A/N: This chapter is the other chapter by the O.A. Again, I did make changes from the original. But I only made changes I felt were necessary to have the first 2 chapters flow into the rest of the story. The vast majority of this chapter is still hers. It is short, I will try to get up chapter 3 this weekend.

Aria's body shuddered with a disturbingly unfamiliar feeling. This man, this strange man, was the same black wolf she had seen some eight hours ago in the density of the Rosewood Pines.

"Hello, handsome boy. What you look for 'round here? I've not seen you before!" Maddie exclaimed. The man smiled. Aria was staring quite hard. She sniffed the air for his scent, but Maddie always had heavy incense wafting around her store. He might not even realize another lykoi was present, she couldn't see his eyes.

He was dressed smartly in a tailored pair of gray, linen slacks, a crisp shirt with lovely lavender hues that, oddly, matched Aria's blouse, and a gray linen vest to match. His thick, black hair in boyish curls around his strong face and jaw. "I'm new to the area and hear tell you cater to the needs of a . . . special few?" mortal, non-lycanthropic daughter born to a Haitian pack leader? It led many to question her true lineage, but she had earned her reputation as an expert on Wolves and a practitioner of Vodun.

"I thought 'dose eyes looked familiar. You de boy of-"

"Yes" the man looked down, jaw clenched and obviously agitated by something. "My name is Ezra." 'What a beautiful name,' Aria thought. "I hate to be so brash, but I'm in quite a hurry and need a moonstone. In the form of a man's ring would be best."

Maddie quickly produced a gorgeously crafted platinum band centered with a large black moonstone and a smaller offset white moonstone that looked to be worth several thousand dollars. It looked like something a king of a world that didn't really exist would wear. It was far too . . . fantastical. Ezra pondered it. "You . . .?"

"Aye," Maddie smiled. "Your papa were a dear friend of mine in our youths. I'll spare you dah details of how dis came into my possession but now you come 'round here . . . fine time it be in yours, you think?" She placed it in his hand, closing it with her small, brown hands. "Now, go do what's got you busy, boy. Be not a stranger if yeh know what's best for ya." She winked as he smiled a departing glance.

Aria exhaled, realizing for the first time that she had been holding her breath. "Who . . . who is he?"

Maddie's smile dropped. "Don't be so nosy, you. Don't you have school or sumpin?"

Aria blushed and handed Maddie a fifty for the earring, which she pushed away. "Take it, baby. A present for dah boy. Go buy yourself some a dat Sephora you be so in love with," she chuckled, leaning over to kiss Aria on the cheek and all but pushing her out the door.

Eight minutes and two Kidneytheives songs later, Aria skipped up the steps of Rosewood High, half of her caramel macchiato still left. She needed her calcium strong to head into the next few days. Her three beautiful best friends were huddled by her locker, waiting. "Hey, baby cakes, why are you so late?" Hanna smiled.

"Starbucks calling" Aria laughed nervously. Even these three girls, who she could honestly say she trusted with her life didn't know her secret. It was beyond dangerous.

"Wellllll," Hanna continued. "We're all eagerly awaiting the unveiling of our new English teacher."

"Yeah, and Hanna has ten bucks that he's blonde." Spencer snorted.

Emily scoffed, "Like twenty-something blonde guys even know what books are, let alone want to teach an English class." Spencer and Emily both cracked-up.

"Yeah . . . unless he's smarter than the average bear and is strolling for some young pu-"

"Hanna!" Aria swatted her overly sexual bestie. Hanna just giggled and grabbed Aria around the shoulders as they all entered what was formerly known as Mrs. Mulligan's Senior AP Lit classroom.

"So, how is Jason?" Emily asked. Aria smiled, thinking of her mate.

"He's good, staying busy." Aria was always very vague when it came to Jason. The fewer details she gave them, the better.

All of a sudden, a powerful tremor ran through Aria's body. Her petite nose wiggled, and she turned quickly, leaning into the scent before she could realize what she was doing. Her big eyes landed on the cause of the reaction. The same strange man, Ezra, stood in the doorway of the classroom. He inhaled sharply, returning the same unusual behavior as Aria. After what seemed an eternity deep blue eyes found large hazel eyes, and his gaze nearly knocked her backward, it was so powerful. Thousands of images raced through Aria's mind. A large, black wolf and its small silver counterpart chasing, running and morphing into two naked, beautiful, human beings. A portrait of physical and emotional passion. An indescribable sense of unity. In the blink of an eye, everything had changed.

True love, baby, just can't kill it. Chapter 3 is Ezra's and it will show this same moment from his perspective. Chapter 3 onward is all mine and it is still very much a work in progress. Please review, please review. Every time a review is written, somewhere a sex scene is created. And you really, really want to see what I have planned, trust me. Blessings to all.