Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

Claire

I've suddenly became ill, and I need to leave school.

No, that didn't sound right.

I've become pregnant and need to leave town. The baby's father is too hard to look at.

Claire let her head fall against her keyboard, and she groaned out in frustration. She'd been contemplating her dismissal from the university for hours. After what happened the night before, who could blame her? She'd seen Axel Davers—her bully—turn into a big wolf and save her from an even bigger beast.

It was only the second week of school. By the end of the month, she'd be in an asylum, for sure. She knew Axel was up in her living room, probably waiting for her to get up, but she couldn’t face him. Not after seeing him naked. She'd never seen a man naked—in person—before, and … she didn't know how to look at him without imagining his … stuff.

She rolled her eyes and got dressed for the day, taking her time brushing her hair and washing her face. When she finally gathered the nerve to leave her room, she found Axel wasn't there.

Claire let out a sigh of relief and went to start a cup of coffee. Her stomach growled when she took her first drink of coffee, so she grabbed a bagel and popped it into her small toaster.

Claire's phone vibrated against her kitchen counter, and she cringed when she noticed her dad's name on the screen. He knew when she was lying, or if something was wrong, and she couldn’t tell anyone.

Which was hard, considering she just figured out the existence of a supernatural species. Instead of risk the call with her father, she grabbed her breakfast and sat on her couch.

She texted him that she was getting ready to go to class and didn't have time to talk. She figured he called about her Aunt's arrival, and as badly as she wanted to talk to her, she couldn’t risk them sensing her unease. Once she finished, she grabbed her keys and walked outside to of her apartment and froze.

Axel stood on the opposite side of the breezeway, perched against the railing of the stairs, holding a cup of coffee.

"I thought you'd left," she said.

Axel stood up straight, his dark gaze lingered over her jeans and back up to her narrowed green eyes. "I was giving you privacy. I didn't want to overstay my welcome."

"And yet," she said, closing the door behind her. "You're still here."

He smirked. "Tell me how you really feel," he said, walking closer to her. "I'm here because I need to make sure you're protected."

Claire rolled her eyes. "You already saved me from the beast, and I do appreciate that. I'd be dead or sprouting furry ears right about now if you hadn't. But you can't follow me around. It's 7:30 AM. Broad daylight."

He nodded. "You're right," he said, pulling out his phone and handing it to her. "Another attack. Happened at six this morning. Broad daylight."

Claire glanced down at the article from their school's newspaper and cringed at the headline.

"Another attack on local college campus, leading to death of eighteen-year-old college boy."

Claire glanced at Axel. "It killed this time."

Axel nodded slowly and pulled his keys from his pocket. "Exactly. That's why I'm not letting you out of my sight."

Claire inwardly groaned at the thought of him following her around. It was bad enough for him to have saved her once; she didn't need a vigilante ex-bully becoming her hero. She was no damsel … most of the time.

"You're coming to class with me?"

"No, but I’m walking you to and from. You don't leave until I get there, got it?"

Claire didn't like the sound of that. "Don't you have a football game tonight?"

"Yeah, and that's where you'll be."

Claire narrowed her gaze. "Why are you trying to save me, Axel? This campus is full of girls that need saving."

Axel lowered his gaze. "Because he is going to come back after you, Claire. You got away. He will think that I have some tie to you, and lycans are vengeful."

Claire didn't like the sound of that either. "Okay," she mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Then, let's go, I guess."

Axel followed her down the stairs and toward her car. Nerves tiptoed down her spine as he slid into the passenger seat and glanced over at her. "Where is your first class?" she asked.

"In the Mathematics Building. You go where you need to go, and I'll get to my class." He glanced out the window, his fingertips tapping against his kneecaps. Claire wrapped her fingers tightly around the steering wheel.

"So … you turn into a wolf," she said into the silence.

Axel glanced over at her with a raised eyebrow. "I believe you saw it for yourself last night."

She glanced at his football jersey. He must have went home and got it before she woke up that morning. "So that explains why you were so good at football in school? That full-ride has a lot to do with your abilities. I assume you're quicker than a human, or did the novels get it wrong?"

"You're right. It's unfair, but I don't use all my strength on the field. I'd obliterate the other team if I did."

"Modest, aren't we?" Clair mumbled.

He leaned his shoulder against the passenger side door and lifted a brow at her. "You asked. What else do you want to know, Claire? I can see the wheels turning in your head."

She smirked. "When did you first turn?"

"Eight."

"You can shift whenever you want to? You don't have to wait on a full moon?"

"Right."

"Do you lose your clothes because they shred if you keep them on?"

"Yeah, I didn't just plan on being naked in front of you, Claire. It's second nature to us to be nude."

A blush traveled up her cheeks. "Does every wolf have a mate?"

"Yes."

"What happens if they die?"

"Sometimes you're blessed with a second mate, sometimes not. You can find a person the normal way if you aren't blessed with a second mate."

"How do you know they are your mate?"

Axel shifted nervously, gnawing on his lip in a way that showed a real person. There had been a time and place when she didn't think Axel had human emotions. "You just know."

Claire let it be and pulled into the parking lot. "Okay. I have three classes here, and then my lunch. I'm sure I'll be okay in the cafeteria—"

"No," he cut her off. "I'll be there to walk you."

She watched him get out and start across campus to his class. Claire wanted to believe that he was doing this to be nice, maybe it was his weird way of apologizing for high school. Either way, he'd showed her what he was to save her.

Claire went to both classes, her mind wondering on Axel keeping it a secret all throughout school and no one knew. No one knew he shifted into a wolf, and he trusted her enough to save her.

To show her his true self.

"Ms. Summers."

She glanced up at the professor, who stood over her with a furrowed brow. "Class was dismissed. Are you okay?" he asked. "You seem lost today."

Oh, she was far worse off than lost.

"I'm so sorry. I had a long night. Thank goodness it's Friday, right?" she said, with a chuckle.

He nodded but looked worried as she scurried from her seat toward the door. She walked into the hallway, slamming into Axel's chest, her books scattering across the tiled floor.

"Sorry," he said, bending down to gather her things.

She took the books from him. "I'm starving. You ready for lunch?"

"Yeah, let's go."

They walked together toward the cafeteria. Claire wondered as she passed random people if they were hiding a secret too. She would have never known if she past someone that secretly turned into a wolf, or a bear, or a beast. She'd probably past them her entire life without knowledge.

The cafeteria was in full-swing when they walked inside. Claire felt random people looking at her, mostly girls, but she tried not to make eye contact with any of them. Axel didn't seem to mind and bypassed a group of football players to sit with Claire.

She felt embarrassed that she'd tossed tea on Axel's face in front of all of them.

"Why did you save me when I tossed tea on your face?" she asked over her food.

Axel glanced up from his plate. "Tea in my face doesn't mean I want you to die, Claire."

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Right. I'm sorry about that, by the way."

He shrugged. "I didn't mind it. Honestly, it was kind of hot."

Claire's glare shifted toward his. "That's a first," she mumbled. "You've never said something even somewhat like a compliment to me before.

Axel sat back and took a bite of his food. "I never said you were ugly, Claire. My feelings were selfish and unsure. I didn't know how to control them. I'm better now. I understand."

Claire didn't really know what that meant, so she continued to finish her food, keeping her gaze locked on her meatloaf.

A shadow fell over their table, and when she glanced up, she saw Cash. The school's quarterback. "Hey, Axel. Claire is it?" he asked.

Claire nodded but noticed quickly his presence was unwanted by Axel.

"What do you need?" Axel snapped.

He chuckled. "Calm down, Axel. I was coming to check on you both. Are you ready for the game tonight?" he asked.

When he didn't answer, Cash glanced over at Claire. "What about you? Will you be there?"

"Yes."

"What about the party afterward?"

Claire tucked a hair behind her hear. "I'm not sure—"

"She won't be there. Neither will I," Axel said.

Cash snapped his fingers. "That sucks. If you change your mind," he said, sliding Claire a slip of paper. "Here is my number. You can come with me. I won't do anything to make you toss a drink in my face. Swear."

Cash left Claire with a blush across her cheeks and Axel with clenched fists. "Could he be a lycan?" she asked.

Axel snatched the number from her hand. "No, he's just an ass."