Wolf Girl (Wolf Girl, #1)(9)

“Call me Demi, please. My mom is Mrs. Calloway.”

She nodded. “You have been entered into the system here. I’m just arranging your school schedule. What do you want to be your major?”

My major? That was absolutely the last thing on my mind. At Delphi, I was a business major because that’s all they would allow me. Everything else was too witchy or too far suited for one of the other magical races. Wolves never got banished, so they didn’t have wolf curriculum I guess. Whatever that would be.

“What … do you have?” I hedged.

She handed me the tablet and I started to scroll.

Lycan surgeon.

Physical therapy.

Cosmetology.

When my eyes landed on photography, I nearly squealed. I had a pretty loyal following on Instagram because of my photos. I loved taking pictures. When I was behind the camera, something inside of me came alive. I could see the world in a different way.

“Photography please.” I handed it back.

She frowned and shared a look with Eugene before looking back at me. “If you are to be a potential suitor to Sawyer Hudson, then you can only minor in photography and would need a more respectable major.”

I snort-laughed, but quickly covered it when I realized she was serious.

Okay … gotta keep up with the lie that this was the reason I was here. Sawyer was a cool dude who took pity on me. I wouldn’t want him to get into trouble.

“Do you have a business major?”

Relief crossed her face. “Yes. Good choice.”

She tapped away at her tablet and then looked to Eugene. “Do you think we have enough guards at Emory Hall if I place her there?”

She was talking about the dorms. Why would I need guards?

“Actually … I was hoping to be at Lexington. Near suite eleven?” I threw as much charm into my voice as possible, remembering what Sage had said about taking me under her wing.

The woman looked at Eugene, and he nodded once.

Then she tapped her tablet a few more times. “I have the suite across the hall recently available. Number ten.”

I didn’t want to know why it was “recently” available, I was just glad I might actually have one friend here.

After a few more minutes, she held up her phone in my face. “Smile.”

What?

Oh geeze, a picture? Right now? I was still sweaty from my panic attack and dying.

I gave her a lame smile and she tapped the screen before setting the phone down. Peering over her shoulder, I looked at the pic she’d snapped.

Oh man, that was pretty bad. Hopefully just for her records or something.

A few moments later there was a knock at the door and a tall but scrawny older man entered holding a black leather backpack. He placed it in front of me and then handed me a credit card type of keycard. “Don’t ever lose this. It’s your key into everything,” he told me and left.

I glanced at the keycard.

Fuck my life.

A two-inch square showed my scared and fake smiling face, with Hot Mess Barbie haircut.

Awesome.

“In the bag will be a tablet with your class schedule, map of the campus, school, Werewolf City bylaws, and anything else you should need.” She tapped the black leather backpack. “There is a food app where you can order meal service to your room, and there are electric scooters and bikes all over campus. Just swipe your keycard and take whatever one you want.”

Okay … I’d officially reached information overload. This was too much, and clearly expensive.

“And … how much will all of this cost me?” I gestured around the room.

She looked offended, sharing a scandalous glance at Eugene. “All expenses associated with the females that are invited to school here during the mating year are paid for by the alpha.”

Holy shit, I was totally on Werewolf Bachelor.

Just breathe.

“Even if he doesn’t pick me?” I hedged, “Like, do I have to pay it all back?” Because obviously he wasn’t going to pick me. I was fucking twenty years old, I wasn’t ready for marriage, I didn’t even want to be picked. Mostly. I mean he was hot, I’d give him that. Being picked wouldn’t be the worst thing to ever happen to me. But this whole thing was nuts.

“One second.” She tapped her screen. “There, I’ve signed you up for etiquette classes. A lady never talks about money.” She patted my hand and stood.

Ouch, did I just get burned by some old lady wearing pumps and pantyhose?

When she left the room, I stared at Eugene incredulously.

He only smirked. “She’s one of the elites. Born of money, likes having an important job. She doesn’t understand people like us.”

People like us.

When I didn’t say anything, he leaned forward. “My dad was the Werewolf Elementary School janitor and my mom the lunch lady. The only reason I got this job is because I’m built like a truck and I win every fight I get in.”

I grinned. I liked him immediately. I liked everyone here so far. My parents made it sound like some dark and scary place they’d had to flee.

“Sawyer pays for everything,” he told me. “It’s never a question and you won’t pay a dime back, no matter what happens. It’s all in the bylaws.” He tapped the backpack.

I guess I had some reading to do.