We didn’t get any traction from our new years party stunt, but we were noticed on campus. I was able to get a job at the coffee shop on campus so I had an excuse for being around so often since I was supposed to still be in high school. Mina still hates school, but she is at least exempt from doing double classwork while she is undercover at college. The only thing is I am helping her do most of her work while still completing my own. A point I being up to Nickolas again this morning.
“If she is exempt, surely there is a way to do the same for me. Doing both sets of homework is cutting into my training and research time. Gentry gave me several books to look through so I can help try to find out how the rogues are doing the mass scent masking.” I roll my eyes after working through some of Mina’s math homework. It’s not that she’s dumb at all or can’t do the work, but math and science she struggles with and we can’t afford for her to fail classes. All of her other core classes she is flying through. She has also been helping with the masking research.
Doc Sylvia sent over all the books she could find about different herbs, salves. plants of any kind that might have been used in history to accomplish the masking that we have found. Unfortunately it seems like there is some kind of combination of things being used, but every time we present something that theoretically makes sense, Gentry punches holes straight through it. Spells that take days or months to produce or that would require too much energy from the caster to maintain, plants and herbs that would need to be grown and brewed or burned regularly doesn’t seem feasible.
There is something we are missing, but we are close, I can feel it. There are more male wolves on campus now and many smell like rogues. Not all rogues are bad, but most rogues are rogues because they have been cast out of their pack for doing something really bad or they are kids of rogues and haven’t been accepted into or tried to become a pack member. Some just prefer to be alone. Which seems so strange to me. Wolves are pack animals and almost need to be together to survive, but I can’t judge anyone. I was a loner inside my pack for most of my life. The problem I have WIth the situation is that they actually have a scent. I’m not sure if we are being played or if these might not be the guys we are looking for.
We continue to go to parties and any big social event on campus. I really enjoy basketball and hockey games. I can at least appreciate the athletes dedication to their sports. This also makes it easier to socialize at their parties, the guys seem to love a girl who is interested in talking about them and their sports. It makes it way too easy for Mina and to stroke egos and get information. I have also found, the more that I talk the less I have to actually drink. can just pretend to take sips and then talk a ton with my hands effectively sloshing liquid on the floor like the rest of the girls traipsing through.
From talking to people at the coffee shop on campus, I got a job so I had a reason to hang around so much, it sounds like many of the new guys came in for the agriculture and forestry program, which has all of us suspicious. They are rogues here to do something and they are way too close to the Alpha King and his territory for it to be coincidence. Mina and I have been trying to find and spend more time with these people, but they are not the standard college party kind of guys so we are having to improvise.
“I said No. How many other ways do need to say ⚫no’ before you understand that no actually means no?”
Nickolas is fuming around the kitchen. It’s his turn to cook tonight and Mina is trying and failing to convince him to let me enroll in the early college program. I can start in late February and it would be a great cover to get me into the forestry program and right in with the new rogues.
“Nickolas, please. This is the only way to start to put the pieces together. I can be right in with them. We are all wolves and will more than likely end up on projects together. It’s the perfect reason to hang out since they are not doing the normal college thing.” I try to be soft and logical.
“Don’t look at me like that, Skylar. Your cute little pouty face is not going to win this argument.” He shuts his eyes and takes in a deep breath.
“You never call me ‘Skylar.’ Are you mad that I want to do this?” My face falls naturally at the thought that he thinks I might not be able to pull this off. Then I remember he said he has a bad feeling and his wolf has him convinced Mina and I are important, so I pout a little more to lay it on thick. I am going to win this argument and he knows it, that’s why he pulled out my first name, it’s his last ditch effort to make me see how dangerous this could be.
“It’s not that, you are more than capable of handling yourself.” He takes a deep breath again and huffs it out. I cant see or protect you inside the classroom. At least at the coffee shop I can be around and there are only two blind spots that are always covered when you’re on shift. And I can’t pose as a student with you since I am already set up as your uncle.” He grunts into his hands, scrubbing them up and down his face. He abandoned cooking a while ago.
“I hate everything about this plan, which probably means that you’re both right.”
Mina and I both sit in anticipation, hoping he is coming around. It is torture waiting for him to make a decision, which makes me think he is mindlinking someone to get an okay, which I both appreciate that he is now open to the idea and it irritates me that I have to get permission from him and headquarters and probably Alpha Reggie himself before he finally nods.
“Fine, you’re in. But, we have to go over some ground rules and we need to do a perimeter check so we know all ways in and out of the buildings you will be in.
