Chased (The Graysen Pack Series) (15 page)

             
Then the forest cleared and I was stopped by water, a lake. I had nowhere else to run and didn’t care. Exhaustion had set in, and I couldn’t even think straight. I heard the footsteps breaking limbs as they got closer. I turned around to face her. I wanted to see her so badly. We would finally be face to face.

             
The image of her face was a blur. I could not see her clearly. It happened so fast. She hit me, and I went down hard. I fell into the darkness. I tumbled to death, screaming the whole way.

             
“Ava! Wake up. It’s okay.” His hand was brushing the hair away from my face.

             
I could barely catch my breath. My body felt clammy from the sweat. It was only a dream; a crazy nightmare. I hadn’t been chased through the woods. I was still in Zen’s bed. I rubbed my fingers deep into my eyes several times. I needed focus in this clouded blur. So I focused on Zen’s gorgeous face. He was squinting with concern.

             
“Are you okay?” he asked.

             
“I am now.” I smiled at him and touched the spot between his brows where he looked so sad. “Just a bad dream; I am okay.”

             
“You scared me. You were screaming and I couldn’t help you. I am going to start sleeping right next to you if you keep this up.” He was serious. The look of concern was still smeared all over his face.

             
“That sounds nice. I’ll remember that.”

             
“Very funny, now let’s get you up and ready for school.”

             
“Ugh. I am not going to be able to get moving without some motivational loving.” I held my arms open wide.

             
“Wow. I didn’t realize how spoiled you human girls can be, and needy.”

             
“Needy huh, I am also very persistent and I always get what I want. I grabbed the front of his black and white Eminem t-shirt and pulled him in close. I kissed him roughly. It was a long passionate kiss. I could feel his body lower and touch me in all the right places.

             
He pulled away from the kiss gently, shaking his head back and forth. “What am I going to do with you?”

             
“Well, at least you won’t be bored.”

             
“No way, no boredom here.” He placed his hand on the side of my face. “I will never get used to having such a beautiful girl in my bed.”

             
“Exactly how many beautiful girls have you had in your bed?” I questioned him. I wasn’t sure if he would answer me truthfully, but I wanted to know.

             
“You know, only a few hundred.” He smirked.

             
“Ha, ha, fur ball.”

             
“Do you really want to discuss this?”

             
“That many huh,” I pressed him.

             
“No one.” He looked at me deeply into my eyes. “I have had no one else in my bed. I haven’t ever brought anyone home before.”

             
“Whatever, you couldn’t be any more full of it.”

             
“I am serious. I would never lie to you. I have no reason to. I will always be honest with.”

             
“Really?”

             
“Really,” he replied.

             
“So you haven’t ever, you know?”

             
“We are not discussing this anymore. If we don’t get on the road, you will be late for class today.”

             
“This conversation isn’t over.” I leaned across the bed and kissed his cheek.

             
“I figured. Never underestimate a woman, especially a future Alpha female.”

             
“Alpha female,” I hesitated. “I don’t know about that. But, you are right about one thing. Never underestimate me, Love.” I smiled a wicked grin, and pretended to punch his jaw.

             
I dressed quickly and gathered my stuff. I met Sam and Zander in the room I like to call The Grand Hall. They were joined by what looked like the entire Falcons football team.

             
The Grand Hall was a long corridor that led to the dining hall. The ceilings were very high. Wood beams ran along the top, and the color of gold was everywhere. It seemed to be the theme around here. Every door knob, light switch and hanging chandelier sparkled of gold. It even seemed like there were specs of gold in the wood, because the ceiling shimmered. It was beautiful beyond belief.

             
Despite the beauty all I could see were rows of wolf boys, very large wolf boys. Obviously they were assembled as my guard team. I was a little intimidated, but with Sam at my side, all was well. I knew she would ease the tension. I always counted on her to be there, and she was.

             
“My, my, my… What have we here?” Sam rubbed her hands together like she was warming them over a fire. I laughed of course. She was unstoppable, except around Zander. He gave her a look that said stop now or I will take you down. She instantly calmed down, and I thought of all the crazy times it would have been nice to have him handy.              

             
I reached in my pocket for my cell. No new messages. That was a relief. I erased all of Paige’s texts that she had sent me. I wanted no evidence. I couldn’t have Zee flipping out and keeping me hostage here.

             
“Listen up,” Zander spoke loudly. He easily commanded everyone’s attention. All eyes were on him. “This is Ava. Give them a little spin.” He twirled his pointer finger around in a circle.

             
“You have got to be kidding me.”

             
“You are right, I am.”

             
“That’s not funny,” I smacked him on the back of the head. He barely noticed, just laughed along with everybody else.

             
I stepped forward one step and smiled politely. I never showed my backside. I scanned the room looking at everyone’s faces and tried to remember them. I had to do a double take. He was halfway back in the pack, but I could see him clearly. He stood taller than everyone. His gaze captured me. Then he winked. It was Gage. I jerked my head around fast. I stood facing Sam and waited until my breathing slowed before I turned back around to face him. I motioned for him to walk over and speak to me. I tried not to look to conspicuous.

             
“What are you doing here?”

             
“It is nice to see you too,” he grinned.

             
I rolled my eyes, “Seriously?”

             
“You are a bright, intelligent, girl.” He paused between each compliment, and spoke slowly. “I think you know why I am here.” He was clearly flirting. My professor was flirting with me in front of everyone.

             
I was trying to whisper, knowing I was surrounded by a bunch of sensitive wolf ears. I turned to face him and just mouthed the words without speaking. “You’re a wolf?”

             
“Yes,” he whispered.

             
“Starting now until further notice, I am a part of your security detail. I am at your service, your Majesty,” he said in a loud voice, and bowed to me.

             
I stood in shock, and was quite frankly, a little embarrassed. He walked back and took his place with the group. I didn’t understand why he bowed. I stared at him with a confused look on my face. He smiled, and it looked like he was snickering.
Is this some kind of inside joke that I am not getting.
I rolled my eyes at him, and he stuck his tongue out. I just laughed.

             
“You all right,” Sam smacked my arm. “What was that all about? Professor Hot Ass seems to have a crush on a married woman.”

             
“Are you serious?” I just laughed at her. “How is there so much bullshitness, in one little brain?” Zander cracked up and Sam smiled.

             
“Bullshitness, I love it.” She was truly excited about my vocabulary, and not upset at all about my comment. I just shook my head at her.  She was a piece of work that I couldn’t help but laugh at.

             
“Do you want me to neuter him?” Sam yelled. Everyone was laughing at this point.

             
“I can handle him. There will be no surgery needed today.” I glanced over at him, and he winked. This confused me worse. Was he just messing with my head? 
Note to self… Find out what the punch line is to his inside joke.
“I am sorry, Zander. Continue on my friend.”

             
“You men will be under direct orders from me and Zenick, until further notice. You will be stationed in and around the campus. We will have around-the-clock surveillance. This lovely girl is my brother’s mate. She will be treated as if she were your Alpha female. She is not to be let out of your sight for any reason. You know the consequences if you disobey a pack leader. Are we clear men?”

             
They all bowed their heads. Not one of them made eye contact.
I take it, they get the picture.

             
“Is this necessary?” I asked Zander as quietly as possible.

             
“Of course it is. You are a member of this pack. Don’t ever question your importance here, my sister.” I just nodded my head and agreed. Secretly, I loved that he called me sister. I had never had a brother. On the other hand I felt too small to be considered important in this big pack. They didn’t know me and I didn’t know them. I felt odd and out of place.

             
Not odd at all. You belong here. You will always be a part of this pack, and Zander would love to know that you think of him as a brother. We will always be family.
Zen had snuck into my thoughts and up behind me.

             
It sounds nice.

             
It only took me about a week of walking around with bodyguards before I couldn’t take it anymore. I had the same schedule every day. Wake up, go to class, go eat, go back to the dorm, and go to sleep.
Yuck.
Luckily I had made friends in each of my classes. It allowed me some extra human interaction.

             
“It has been a week and no attacks. Can you please make these mutts quit sniffing my butt? I can’t breathe.” I spoke loudly to Zen, hoping it would make them take a step back.
Of course it didn’t, overprotective hot heads.

             
Zen was laughing. Not out loud, but I could see his shoulders shaking.
I am not finding this funny lover boy. I feel smothered. Can’t we at least make it so that I only have one watch dog with me at a time?

             
He sighed heavily.
You must quit calling them dogs. You do remember that you are half wolf too?

             
I ran my fingers along the side of his face. “I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, inhaling my scent. It sent chills down my spine. The look in his eyes said that he felt it too. He leaned in to kiss me but stopped just short of my lips. He glanced around the room. We were not alone. We were never alone anymore. Three of the pack members were standing in the room with us. I sighed as loud as I could.

             
“Okay, I get it. I’m sorry.” He kissed me lightly. “Ben, Lucas, you are free to go. Gage, you will remain on duty until further notice. And you,” he kissed me on the cheek,“get to class.”

             
“Yeah, yeah I’m on it.”

             
He growled playfully and snipped at me. I kissed him quickly and sent him out the door.

             
It was just me and Gage. Gage was my professor who had embarrassed me the day we left the mansion. I never spoke to him about that day. I didn’t want Zee making something out of nothing, and I was sure that Gage was just having a bad day. Since then, we had developed an unspoken bond. Gage I could handle. I was glad that Zee let him stay. He was the nicest one of my guards besides Zander. He never bothered me. He knew exactly when I needed space and was quick to give it to me. It also didn’t hurt that from afar he was yummy to look at.

             
He had sandy brown hair and ice blue eyes. He was tall and handsome,
yummy indeed.
I often compared him to Zee. He had that same sense about him in the way that he understood me. I was comfortable.

             
“You ready, Princess?” he asked.

             
“I really hate that name, but it sounds so pretty when you say it.”

             
He laughed. He always laughed. He was very lighthearted. It seemed he never had a care, except protecting me. In fact, he had been there every time I needed anything. When I dropped my books on the lawn or the time that I nearly fell down a flight of stairs, he was there. He never seemed unhappy to be with me like some of the others.