Page 3 of Confusing Hearts

“Wow, this is, well, kind of cool. I’ve been excited to meet other kinds of shifters, just wasn’t sure my sister was going to let me out of her sight long enough to make any friends here. Ayanna can be a little, well, okay—I’m not really sure how to describe her without it sounding horrible.”

I laughed. “Ayanna is your sister? Like real sibling sister or sorority sister?”

She sighed. “My real sister.”

“Wow, it must really suck to be you.”

She grinned. “You have no idea. So, what are you doing out here anyway? I was just getting ready to go for a run.”

“As was I. Want to join me?”

“A wolf? You want a panther to run with a wolf?”

“I promise not to eat you, and I’ll even go slowly enough for you to keep up.”

“In your dreams, dog-boy!”

I wasn’t sure why, but I turned away from her when I stripped out of my shorts and shifted. She was still in human form, staring at me in shock. She put her hand out like one would when meeting a stray dog. I quirked my head to the side.

“What? I’ve never seen a wolf this close before. Okay, I’ve never seen a wolf in real life before. You’re all black, just like me.” I nodded and finally gave in and walked towards her outstretched hand. “Wow, your fur is so soft, too. Okay, so turn away or go over there or something while I change. I can’t believe you just stripped right in front of me like that. Clearly dogs have no sense of civility.”

I laughed, and she jumped. I had no doubt it sounded creepy coming through my wolf. I ran a short distance away, and keeping my back to her, I waited for her to shift. My heightened animal ears let me easily track her even without seeing her.

I was surprised to find she was as large as my wolf. I nodded my head towards the woods and took off. She easily kept pace with me. When we heard movement approaching, she disappeared into the treetops.That is definitely not something a wolf could do,I thought.

Recognizing a small pack of my brother wolves running with Matt in his jaguar form, I nodded and barked, then joined them on their run. Anita would find her way back home, of that I was certain.

Jenna

Chapter 2

Half my closet was strewn across my bedroom. It was my first day of classes and I had no idea what to wear. I had never been allowed to meet anyone outside the family and panther community, and an occasional jaguar or other big cat. My parents had kept my sister and me close to them. Even my old school had been only panthers in every class.

I was just a kitten when the panthers organized. Felines were already at a disadvantage because of our loner personalities. We didn’t run in packs or even prides, like the lions, but as our numbers dwindled, particularly the black panthers, we banded together and formed our own unit. My father was the king and my sister and I were considered the princesses.

It wasn’t easy growing up as part of the royal family. While Tessa had rebelled starting in our early teen years, I had never even considered it. I was the epitome of the good girl. It was exhausting at times. I just wanted to be me, and sometimes I wasn’t even sure who that was.

When I had applied to Archibald Reynolds College, it was the only act of rebellion I had ever displayed. I hadn’t considered Daddy would send Tessa and relocate our entire sorority to the other side of the United States just because I wanted to attend a different school. I tried not to resent them all. It wasn’t their fault. When the king issued a command, everyone followed. That’s just the way it was.

I finally settled on a pair of jeans and a dark-green shirt. I grabbed my backpack, shoving my new books inside, and stepped out into the hallway. Tessa was there. I stared at her, noticing she had on nearly the exact same thing, like my own reflection in the mirror staring back at me.

“Dammit, Tess. Now I have to change.”

“You don’t have time, we’re going to be late for our first class,” she scolded.

“Wait, we’re in the same class?”

She shrugged. “Daddy’s really worried about you, Jenna. He wants me to keep an eye on you.”

I sighed, knowing it was pointless to argue. We headed across campus to our first class. I was excited despite the bomb my sister had dropped on me.

“Wait, I have calculus this morning, Tessa. How did you even get in the class?” I loved my sister, but Tessa wasn’t exactly known for her brains. I had always been a nerd. I loved learning and got good grades. Tessa, well, she liked to cook, play sports, and was a phenomenal singer. Basically, she hated all core classes, and only excelled in the electives in high school.

She grinned back at me. “I’m pretty much banking on you doing all the work for us in this class.”

“Tess, I can’t take two tests at the same time.”

“Why not? It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”

---