Wolves in the Shadows (The Wolf Clan Chronicles) (5 page)

Chapter 2

Elizabeth found her roommate Michelle dozing with her head on her desk.  She closed the door as quietly behind her as possible and slipped off her shoes.  As she crossed the room on her tiptoes, Michelle jerked awake. 

“Huh?  What time is it,” she said
.  She lifted her head, brushed her dark hair out of her eyes and looked around in a sort of groggy panic. 

“Sorry,” Elizabeth
whispered.  “It’s little after 5 am.” 

Michelle yawned and rubbed her eyes, smearing her black e
yeliner and mascara across her cheeks.  “No worries,” she said.  “I just don’t want to miss my class.” 

“Chemistry exam this morning?” Elizabeth asked.  She changed into clean pajamas and got into bed.  Part of her was frustrated that she had woken her roommate, but at the same time there was something comforting and familiar about coming home to her.  Despite her exhaustion, she felt like she needed to hear a human voice
.  “Have you been up all night?” 

“Most of it,” Michelle replied.  “I might have napped for
like twenty minutes just now.” 

“You should probably get some rest.  You wouldn’t want to fall asleep during the actual test.” 

“Whatever you say, mother,” Michelle said.  She stood up and stretched and yawned again.  “Hey where were you all night?” 

“Nowhere,
Michie,” Elizabeth said after yawning herself.  It was just too contagious. 

“Oh come on, Lizzy,” Michelle protested.  “I always tell you where I’ve been.”  She walked to the mini fridge that they shared and pulled out a can of energy drink. 

“Whether I ask or not,” Elizabeth said under her breath. 

“What was that?” Michelle asked.  She took a gulp of her drink and made a disgusted face.  “Why
do I even drink these things?”

“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said.  Her bed was so warm and soft, and sleep was calling to her.  “You know how bad they are for you.” 

Michelle chugged the rest of her drink and let out a huge belch.  “I know, I know, but if I go to sleep now, there’s no way that I won’t sleep through my class.” 

“Well good luck.  I’m going to sleep now.” 

“It’s not fair,” Michelle said.  “When am I ever going to need to know any of this stuff?” 

“At least it’s Friday.” 

Michelle brightened at the thought.  “We should totally party and get totally smashed!” 

“Good night,
Michie,” Elizabeth said.  She rolled over and faced the wall, hoping against hope that her roommate would finally pick up on her signals.

Michelle was never one for subtlety.  “I’
ll see if Lindsey and Emily want to go out, and you can come with us.” 

“Chemistry,” Elizabeth said.  She yawned so widely that she was certain that her head was going to split open.  “Sleep.” 

“Fine, I’ll let you sleep,” Michelle said grumpily.  “But you are going to go out drinking with me tonight.” 

Elizabeth did not respond.  She closed her eyes and let sleep finally overtake her. 

Chapter 3

Elizabeth woke up a few hours later feeling delightfully refreshed.  Michelle must have already gone to breakfast.  Her desk was still strewn with chemistry notes.  Elizabeth smiled fondly at the sight.  She really did like her roommate even though she was always totally unorganized. 

She took an especially long shower that morning, enjoying the hot water running over her stiff muscles.  Hopefully, she would not have to sleep on the ground anytime soon.  It was just too uncomfortable. 

She slipped into a clean shirt and jeans and checke
d her watch.  There was still time for her to get some coffee before class.  As she gathered her books and packed her backpack for the day, she wondered if she should even bother going to class.  She doubted that she would be able to concentrate and absorb anything right now.  Her brain still felt like it was on overload from last night and then this morning with Romulus and the vampires and the crazy visions.  She still couldn’t quite wrap her head around everything that she had seen and heard.  Maybe a strong cup of coffee would help.  It would at least be tasty. 

She was so distracted as she walked towards the campus café that she didn’t even notice him until she had already walked right into him. 

“I’m so sorry!”  He caught her just before she fell; his muscular arms steadied her.  “Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine.  I’m sorry,” she said quickly as she looked up at him.  She wanted to explain that it was all her fault because she hadn’t been paying attention but found herself tongue tied.  She had never considered herself to be one who was particularly b
oy-crazy or easily smitten, that was Michelle’s job, but she found herself immediately drawn to this guy.  He wasn’t that tall, maybe a few inches shy of 6 feet, but he was still a head taller that her.  His dark grey shirt was just tight enough to suggest that underneath her was well toned and fit, but not so tight to leave nothing to the imagination.  There was a solidness to him that made Elizabeth feel comfortable and safe in his arms. 

“Thanks,” she said at last in a breathless voice. 

“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked.  His voice was friendly and concerned, but the way his lips were pressed together in a crooked little smirk suggested that he was trying not to laugh. 

“You can let me go now.”  Elizabeth realized that he was still holding her. 

“Oh, sorry.”  He released her and took a step backwards.  His dark eyes sparkled with amusement. 

“Go ahead and laugh,” Elizabeth said in an effort to ease the awkwardness between them.  “I won’t think any less of you.” 

He bit his bottom lip and looked away in embarrassment.  Elizabeth could not help but chuckle at the sight.  He looked at her and a second later added his own laughter to hers. 

“I’m sort,” he choked out as he vainly tried to stifle his laughter.  “I know it’s mean.” 

Elizabeth shook her head and smiled.  “I said I wouldn’t think any less of you.  I definitely don’t blame you.  That had to have looked hilarious.” 

“Especially the part where you lingered in my ar
ms.”  He gave her a roguish wink and returned her smile with a cockeyed one of his own.  “That was nice.” 

Elizabeth felt heat rise into her cheeks. 

“I’m Chase,” he said. 

“I’m Lizzy,
er Elizabeth that is.”  She was surprised with herself.  Why in the world had she introduced herself as Lizzy at first?  She usually didn’t like when people called her that.  Michelle had been the first person to call her that, and she had only allowed it because she was her roommate. 

“Pretty name for a pretty girl,” Chase said and then winced.  “That sounded creepy didn’t it?” 

Elizabeth nodded. 

“I can’t seem to catch a break.”  He shook his head sadly.  “First I almost run you over and then I creep you out.” 

“It could have been worse.”  Elizabeth tried and failed to hide her amusement.  “But then again, you also laughed at me.” 

“What’s a guy to do?” he said with a dejected sort of shrug.  “I we were near a bar, I’d offer you a drink to make up for it.” 

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.  Was this guy for real?  “It’s barely 10 am.  I’m not actually old enough to drink in a bar, and I don’t think I would accept a drink from a total stranger.” 

Chase threw his hands into the air in surrender.  “I just keep striking out don’t I?” 

Elizabeth giggled.  She felt totally foolish, but there was nothing else that she could do.  She was disarmed by his easygoing personality.  

“I got a laugh though,” Chase said.  His expression brightened.  “That’s got to count for something, right?” 

“Right, Chase,” Elizabeth said.  “It was nice to meet you.”  She began to walk away towards the campus café, but Chase started walk with her. 

“I don’t give up that easily,” he said in response to her questioning glance.  “Plus, I’ve got to make sure that you get to wherever you’re going without another collision.  It’s my duty as a nice guy.
” 

“So now you’re a nice guy?” 

Chase gave her a flirtatious grin.  “Only if you want me to be.” 

Elizabeth rolled her eyes but did not reply. 

“So where are we going?” Chase asked eagerly. 

“
I’m
going to get some coffee and then go to class,” Elizabeth said.  “Where are
you
going?” 

“Where is anyone going in this life?” 

“Getting philosophical now?” 

Chase shrugged.  “Figured I’
d go for the intellectual nice guy who occasionally is inadvertently creepy.” 

“I see.  Well, you do that.” 

They walked in amiable silence for a moment before Chase said, “you could always invite me to get some coffee with you.” 

Elizabeth smiled when she replied.  “I thought that was the nice intellectual guy’s job to ask.” 

“Oh I see how it is.  A bit old fashioned are we, Lizzy?” 

“A bit.  And it’s Elizabeth by the way.” 

“Well, Elizabeth,” Chase said, dragging her name out so it would sound more dramatic.  “May I accompany you to get some coffee?” 

“I don’t see why not,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle. 

“Hurray!” Chase said.  “Let’s go!” 

Chapter 4

The campus café was always crowded in the morning.  Filled to the brim with confused looking freshmen trying to look cool with their shiny laptops, disheveled frat boys and sorority girls needing caffeine to recover from their hangovers, classmates meeting for some last minute studying, but Elizabeth and Chase had managed to find a tiny table in the corner that was just big enough to hold their steaming mugs of coffee.  They had talked flirtatiously all the way to the café about nothing of any significance.  It was strangely soothing to Elizabeth.  She felt like she could disconnect her brain and just relax with this friendly guy. 

“So what are you doing on campus, other than knocking people off their feet?”  Elizabeth asked
. 

“Maybe I’m a student,” Chase replied with a shrug.   

Elizabeth, who had just closed her eyes in lazy enjoyment as she had taken a drink, had to struggle to keep from choking on her coffee. 

“What?” Chase asked.  His teeth flashed as he grinned crookedly at her reaction.  “Don’t I seem like a student?” 

Elizabeth snorted.  “You didn’t even know where the café was.  You kept trying to go in the opposite direction.” 

“Maybe I just transferred.” 

“Oh please, it’s obvious that you’re not a student here or anywhere.” 

“Just too cool to be student, right?”  Chase asked with a knowing look. 

“Nah,” Elizabeth said.  Her eyes glinted mischievously.  “Too old.” 

It was Chase’s turn to almost choke of his coffee.  “Too old?” He said, feigning offense.  “That’s not nice at all.” 

“You’re the nice one, not me,” Elizabeth said.  She tried and failed to suppress a smile.               

“Is this payback for me laughing at you and then hitting on you right away?” 

“And for calling me Lizzy.” 

“But I got you coffee.”  Chase made a ridiculous pouty face. 

Elizabeth giggled.  “Okay, I guess that makes us even.” 

Chase smiled.  They both sat drinking their coffee and watching the steady stream of humanity
coming in and out of the small café.  There were so many people, and yet suddenly Elizabeth felt so alone, isolated from the rest of the world and lost in thought.  No one here would believe her if she told them about the strange things that had happened to her last night.  She had wanted to try forget, even for a little while, that there were things in the world so horrible and wonderful that they defied the imagination, but the more she tried not to think about it, the more she could see Romulus’ eyes burning blue as they looked at her from the inside of her mind.  She could still smell the cold deadly smell that seemed to follow Lord Reginald and Sir Marcus.  What did it all mean?  What was the point of sitting here talking about nothing with a complete stranger surrounded by people who she felt no connection with when there was a completely different world hiding in the shadows?  Suddenly she longed to be alone.  She could hardly wait for the sun set, but at the same time she dreaded the night.  What was wrong with her? 

“What are you thinking about?” Chase snapped her out of her thoughts with his question. 

“I don’t belong here,” Elizabeth said before she could stop herself.  “I don’t know if I really belong anywhere.  It’s like I’m waiting for something to happen, something to change.  Like there’s something wrong with the world that I need to try to fix, but I don’t know what it is.  But then I realize how crazy that sounds.  I’m only a small person in a wide world.  What could I possibly do to make difference?  And where would I even begin?”  She stopped abruptly, her face glowing red.  “I can’t believe that I just told you that.”  She was relieved that she had been able to stop when she had.  Another minute and she would have spilled everything about Lord Reginald and Sir Marcus and Romulus.  And of course he would have thought that she was even crazier than he probably already did.