Wolf Girl (Wolf Girl #1) - Leia Stone Page 0,18

her resemblance to Sawyer. “I hope my cousin picks you. My aunt and uncle will have a heart attack.”

“Gee, thanks.” I grabbed my brush and ran it through my long damp hair. “Trust me. This is a charity case, and after last night he won’t be picking me.”

Sage took the brush from me and started to detangle the back while I threw on lip gloss and mascara.

“Keep telling yourself that. If anything, last night sealed the deal.”

Her words stayed with me all the way to the dining hall. Last night had been intense, the way Sawyer grabbed the scruff of my wolf’s neck and commanded her to shift. I’d felt the alpha power wash over me, something he and his father both had. I trusted him. I could tell he was trying to protect me. He’d said he was going to look into this, but something told me he already knew what it all meant, he knew how I could shift like that but he wouldn’t tell me, which meant it was really bad.

We waited in the food line and I grabbed an omelet and some toast. All of the food was really fancy, buffet style, and at the end of the line I just swiped my little keycard and it was paid for.

So weird.

When we were done, Sage scanned the tables and that’s when I saw him.

Sawyer.

Sitting with Meredith.

Eugene was standing a few feet from the table, and a line of five or six girls had lined up behind him, writing their name on a clipboard.

Oh my God. Were they … lining up to eat with him?

“That’s disgusting,” I observed as Sage started to weave through the tables.

She followed my gaze. “Oh, get used to it. Sawyer needs to pick a wife by the end of the year or he can’t inherit the alpha position.”

My eyes widened. “Really? They force him to get married?”

Sage shrugged. “They strongly encourage him to pick a mate who will bear strong children.” She winked.

Gross. What a weird society, but clearly, from the looks of the other girls waiting to have five minutes with him, it was totally normal. I wondered if I’d grown up here, if I would think it was normal too.

I realized too late that she was heading for their table.

“No, I don’t want to—”

Sawyer looked up from his conversation with Meredith and saw me walking behind Sage. His eyes roamed up and down my body and my cheeks warmed. Sage plopped her tray right next to Meredith and took a seat.

“Hey, cuz.” She pulled a piece of fruit from his plate and popped it in her mouth. He reached over and used his hand to rough up her hair, which caused her to growl and swat at him.

Meredith looked at Sage with annoyance. “Still acting like you guys are twelve, I see.” I stood there like an idiot, clutching my tray and looking for an open seat at another table when he spoke.

“Demi, sit next to me.” Sawyer patted the open bench beside him and Meredith froze. Her back was to me, and I didn’t think she realized I was there.

Not wanting to make a scene, I strode forward, passed the line of girls who now wanted to murder me, and set my tray next to Sawyer.

“Sleep okay?” He looked over at me as he chewed on a piece of bacon. His dark hair was slicked into a perfect quaff and he looked freshly shaven.

No. Not at all. You saw me naked and I’m a freak. “Yeah.” My voice cracked as I nervously picked up a piece of toast.

“Carbs?” Meredith asked as she watched me take a bite of the bread. “Someone doesn’t want to fit into their gala dress,” she said with a snicker.

Fur rippled down my arms, then Sawyer’s hand snaked out under the table and clenched my bare thigh, immediately subduing my wolf.

Holy shit, I almost shifted.

I was so used to having those cuffs on and having to push my wolf out so hard that I nearly shifted from a stupid comment. I needed to get myself under control.

Meredith looked at my once hairy arms and rolled her eyes. “She’s like a wolf pup who can’t control herself.”

“So,” Sage interrupted, looking right at Sawyer. “I heard you two were found naked in the woods together last night?” Sage looked from Sawyer to me, grinning, and caused Meredith’s mouth to pop open in shock.

“Sage,” Sawyer growled, but was that a grin on his lips?

Meredith stood. “I think my