of wolf!”

Dax slammed his fist down on the table, rattling our silverware. The cafeteria grew silent around us, but I didn’t dare look away. Something deep inside of me begged me to back down, but I shoved it aside.

It’d never been there before, and I wasn’t going to let it out now.

“You’re going to regret everything you’re saying once you shift.” He stood up slowly. “And you’re going to beg me to kiss you. Beg me to touch you.”

He walked around the table to face me, bending down, he trapped me in between his arms. “And I’m not sure I’ll give it to you then. I might just make you beg for it, Savannah, and show you just how bad you truly want me.”

He walked out of the cafeteria, and I let out a harsh breath that I didn’t realize I was holding. My irritation grew to the top of my head like an 80s cartoon.

I jumped up, ignoring everyone staring at me, and stormed out of the cafeteria doors. Dax was halfway across the field toward the Alpha House when I spotted him.

I wasn’t sure what possessed me, but I found myself charging at him, my fists pounding into his back. He spun around, seemingly unfazed by my assault, and caught my wrist mid-swing.

“You want to hit me?” he questioned, his voice low. “Go ahead,” he murmured. “Strike your mate. If that’s the only way I get to feel your touch, then so be it.”

I pounded my fist against his chest, feeling the firm muscle that remained unyielding beneath each blow. My pent-up anger was surfacing, transforming into a fiery desire that I knew only he could quench.

This stranger I’d just met.

Dax stood still, allowing me to vent my frustration while he watched me with a heated gaze. Suddenly, just as I was about to slap him, he caught my hand again and pulled me close.

“Is this frustration because you despise me?” he murmured. “Or because you want me so badly and can’t comprehend it?”

~Both! I do despise him, and I hate how much I crave him. I have a boyfriend who doesn’t deserve this.~

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back. I wasn’t one to cry, and I certainly wasn’t weak.

Dax intertwined his fingers with mine at the back of my neck, just like he had at the alpha party, and brought my lips close to his. “Kiss me,” he whispered. “Go ahead, you know you want to.”

My lower lip quivered with temptation. I loved Trent. Why was I feeling this way? Dax pulled me even closer, his finger hooked in the loop of my jeans, eliminating any space between us.

“Go ahead,” he taunted.

I studied his dark gaze, his heavy brow, and the way his irises sparkled in the sunlight. Something propelled me forward. It wasn’t him, and it wasn’t me, but something deep within me.

I pressed my lips against his, and my world exploded. A deep, guttural groan resonated from his chest, and he wrapped his thick arm around my waist.

Every part of me that touched him melted like lava. His mouth was pure sin. His tongue pushed past my lips in an invasion that threatened to be my undoing.

His fingers tugged at the hair at the nape of my neck, and he controlled me like no one else ever had. I didn’t care that we were in an open field, or that I was shivering with need.

~“Finally,”~ someone said.

I pushed back and stared at him. His swollen lips and heavy-lidded eyes stirred a knot of desire in my stomach. Had he said something? I didn’t think so.

Slowly, Dax wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb, pushed it past his lips, and sucked it into his mouth.

~Oh, my goodness.~

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Dax studied my face for what felt like an eternity. Without his touch, everything started to feel heavy.

I’d cheated on Trent. I’d kissed this stranger. I took a step back, and he mirrored me. “Savannah,” he said, his voice rough. “Don’t pull away from me.”

“I—I shouldn’t have done that,” I stammered. “I have a boyfriend.”

He rolled his eyes and ran both hands down his face. “~Don’t you dare~ deny me that again, Savannah. I know you enjoyed that.”

He took another step toward me. “You felt it. I know you did. That’s nothing compared to what it’ll feel like to be with me.”

I knew that, I felt it, and now I was hearing voices in my head. I was feeling things I shouldn’t. I closed my eyes and tried to gather my composure.

“Savannah,” he said, as if he sensed I was about to bolt. “Come back, ~baby~.”

His words sent chills down my spine. “I shouldn’t have…”

I turned and ran before he had a chance to chase me.

***

The next morning, I woke up with a knot of guilt in my stomach. Trent had texted me the night before, and I hadn’t replied. ~How could I?~ I felt like the smallest person in the world.

I knew he wasn’t cheating on me at LSU, and yet it had only taken me a few days to give in and kiss ~the alpha~.

Jaka tried to get me to talk to her, but I couldn’t bear to have a conversation. I dragged myself out of bed and went to class in sweats and an old T-shirt.

I didn’t care. When I arrived at Luna 101, I looked out of place compared to the other girls. They were all dolled up, whispering about their mates and their exploits from the night before.

I slumped down in my seat, drawing a few stares.

“What?” I snapped.

They turned away and resumed their chatter. I couldn’t care less.

Our professor walked into the room a few minutes later. She looked like a beauty queen, with long red hair and bright blue eyes.

“Hello, lunas,” she greeted us. “It’s great to see you all again.” Her gaze lingered on me. “You must be Savannah Harper. I’m Professor Jennifer. Mrs. Jamieson told me about what happened on Monday. Here’s what you missed.”

She handed me a pamphlet outlining our syllabus and the work for the semester.

~What Is A Luna?~

~How To Be A Luna.~

~How To Please Your Alpha.~

~How To Manage Your Pack.~

My gaze swept over the girls in the room. They were all mated to an alpha?

I scoffed, and everyone turned to look at me.

“Is something wrong, Savannah?” Professor Jennifer asked.

“Is this serious?” I asked, waving the pamphlet around. “This class?” I glanced around. “How do you even know we’ll be lunas before we’re scheduled for this class? Is this all some big joke?

~Ha. Ha~. You can come out now, Trent. Grammy? Is this some kind of sick joke that everyone’s in on?” I demanded.

I hadn’t intended to raise my voice, but the words erupted from me like a volcanic outburst.

She glanced at the students who were all gawking as if I’d sprouted a second head.

“Class, let’s wrap it up for today. You can review Chapter Two while I have a chat with Ms. Harper.”

The girls hastily gathered their belongings and vacated the room. Professor Jennifer sauntered over and perched in front of me, her long legs elegantly crossed in a pencil skirt that only amplified my resentment towards her.

“Mrs. Jamieson filled me in on your background. I understand this must be incredibly daunting for you, Savannah, but I assure you it’s all very real. You’re not dreaming, and you are indeed a future luna.

The Allaires belong to a prestigious pack, and Dax is destined to be an exceptional alpha. This class is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required of a luna.”

I closed my eyes, a chuckle bubbling up from deep within. “This can’t be real,” I murmured.

She reached over and gently patted my knee. “Why don’t I explain a bit about what being a luna entails, Savannah.”

I shrugged. “Go ahead, nothing can shock me anymore.”

She smirked. “A luna is an alpha’s mate, his wife in a sense, his other half. A luna co-runs the pack alongside the alpha. The bond they share transcends that of a boyfriend or a partner. It’s a soulmate connection. Even if you don’t have your wolf yet, I’m sure you feel something with Dax, right?”

I responded with a noncommittal shrug.

“And to answer your question, you weren’t assigned to this class until after the alpha party. Can you see how thrilled these girls are to be in this class? It’s a privilege to be mated to an alpha.

They’re strong, protective, and dominant. But they will cherish you just as you will cherish them.”

She leaned forward and cupped my jaw. “I know you’re frightened, Savannah. But this is the safest place you could be. Being mated is like…” she trailed off, a smile playing on her lips.

“It’s like loving your best friend and having them love you back. And”—she laughed—“it’s the best sex you’ll ever have. And I mean ever.”

I tried to suppress the image, but it surfaced, and a warm flush spread through me. I knew he would make me feel good, and that terrified me.

“Mrs. Jamieson mentioned your combat class. Why don’t you practice with Dax outside of class? Give him a chance?”

I dropped my forehead onto the table. “I have a boyfriend, and being around Dax makes me want to do things I shouldn’t.”

She chuckled. “You should spend some time with your boyfriend, Savannah. And… you’ll quickly realize that you don’t feel the same way about him as you do about Dax. Do it off campus, because it’ll only instigate a fight if he comes here.”

~I don’t doubt that~. I nodded and rose to my feet. She stood with me. “Read Chapters One and Two tonight. I’ll see you Friday morning, okay?” She tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

I clutched my book to my chest and exited the classroom. The hallways were deserted, the class having ended prematurely due to my outburst.

That scent… his scent lingered in the air, and a sense of unease began to creep in. ~Why can I smell him? Where is he?~

~“He’s nearby,”~ a voice said.

I spun around, staring at the empty space behind me. ~Who the hell is saying that?~

I continued towards my dorm.

~“You’re going the wrong way,”~ the voice chimed in again.

I looked around, fear coiling around my throat like a snake. Before I knew it, I was sprinting towards my dorm room, desperate to escape the voice echoing in my head.