Page 2 of As The Shifter World Turns

He quirked a brow. “You're not sure?”

“No.” I stood up straight. “It is Monday.”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Cool. I’m going to be late for class.” He stared at my belongings on the sidewalk. “Need help with those?”

“Thanks.” I slung the messenger bag over my shoulder and heaved the pack on my back. “I’ll ride the bike to work, but the rest of the stuff can go into the apartment.” If he was late for class, he should be hotfooting off to college, but he still had his arm slung around Ryder’s shoulder.

“Ryder?”

“Yeah,” the guy responded.

“You take the suitcase and I’ll carry the box.”

“No, he took the suitcase.” Ryder’s voice faltered.

“Hey man, look at me.” Daire placed his hands on either side of Ryder’s face. “The new tenant in 3A. Archer.”

Ryder’s glazed eyes focused on me. “Oh hi. You’re new here. I’m Ryder.”

“Archer.” His firm grip was a contrast to his slumped shoulders and vacant expression. Maybe that was an alpha stag thing. Daire had mentioned Ryder was a stag shifter when he’d given me the tour. I’d never met a stag and my wolf was distinctly unimpressed, though he was pleased Daire was an omega and a grizzly.

The bear shifter had pointed to all the apartments when he’d shown me around, and named everyone. He’d recited them like a kid doing times tables.

He and Ivor lived in the large apartment 1A on the first floor. Ryder and Kellan in 2A, though that was outdated now. Neil, his old school friend, was in 2B. The third floor was me in 3A and a guy named Micah in 3B.

Daire handed Ryder the suitcase, and after I locked the bike to the fence, I followed the omega and alpha up two flights of stairs.

We dumped the stuff inside my new apartment and Daire handed me the keys. “I’ll buy you a beer one night as a thank you,” I told them. “But I have to get going. First day at work.”

“We have weekly barbecues on the roof, so how about we have a welcome to Sunshine Manorone tonight? My treat. No need to bring anything.” Daire jerked his head at Ryder, who was standing in the middle of my living room looking lost. “What do you say, Ryder?”

“Yeah, sure,” the alpha mumbled.

As the three of us emerged from my apartment, the door to 3B opened andI caught a whiff of the most delicious scent. It hit me in the chest, knocking the breath out of me, and I stumbled backward onto Daire.

“Whoa! You okay?” he asked.

No, my wolf said.

I hiccuped as a man, an alpha, definitely an alpha, emerged through the 3B door. He was probably going to work, though he wasn’t wearing a suit. Smart casual was how I’d describe the way he was dressed. A navy jacket, open-necked shirt, and dark pants.

Even though I judged him to be in his mid-30s, his jaw was covered in salt and pepper scruff. I had to restrain myself from stalking over to him, inhaling his aroma, and licking him.

Go, my wolf told me.

No.I was shy, retiring Archer, the omega who got his assignments in long before the due date and stayed after class to pester the professor with questions.

And today I was starting my new job, and I intended to be there when the front door was unlocked. I didn’t swoon over alphas, particularly ones at least ten years older than me who were glowering at me.

“Micah, great timing.” Daire either ignored the alpha’s death stare or it didn’t register, just like him being late to class didn’t bother him. I’d be freaking out if that were me. “This is Archer, your new neighbor.”

Micah grunted and locked his door. “Student?” He sniffed, eyeing my bulging messenger bag.

“No. I have a job. Personal assistant,” I said proudly.

Another grunt. “I like my sleep, so no loud parties. And keep the hallway tidy.”

“Barbecue on the roof tonight, Micah,” Daire said as he skipped down the stairs.

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