Who knew one day I'd look forward to going to school? Sure, I get tons of looks now that people have seen Rion pick me up in his super expensive car. There is something nice about normal, though. My weekend was anything but.

After Ford brought me home from the mansion, I was still exhausted. At least I showed my face at breakfast then crawled into bed for a few hours. Later that night, I met Rion outside for a little bit, but I was still tired and crashed not long after coming inside.

Paige picked me up this morning, immediately asking for the details of every moment I spent with Rion. There was no way that was happening. I did tell her we had dinner with Lealla, though. I had to give her something. Sure, she was upset about not being invited, although she calmed a bit when I said Lealla is his neighbor and they’re close. I didn't bring up all of the other wolves I met. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet any more of the mates during my time at the mansion. Not all the mates are shifters, though. Some are human.

I'd love to be able to talk to Paige about all of this. It would be a relief to get it off my chest and get someone else's perspective. Someone that isn't immersed in the world of paranormals.

At the end of the school day, I gather my belongings and head for the front of the school. Guys have been asking me out since Rion showed up. Like I’d dump Rion for any of them. Fools. I've lost count how many I've turned down. It's getting ridiculous. No one was interested in me until they saw someone as gorgeous as him show up. They think they’re missing out on something amazing with me. Ha! If they only knew. They'd pee themselves and go running to Mommy at half the stuff I now know.

There's a deep pit of dread in my stomach. Ford will no doubt be outside the school. While I'm excited about exploring my new power, the rumors that are going to fly at seeing him with me will be insane. I'll probably be called a slut for having two men after me. Back to being picked on, I guess.

I open the front door and walk smack into a mob of girls. There can only be one reason why. I have to shove through them to get to the front of the crowd. Ford is sitting on the hood of a grey Mercedes SUV, which I can only imagine cost more than every car in the parking lot. Girls are drooling all over him and his SUV.

“Princess!” he calls out when he sees me. He lifts his stylish sunglasses to reveal grey eyes, which match the paint on his vehicle. He's wearing his black leather trench, even though it's warm enough today that no coat is needed. His boot laces aren't done all the way up and his jeans are bunched at the top of them. His hair has this sexy, messy thing going on. Oh, he's attractive, that's for sure. But not as attractive as my wolf.

Hopping down from the hood, he stalks toward me like the predator he is. “Are you ready to have some fun?” he asks, smiling. Wicked vampire. He knows what he’s doing. All the girls around us let out a breathy sigh in unison. I wonder what they think when they see me with these guys. I’m nothing special in my faded black T-shirt and jeans.

I'm about to answer Ford when a familiar black Jag pulls up in front of the Mercedes. Rion is out of the car and immediately walking toward me. This should be fun.

“Have you come to join us?” Ford asks.

“If you thought you were going to do anything with Ari today without me, you’re wrong. Nice try on the flat tire, though. Maybe next time you'll remember we have an in-house mechanic, who can patch stuff like that up rather quickly.”

Ford puts his hand to his chest in mock astonishment. “I'm appalled you think I would do such a thing.” I quirk an eyebrow at him, causing him to drop the façade. “Okay, fine, I admit it, but I don't regret it.” He leans in close so only we can hear him. “This attention I'm getting isn’t so bad.”

I roll my eyes. “Can we please go?” All the people surrounding us are making me uncomfortable. I don't miss the whispers about a fight possibly breaking out. If they only knew what would happen if it did. None of them would ever be the same.

Rion's arm wraps around my waist. “Ari will be with me.”

“Fine by me,” Ford replies. “We're going to her house. She needs a familiar place to practice.”

Ford spins on his heel and faces at least a dozen admiring girls. I'm more than ready to get away from this circus. Rion's hand finds mine and our connection flares to life. We walk to his car where he opens the door for me.

“Hi,” he says, with his crystal blue eyes holding mine.

“Hi,” I whisper back.

He dips his head to brush his lips against mine. As quickly as they’re on me, they're gone. What I wouldn't give to have extended that kiss. Then I remember where I am, and the fact that I don't want to give the mean people of my high school more ammunition about me. It's bad enough Ford will be talked about all day tomorrow. How I not only have one hot man but two.

I'm glad I'll be graduating soon. Had this been any other year, I would have begged my mom to homeschool me. Maybe tomorrow Cace, Cash, and Carter will show up and make the entire school think I'm getting it on with a whole group of men.

After two hours of practicing teleportation, I'm exhausted. It's also far easier than I imagined it would be. Ford said it gets trickier when I've never been to the place I'm going, but jumping from one spot to another place I've previously visited is simple. All I have to do is visualize my destination and snap. Nothing to it.

He did have me teleport to places I've never been to so he could see if I could do it. Of course, he held on to me every time, in case wherever I landed wasn’t good and he had to get us out of there fast.

There has to be a strong desire to find a location you've never seen before. For instance, Ford's house. I've never been there and have no clue what it looks like, but the nosy part of me wanted to see if he lived in some palatial estate or a dark house in the middle of nowhere. To my surprise, it's a three-story, oceanfront home in Duck, North Carolina. I doubt anyone in the Outer Banks realizes there’s a vampire living amongst them. Who would have thought it would be the location he'd choose to live? A vampire. On the beach. It's a good thing he can be out in the sun without worrying about burning up. That’s another myth. Vampires can easily be out in the sun with no ill effects.

While I've never been to Ford's house, I have been to the Outer Banks countless times. It wasn't hard to imagine the scenery, but his specific house was difficult. I had to mix what I knew of the area with what Ford told me about the home. I still say it's sheer luck I ended up in his kitchen.

I'm also fortunate no one saw us as I was teleporting all over the place. He had me picture places I've never been that were most likely empty, like his house. Or deep in a national park.

All in all, I had a fun afternoon learning my new power—my only power. Well, except for Rion being miserable. I hate seeing him unhappy. Every time Ford and I disappeared, he growled. Or when Ford held my waist. Or told me to teleport to his home on the beach. I think Rion growled pretty much the entire time. There were countless times his eyes flashed green. I had to keep reminding him it was for the greater good. If I can master it, then I can escape my premonitions while I sleep. No more wolf bites. That calmed him a little, though not enough.

Ford and Rion both left twenty minutes before my mom got home. I have no doubt Rion ran back to my house in wolf form to watch over me.

Paige texts me as we're sitting down to dinner. I get the stern look from my dad, reminding me no phones at the table. I'm sure she heard about Ford showing up at school today and the almost fight between him and Rion. If only they knew we weren't close to a fight. At least Ford wasn't egging Rion on too bad this time.

I eat fast and go up to my room, saying I have more homework to do, when in fact, I want to read Paige's text.

Paige: Who’s this?

She attaches a picture of me standing between Ford and Rion, who is at my back. Of course someone from school took a picture and posted it on social media.

Me: That's Ford. He's a friend of Rion's.

Paige: Two things. One, I'm not liking this whole other life you have outside of me. We need to fix that. Two, to make it up to me, you're going to introduce me to Ford tomorrow. I'm going to drive you home after school. Not your boyfriend or your new boy toy. Your best friend. I want details, and I want to meet Ford. I’m feeling neglected over here.

Me: Fine by me.

There's no way I can get out of it. Paige is very persistent when she wants to be. I'll have to find Ford tonight and ask him to come to the house tomorrow. If I can't appease Paige, she won't drop it. Then, there is no chance of me being able to practice teleporting more. I can't do any of that with her here.

Paige: I'm glad you agreed. I was prepared to use persuasive tactics.

Me: I'm sure you were.

Paige: Bray is coming, too. He's been asking about you and was none too happy to hear you left school with two guys today.

Me: Since when did he become so protective of me?

Paige: Ever since he and every other guy at school finally realized how hot my best friend is.

Me: Oh, please.

Paige: I only speak the truth, my friend.

Me: I don't believe you. Bray has never had a thing for me.

Paige: Whatever. He's our best friend and he cares about you as much as I do. Tomorrow. Me, you, Bray, and this hot Ford guy. We'll all meet so we can stop worrying about you.

Me: You aren't worrying.

Paige: Worrying, jealous, same thing.

I laugh and toss the phone onto my bed. It's time to dig in to my homework. I've got a mountain of it and got nothing done this afternoon, thanks to all the teleporting. If Ford doesn't pop by tonight, I'll pay him an unexpected visit. I’ll leave a note on the counter or something. Now that I've been in his house, I can visit him whenever I want. Time to drive him as crazy as he drives me with all of his popping up unexpectedly business.