Lost Wolf (Curse of the Moon Book 1) (21 page)

Sighing, I started the car.

My phone buzzed, indicating I had a text.

Carter: Sry. Stuck in mtg still

Victoria: Can I cu l8r?

Carter: Hope so

Victoria: Having the worst day

Carter: :( Ill try 2 get out asap

Victoria: Thx

Carter: <3 Sry

Victoria: Me 2

I hadn't seen him all day because I'd skipped my next two classes, hyperventilating in the woods. Alex, the friendly wolf who always seemed to find me, had found me yet again and helped me to calm down. But by then, I was due at the spa.

My body ached, and I didn't want to see anyone other than Carter. Well, and Toby. But if there was any truth to what Soleil had told me, no one would see him anytime soon.

Guilt shot through me.

What if they really did need me to help find him? No, that was ridiculous. What could I do? It wasn't like I had any superpowers. No hero was half as clumsy as me. Either she was crazy or I was. Whichever it was, I couldn't help Toby no matter how much I wanted to.

I pulled out of the parking spot and onto the road, heading for the Waldensian. I'd just claim to have a headache—it wasn't far from the truth—and then I'd climb into bed, sticking my earbuds in. Hopefully that would make the rest of the world disappear for a while. At least until Carter was able to get out of his dad's meeting.

When I got to the campus, groups of people were posting fliers on utility poles. I slowed to look at one. It had the word
Missing
in large letters and a picture of Toby with information about him.

Someone turned to me. "Have you seen him?"

Tears stung my eyes. I shook my head and pulled back onto the road. My vision blurred, but I blinked the tears away.

Once I got home, a couple dozen people were crowded into the living room, watching the news. Toby's face flashed on the screen. It was the same picture as was on the flier.

Sasha ran over to me. "Can you believe it? That professor seems to have disappeared into thin air."

"I know." I cleared my throat. "It's crazy."

She leaned closer. "I heard he was involved in a cult."

I gave her a double-take. "Huh?"

"It makes sense if you think about it. He lives in a huge house in the middle of the woods."

"And that makes him a cult member?"

"Leader." Sasha nodded her head knowingly. "Their whole compound is blocked off with an electric fence. My friend heard they shoot visitors on sight."

"That doesn't sound like him."

"How would you know?"

My face warmed. "I'm in one of his classes."

Sasha pulled me into the next room. "Why are you blushing? Do you know something?"

"I'm not blushing." My face heated all the more.

"Liar. Tell me everything."

"Nothing to tell. He's my professor and a nice guy, that's all."

"So, cult leaders can't be nice?" She arched a brow. "How do you think they lure everyone into—oh my gosh!"

"What?" I asked.

She stared at me.

"What?" I demanded.

"He's luring you in!"

People in the living room turned and stared.

I grabbed her arms and dragged her into the kitchen. "No, he's not. Stop talking crazy. He's just a professor."

"A really hot one. He doesn't even look old enough to be a teacher."

"Obviously, he is."

"He really has you under his spell."

"No, he doesn't!" I spun around and marched up the stairs.

"Hey," Sasha called. She caught up to me. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Then stop making wild accusations against someone who's missing. What if he's in danger? Maybe he's dead!" Hot, angry tears blurred my vision. I blinked and they fell to my face. "Just think before you gossip about nice people."

I ran past her, went through our room into the bathroom and slammed the door, locking it. I dropped my backpack on the floor.

She knocked. "Hey, I wasn't trying to upset you."

"Too late." I leaned against the wall and stared at my reflection. My eyes were red and puffy, my hair was coming loose from the ponytail, and my scratches were hideous. I slid to sitting.

"I'm sure none of it's true," Sasha said. "People say stupid things for attention all the time around here. Have you noticed that?"

"Yep." Including my roommate.

"Look, I'm sorry. I should've stopped once you said he was your teacher. I'd probably be upset if one of mine disappeared. Come out, please?"

"I have a headache."

"We'll talk about something else. Are you going back to Carter's place tonight?"

"Do I
look
like it?"

"He doesn't care about that. Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

"Go away."

"If you won't come out, will you at least let me in? I hate talking through this door."

"I just need to be alone. Nothing personal, but I don't want to be around anyone right now."

"You need a friend. I'll just sit with you. I promise to shut it."

I shook my head, too exhausted to argue.

"Is that a yes?"

"Fine." I reached up and unlocked the door.

She came in and sat next to me. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were so… attached to your professor."

I sighed. "It's not that, okay?"

"Not that I would judge."

"Great." I put my forehead on my knees.

We sat in silence for a few moments.

"So, how long are we going to sit here?" she asked.

"No one's making you stay."

"I know. How are things going with Carter? That's not why you're upset, is it? You guys didn't have a fight, did you?"

I shook my head. We might have, if he'd have been upset about me wanting to slow things down. "He's practically perfect."

"Good! See, you don't need to worry about the professor."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I turned and looked at her like she was crazy. "He's a nice guy, and nobody knows where he is."

"If there's any truth to—"

"There's not."

"How would you know?" she asked.

"I thought you came in here to be supportive."

"Sorry. Tell me about last night again. Carter's home sounds as impressive as the Jag—which I still haven't seen any pictures of, by the way."

I counted silently to ten. "Can you go downstairs and see if there's anything new about T… Professor Foley on the news?"

"You think there might be?"

"Never know." I shrugged.

"Sure. You okay?"

"Yeah, I think I'm going to jump in the shower."

Sasha gave me a hug. "I'm sure he'll be just fine. Maybe he'll show up in class tomorrow, ready to hand out gobs of homework."

My inner annoyance perked up. I tried to ignore it. "That would be one time tons of homework would make me happy."

"I'll let you know if they've found him." She got up.

"Thanks. Speaking of assignments, I'd better get started on tonight's work. My psych professor is probably already mad at me for skipping today."

"Massaro?" she asked. "I heard he's the devil."

"Pretty much." I closed the door and climbed in the shower, letting the water get as hot as I could stand it. I just stood there, letting it run over me for at least five minutes before reaching for the shampoo.

Not that I had anything to compare it to, but it wouldn't have surprised me if this had been the craziest week of my life.

When I got out of the shower, I had a new text from Carter.

Carter: Sry. Stuck here l8.

Victoria: Its OK. Tons of HW

Carter: Ill make it up 2morrow

Victoria: No worries

Carter: I promise <3

Victoria: Thx <3

Carter: Sweet dreams

Victoria: u2

I got comfortable on my bed and spread out all my stuff, starting with psychology. According to the syllabus, we were just supposed to read. I could handle that.

By the time I finished all my studying, Sasha still hadn't returned. I took that to mean Toby was still missing. My heart sank a little as I pulled my covers up.

I closed my eyes, and my interaction with Soleil replayed in my mind. Something was seriously wrong with me since I was more freaked out by finding that picture of me than I was by the whole essence-sucking thing. Her temporary electric-green eyes and wings should have shot fear through me, instead the relaxed feeling returned as if she were pulling the purple mist from me again.

It helped me to drift to sleep…

Toby and I sat on a blanket next to a pond. A wicker picnic basket sat between us. He gazed into my eyes, holding me happily captive. He reached over the basket and took my hand. "I can't believe we finally got away together."

I squeezed his hand and smiled. "I think we're alone now."

The only sounds around us were of birds singing in the distance and some frogs in the pond.

He pushed the basket away, scooted closer, and pulled me onto his lap. I squealed with delight.

Toby put his mouth next to my ear and brushed some hair out of the way. "What would our parents say if they could see us?"

His breath tickled my skin. I shivered. "My father would kill you."

"Mine would join him." He kissed my ear and laced his fingers through mine.

"Aren't you afraid?" I turned and brushed my lips across his. He smelled so good—so masculine and woodsy.

"No. Being with you is worth any risk." Toby deepened the kiss. He tasted even better than he smelled.

He pulled back, and I had to catch my breath. "Are we going to spend our lives sneaking away to see each other?"

"We might have to start our own pack." He pressed his lips on mine again, pulling me closer.

"Mmm… but how?" I ran my hands across his rock-solid chest. "We're both the eldest children of alphas." Rival alphas. My father had sworn to take out all of Toby's pack if it were the last thing he did. I shuddered.

"We'll run away together. Just you and me."

I leaned my head against his. "Nothing sounds better."

Footsteps sounded.

"There they are!"

Sasha's alarm woke me up. I bolted up. I'd forgotten to set mine. It took me a minute to realize I was no longer in the woods with Toby.

"What time is it?" I demanded.

She mumbled something incoherent. I flew out of bed, threw on the first clothes I grabbed, ran a brush through my hair, and pulled it into a ponytail. No time for makeup. I grabbed my backpack and headed for my car, with my heart racing.

I slid into my seat next to Grace. "Please tell me it's Friday."

"It's Friday."

"Is it really?" I exclaimed.

She nodded. "I can't wait to sleep in."

"Sleep in?" I asked. "I want to sleep through both days."

"Not me. I have a soccer match tomorrow evening." She glanced toward the door. "Do you think they're going to have a sub? Or even a new professor?"

My heart sunk. I only wanted to see Toby's gorgeous face walking in through the door. I sighed, fighting a lump in my throat.

"Only like half the kids are here," Grace said. "Did you notice?"

A handsome thirty-something wearing a tie and trendy glasses came into the classroom and set a bag on Toby's table. He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, exposing well-defined arms. "I'm Roger Fredrickson, and I'm going to be your professor temporarily."

Grace leaned over and whispered, "This place has the best math department ever."

"He's got to be twice your age."

"I don't care." She sighed dramatically without taking her gaze from the new guy.

The professor held up a paper. "It looks like Professor Foley has you working on unit three. Let's open up to page—"

"Can't we post fliers?" asked a girl on the other side of the room.

"Yeah," said another. "We can catch up on math later."

Fredrickson took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'd rather do something to help find him, too. Okay, here's the deal. You guys need to stay on track with the syllabus, but if you need help, I'll set up a study group over the weekend. Sound good?"

"I'm there," Grace said. Others agreed.

"Okay. I'll reserve one of the library's study rooms for Sunday at two. Now if you want to hand out fliers, there are stacks of them in the Student Union Building and also where our offices are. Let's get to work."

Everyone packed their things away and filed out of the classroom. Grace and I headed for the student building—I didn't want to go near the offices in case Soleil was there waiting for me.