ell no.

That was my first reaction.

Did he find out about me from Laurel? Did she tell him about what I did?

I stared at the screen, glaring impatiently in my face.

After a minute, I finally started typing.

Me: Now?

Asher: Meet me at the big rock

He didn't even phrase it as a question, he just assumed I'd go. And he was right.

"I thought we weren't supposed to bring our phones." Roan leaned over to see who was texting me but I pushed him back.

"I have to go."

"It was Asher, wasn't it?"

"Maybe. Why do you want to know?"

"He tells you to meet him somewhere and you immediately have to go see him. If he told you to jump off a bridge, you'd probably do it, right?" He sounded kind of mad.

"We were having a moment, don't ruin it." I got off the rock, waiting to see if he'd walk back with me.

"Alright, see you around, Leia," He only called me that when he wanted to annoy me. Or he was annoyed with me.

I walked back to the big rock, remembering that it was a few yards away from the fire pit, and easily spotted Asher. He was surrounded by other Mystic High kids, and when they saw me, they looked at each other and then back at me.

Asher shook his head and led me away from everybody.

"What do you want to talk about?" I gulped, wondering why his friends were looking at me.

"My pack is having a festival this Saturday. Would you like to come with me?"

That was not what I was expecting.

"Like a date?" I asked cautiously.

I was expecting a firm no but he looked at me thoughtfully and said, "Yeah, I guess it is."

I paced around the woods, my back to him.

"What made you change your mind?"

"I feel like I didn't give you a chance."

"But what about Laurel?" I picked at a loose thread on my jeans. Did she not tell him about what I did?

"What about her?"

"I thought you guys were dating." He seemed uncomfortable and I assumed I'd hit a nerve, "Or did you break up?"

"We decided to end it."

I was going to ask why but he changed the topic.

"So, you in?"

I finally turned around and stopped pacing. I looked him in the eyes, wondering if this was some trick or something. But he just smiled hopefully at me and I fell for him once again.

"Okay."

I could barely hide my excitement, I wanted to tell someone, anyone. But then I remembered that my friends and I weren't talking and I doubted that Roan wanted to listen to me swoon.

So I kept it to myself.

.•*•.

"I am so not ready for this hike." I yawned, crawling out of my tent and joining Grace, whose tent was right next to mine.

"It's only three hours." She reminded me.

"Three hours too many."

Since a lot of people at my school thought I was some weird dog freak, I spent more time with people who were like me. AKA Mystic High.

"We're naturally built to handle nature, you'll be fine." I ate a granola bar before we gathered our backpacks and headed out.

But before we got to leave, there was a disruption near the fire pit. I stood on the balls of my feet and craned my head to see what was happening. When I couldn't, I focused on my hearing.

I heard Jesse's voice first.

"Werewolves have an advantage." Jesse argued.

"How so?" I didn't recognize the other voice but I assumed he was a werewolf.

"They can just pee like normal. They're practically dogs."

"Your point?"

"We can't do that."

"Not our fault."

I pushed passed some people and found Jesse facing one of Asher's friends. I think his name was Philip.

"I'll show you whose fault it is." Jesse lunged for Philip, but his punches were too sloppy for someone as graceful as a werewolf.

Philip sidestepped Jesse and kicked him right in the chest. His knee buckled but he regained his balance and swung his fist. Philip kept dodging him, probably waiting until Jesse tired himself out before he punched the living shit out of him.

Because Jesse was no match for a skilled werewolf.

I jumped between them and grabbed Jesse's raised fist, mid-swing. He yelled in surprise as I twisted his arm back behind his back.

"Step back."

"Whose side are you on?" Jesse yelled.

"I said step. Back." I growled.

"Careful, bro, she's a werewolf!" One of Jesse's friends warned.

I shoved Jesse back and he fell back on his ass.

"What the fuck is your problem, Lia?" Jesse demanded, standing up, but I didn't move.

"What is yours? Why is it that everytime I see you, you're always fighting someone?" Stella really knew how to pick them.

"I don't need this. Get out of my way." Jesse pushed through the crowd, which gathered to see the fight. The two schools were split into Team Werewolf and Team Human. Great, another thing to add to our rivalry.

"Lia, is it?" Philip asked and I turned around, "You're Asher's friend."

"Yeah." Did he talk about me with his friends?

"Thank you. I really didn't want to beat him up."

I smiled, "No problem,"

"Alright everyone, we're heading out. Make sure you have enough water!" Ms. Weatherly announced and the crowd dissipated. I found Grace and got in line behind her.

After an hour of walking through the crisp woods, I was one of the last stragglers in line. I really wanted someone to talk to but Grace was way ahead at the front. Traitor.

"Hey," I looked behind me and saw Taylor running up to me.

"Hey," I was a little surprised she'd come to talk to me, "So my werewolfness doesn't bother you?"

"To be honest, I think it's kind of cool." Taylor shrugged and I was relieved.

"What about Nic and Stell?"

"Nic's cool with it. But Stell's still mad."

"Of course she is." I rolled my eyes, acknowledging Stella's stubbornness.

"She'll come around. Eventually." I missed my best friend, I just wanted us to be normal again.

Nicole joined us, coming right beside me on my right.

"I hate being the third wheel." Nicole scowled. I looked back and saw Stella and Jesse a few people behind us, laughing loudly.

"Since when are Stella and Jesse friends again?" I thought she hated him, she made that pretty clear in detention a few weeks ago. Now they looked pretty cozy.

Taylor and Nicole both made faces. "Since just now," Taylor replied.

"Is she getting back together with him?"

"No idea."

"God, Stella has such a complicated love life." First she gets dumped by Jesse, then she wants to get back together, then she hates his guts, and now she's looking at him like he's the sweetiest guy in the world. Then there's her one time hook up with our teacher.

"It's pretty normal for her." Nicole hummed.

"No, she-" I cut myself off, almost blurting out Stella's love affair with Mr. Hudson.

Luckily, they didn't notice.

"Why does Stella always get the guys?" Taylor asked.

"I wouldn't count Jesse as a guy you want around." Although Taylor did choose to go on a date with Jesse. . .

"True." Nicole added.

We walked and talked for about another hour until I decided I needed a break.

"I need to sit down." I huffed, my feet too worn to walk another step. I laid down an arm out and sat down on the ground.

"I thought werewolves were supposed to be good at hiking and outdoorsy stuff." Nicole sat down beside me and Taylor leaned down to re-tie her shoe.

"Yeah, well, I guess I didn't get the memo."

"So what's it like being a werewolf?" Nicole asked and I was caught off guard by how eager she sounded. But I was also a little flattered that she cared.

"It's. . . okay, I guess."

"Is it really like being a dog?"

"No. Well, kind of. I get the same senses and physical abilities but I heal faster."

"Do you only turn into a wolf during the full moon?" Taylor asked.

"No, I can phase whenever I want." Although I haven't phased in a long time. My wolf was probably going insane, her voice was rarely in my head. I bet she was waiting for our mate to talk.

"Ooh, tell us more!"

And I did.

.•*•.

Before I knew it, it was time for us to go home.

Taylor, Nicole and I were friends again but Stella and I still weren't talking. And she was still hanging around Jesse.

I just dropped off my suitcase to the bus driver when I decided to look for my bus buddy Roan. I found him in line for the last bus so I headed in his direction.

"Ro-"

"Lia," Asher grabbed my arm and turned me around, "Come on my bus,"

"But I'm not from Mystic High-"

"Come on, it's not like they care." He shrugged and I looked back.

"Okay," I was a little cautious as to why he wanted to sit with me but my excitement overwhelmed my suspicions.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach as I sat next to Asher near the back.

I yawned as soon as the bus started moving.

"You tired?"

"A little." I didn't get that much sleep due to the fact that we got up wicked early.

"Rest your eyes." He offered his shoulder to me and my heart soared. Ah, a dream come true.

I looked up at him and when he nodded to say it was okay, I slowly laid my head down on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

Asher's scent was intoxicating, bursting with deep cologne and a hint of fall leaves.

It was impossible to go to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Asher's close proximity to me. I also couldn't stop fangirling at the fact my head was on his shoulder.

During the whole ride home I was too scared to actually wake up and talk to him. I mean, what would we talk about? So I pretended to be asleep for the duration of the ride. Which was insanely long. I basically spent the whole ride listening to other people's conversations until I actually fell asleep for three hours.

Asher moved his shoulder to wake me up, "Lia, we're here,"

I opened my eyes and realized his arm was around me. I tried not to blush.

"Okay," I mumbled groggily, reluctantly lifting my head from his shoulder.

Everyone stood up to leave and I couldn't wait to sleep in my beautiful bed.

Then Asher leaned closer to me so only I could hear.

"I'll see you later." He whispered in my ear, "And wear something pretty on Saturday."

Then he did something totally unfair.

He kissed me on the cheek and stood up to leave.

He told me he didn't want me. He told me that all we'd ever be was friends.

Make up your mind, Asher.

When I stepped off the bus and got my suitcase, my parents were right at the school waiting for me.

"How was it?" Mom asked, "Did you have fun?"

"Are you hungry? We can go out for dinner," Dad added.

But all I wanted to do was jump on my bed and scream into my pillow.

"I'm actually really tired right now but I'll tell you all about it in the morning." I promised as I got in the car.

As soon as I got home, I ran up to my room and quickly shut the door, leaning my head against it.

I should be mad. I should be conflicted. I should be irritated at the fact that all he's given me were mixed signals. I should be. . . but I'm not.

No matter how much I wanted to hate him for rejecting me, I couldn't stop this flood of happiness at the thought of him actually caring for me.

I was such a fool.

"You know you really should lock your windows."

I almost screamed when I saw the little girl sitting on my bed, her teeth glowing in the dark.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Tori," A knife gleamed in her hand, "And I'm a hunter."