Page 2 of Chosen: The Lenkov Journals

Theo

Knocking on the open door, Theo waited until he heard his professor call out a quick ‘come in’ before Theo entered the lecture hall. Professor Blake stood behind a podium, doing something with a laptop.

“Mr. Bailey.” Professor Blake’s low voice reached him. “Did you finish with the book then?”

Theo rushed forward so he didn’t take up too much of his professor’s time. Professor Blake hadn’t even been mad when Theo had shown up a day late to pick up the book. “Yes, sir. Thank you again for loaning it to me.” He wouldn’t have been able to complete his assignment without the book. Theo fumbled to get the textbook from his backpack. He’d only had it for a week but Theo had tried to copy as much as possible into his notes. Just in case he needed the information in the future.

“Slow down, Mr. Bailey,” Professor Blake ordered. “I’m not going to be angry if it takes you a moment to get the book. You are liable to drop everything at this rate.”

Taking a deep breath, Theo followed his professor’s advice. He didn’t mean to be such a clumsy dumb-dumb, but Theo was a nervous person on a good day. Having to be alone with an authority figure made him naturally terrified. He often wondered if Professor Blake knew. There was something otherworldly about his professor. Well, Theo’s nose told him other but not shifter. Not that Theo would ever ask.

Once he was calm again, Theo easily pulled the borrowed book from his backpack.

“Better,” Professor Blake said with approval. “Please place the book on the desk. I need to get my presentation ready before meeting my brother for lunch.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you again.” Theo rushed to the desk in the corner. It was already piled high with books and papers.

“I’m just sorry that the university doesn’t do a better job of providing material needed for courses. It shouldn’t cost arm and a leg for necessary reading material.”

Theo heard the words but his attention was on an old-looking leather-bound book close to his hand. He’d been about to place his borrowed book on top but that didn’t seem right. He didn’t want to cover the book, journal, whatever it was. No, Theo wanted to touch the leather. To hold it in his hands. It was almost instinctual.

“Just set it down,” Professor Blake ordered.

Theo dropped his borrowed book as he jumped. Hellcats! He needed to get control of himself. He couldn’t be touching another person’s property. Theo just really wanted to hold that leather book.

He backed away as fast as he could. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Theo turned. His face was probably beet red but Professor Blake wasn’t even looking at him as he scowled down at the laptop in his hand.

“Thanks, Professor.” Theo rushed from the room.

Speed walking away from the lecture hall and outside, Theo didn’t stop until the cool air hit him in the face. He plastered his back against the rough brick of the building.

What was wrong with him?

Theo needed to get himself under control!

Professor Blake had done him a favor. Taking deep breaths until his hand stopped shaking, Theo forced himself to forget about whatever that book had been. It might be magical , his mind unhelpfully supplied.

There was such much about his world that Theo didn’t know or understand.

Did magical books even exist? Should Theo ask? Who would he ask though? It was better to just forget.

His stomach growled.

Theo needed to get to the dining hall.

He set off, taking the long way through campus so that he didn’t run into any trouble. Not that he’d seen Mike or his buddies, but no more shortcuts for Theo. He would stay on the busy, well-lit paths. And would not get caught unaware again.

When he finally reached the dining hall, Theo relaxed.

Dinner was one of the meals that he always tried to catch since the food was plentiful. Turning the corner, he nearly panicked.

This was getting ridiculous! He’d been on campus for an entire month and had gotten a routine of sorts down. He’d never crossed paths with Wylder Carter in all that time until that fateful night. Now every time Theo turned around, he caught glimpses of messy brown hair, kind chocolate eyes, and an entirely too muscular body. Heaven help him, but Theo was going insane!

Darting around the side of the dining hall building, Theo waited until Wylder and his group of friends exited. Theo needed to get inside before mealtime was over. It was his dinner break, and he was hungry. He shouldn’t have skipped lunch, or breakfast, but Wylder had been there those times too.

Grumbling under his breath, he rubbed his stomach. Theo was not going to miss out on dinner too! Plus, it was turkey night. Theo loved turkey. It was his favorite food in the whole world. Well, besides ice cream, and cookies, oh, and brownies. Brownies were the best. Oh! And pizza. Chicken nuggets! Wait! Focus. He peeked around the building, but Wylder had stopped with his friends, and they were just standing there talking! Didn’t they have places to go? Theo did. He wanted to go right into the building and get dinner.

While Wylder spoke, he waved his hands around. His smile was bright and he even had a dimple in his right cheek. Theo sighed. It was so unfair. Wylder was good-looking, muscular, had friends, and he had a freaking dimple.

Wylder’s head snapped up and Theo darted back around the building before he could be spotted. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad if he skipped dinner. He did have two cheese pastries from his afternoon shift at the coffee shop and he could eat those. Theo had wanted to save them for breakfast, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He should just go back to his dorm room and hide.

Yes, yes, that was a good idea. Ethan was at practice so he would have his room to himself. Theo could get a head start on his English paper due at the end of next week.

Satisfied he was making the right decision, Theo whirled around, before face-planting into a wide chest.

He looked up…and up. Startling pale blue eyes blinked down at him as Theo lifted his hand and rubbed his sore nose. Ow!

“Ow!” he repeated out loud.

“Are you…alright?” The tall man reached for him, but Theo scrambled away.

His nose hurt and this man—and yes, he was a man, no way he was a student—had been too close to Theo. “That hurt.”

“My apologies.” The man still had his hand outstretched.

Theo took in the full picture. The stranger was tall. Had to be over six feet. Theo had to crane his neck just to see those weird pale eyes. His straight white hair brushed past his shoulder. He was…other, not human, not shifter, but something. Still rubbing his nose, Theo tried to hide as he inhaled. He didn’t know what this man was but Hellcats, he smelt good. Like fresh snow in the early morning and…something else. Theo’s entire body heated, and he had to break eye contact. It was never a good idea to lock gazes with an…other.

“My fault!” Theo raised his hands as he took a step back. He didn’t want to anger this creature. He could break Theo in half, probably with his pinkie, and no one could do a thing to stop him. “I’m sorry.” Please don’t hurt me. He didn’t say that last part out loud.

The creature frowned as he finally dropped his hand. “I—”

“I should watch where I’m going. I was distracted. Not an excuse but…” Theo shook his head. “Sorry.” He went to step around the other man but found his path blocked.

Crap on a stick. Now what? What did this man want? Theo had said he was sorry.

“What’s your name?” The demand was sharp.

Was this a professor? Was he going to try to get Theo kicked out of school? Just for running into him? It wasn’t like Theo did it on purpose. And the guy shouldn’t have been so close!

Theo huffed. “I said I was sorry.” He backed away even though he would soon be around the dining hall building and in sight of others. Maybe that would be best. Out in the open this…creature couldn’t hurt him. Right? Theo had to stop hiding around buildings. He might not have a pretty face, but he’d like to keep all his teeth.

For every step back Theo took, the white-haired stranger took one closer. And his steps were longer than Theo’s. He was closing the distance.

He could run. Without shifting, he probably wouldn’t get far, but he could try.

For as much time as Theo spent running, he should have joined the track team. He took a deep breath, preparing, but that just brought him more of the stranger’s scent. He shivered as the pale eyes locked with his once again.

“Wait,” the stranger whispered.

Not on his life. “Sorry!” Theo said for the last time before turning and sprinting away.

“Wait!”

Theo ignored the shout. Too bad not everyone in the area did.

Wylder and his group of friends were thankfully gone. Dining hall or dorm? Dining hall or dorm? He couldn’t outrun the stranger if he chose to chase Theo, so crowds were better. He slipped inside the dining hall as a female student held the door open for her friends.

“Sorry! Thanks!” Theo called out to her.

She laughed, luckily, and waved him by.

Inside the dining hall, Theo glanced around. There was nowhere really to hide and dang, the scent of food made him lightheaded. Theo really needed to eat soon. He darted behind a vending machine before peeking around it.

The white-haired stranger had indeed followed him. Theo jumped back behind the vending machine and rubbed one palm over his heart. He needed to calm down. He had to get a hold of himself. Too many weird things were going on. First Mike and his friends, then Wylder, and now this new stranger. College was supposed to be the best time of his life.

Theo slumped. Only a month in and he was beginning to think he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. He had never fit in before, why would he fit in here? Plus, for a shifter that had only ever met less than a handful of non-humans in his life, he was sure surrounded by them. What were the chances?

Theo peeked back around the vending machine. The white-haired stranger was standing in the entrance still and he was speaking withProfessor Blake. That was not good. Professor Blake would know who Theo was. Please go away. Please go away.

The white-haired creature must be a professor too.Not good!

Not only did Theo have to avoid all the places he could run into Wylder, but now this professor as well. Life was getting more and more complicated. He watched untilProfessor Blake practically dragged the white-haired man by his sleeve out the door.

Theo could not be blamed for watching the backside of the white-haired stranger. His pressed black suit pants fit his ass like a glove. Theo had been admiring the male bodies around him since puberty and that man had an amazing ass. Not that Theo would know what to do with an ass like that, but he did have fantasies. And there was no harm in enjoying the view.

Before he got caught being a peeper, Theo turned away and headed for the line. He was in the dining hall, so he might as well grab dinner. He could save his pastries for breakfast after all.

He filled his plate with turkey, barbecue beans, coleslaw, and a sweet roll. Theo’s mouth practically watered. He chose water instead of having to pay for a soda or juice. That saved him a dollar and twenty-five cents. Every penny counted when he was living on his own and paying for school. He had help. Funds from his days in foster care, a grant that covered a small portion of tuition, but that still left books, housing, meals, and the rest of his tuition. It had taken two years for Theo to have enough money to finally commit and enroll at the university.

Theo knew he didn’t have to go to college. He could have continued working or gotten more than one job. By now he could have had a nice apartment and maybe some sort of life.

Sitting in the flimsy chair at one of the plastic tables, Theo wasn’t ready to give up. Maybe his college experience wasn’t like he’d imagined, but he was doing it.

Stabbing a piece of turkey with his fork, Theo glanced around him.

He wasn’t the only student sitting alone at a table. If he was brave enough, he would choose one of the other single diners and ask to join them. Maybe they would become friends. But that was just another dream, wasn’t it? Because Theo wasn’t brave.

Ducking his head, Theo concentrated on filling his stomach. He’d sleep better with a full belly. Maybe he wouldn’t see Wylder in his dreams, unlike every other night of the past week.

Theo had just about finished when he heard his name called.

He snapped his gaze to the side as Ethan strode toward him. Ethan carried several bottles and a couple plates on a tray.

“Hey, man! You’re usually not here this late.”

Theo nodded. “Running behind schedule.” This meant that he’d be out past dark, which was never a good thing. “I was just finishing up.”

Ethan plopped in the chair next to him. If Theo was worried about the flimsy chair holding his weight, he was certain Ethan was going to crash down. His roommate didn’t seem concerned though. “Headed back to the room after this?”

Theo nodded.

“Cool. If you wanna hang out, we can walk back together.”

That would work. Theo lifted his gaze to the large window across the hall from their table. It was already getting dark. “Alright.”

Ethan nodded as he broke the seal on one of his Gatorade bottles. He had three. All light blue. Theo had never tasted the stuff. They were four dollars in the dining hall and water was free.

“How was practice?” he asked, thankful that he had a subject to bring up. Theo hated to make small talk, but he understood what society expected.

“It was good! We have our first pre-season game this weekend. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be starting.”

“Your knee is good?”

Ethan shoved a forkful of food in his mouth as he grunted.

Theo took that as a yes. “Are you playing on campus? Maybe I can catch a game.”

“Really?” Ethan’s brows rose. “That’d be cool. I didn’t think you were into sports.”

Theo shrugged. “I’m not really, but I want to learn about new stuff.” He wanted the college experience. “Attending a sporting event seems like something that I should do.”

“We’re a lot better than the football team. At least the hockey team has seen finals in the last decade.”

“Cool. That’s…good.” Theo didn’t know how else to respond. He didn’t know anything more about football than he did hockey. At least hockey was inside, he figured.

Ethan shoveled down his food, which made bringing up another topic difficult. That was probably a good thing. Theo didn’t know what else to talk about.

They fell into silence, but Theo didn’t mind. It was nice sitting with someone else as he pushed the leftover food around his plate. He hadn’t left much but it was cold now and he was full.

He bounced his leg under the table as it got later and darker. Once Ethan was finished eating, he burped loudly before patting his belly.

“Man, that was good. One thing I can say about this school. The meals are fantastic.”

Theo nodded his agreement. He wanted to demand that they leave but Ethan settled back in his chair.

The dining room was beginning to clear as mealtime ended. Once serving hours were over, the dining hall would be open with only the vending machine in operation. The very expensive vending machine that Theo would never be able to afford. One slice of pizza was eight dollars! Eight! Theo could get four meals for the price of one slice of vending pizza. It didn’t make sense to him.

Finally, Ethan finished off the third Gatorade and looked over at him. “Ready to head to the dorm?”

“Yes!” Theo tried not to leap to his feet and run. He wanted to play it cool but must have failed as Ethan shook his head. They picked up their trays, dumped the trash, and stacked the trays before they headed out of the dining hall.

Stepping outside, Theo peered around. No Wylder. No white-haired stranger. No Mike or his buddies. He relaxed as they started across campus.

His feet had just touched the steps in front of his dorm residence when dread crawled down his spine. Glancing over his shoulder, Theo peered into the dark night. There were a few small groups of students walking around. Theo couldn’t see anyone paying attention to him or Ethan. The hair on the back of his neck rose. He was being watched. Was it Mike? Wylder? The white-haired man? The darkness felt…evil almost. Hard to explain but Theo had never felt anything like it before.

“Hey, are you okay?” Ethan’s hand landed on his shoulder.

Theo slunk out of his roommate’s hold. “Yeah, thought I heard something,” he lied.

Thunder cracked above them.

“Let’s get inside before we get soaked.” Ethan scanned his ID and held the door open for Theo.

With one last look over his shoulder, Theo turned and hustled inside.

Ethan strode to the stairs just as Theo preferred. He didn’t know if his roommate was being kind to him or if Ethan hated the elevator as much as he did. Ethan’s long legs ate up the steps while Theo struggled to keep up. They finally reached the third floor as Theo tried to hide his panting.

“I’m going to hit the head.” Ethan waved his hand toward the bathroom before they passed it.

Theo nodded. “I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

“Thanks, man.” Ethan whistled, shoving his big hands into his sweats as he sauntered off.

Hurrying down the hall, Theo went directly to his door. He fumbled but finally got it unlocked and open. He pushed the door but paused over the threshold. Flipping on the light, he peered around. Nothing looked out of place. Ethan’s side was still as messy as ever but his didn’t look like anything had been touched since he’d left that morning. Still, something just felt off.

He inhaled but there was no scent that didn’t seem to belong.

“Everything okay?”

Theo jumped as Ethan stepped up behind him.

“Hey, you okay?”

“Sure. Yep. Fine.” Theo forced himself to enter his room. He dropped his backpack on his bed. Was his blanket mussed? No, he was just imagining things. It had been a rough week, and he was letting his thoughts run away.

Dropping into his bed, Theo threw his arm over his eyes. He had studying to do. He needed to shower. But he couldn’t force himself up and off the bed.

* * * * *

It was cold. Of course, hockey was played on ice so the rink or whatever needed to be cold, but the entire arena was freezing. In September the outdoors was still stifling hot, but being inside the arena was way too cold for him.

Goosebumps popped up along his arms. He’d dressed only in jeans and a plain black T-shirt. Not the brightest of his ideas. Theo searched for the best seat to watch the game that would allow him to see but not be right in the middle of the small but decent crowd.

Who knew hockey was so popular? Maybe it was because the football team sucked like Ethan said? Theo had spent the morning researching hockey and the other sports teams at the university. Men’s hockey and women’s volleyball seemed to be the most popular in their area. Rubbing his arms for warmth, Theo headed away from the seats behind the benches, where most of the other spectators were hurrying, and instead walked toward the end of the arena behind the net.

Three students sat in the middle of the first row, so Theo settled in a few rows behind them. They smiled and greeted him and Theo waved back, but he wasn’t in the mood to socialize. He wanted to watch his roommate and get out of his stuffy dorm, and coming to the game hopefully would give him a better idea of some of the things Ethan mentioned. Theo was still trying to connect with his roommate.

Peering around the arena, he was once again surprised by the turnout. For fifteen minutes, people, mostly students, some professors, and others, milled in and found seats. Luckily, Theo still had his entire row to himself although the rows in front and behind him filled up.

When the game started, first with the National Anthem then some talking, the players were announced. Theo rose to his feet and shouted with the rest of the crowd as his team was announced. He yelled extra hard for Ethan.

The chaos began and Theo practically held his breath.

Hockey was…exciting. He’d watched videos online to have some idea on what to expect, but watching games on his computer was nothing like seeing it in person. He found himself moving side to side with the skaters. He held his breath as the puck was hit at the net. Ethan was an enforcer and he got into two fights in the first period. And he won! Or at least he did in Theo’s opinion.

In the break between the second and third period, two players came out onto the ice with a couple of guys dressed in slacks and polo shirts. Ethan was one of the players. Theo didn’t understand at first. Not until Ethan and his teammate lifted some kind of cannon and started shooting something into the crowd.

The crowd roared, danced, and shouted, trying to get the attention of the players.

Somehow Ethan spotted Theo in his section as he faced them. He winked at Theo before aiming right for him. Theo didn’t have time to react. Ethan fired and something flew through the air. He was smacked in the forehead before a bundle of cloth landed in his lap. The people in the row in front of him laughed and gave Theo a thumbs-up, as Theo blinked away the sting. He knew Ethan hadn’t meant to hurt him, but his nose was still a little sore from running into the white-haired stranger earlier that week. Damn, but that man had a hard chest.

Ethan hooted at him, and Theo waved before he picked up the bundle. It was rolled tight, and Theo unrolled the cloth to find a thick university sweatshirt. Oh cool! He didn’t have one of those. And he was cold!

Theo pulled on his new sweatshirt with a huge smile.

It was big on him, but Theo didn’t mind. He smoothed down the front, feeling like he was experiencing something important for the first time since entering college.

A buzzer sounded and Theo lifted his gaze from the front of his new sweatshirt. Something caught his eye behind the benches and Theo turned his head. He met the dark chocolate gaze that had been visiting him every night. For some reason Wylder had been haunting Theo’s dreams. Seeing him at the game shocked Theo into jerking back, like he could get away. Wylder’s smile dimmed before it fell away completely. Regret immediately filled Theo. He didn’t mean to hurt Wylder’s feelings, but if Theo was already dreaming about the human, then he really needed to keep his distance. Plus, Wylder knew his secret and that was never good. Humans couldn’t be trusted! The few shifters that Theo had met in his lifetime had all told him one thing. Do not share his secret with a human unless he wanted to end up in a lab being experimented on.

Theo shuddered. He really didn’t want to be experimented on.

He ducked his head as the game started for the final period.

Try as he might, Theo couldn’t help but watch Wylder almost as much as he did the game. Wylder was with a rather large group, and they yelled at the players and hit the plexiglass behind the bench. Wylder would watch a play on the ice before his gaze would return to Theo. Each time Theo got caught watching the human, he would duck his head.

All the fun he’d been having at the game left. He was too busy trying to stare at Wylder without getting caught and lost in his confusion as why he couldn’t look away. Wylder was a good-looking guy, but Theo had seen plenty of attractive guys before.

Why was Wylder someone that Theo couldn’t stop thinking, dreaming, about? He was practically obsessed! To make matters worse, Wylder wasn’t the only person that Theo had been dreaming of. Oh no, there was now a white-haired, pale-eyed stranger too. He’d woken up with an erectionfor three mornings in a row. Desperate to get his hand on himself when Theo very rarely jerked off before. Luckily, Ethan had been gone from their shared room for early practice, because Theo barely got his hand around his morning wood before he was coming all over his blanket. He did not appreciate an unexpected trip to the laundry room.

The dreams were just so intense, so real, that Theo found himself almost believing that the two men were actually there in his dorm. It was all too much for Theo. When other boys at the group home had talked about masturbating or getting laid, Theo could never relate. Sex hadn’t really been anything he’d wanted to try. He could appreciate males, figured out that he was gay and not straight, but he had no actual desire to connect with another that way. He’d always put his lack of wanting sex was just another way he was weird, Theo decided to keep that to himself. He could count on one hand how many times he’d ever touched himself before this last week. Now, the number had doubled, leaving Theo lost.

Determined to ignore the human and get out of the arena as soon as the final buzzer sounded, Theo returned his attention to the game.

He’d forgotten about overtime.

With the game tied at two points each, Theo didn’t get to make his escape as planned. He’d not looked up how overtime worked so at least he had to keep his attention where it belonged. That also meant that by the time his roommate and teammates were celebrating a win, other people were already hurrying for the exit.

Deciding he didn’t want to fight the crowd, Theo stayed in his seat as the section around him emptied. Once the line to the exit had thinned out, Theo stood. He stretched his arms over his head. He was a little sore from sitting in the cold for so long. He wished he’d thought of buying water or something. The couple in front of him had shared cheesy nachos that had looked amazing, but he didn’t have the money for arena food. A bottle of water would have been nice though. His throat ached from yelling for his roommate.

Theo turned and his gaze locked with the pale blue eyes that had been on his mind earlier.

The white-haired man stood just inside the tunnel that led to the exit. He watched Theo with a penetrating gaze that ate him up. He even licked his lips! Yelping, Theo looked around for another exit. Which…crap, would take him right by where Wylder and his friends stood talking.

What was happening? Theo never caught any one’s attention and now he couldn’t seem to stay away from the two men that perplexed and mystified him. Theo glanced back over his shoulder toward where the white-haired man had been. And…oh no! No, no, no. He was heading in Theo’s direction with a look of determination on his handsome face.

Theo skidded out of his row before hurrying toward the exit to his left. Yes, he would have to sneak by Wylder, but it was better than getting caught by the white-haired man! Maybe Wylder wouldn’t even notice him.

Hands in his pockets, Theo kept his head down and scurried as fast as he could, hopefully without drawing attention to himself.

He knew the moment that Wylder spotted him.

Wylder stepped away from his friends. Theo stopped walking. Wylder raised his hand. Theo glanced over his shoulder. The white-haired man was closing the distance. Panicked, Theo looked back at Wylder. Wylder frowned but looked past Theo and froze.

That gave Theo the distraction he needed.

It might make him appear crazy, but Theo darted around Wylder and raced toward the exit. Okay, he wasn’t running, but he was walking really fast.

With every glance over his shoulder, he didn’t spot either Wylder or the white-haired man. Once he was outside, Theo took off. He just wanted to get back to his dorm. Once he was safe inside, he would try to figure out what the heck was happening!

He passed groups of people, students moving in the same direction, but Theo didn’t pay them any attention.

Dorm, get to your room, you can do it. Run faster! He repeated the mantra mentally over and over until he spotted his residence up ahead. The crowd had thinned, most of the students taking their time returning. While there was still a good amount of students milling around, it was easy enough to stay on the path.

Movement to the right had Theo skidding to a stop. For some reason he expected to see Wylder or the white-haired stranger. Instead, a figure moved from behind a tree directly in his path. The man…probably a man, wore a long black cloak, that looked to be way too hot, and just odd. Stranger was that even with Theo’s remarkable eyesight he couldn’t see the guy's face. Where his face should have been was just black, darkness, almost an oily pulse of energy. It was awful.

Theo scrambled back. He looked around but no one else seemed to notice the cloaked figure. What the heck!

The cloaked figure raised one arm and pointed toward Theo.

Nope, no, he was so out of there. Theo ran like the hounds of hell were on his ass.

Theo took the steps up to his dorm building two at a time. He turned, checking to see if he was being chased. There was no one there but that didn’t stop the hair on his body standing straight up like he was being watched.

Theo tripped and went down hard on the steps.

Theo hissed as his palms scraped against the concentrate. He banged his knees as well.

There were small spots of blood from the wounds on his hands. Hellcats! That stung something awful. Carefully he cradled his hands to his chest as he slowly stood. He glanced around him but the area was empty. Quiet. Scary.

He just wanted to hide under the covers in his bed. Theo might never come out into the world again. It was a scary place out here.