Chapter 2

After giving my mom a hug, pushing my way through the door and putting my bags in the back of Lucas's truck. I turned to him to give my favorite cousin a bear hug. He let go of m and checked me out.

"Wow, look at you . . . Last time I saw you, you were chasing me around with mud pies." He explained. He took one look at my hair and his face lit up. "And what did you do to your hair?" He started tugging on my ends. I've been cutting my hair ever since he died. Just this week I've installed violet and mauve highlights in my short back hair.

"I guess you call this denial. . ." I trailed off pinching one of my violet strands.

"Oh." We both just stood there awkwardly in silence. I hate that we have to be this way. It's unfair for both of us. I should keep my problems to myself.

"We probably should get going." I mumbled walking towards the passenger side.

"Right."

Lucas and I talked about everything we could possibly talk about trying to avoid one conversation I wasn't up for. The only thing that ruined our fun moment was when he asked me, "What are you going to do now?" I don't remember if I answered the question directly but I already know the answer to it. I'm going to face the moon alone.

Mates only come once in a life time, and if the Elders expect me to have a pity mate then they have another thing coming. After I got the message that Trey was murdered by hunters I couldn't even process the thought about living without him. What makes my grandfather think that I'm going to go through my transformation with another shifter?

Once I got to the room that I was staying at I knocked on the door unsure if anyone was inside. "Come on in!" A voiced yelled from inside. I opened the door and walked in on a girl doing her makeup. She had beautiful brown hair and hazel eyes. "You must be Lucas's cousin, Olive."

"Yup, that's me." I murmured. She got up and put her makeup down. "I thought shifters don't wear makeup." I announced putting my bags on a bed close by that was obviously mine.

"Oh, they don't, I just like having long eyelashes. My name-"

"Haden." I interrupted staring at a black letter on my bed. "You can detect people's emotions and your mate is Daniel."

"How did you know that?" she asked.

"My grandfather told me about you. He tells me many things about many shifters. . . Great . . . I got to go talk to the Elders." I muttered that last part under my breath.

"Well they can wait. Why don't you come to lunch with me?"

"Sure. . . Um, do they have none animal related food?" I asked as we got out into the hallway. She looked at me strangely. "I'm vegan." I answered her look before she said anything. Then she smiled at me with understanding features.

"I'm sure we'll find something for you something to eat." She led me down to the cafeteria and it was crowded. She already had a plate made and told me where she was going to be sitting. I was still searching for a good simple salad that didn't have bacon bits, cheese or ham slices. I guess I'll just eat a fruit salad.

Making my way toward the salad bar I bumped shoulders with someone ten times my size . . . well it felt like it. . . I looked up to a boy with very shaggy brown hair and light brown eye's. Instantly my hairs stood up on my back of my neck and fear hit me like lightning. Who the hell is this boy . . . and why is he so frightening?

"Sorry." He grunted and went his way. I couldn't help but stare after him.

"Hey!" I jumped out of my skin. I turned around to find a familiar black haired girl looking at me with blue eyes.

"Brittany!" I gasped. "You scared the living out of me! What did I tell you about that sneaking up? Your too quiet for all that!" I panicked trying to ketch my heart beat. I gave her a hug before picking up a plate of fruit salad.

"Sorry, it was eating me alive." Then she surprisingly slapped me in the arm making my arm throb.

"Ouch!"

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I had to find out at the last moment from Lucas!"

"I'm sorry . . ."

"And what were you doing with Drew?"

"Who?"

"That douche you just bumped into." She answered. I followed her gaze to a window that showed that shaggy haired boy talking to his friends outside.

"Yeah, what's up with him?" I asked starring him down.

"He's a douche." She repeated.

"Other than that." I said a bit agitated.

"He has anger issues and loves to start fights. He tried to start a fight with me in the exercising room once, but then Connor got on his ass," she made a goofy look when she said Connors name. "I don't see how he expects to get a mate with that attitude. . . Can you stop gawking at him?

Once she said that, his eye's found my gaze and I quickly snapped my focus back to her. "Well he said sorry when he bumped into me, so he can't be that bad." I insisted. This time Brittany grabbed my arm with a good grip.

"Stay away from him, Olive. I don't need your heart breaking anymore. You're a wonderful friend and I'm already hearing that your not being yourself." She said in a low voice. I think my eye's started to water because her face turned from a serious to a concern look. "Come on lets go sit down." She said softly.