Chapter 2:
“I have to feel instant attraction to my roommate, unlike anything I have felt before, but he is not only straight, but a player!”-Remington
Remington
10 years ago, Moving in Day at Calliope University:
“I’m just going across town to the university, mom. I’ll be fine, but part of the whole college experience is being on my own and living in the dorms,” I snort and roll my eyes.
She is always babying me. I think she feels bad that I didn’t shift like my brother and don’t have either full fae powers or any shifter abilities, but I’ll live with it. Sure, sometimes other kids have teased me, but we live in a large and diverse city where I am hardly the only hybrid around. I’m just the only werewolf/fae hybrid who I know that doesn’t either have full shifter abilities, full fae abilities or a little of both.
“Are you sure that you’ll be okay? Dorms can be rowdy, loud and dangerous,” Mom frets.
“Living in the dorms is essential to the college experience and growing independence of our son, besides, like the boy said, he is only on the other side of the city,” Dad intervenes.
I really need to thank Dad for that. Sure, I am only on the other side of the city, but it can take two hours or more by car, or 30 minutes by underground express train to cross the city (express trains run twice a day and the trip non express takes twice as long).
“Alright, but if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call your father or I,” Mom says, kissing my brow far too long as she squishes me against her petite frame.
That is another thing I inherited from my mother, a smaller stature than my werewolf brother and father.
“Mom, I need to breathe,” I groan. “I’m not leaving the country. Campus is literally the same train stop as Dad’s office.”
“I know, but your father isn’t On The Edge at night,” Mom says with eyes full of worry.
The Edge is not just the edge of the city, but the edge of The Yearlish Chasm. Our college campus is partially built into the cliffs of the canyon. There are rumors of Vampires and other flying shifters who are cannibalistic swooping through the darkness of the canyon at night, but the campus night guard assure us there hasn’t been any activity like that in over a hundred years and the only account they know of was a Vampiric student who was just trying to stretch his wings in the moonlight. Not all Vampires fly or have wings, there are specific breeds with that ability and they are rare.
“I’ll be safe in my dorm room, or only go out in groups, if that helps any, Mom,” I sigh and smooth her hair back.
“Besides, I went to the same University which is why I moved here and built my business here. The Edge has a unique nightlife and a vibe unlike anywhere else in North Yearls,” Dad says confidently, winking at me.
“As long as you are sure you will be safe, Remi,” Mom says.
She didn’t fuss this much over Fredrick going to university six years ago, but he has shifter abilities and she hadn’t suffered the loss of two miscarriages before his conception.
“Felicity, let the boy go. I’ll help him carry the last of his belongings to his car and see him off. We can visit during parent’s weekend and he can always come home if needed,” Dad chuckles and mom finally releases her viper grip on me.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say, ten minutes later, as he shuts the trunk of my car after rearranging the boxes to fit more securely.
“No problem, Son. These will be some of the best years of your life, but you can always call if you need anything,” Dad replies before patting me on the back and allowing me to start the trek across the city.
Little did I know what awaited me in the dorms.
“Room #303 in the Aberforth Building, Sunset Wing,” I mutter to myself as I pull into the parking area nearest my dorm.
It’s the western most dormitory and on the south side looks out over The Yearlish Chasm. I enter on the ground level and go to the front desk to present my room assignment.
“Elevators are over there. Here is your room pass, just scan it in the elevator after pressing your floor number and then scan your door pad to unlock it,” the bored looking shifter behind the desk says with an assessing and judgemental expression. “Good luck!”
I wonder what that means.
The elevator takes me up to floor 3 and opens directly across from room 315. I look to either side and turn right, following the numbers lower until I reach the corner suite…room 303, tight next to Room 301, which says “R.A.” in bold letters. Great right next to the Resident Assistant!
I scan my keycard and I know this is why this school is my school of choice, this technology was developed right here on campus years ago, so naturally they are one of the most high tech schools in the country.
I freeze when I step through the door and right in front of me is the most gorgeous, charismatic Alpha werewolf I have ever seen.
“Hey, I’m Cassidy Williams! My friends back home call me Cass,” he says with a wink that sends all kinds of signals south and I have to stop myself from drooling while using the box in my arms to hide my hardon.
“I can help ya with that! I’m already settled in,” he continues offering to take my box when I don’t respond right away. “You must be Remington. We each have a welcome packet with our name on the coffee table. I was just gettin’ ready to open mine, but I can help you and we can open them together.”
“Sure, Cass…um, which room did you take?” I ask.
“I took the room to the left, thinking you might like the corner since it has windows both to the south and the west,” he says. “It says here you are half fae and I can see that in your ears and face. The only fae I ever met were big on plants, so I thought the light would be good for your plants.”
How thoughtful! I am more into technology, but I do have mom’s green thumb and love of houseplants. As a matter of fact, one thing I am interested in is the electronic like way plants and myco-organisms communicate through their root systems. I think their pathways are similar to electronic pathways or neural-connections. But that is a hobby.
“Thank you for thinking of my needs,” I reply with a voice that I hope isn’t as breathy and lovestruck as I feel.
I want to appear cool in front of this guy, not like a complete love struck geek.
“So, I hope you don’t mind me having girls by, but I kind of have a really active libido,” he chuckles.
Fuck. My. Life.
I have to feel instant attraction to my roommate, unlike anything I have felt before, but he is not only straight, but a player!