Fox Ensnared

Part 4

I leave Owen at the door to his next class. I hesitate before brushing my lips against his. It's just a quick peck goodbye, nothing obscene. He smiles and disappears inside. I need to find Uncle Jasper.

I wait outside his office until Mrs. Nightshade leaves. I always thought she and Jasper would make a cute couple, but every time I bring it up, he just changes the subject. I have never seen him date anyone. Maybe he is still waiting on his mate.

She nods at me as she leaves her hands overflowing with papers.

I don't knock or wait for him to notice me. No time for silly etiquette. I shut the door behind me and marched right up to his desk. Jasper is hunched over, reading reports. I notice the SP logo on the top.

He looks up briefly, then goes back to reading. "What did they say?" I blurt out.

Jasper huffs and leans back in his chair. He has a five o'clock shadow and looks especially put out.

"They believe someone employed here killed Nathan Brock."

"Not a student, then?" I exhale.

"No, but they did ask if we had any fox shifters on the payroll. It seems one of the Lions thought they smelled a fox shifter. Did you not use the scented mask I gave you?" Disapproving eyes stare at me.

"I did, but there wasn't much left."

"Damn it, Payton!" Jasper's fist comes down hard on the desk. I hear the wood crack under the force. I don't cower but meet his hard eyes. "It had to be done!" I yell

"Did it have to be done at that moment? Your impatience may have cost you your revenge and the rest of those responsible for getting away with murdering your parents. My best friends."

I didn't respond because he was right; I acted impulsively. "Let's just hope they don't find out we have a student who is also a Fox shifter. In the meantime, best be coming up with a reason you would have been at the illegal black market."

I gasp."What possible excuse would I use?" My mind raced through all the possibilities that wouldn't end up with me in prison.

Jasper smiles. "I don't know, maybe you were just curious, being a fox and all."

I deadpan. "Really.... play the fox card." He stands and walks around his desk. Leans in and whispers, "You're a clever fox. You will come up with something."

I leave Uncle Jasper to his stack of papers and head to my next class. It just so happens that's the class I have with Riven.

The class has already started, and everyone turns to look at me as I enter. "Sorry, I'm late," I mumble and make my way to the only empty desk. Just so happens to be next to Riven. I unceremoniously flop down, making as much noise as possible. I don't look over at him. But my chest feels weird again, and I unconsciously rub at it. I feel those eyes on me again. Burning into the side of my face.

"What? I snap." My head twilts to the side, glowering at him. He is watching my hand claw at my chest with interest.

"Do you have a rash or something?" His eyes never leave my chest.

"A rash, no, I don't." I stop scratching at my chest and look forward.

"You seem to be doing that a lot since you attacked me in the woods." he lowers his voice after the teacher clears his throat in a clear warning to shut up.

"Shh, Mind your business, Bloodmoon."

The rest of the class was creeping by. I didn't pay attention to anything the teacher said. My mind ran through all the explanations to be at the black market in case someone should ask. None of them are good or believable. Thankfully, the teacher dismisses class early, and as I gather my things. Riven slips a note in my bag as he walks by. I am shocked and curious as to what it could say. I know it will be burning a hole in my bag until I have a chance to read it.

Finally, I'm alone in my room. I only have a few minutes before I am supposed to meet Owen. I empty my bag out on my bed and grab the note. I rip it open.

Meet me before the full moon run tonight by the fountain.

It's important.

R.

Is he insane? It's a full moon. The wolves will all be extremely unstable. They would love to chase a fox and rip it apart for fun. Jasper has ordered me to be in my room long before the sun starts to set.

He wants me to die. Maybe he plans on killing me himself.

It is almost dusk, and all the wolves are gathering outside. They are already fighting and making a ruckus. Even Owen is hyped up. We just spent the last hour in my room burning off some of that energy. It was amazing. Owen and I are perfect together. I try not to think about the future since we both have mates out there somewhere. I just want to enjoy the time we have, and who knows, we may never find our mates.

Owen leaves to join the others in the full moon run. He offers to stay with me, but I tell him it isn't necessary.

I wait till all the wolves have left the campus for the forest before I make my way to the fountain. I made sure to bring at least three knives with me. All hidden on my person. If Riven plans to kill me, I plan on killing him first.

I get to the fountain right as the sun disappears completely, turning the sky into a dark purple. I am jumpy and on high alert. I palm my favorite throwing knife in my hand as I wait.

He walks out of the tree line wearing jeans and nothing else. My eyes lower on their own, taking in his muscular physique. Riven Bloodmoon is fine as hell, and he knows it, which I find annoying.

"You came. I wasn't sure you would." His deep voice has my stomach clenching. What is wrong with me? I just left Owen.

"It isn't exactly safe for me out here tonight, so what do you want." My breath comes out way too needy.

Riven smirks and closes the distance between us in two strides with his long legs. I find myself drawn to him, my body swaying forward on its own.

"You feel that?" His voice a whisper on the wind.

"Feel what?" I look into those pale blue eyes and lose myself.

"That pull, the need to be closer. That pain in your chest when we are near each other."

"No." I shake my head. It takes me a moment to grasp what Riven is implying. "it is impossible we are different species. Mates do not cross species ever."

He reaches out and brushes the hair from my face. "That's not entirely true. I have done some research. The bond is different, but it can happen."

I knock his hand away. "Different, how?" This is crazy; he is messing with me.

You feel it, too. My mind screams at me.

"The bond is slower to form; we get a choice."

"My fox can't stand you." I blurt out.

He runs his hands through his hair and sighs. "I just make her uncomfortable. She is scared. Scared of the connection."

"There is no connection!" I am yelling now, but I don't care.

He grabbed me, moving so fast that I didn't have a chance to react. He wraps both his hands around my upper arms and tugs me into his chest. It's a very nice chest.

"Tell me you feel nothing, Payton." Hot breath fans over my face. He smells like rain. My knees grow weak, and if he weren't holding me up, I would collapse at his feet.

I searched his eyes, and he searched mine. He must have found what he was looking for because he leaned down and kissed me. The bond between us went taut. I saw colors I had never seen before. I felt things I had never felt before.

Owen. His sweet face flashed before my eyes.

"NO!" I push against his chest, but he barely moves, just another reminder of how strong he is.

Hurt flashes in his eyes. "You said we had a choice." His eyes narrow, and his lips turn down.

"I can't do this. Stay away from me." I turn and run back into the building. I slam the door and stand with my back against it. Taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. I clawed at my chest. The pain was sharp and too real.

I hear a howl right outside. It is full of grief and remorse. I cover my ears and run up the stairs to my room.