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He broke her the day she stood outside of his apartment and heard another woman’s voice calling for her mate. Hayden had thought it was impossible to continue living. Every day was as if she crawled through glass and nails, clawing her way to the end of the school year, so she could leave home and never come back. Then it had taken another two years to muster up the courage to move on with her life. Now, as a sophomore in college and at twenty years old, the urge to have sex and finish the mating poked at her. But the guys she sat through class with or in her study group did nothing for her. She found herself comparing them to he-who-shall-not-be-named, and didn't that just suck donkey dick?

A low growl of irritation passed her lips, and she balled her hands into fists.What’s done is done. He made his choice.She opened her notebook and wrote a quick note to her dad. She needed them to understand she moved on, and she would appreciate it if they didn't ask about him—Nico.

Blake,

I got your letter. I am so excited. You have to tell me whether I will have a little brother or sister when you find out. I will make sure Bodhi and I are home in time for the birth, don’t worry. I need you to know something and it’s pretty important. It’s a big step for me, after all, and I hope it will make you happy to hear.

I am moving on. I need to. I am going out this weekend with Bodhi to check out a local club for shifters. I hope to meet someone or, as in your case, perhaps someones.

Give my love to my dad and Loraine.

She closed the letter, grabbed an envelope, and stuffed it inside. Before she could chicken out—like she’d done ninety-nine other times—she addressed the envelope and placed a stamp on it. She would drop it in the school mailroom on the way to her last class.

Hayden nibbled on her lip and stared at the letter on her desk. Already, doubt clouded her decision. “No, I’ve got to do this.” She walked to the hook by her closet where her backpack hung and grabbed it. “I’m doing the right thing. Bodhi would agree with me.”

Slinging the bag over her shoulder, Hayden picked up the envelope and gripped the door handle. She had one more class before she could come back home and decompress. As she stepped out into the hall, her cousins, Bell and Zoe, greeted her.

Both girls looked a little too hyper for their own good.

If she thought she had a rough start to life, both of them had it worse. Most of the information she learned about them came secondhand. They didn't talk much about themselves, but who could blame them. She also learned the first time she met a thirteen-year-old Bell, the girl was putting up a front. A shield. She had some deep issues, and Hayden often wondered if she'd ever let anyone in.

“What’s going on?” Hayden closed the door behind her.

“Tell her, Bell,” Zoe prodded her sister. “Or I will.”

Bell blushed, and her blue eyes went wide. Her hair had been pulled back in a messy braid and some of the strands hung in her face, giving her an innocent quality.

“Tell me what?”

“I’ve been asked out,” Bell whispered. “To the mixer.”

“You have?” They walked down the short hall together, heading out of the dorm. “What’s his name?”

“You’ll never guess in a million years,” Zoe said with a snort.

Where Bell’s complexion reminded her of fine porcelain, Zoe’s midnight hair, mischievous midnight-blue eyes, and bow-shaped lips resembled her father—Rapier. Whoever mated her would be in for a roller-coaster ride for sure.

"I don't know guys. Just tell me." She stopped and turned to them. "You tell me who it is, and I'll tell you my good news."

“You’re getting back together with Nico?” Bell chirped. She hated letting down her cousins when it came to Nico and her, but the sooner they understood there was no coming back from what happened between her and Nico, the better off they'd all be.

“No.” Hayden started walking again, itching to drop the letter off at the dorm mailroom. “I actually wrote my parents to tell them I’m taking the leap and finding a suitable mate.” She grinned, be damned what her uncle said or what her wolf wanted. “Should be interesting to see howthatgoes over with them. So, about this date?” Hayden changed the subject, knowing she was lying to them and herself.

“Right, her date,” Zoe started. “This lucky bitch is going out with the lion Alpha, Christoph.”

“Zoe!” Bell gasped. “What has Mom told you about your mouth?”

She shrugged. “Hey, take it up with Dad. He taught me everything I know.”

“So, the lion Alpha, huh?” Hayden got them back on track. “Congrats. There will be several brokenhearted girls.” Christoph was one of the biggest jocks on campus. He was part of the football team and reminded Hayden of some beach bum guy. He had a bigger-than-life presence, and he always seemed to have a holier than thou complex. It rubbed Hayden the wrong way, but if her cousin was happy, she'd try to show a little joy for her.

“Yeah.” Bell pushed her hair behind her ear. “But, I have another problem.”

“Okay, shoot. What’s got you in knots?” Hayden had never seen her cousin so nervous before. Okay, lie. She'd seen Bell get flummoxed several times over the years, usually, it was over some celebration or Junior Prom—Senior for Hayden. Or when it came to small random inconsequential stuff. This though... This was different. There'd been a sadness to her worry and Hayden hated that.

“I need your help. See, there’s this thing called the Greek Shifter Games, or GSG, and I need a partner. But—”

“First what are these Greek Shifter Games? Second, what do you need from me?” The fear of rejection in the young feline’s eyes tore at Hayden’s gut.