Wolf Girl (Wolf Girl, #1)(17)

Shock ripped through me…

Sage grinned. “Holy shit.”

Sawyer changed my major…

He knew I wouldn’t be good wife material with this major and he changed it anyway, knowing I loved it. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.





My first two classes were amazing! My entire schedule was incredible, actually. I looked down at the tablet and scanned where my third class would be.



Demi Calloway: Advanced Photography Major

1st Period: Introduction to Studio

2nd Period: Digital Production and Image Processing

3rd Period: Photography Basic Design

Lunch

4th Period: Conceptual Process and Photographic Expression

5th Period: Intro to Composition

6th Period: Etiquette Class for Ladies



I scowled at the last class. Well, my schedule was almost perfect. Looks like Sawyer couldn’t get me out of that one. Heading over to where the map said my basic design class was, I took the time to appreciate the Fine Arts building. It was different than the other sections of campus I’d been in, less modern glass and stainless steel and more rich woods and colorful walls. It was also pretty void of students. I was venturing to guess that not many women took arts majors while in a mating year, which suited me just fine. Not only were most of my classes full of males, so far there were fewer than ten students in each class, which would give me more time to pick the professors’ brains.

I stepped into Photography Basic Design with pep in my step. Three more years of photography classes was pretty much my dream education. Maybe being here wouldn’t be so bad after all. I took a seat next to Sean, a new friend, and we chatted about our ideas for the end-of-year showcase project. Obviously, I had forever to plan, but my mind was already churning with ideas. Professor Woods stepped into the room and nodded to the six of us.

He opened his mouth to start the lesson when Sawyer waltzed into the room with an Intro to Photography book slung under his arm.

I froze.

The professor looked as shocked as I did. “Mr. Hudson, can I help you?”

Sawyer gave him a cool grin. “I added this class, if that’s okay?”

The professor shook himself, swiping through his tablet. “Of course. I didn’t know you liked photography.”

Sawyer scanned the room, eyes resting on me. “I’ve taken a sudden interest.”

My cheeks warmed, but I tried to play it cool, like he didn’t suddenly just become the most romantic man that ever existed.

He walked to the back of the room and took the seat behind me while my heart hammered in my throat.

Be cool. Maybe he really does like photography.

The professor turned to start lecturing on the board, then Sawyer’s hand slipped a note onto my desk.

How very 1990. If he didn’t do social media, he probably didn’t know you could message in Intsa, and we hadn’t exchanged phone numbers yet.

I tried to keep the grin off my face as I peeled open the note.



We need to talk about last night. Maybe after the gala?

-Sawyer



My stomach sank. And here I was hoping he’d let that go. Was that why he joined this class, to babysit me? To send me covert notes and make sure no one knew my freaky secret? I nodded in case he was watching for a reaction, and then sank into my seat for the rest of the hour.

I watched the clock like a hawk. I just wanted to be out of this class, away from Sawyer’s eyes on the back of my neck. I felt … like something was wrong with me, like I should be ashamed of what happened last night, and I just wanted to disappear. The clock was about to strike 12:05, signaling the end of the hour, when a deep loud siren blared down the hallway and a light that I hadn’t realized was over the doorway started to flash red.

Stupid fire alar—

Before I could process what was happening, Sawyer yanked me from my seat, tucking me into his chest, as Eugene burst into the room. Brandon and Walsh were right behind him, armed to the teeth.

“Sawyer, code red,” Eugene said, and I peered up at Sawyer from where I was smooshed to his chest to see the color drain from his face. Everything happened so quickly then; Sawyer moved with the speed of a leopard, darting across the room, dragging me firmly along with him.

“What’s happening? What’s code red?” I asked as we burst out into the hallway.

Sawyer spun, looking down on me with yellow eyes, hands grasped protectively around my shoulders. “Vampires.”

His warm breath washed over me at the same time terror struck my heart.

Vampires? It had been five years since my attack, but the thought of seeing those death walkers again made my fight-or-flight instinct kick in.

Brandon handed Sawyer a leg harness with three silver stakes, which he clipped onto his thigh.

“Can I have one?” I asked.

Sawyer paused a second, before pulling one of the stakes out and handing it to me.

“So, are we under attack?” My wolf rose to the surface as my canines descended.

Eugene pulled out a large crossbow, loading it with silver arrows. “They’d be stupid to try it.”

Sawyer frowned, a low growl ripping from his throat. “If they wanted to talk, they’d have called.”

The double doors at the end of the hall opened and I felt alpha power wash over me as Curt Hudson strode down the hallway with two dozen guards at his back.