Filed to story: Shifter Academy: Taming Her Wild Mates (Ivy) Book PDF Free
“Night, Luca,” I say softly, though I know he hears me. And I groan as I flop again back on my pillow, holding my sandwich against my stomach, wondering how the hell I’m supposed to get to sleep while my heart is racing this fast. But my doubts are soon proven wrong as I hastily eat my sandwich and rest my head back on the pillow again, totally beat. I curl up in my blankets, at least content in the knowledge that I don’t have to get up early, because candidates aren’t even expected back until dinner time.
Still, my last thoughts are – inevitably – about Luca, wishing he’d stayed, wishing we’d had chance to talk more – even for a few minutes – or for a few more hours…
My dreams tonight are unusually vivid, and I feel more conscious in them than I usually do. I blink, looking around at the hazy birch forest, which is somehow bright even though it’s edged with fog. I turn my head, considering the pretty white trees with their leaves turning golden for autumn, pleased and surprised. And then I run my hands down over my favorite white nightgown from home – relishing the soft feel of it beneath my palms. Smiling, I next run my fingers through the long length of my hair, which I never get to do anymore because it’s always tucked up under that little cap –
“Hello?” a voice calls, and I go very still.
Who the – who the hell is that?
And suddenly, as I peer through the forest, I instantly recognize Luca, even though he’s standing far away. I groan a little, because of course I can’t stop thinking about him even when I’m asleep – hell, I fell asleep thinking about him, wanting to spend more time…
“Seriously, where the hell am I?” Luca mutters, his voice carrying through the trees.
And suddenly my eyes go wide because….
Because…
My mind flashes back to what my mom and Aunt Cora have told me before – About meeting their mates in the dream state –
Which they can only do once they’ve met, and invited them there –
I gasp, slapping my hands over my mouth as I realize that…
“Who’s there?” Luca calls, turning towards my gasp.
Frantic I dart away, hiding behind a tree. “Fuck, fuck!” I hiss, peeking out and seeing him walking closer. My breath comes in fast pants as I panic – because he can’t see me here – he can’t see me like this – even if he does figure out that this is just a dream, he’ll have seen me in a dress with long hair! And he’s not stupid – he’ll remember it in real life and put the pieces together!
I clench my fists at my side, forcing myself to think – I press my eyes shut, willing the dream to end.
No, my wolf says, her voice echoing out loud now – because she’s in my head and so am I now. “Let me out!” I hiss, looking around for her.
No! she says, more cheerfully this time. Play with him! We need this! Cursing, I listen carefully and panic when I hear Luca’s footsteps moving closer.
“Hello?” he calls again. “Seriously, is there someone there?”
My heart starts to seriously pound when suddenly I realize that…that this is my dream, right? And if it’s my dream…I have control. I look down at myself, willing my nightgown to change…and suddenly, it’s gone, replaced by my grey candidate uniform. I gasp and reach up, realizing that my hair has been tucked into my cap as it always is.
And, slowly, I start to smile.
That’s my girl, my wolf says, huffing a wolfy little laugh. Now go!
And, smiling, cursing myself for being an idiot and taking needless risks…I step out from behind the tree.
“Hey,” I say, and Luca turns to stare at me.
Luca lets out a dark laugh and shoves his hands into his pockets. “Seriously?” he says, his voice a little exhausted. “You’re here?”
I grimace a little, taking a step back behind the tree. “Is that…bad? I can…go.”
“No,” he says, tilting his head and inviting me closer. “I guess…I mean, I’m not surprised. Who the hell else would I be dreaming about.”
I bite my lip a little, smiling and moving closer to him, stopping about five feet away. “What do you mean?” I ask, tilting my head, my eyes drifting over him and noticing that he’s dressed in cotton sweatpants and a black sweatshirt – probably the sort of things he wears when he’s relaxed at home.
Clothes that make him look just…ridiculously good. Like the boxer he is, about to go train for the day. “Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” he says, sighing and running a hand through his hair. “You’ve been on my mind all fucking day, Shrimp. The Hidden Princess At All-boys Alpha Academy
Obviously my subconscious is trying to figure this out.”
“Figure what out?” I ask, my smile deepening as I stare at him, my eyes roving over him a little more freely now. Damn, he’s so deliciously tall, and the way his shoulders fill out that sweatshirt…
“Whatever the fuck this is,” he says, his voice frustrated as he gestures between us with his hands, a little smile lighting his face. “What?” I ask, my own smile falling a little bit. Because – I mean – obviously I know exactly what he’s talking about, but to hear him address it so blandly – But, I mean, Luca thinks that this is a dream. “Seriously, Shrimp,” he says, shaking his head and stepping even closer to me now, so that there’s only maybe six inches between us. “What the hell is going on – I mean, I know that sexuality is a spectrum, but I’ve only ever been into girls – I have never, ever been into a guy like this before -“
My eyes go wide to hear Luca admit his attraction. My mouth pops open just a little bit.
“What,” he says, laughing and – Oh my god – lifting his hands to cup my cheeks in his palms, staring down at me. “Seriously? I know you feel it too – or, wait, because you’re an illusion my subconscious created…” he frowns down at me, “are you trying to talk me out of this or something?”
