Page 17 of Heroes & Hitmen
Chairs scrape back, backpacks zip. Everyone floods toward the doors of the lecture hall like they’ve been trapped in here for hours– which we have, sort of. I linger, making no move to join the crowd.
What’s even the point in continuing to attend my classes?
By the end of next week, my life will be unrecognizable. I’ll be in a new city, part of a new pack, and most terrifying of all, I’ll have a new mate.
Elias Burke.
Even the thought of his name makes my skin crawl, the memory of those cold, soulless eyes setting my teeth on edge. Being paired with someone like him feels like a death sentence.
I take my time shoving my laptop and notebooks into my messenger bag, slinging it over my shoulder and heading out with a muttered goodbye to a classmate I barely know. Doubt any of them will notice when I stop showing up for classes. Nine more days, and I’ll disappear from here like a ghost, never to be seen again.
The sun is blinding as I step outside, warm and golden across the quad. I squint into it as I start down the sidewalk, only to freeze mid-step when I catch a familiar figure in my peripheral vision.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Ares is leaning against the brick wall just outside the building with one leg kicked up and his thick forearms crossed casually over his chest, the only person on campus not in a rush to get somewhere. The sunlight hits his hair, turning it a fiery copper, and his dark eyes find mine instantly.
My stomach does an annoyingly traitorous little flip.
He grins and pushes off from the wall, walking toward me with the kind of slow, confident swagger that should be illegal.
“Hey Miley,” he drawls, eyes flickering over my form appreciatively.
I don’t return the greeting, frowning back at him. “What are you doing here, Ares?”
“Thought maybe you’d want to grab lunch between classes,” he says, like it’s a totally normal thing for someone I barely know to suggest.
My brow lifts. “Who says I’m not already late for my next class?”
“Because I sweet-talked the Registrar’s office into giving me a peek at your schedule,” he replies, smirking like he’s proud of himself.
I blink. “Youwhat?”
“Told them I was your boyfriend,” he shrugs. “Said I was planning a big surprise for you.”
My mouth falls open. “You lied to a university department and got them to give you my private information?” I scoff disbelievingly.
His smirk deepens. “Don’t worry. I wasverycharming.”
My lip twitches with reluctant amusement. “I’m going to have a verylongconversation with them about releasing student info tostalkers,” I mutter, pivoting away from him and starting down the sidewalk.
“C’mon,” Ares laughs, catching up quickly and falling into step beside me. “I went through all that trouble, the least you could do is agree to let me take you to lunch.”
“No.”
“Coffee?”
“Still no.”
His eyes flick toward me, a playful smile creeping across his lips. “There’s this cupcake place two blocks over…”
I hesitate.
Dammit.
He sees it, that cocky grin spreading across his face in full force.
I tighten my grip around the strap of my messenger bag, an irritating swoop of something fluttering in my stomach, like my instincts haven’t yet figured out how to override the responses they should be hard-wired to ignore.
