#Chapter 1 - A Bolt From The Blue

Double lines. Positive. I dropped the pregnancy test to the ground and tried to crush it with my foot. When it didn’t even crack, I grabbed it and threw it in the trash instead. But nothing could erase the horrible fact that I was pregnant from my brain. This was the second test I’d taken. There was no disputing it. On my phone, I looked at pictures of the 18th birthday I had just celebrated. My secret-boyfriend Joseph and I had exchanged sweet selfies, but now those pictures looked distorted. Backing out of my gallery, I checked for a reply from Joseph. I had sent him a message right asking him to call me. I said I needed to talk to him. Only my own message stared back at me. Just like ever time I’d checked before. The double checkmarks proved he read the message, but he hadn’t replied. I kept waiting. I had no one else I could talk to. As a werewolf, my inner wolf would not appear until I turned 19, so I couldn’t yet consult that part of myself. My older brother Dylan was the only family member I felt close to, but he was overprotective. If he knew about this, he’d probably be on the first flight home from Silvermoon Academy, where he was spending a semester as an exchange student. I couldn’t tell my oldest sister, the perfect and beautiful Luna. The family’s favorite. If I confided in her, she’d tell Mom in a second. And I could never tell my parents. I tried so hard to keep them happy and satisfied, only bothering them when I had achievements to share. I doubted they would graciously accept me being pregnant, since I might have to give up so much. I enrolled in Lunarhaven Academy, the best private elite school in the kingdom, as a cheerleader because I excelled at dance. I loved to dance, and practiced hard to earn my chance at the Academy. Now that I was pregnant, would I have to give up dancing? Would I have to drop out of the Academy? Joseph had to answer my message. Why wasn’t he answering? I didn’t want to be alone in this. Lightning flashed outside, but I needed to know what Joseph thought. Now. Without further thought, I flew from my room, down the stairwell, and out the door into the rain. Since Joseph and I were only secretly together, I had never used the front door, so I avoided it now. Instead, I rounded the building to the side entrance I always used to sneak in and out. This time, however, when I pulled on the metal handle, the door wouldn’t budge. I tried yanking as hard as I could, but it was no use. The door was locked. Joseph had been adamant that I never use the front door, but surely he would forgive me under these conditions. As a star soccer player, Joseph lived in one of the separate athlete’s dormitories. Rather than the single bed, shared bathroom dorms where I stayed, these were elaborate villas. Each room had their own kitchenette and personal bathroom. Each athlete was seen as elite. They were popular on campus, even with the faculty and staff. With that popularity came privilege and preference. Fancy dorms were only the start of the gifts they received. I had always been proud of Joseph for all that his soccer skills helped him achieve. He was someone Mom would adore. Now I cursed it a little, if only because a superintendent stopped me before I even got through the door. Nearby I heard the bass of loud music and distant laughter. “I’m looking for Joseph,” I explained. Stuck outside, cold rain continued to pelt down on me. The superintendent wasn’t much taller than me, but the way she sneered down her nose at me made me feel small. “Joseph is in his room,” the superintendent said. “He asked not to be disturbed.” “It’s important –” “It’s getting late, isn’t it?” The superintendent gripped the door with both hands, as if ready to slam it closed. “Shouldn’t you be returning to your own dorm?” Maybe I could try the side door again? If I waited, someone might come and I’d be able to sneak inside. Yet before I could act, movement shifted at the edge of my vision. I glanced down the hall and saw a tall, handsome man storm toward me. I would recognize that dark, windswept hair and piercing gaze anywhere. Asher. My brother’s best friend. One of the very last people I’d hoped to see. If he discovered I was pregnant, undoubtedly he would tell Dylan. I was no way ready for that to happen. Especially not before I spoke to Joseph. Asher’s intense eyes weighed heavy on me, taking in my full person, head to toe. When he looked back to my face, those eyes darkened further. This hint of anger was the only emotion on his perfect, blank slate of a face. I knew Asher didn’t like me. I’d met him several times with Dylan, and each time he’d only given one word responses to my attempts at friendly conversation. He never once returned my smile. Actually, I’d never seen him smile at all. Inching backwards, I told the superintendent, “Maybe I can come back tomorrow…” Too slow. Asher came straight for us. He stopped just behind the superintendent. When he spoke, his voice was deep with distain. “What do you think you are doing?” I lowered my face. “I, uh…” “Not you, Cynthia,” he said. Looking up, I realized he was glaring directly at the superintendent, who shifted nervously under the ire of that gaze. “Is she a friend of yours, Asher?” the superintendent asked sweetly. Her entire demeanor had changed, talking to him. Asher narrowed his eyes. “She is a girl, soaked through in the rain. Is that not reason enough to let her inside?” The superintendent sputtered. “I… well… the rules…” “Step back, please,” Asher said. The superintendent moved to the side, and Asher, catching the door, held it open for me. I quickly slinked in beside him, escaping the rain. Under Asher’s continued stare, the superintendent apologized before hurrying away. When she was gone, Asher turned to me. His hard look softened. “What are you doing here?” I couldn’t tell him the truth. I had two secrets to hide: my pregnancy and my dating Joseph. Neither of which I wanted Dylan to know about. So I hesitated. He waited for a while, in silence. When it was clear that I wasn’t going to say anything, he began, “Would you like to come to… the…” His voice trailed. As I watched, his gaze traveled down my front, and then quickly away. In a flash, he unzipped his sweatshirt jacket and handed it to me. At that moment, I shivered. Adrenaline had gotten me this far, but now I realized how cold I was. And how wet. Looking down, my white shirt had become translucent against me, hugging my cleavage like a second skin. I hadn’t even thought to put on a bra before I left my room, let alone a jacket. The curves of my breasts, including my nipples hardened from the cold, were on full display. Asher had seen! So would many others if I didn’t cover up. I snatched the jacket from his hands and quickly pulled it around me. It was big on me, but soft and warm. It smelled nice too. “Thank you,” I said. Asher curtly nodded, and then cleared his throat. “The hockey team is having an after party in the lounge. Would you want to join us?” I looked at him, confused. Asher was… being nice? Didn’t he hate me?