Chapter 1

The drive to ASU is a little long, but we really don’t mind. We spend the time on the way there studying for tests or reading chapters. If the driver of the day needs to read something, one of us will read it for them. Today, I was driving and I forgot to read my chapters for psych class. Considering this was a serious class that I really want to ace, I asked Micah to read the chapters for me. As he was reading, Zach and Alex chose to keep quiet. By the time the chapters were read, and I verbally answered the questions at the end of each chapter, we were almost at the campus. I asked the guys, “Anyone need to stop and get snacks or anything before we get there?” Alex nodded, “I do. I’m already hankering for a honey bun.” I shook my head, “You are crazy. Would you get me an unsweetened tea while you’re there?” He nodded on the way in and I grabbed a packet of Splenda out of the center console. Micah laughed, “You really are prepared for everything.” I shrugged, “We spend a lot of time in our vehicles. We have to be prepared for everything.” Micah nodded in agreement and asked, “So how are you going to get the Splenda in the bottle?” I smiled, “Just wait and see.”

When Alex came back to the car, he handed the bottle to me and I ripped the packet open and held the entire opening of the packet inside the bottle to make sure I got all of the powder into the bottle. I replaced the lid and shook the bottle violently. Micah laughed, “Damn, is the violence necessary?” I laughed, “I’m just imagining it’s Zach’s neck.” Micah and Alex laughed as Zach’s jaw dropped after he whined, “Hey! That’s not nice, sis. You better watch your back in trig today.” I laughed, “You will sit in front of me or I will smack you upside the head in front of everyone.” Zach hates being slapped like that with a passion, and I knew it. Zach sighed, “I will sit in front of you.”

It just so happened that my first class was trigonometry. When Zach walked in with an arm over the shoulders of a little brown-haired girl, I raised my eyebrows at him and mind linked, “Is this your mate?” He linked, “Nah. She’s just arm candy. No worries, sis.” I chuckled, “Just behave and pay attention.” He laughed, “Of course.” I tried to concentrate on the lecture while I kept getting links from my brother. Nothing important, just annoying noises. I finally shut him out of the link and shook my head. I can’t deal with the distraction. I will not be distracted from reaching my goal of becoming a doctor like my Grandma Gabi. I want to be able to treat all species and humans. That is why I’m attending a human college. I will follow it up by shadowing Grandma Gabi for a couple years, then the doctor in the werebear kingdom for an equal amount of time. It will mean a little longer to get my license, but at least I would be able to treat any kind of injury on any species in front of me.

During my first break, I told my brothers in our sibling link, “I’m stopping at my advisor’s office. I’ll let you know when I’m done.” I shut down the link before they could ask me why and I knocked on the door. I heard a voice from the other side, “Come in!” I walked in and found a short, middle-aged woman with her black hair in a ponytail. She asked, “How can I help you?” I smiled, “I’m Adele Parker. I want to make arrangements to complete my degrees online, until it’s time for my residency, anyway.” She smiled at me, “Awesome. Have a seat. Let’s get you set up for that.” We sat together, in her office, while I explained why I need to work on my degrees online and that I would be doing it from Hartsel, Colorado. She gave me a sympathetic smile, “I understand completely, dear. We can definitely take care of that.” She explained how online classes work and that there are no specific hours that I need to work, but there are more assignments, more papers to write and less time to do them. There is limited teacher interaction, usually only one lecture per week. Usually there is a number to be able to reach your instructor or an email address.” I nodded in understanding as she continued to describe what would be expected, then she asked, “Does this sound like something that you would be able to do?” I nodded, “It does. I know I have the self-discipline to do it. How many hours can I take per semester?” She answered, “That’s the beauty of an online degree. You can take as many, or as few, classes as you like.” I smiled, “I think I will take the usual twelve hours for the first semester, then I can take more in later semesters if that is too easy.”

After finalizing my arrangements, I walked out of the office and to my next class, Chemistry. I met Micah at door and we walked in. He asked, “Why did you go to your advisor’s office?” I answered as we took our seats, “I set up my classes for next semester. I’m taking them online at home.” He asked, “Are you sure you’re going to have the self-discipline needed for that?” I gave him a look as though he was stupid, “Are you sure you don’t have me mixed up with one of our other brothers?” Micah laughed, “Yeah. You’re right. If any of us can do that, you can.” I chuckled and shook my head at him. The professor started the lecture and Micah and I paid attention with no playing around. This was the perfect brother to have with me in this particular class. We were both very serious about our classes.

The rest of my classes went smoothly and after the last class, my brothers and I met at the car. We all got in and it was Micah’s turn to drive. I sat up front with him and he asked if I would read two chapters of his English Literature book to him. I read his chapters to him until we got home. When we arrived, grandma had dinner on the table. Yum! We’re having lamb roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and homemade dinner rolls. Grandma made my favorite coconut cake for dessert! My stomach started growling before we even sat down, “Grandma! That smells so good!” I washed my hands in the kitchen sink and sat at the table before my brothers got there. I filled my plate and started eating while talking with my grandparents about my day. Grandma asked, “How was your day?” I smiled, “Good. I went to see my advisor and we set up my classes so that I can take them online. I will be able to earn my degree online and at mom and dad’s until it’s time for all of my residencies. Even then, I might be able to do my human residency at the human hospital near Hartsel.” Grandma smiled, “I know that is something you want to do, and your mom won’t be able to say you are putting your dreams on hold.” I nodded, “I have her logic beat. Now, I just need to survive this semester.” Grandma and grandpa laughed as grandpa smiled, “You will be fine, princess.” Grandma smiled, “You’re going to do great.”

After I finished eating, I stood, “I think I need to go for a run. I’m just going to take my usual route to the waterfall.” Grandpa smiled, “Be careful, baby girl. Come right back if you get any funny feelings.” I smiled, “Of course, grandpa.” I walked outside to the tree line and I undressed behind a tree. I smiled, “Okay, Singarti, It’s all on you. Let’s go to the waterfall.” Singarti, my wolf, grinned her funny wolf grin, “Sweet! My turn for fun!” I retreated into the back of my mind and let Singarti take the front. There was a loud popping as my bones broke and mended themselves to shift and, once we were fully shifted into our white wolf form, we took off running at full speed. We were dodging limbs and thorn bushes, jumping over downed trees, chasing an indecisive squirrel until it finally got out of my way, all the way to our favorite spot. It’s a waterfall right in town and the water is spring-fed. It stays sixty-eight degrees year-round. In the summer, it feels amazing to jump into when the temps are near one hundred degrees. During the winter, fog rises from it because it is warmer than the air. I sat on my favorite rock and let the mist from the waterfall hit my face. I was thinking about everything happening in my life when my hair stood on end. Singarti’s ears stood on alert, “Adele, we need to get out of here.”

I stood up, “Then get us out of here, lady.”