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.
He stood and gestured to the door. “You can go. You missed the first day, but classes start eight a.m. sharp, and Sawyer will be picking his first date tomorrow night at the dinner gala.”
My eyes widened.
Picking a date?
Dinner gala?
Freaking Werewolf Bachelor.
“Umm, gala usually means a dress … right?” I gestured to my clothes.
He pointed to the backpack. “Check the campus map. There’s a mall behind the tennis courts that has everything ladies like to wear. Use your keycard to pay. Sawyer picks up the bill, no questions asked.”
What. The. Fuck. Was. Happening?
At this point I just felt stupid for asking questions, so I nodded and stood. “Thanks for um…” I pointed to the broken cuffs and shoved them in the bag. “Everything.”
He tipped his head, standing as well. “In twenty years of serving the alpha, I’ve never seen him get in a fight with his son. Until today. Sawyer fought for you. Don’t ever forget that.”
Then he walked out and left me shocked.
Sawyer fought for me? Those words stuck with me all the way to Lexington Hall.
Lexington Hall was clear across campus and I rode a badass electric scooter to get there. This place was amazing. Minus all of the assholes who kept staring at me and whispering. It took me four tries to get the dorm door open, until some blond waved her key at a little square thingy and it opened automatically. I stepped in behind her into a large entryway with a concierge type of woman sitting behind a desk. She had a phone to her ear. When she saw me, she hung up and flagged me down with a flustered look on her face.
“Miss Calloway?”
I nodded. “They didn’t put your food preferences in. My chef needs to know, are you vegetarian? Gluten free? What are your dietary restrictions?”
I forced myself not to laugh. “None, ma’am.”
She frowned. “Paleo? Keto?”
Keta what?
“Umm. I like all food.”
This seemed to confuse her and her eyebrows drew into a frown. “No special diet, then?”
I shrugged. “Pizza, pasta, chicken sandwiches.”
Her eyes ran over my body and she seemed … I don’t know what she seemed, but I was confused. Luckily, Sage popped into view and saved me from further embarrassment.
“She’s normal, Kendra. Normal food,” Sage told her, speaking the last two words slowly like Kendra didn’t understand.
The front desk woman glared at Sage and waved her off. “Very well.”
Sage looped her arm through mine and leaned in closely. “All of the ‘prospective girls’ are on special diets to be rail thin for my cousin.”
“Gross,” I said. My thighs definitely jiggled when I walked and my nickname all through middle school, before Wolf Girl, was Bubble Butt.
“Eugene texted me that you would be across the hall from me. Have you eaten dinner?”
I shook my head, taking in all the girls walking around in high heels and the luxury of the open entry room.
“We can go to the mall and go shopping so you have clothes to wear to school tomorrow. We can grab a bite to eat there. Or you can just borrow mine and we can order in.”