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Hayden hitched her bag higher on her shoulder as she stepped into the clothing store. She didn’t know what she was looking for exactly, other than an outfit for the stupid mixer.Ugh.Why did she agree? Why didn’t she just tell Bell no?Because you're a pushover. You secretly love your cousin to death, and you didn't want to see her fail.

Bingo.

Bell and Zoe had been the two girls to welcome her since Ella was still little and there were no other girls in a family full of boys. If it wasn’t for them, she’d have probably gone insane the first couple of days because all the men were big and scary and all the women were just a little too touchy-feely for her tastes. And, just when she thought she was going to be able to have Zoe and Bell with her at the high school, she realized too late, they were in middle school still.

So, having them with her at college, gave her a sense of belonging, even if she didn't lean on them as much. Sure, she could chalk it up to them interfering in her love life, dropping subtle or in Zoe's case, not-so-subtle hints about Nico, as to why she kept her distance most of the time, but the reality was simple. She needed to learn how to live on her own. For twenty years, she either had to hide, run, or fight. She never got a moment's peace and now that she was away at college, she wanted to grow a little on her own. Hence why she'd been staring at the same purple and black dress for the last however long.

“Purple would look great on you,” a guy said from behind her.

Hayden jerked and spun away from him, placing her hand to her chest. “Please don’t sneak up on me.” She glanced at the guy and spied the nametag on his shirt.Jacob.

“Sorry, nasty habit,” he said. “I can be as still as a statue sometimes.” He chuckled softly then pointed to the dress. “You want to try it on... The dress?”

She stared at him for a minute. He had short brown hair and emerald-colored eyes. When she inhaled, she caught the hint of earth and stone, if rocks had a smell. “What are you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, by day I am a college student—TSU—I think you go there too right?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

"Anyway, in the afternoons I'm here as a sales associate and at night, I stare at people." The way he answered her so matter of fact-like, made her laugh. "Okay, the last part is a little drastic. I don't literally stare at people, but I am a gargoyle."

Hayden blinked. "Wait, those are real? Seriously?" Questions filtered through her mind like, how many of them were there? What other types of shifters were in the world? Were the folklores about Gargoyles true, they watched over buildings and people? And, if so, who did he watch over?

He gawked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Pretty sure.”

She tucked a lock of her growing hair behind her ear. "I'm kind of still new to the whole shifter world so..."

“Wait. What?” He looked as perplexed as she felt. “How is that possible?”

“Long story.” One she didn’t like telling. “Hayden Raferty.” She held out her hand in greeting.

“You’re Bodhi’s twin,” he said, placing his palm against his. “He’s a cool guy. Pretty popular.”

She laughed. “That’s him.”

“Well, since I have you here,” Jacob said, “why don’t you tell me what you’re looking for, and I’ll help you find it. It’s the least I could do after startling the shit out of you.”

She didn’t get a negative vibe off of him. In the last four years, from the moment she learned how to shift until she left home, she’d honed her skills, so she’d never be put into a situation like she had those first few weeks of being the new kid at school or like when she’d been kidnapped. “Well, what do you know of the Greek Shifter Games?”

"Only that it is one of the most anticipated events on campus," Jacob answered, his green eyes sparkling like rare gems. Hayden knew almost instantaneously he would be fun to date. He was gorgeous, funny, witty, and also pretty cool. Too bad her wolf wouldn't even give him a cursory glance.

“Well, I am going to be a participant as one of the Ladies in Waiting, which means I have to attend the mixer tonight. Naturally, I have nothing to wear, nor have I ever been to one of these things.” Prom didn’t count. After the time she went with Nico, once was all she needed. Bad enough years afterward, people around town murmured about her wolfing out in front of everyone and almost killing Lindsey.Meh, bitch had it coming.Sure, now her wolf wanted to interact with her.

“Then definitely not the purple dress.” Jacob frowned. “How about something trendy, but not too overstated? Like, here I am, but back the fuck off, I’m not here for you?”

Hayden giggled a little as she bounced. “That would be perfect.”

When Jacob was finished helping her, she had way more stuff than she needed but everything matched and fit her to perfection. She settled on a short, frayed denim skirt, two t-shirts one striped and long-sleeved, the other plain black, so she could layer them. She found a pair of knee-high stockings with cute bows that would stay up on their own, and a couple of neat little accessories to match the outfit.

"Hey," Hayden said, as she took her receipt from Jacob, "we should hang out sometime. I could always use more friends, you know?"

Jacob nodded and grinned. “I’d like that.” He lifted his hand as Hayden headed out the door. “See you soon! Have fun at the mixer.”

She waved. “Thanks! Bye.”

Hayden, with her cousins in tow, walked into the community center building located catty-corner to the student union. Zoe, in head-to-toe leather, looked like Barbie gone bad. Bell wore a cute calico print knee-length dress with a matching hair ribbon. The dichotomy between them made Hayden shake her head. “So, go find your prospective dates and have fun.” She grinned, not wanting them to forgo their good time, just because she was alone. Everything for her was a choice. Right now, she was happy for them. They too deserved a little happiness in their lives. “Remember, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Don’t wait up. Rocky said something about meeting his friends at some clubhouse later. Peace.” She waved then took off, parting the crowd as she went.