Page 11 of Confusing Hearts

“You sure?” I challenged. “Those kittens are starting to grow on me.”

“Oh please, you couldn’t even name two of them.”

“Anita and Tessa. There’s also Ayanna, but she really doesn’t like me.”

We both laughed. “Anita’s sweet, I can see why you’d know her, but Tessa? Tessa Lockhardt? Way out of your league, my man. She’d eat you for dinner.”

I looked at him seriously and shrugged. “Actually, we have several classes together. She seems nice.” I tried to keep it as casual as I could muster. Nice was definitely not a word fitting of Tessa Lockhardt.

Matt pointed across the bar and I turned to see a group of dark haired ladies. In the middle was my raven beauty. Her long, sleek, straight black hair stood out from the others, and when she turned, beautiful violet eyes stared back at me, but she had a look of confusion, even more than I had seen that morning when we had first officially met.

It felt like a wall had gone up between us and my wolf growled in my head. It was freaking me out, but Matt was watching me closely, so I slowly nodded.

I wasn’t fully engaged in conversation from then on, but Matt was too self-absorbed to notice. Lunch ended, and I paid the bill just as Tessa was leaving. I said a quick goodbye and ran to catch up to her.

“Hey, Tessa,” I yelled.

She turned, surprise in her eyes. “Hey, it’s Chase, right?”

Ouch. That sucked. I suppose the signs I had seen and felt earlier were only in my head.

“Yeah. Hey, about the graphic design assignment due next week. If you need any help, just give me a call.”

I handed her my business card with my contact information and grinned wide enough to pop out my dimples. I knew the ladies loved them, and always used them to my advantage. Tessa melted just a little and I was relieved to see I wasn’t entirely going crazy.

“Thanks,” she said, motioning towards the card in her hand.

“Tessa, come on,” her friends yelled from a car at the corner.

“Gotta go,” she said, and then she was gone.

I stood there wondering what had just happened. It was Tessa, my Tessa, but everything felt so wrong. I was losing my mind. I had been planning to go for a run after lunch, but instead headed straight home. I needed to talk things through with someone who wouldn’t just laugh in my face.

The walk across campus helped clear my head some. I let myself in the house and was glad to find it quiet for once. I headed to my room and plopped down on the bed after tossing my backpack on my desk.

Hitting the silencer button on the dampener my oldest brother, Kyle, had given me as a graduation present to help with the noise of dorm life, and later fraternity living, I picked up the phone and dialed my other brother’s number. Liam was four years older than me, but we had always been close, and I respected his opinion. Plus, he was the least gossipy of all my siblings.

I was the youngest of five. My father had been Alpha of the Westin Pack until an injury had passed powers on to my oldest brother Kyle. Fortunately, with a little help from Kyle’s mate, Kelsey, Dad had made a full recovery.

I called my brother on his cell, even though I knew he would still be in the office at that time of day. His secretary, Christine Canine, liked to talk and I wasn't in the mood for her chit-chat.

“Hey little brother, what's up?” Liam answered after only one ring. “Not like you to call in the middle of the day. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, sure. You busy?”

“Never too busy for you. Hold on one second.” I heard him lay down the cell and speak. “Chris, hold all my calls till I say otherwise . . . yeah . . . okay . . . thanks.” Then he returned to me. “You never call this time of day. What's wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong. Can't a guy just call his brother without it being a big deal?” I suddenly wasn't sure I wanted to confide in him.

“No, so spill it.”

I opened my mouth to tell him again there was nothing wrong, but everything just came pouring out. “I met this girl, and we sort of connected. It feels like I'd imagine finding a mate would feel, but she's not a wolf, Liam, and I'm not sure she feels the same. Then one minute I'm certain, this is my mate, and then I see her again and it's like, nothing. I mean nothing, nothing. I spent all morning with the girl, and my wolf was acting all possessive and content at the same time, then we ran into each other at lunch and she acted like she barely knew me, and it pissed off my wolf so now I feel like I'm losing my freaking mind!”

I expected my brother to laugh, but he didn't. “Why do you think she's your mate? What are you feeling?”

“Seriously? You want to talk feelings?”

“Do you want my advice or not?”

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