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Praying for an easy drive today to school, I’m grateful that my tires are for all terrain. I’ve never driven in the snow before, and I’m deathly afraid of sliding into a ditch.

Mom didn’t spare any expense when she bought this car, and I’m pretty sure she’s forgotten to stop paying for my car insurance.

My entire life is tenuous at best, because Minneapolis is fucking expensive as a student. I’m considering looking for a second job, so that I can finally move into an apartment before this snow gets worse.

I’ve heard whispers of a center that accepts omegas who are going through a rough patch, but I haven’t allowed myself to look into it. While I presented at seventeen, I haven’t had my first heat yet. I’m hoping it stays away for as long as possible.

Two jobs, full time student, and no sleep. Sounds like an absolute dream.

Struggling to pull myself out of the dark cloud I woke up in, I park in the school parking lot by my first class.

Now that I have an official permit, there are more school lots I can park in. I’ve considered staying here overnight, but I’m scared a security guard will get curious and knock on my car window.

I don’t want to have a conversation with the school administration about how I’m homeless attending this prestigious school.

Lips pressed together, I turn off the car and attempt to settle myself as I grab my backpack. I’m definitely going to hang out in the common area in the Student Center because more of this awful white stuff is falling from the sky.

Throwing open the door to my car, I jump out, looking up as snowflakes fall onto my face.

“At least it’s pretty,” I mutter, slamming the door closed as I pull on my backpack and lock the car.

Walking carefully through the cars, I cross to the sidewalk, my long legs bringing me closer to my nine-thirty class. Myhistory teacher, Dr. Adams took a leave of absence starting last week, so I have no idea who is filling in for him.

His wife is having a hard pregnancy, and he wanted to help her in the upcoming months.

God, I didn't know a man like that existed. Lucky bitch. I steer clear of men because they’re simply too much trouble for my current cycle of life. I like to call this the Hot Mess Express.

I’m in a rhythm of eating up the distance between spaces, and completely unprepared when I slam into a hard chest.

“Oof,” I gasp. My boot hits a slick spot on the sidewalk, making me yelp as my foot slips, sending them flying in the air as I become acquainted with the ground. “Ow.”

Hitting my back as hard as I do drives the breath out of my body, so I look like a fish out of water as I gasp.

“Shit.”

Looking up at the guy who is staring at me a bit guiltily, I realize I’ve seen him before. He’s the guy that almost hit me. I get this weird sense of deja-vu but I push it aside. There’s no way I’d know anyone in Minneapolis.

Reaching out, he leans down with a frown and helps me up. “Are you okay? We have to stop meeting like this,” he teases me.

Standing helps as I blink the tears away. Damn, that hurt. Why is the ground so hard?

“I’m so sorry,” I gasp, blushing. I don’t usually react like this, but his intense green eyes draw me in. Thankfully, my airways open quickly, allowing me to take a deeper breath, but I still sound breathy and out of it. I can tell that he’s an alpha, but I’ve gotten used to using my alpha blocker gel outside of work over the last two weeks, so I can’t really tell anything else about him. “It feels as if I’m always rushing lately, and I was unprepared for it to snow today.”

Smirking, he shrugs as his eyes move over me critically. “You may need a bit more clothes, Rainbow Brite. It’s only going to get colder. At the very least, spring for a coat. You’re looking a bit out of your element,” he says.

Glancing at his watch, his lips twist in annoyance. “I have to be at the library in a few minutes for a study group. Maybe if we run into each other again, we’ll exchange names?”

The hot stranger is already striding away, leaving my mouth hanging open. His shoulders shift underneath his heavy black jacket, and his glutes tighten and release with each step.

Damn, just damn. I can’t even say that he’s rude, just purposeful. There’s an air of barely restrained chaotic energy as he moves, even though he only looked concerned when he saw me on my ass. I imagine what it would be like to have his attention on me for longer and shiver.

It makes me want to go out right away to buy a coat and clothes because he told me to, that’s how intense he was.

Okay, I’m officially the creeper because he’s long gone now.Shaking my head, I hurry carefully to my class, hoping for a decent teacher for the rest of the semester. I already am acing the class, I don’t want to mess that up for myself, because I need to keep a high grade point average in my classes to keep my scholarship.

Blowing out a breath as I see the building my class is in, I pull open the door and walk to my classroom. Thankfully, I’m not late, quietly easing into the room as I see a large, imposing man standing at the front of the class talking to a girl with dark brown hair.

Scurrying quietly, I walk up the stairs of the auditorium style classroom to find a seat. It’s one of the smaller spaces, and it’s already filled with students.