Chapter 4 - Troy

~Alice’s Point of View~

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to get comfortable. Unable to turn my mind off. What the hell was happening to me?? I never spend this much brain power obsessing over a male. A male that was far beneath me at that. But seeing him fresh from a run, hot and sweaty, his perfectly sculpted inked body on display…

No! Stop it! You would think a male like that would be all over me. Why hadn’t he at least flirted with me? Even if he had a girlfriend surely I was the better choice. Oh Alice what are you saying?!

My body needed something ... it was desperate to be fulfilled in some way. There was only one thing I could think to do and I hated it but I figured I was entitled to some indulgence after my long run.

I soon found myself at the kitchen counter with half a tub of ice cream gone. I finally shoved it away in disgust. If I couldn’t get him off my mind I’d become a heifer and really blow my chances with Colton. Colton! Yes, that was the answer to this awful debacle. I’d see him and steer my body in that direction. 

My brain went right to work, carefully planning my hostile takeover of Colton’s social life. I’d wanted to do it anyhow but now things would need to be fast tracked.

The next morning I was at the registrar’s office bright and early with donuts … this wasn’t my first rodeo. 

“Oh Mrs. Emerson, you're looking just adorable today! Looks like someone bought a new dress,” I said, baiting her. 

“Ohh aren't you sweet as ever Alice! Why yes I did happen to get a haircut and a new dress. Can you believe my husband didn’t even notice,” she said, her lip quivering. I grinned, this was too easy.

“Now that is not acceptable! You’re going to go home tonight and flip that hair at him, shake your hips a little and let him know what he’s missing,” I winked, shoving her favorite donuts forward.

“You’re right! I’ll make darn sure he notices me,” she beamed, taking a donut.

“Good, now if you wouldn’t mind helping me out I found a jacket belonging to Colton Whilshire and I’d love to get it back to him. Would you be a doll and get me his schedule and house assignment,” I said, giving her my puppy dog eyes.

“Well, I shouldn’t you know… but maybe just between us gals okay,” she blushed.

“Of course! You’re really a lifesaver you know,” I said, lightly touching her arm.

Well this was too easy. After a quick ass kissing session with my advisor I was off to find my dream mate. I wandered into the building for his class and found him in a sitting area cozy with a female. Ohhh no you don’t miss thing! I straightened my spine and took a deep breath.

“Colton, darling! How was your summer,” I said, gleefully as possible. 

I extended my hand and he looked at me with surprise but he reached for it. He was a gentleman, he couldn’t refuse. Once I had him in my grasp I pulled it firmly, and he rose to his feet. 

“Alice hey,” he said, a bit confused. 

We weren’t exactly friends but our parents certainly were and that was good enough. I began to walk and forced my arm into his, and neither of us looked back at the female who was likely pissed off.

I needed to touch him, I needed to feel his warmth. My body needed it, and I needed his body to need mine. My sexual frustration was so close to the surface I was close to getting a vibrator.

“Do you have geography now? So do I,” I said, having just been able to shuffle my schedule around.

“I do, what a coincidence,” he said, still a bit stunned from my brazen act.

“Maybe we could catch up, then get lunch afterwards,” I said, turning to look him in the eye.

“Oh I was uhm…” he trailed off, fully taking me in.

I had on my favorite low cut top and my equally favorite push up bra that made my girls look their best. I stroked his arm for a little encouragement. 

“Yeah we can get lunch, sure,” he said, licking his lips. 

We entered the class and I sat next to him, his eyes staying on me the entire time. I had on a sinfully short skirt that showed off my tan legs and heels that were definitely ones you want to keep on for a roll in the sheets.

If I’ve learned anything from years of watching my father wheel and deal not only in boardrooms but in meetings over drinks, it's that you have to have a strong plan of attack, it’s crucial to plan. That, followed by a firmer execution and an unyielding persona that says you are absolutely not fucking around. You are here … to win.

I was more than willing to bet Colton had already long forgotten about the stupid redhead in the lobby. I cut my eyes low at him as the teacher began the lesson and sure enough, he was still staring at my flawless legs. I quickly crossed them toward him and I could swear I heard a groan. Oh yeah. I’ve still got it.

After class I got separated from Colton and I was furious over it. He insisted on talking to some male about sports things and when I came out of the ladies room he was gone. I went into full beast mode, this time maybe I needed even more of a blunt approach. By the time I managed to shove my way through the bustling crowd I found him in the mess hall at a full table of males. They even had a football they were tossing back and forth.

“Whoa Alice! Hey baby looking good,” a male said, whistling. 

Ugh, Dustin “Dough” Davenport. Wealthy, good family pedigree, scum bucket. He made my skin crawl.

“Dough boy, you’ll never change,” I said, just as my eyes met with Troy’s. Why in the hell was he at this table? And right at the moment of all moments?! 

*Hm, I like that one. He’s very strong and a good hunter,* my wolf said, perking up from nowhere. 

I hardly ever shifted, maybe a few times a year, I didn’t have time. For the few days after she gets to stretch her legs she decides to invade my thoughts and push her agenda. I couldn’t let that happen. Wolves didn’t care about human situations and that wasn’t my problem. I did all I could to push her away and keep her in the dark where she belonged.

Breathe, breathe, think fast. 

My body moved on its own. 

Desperate times, desperate measures. I walked right to Colton’s side and he looked at me curiously. Without a word I dropped into his lap and put my wrists around his neck, refusing to look at anyone but him. He needed to know, well they all needed to know I was his, and this was me absolutely staking my claim. 

“You didn’t save me a seat,” I said, pulling him close and putting my cheek against his. 

He gave a nervous laugh and I heard several chairs moving, people were leaving. Excellent. I wanted him alone. 

“Guys you don’t have to go,” Colton said, flustered.

By the time I looked back up they had all left. Good, at least that dirty beast was gone and now I could focus. 

“Look Alice I don’t know what you heard but I’m really not looking to get into anything right now,” he said. 

He abruptly stood, lifting me and depositing me in a chair. He sat back down. Heard? Heard what? Did I miss something? I always knew all the gossip, all of the happenings when it came to what mattered to me. Last year he had been dating some were-panther from Europe but they barely knew each other. Everyone knew his parents were forcing him into it.

“I don’t know what you mean. I just, really like you Colton. I always have and we only have one year left of school so why wait? We owe it to each other to see where this could go,” I said, touching his hand.

He laughed out loud and my face immediately got hot, furious. He was laughing at me? Who the hell did he think he was?!

“Alice sweetie you’re a doll okay? Yeah our parents are old friends but we both know there’s nothing here. If there was, we'd have been dating already. I’m not going to mate someone just because it's what my parents want, because the girl has the right last name or bank account. I’m holding out,” he said, getting to his feet. 

I jumped up, putting my hands on his chest. 

“How can you say that? You haven’t even given me a proper chance,” I said, immediately feeling pathetic. 

“It’s just not there honey okay? I mean we can hang out sometime but as friends, that’s all we’ll ever be. My wolf says you’re not the one,” he said, walking away. 

His wolf says?! He’s going to let some stupid four legged hairball dictate his life?? I practically flew out of the dining hall and marched back to my house. I threw open the door and the moment I saw Miranda I lost it. I'd literally never … never been rejected.