Feral: Book One Read Online Free Page A

university, and to be thinking so intensely about someone in that position of power was probably unhealthy. Of course, the likelihood of him being my instructor was slim, but the principle still applied. And he was probably married to a modelesque beauty with two perfect children.
    With a frustrated groan, I shoved a small shrimp into my mouth.
    I was a relatively-grown woman, I thought, so I should not have a crush on a married man who was probably twice my age. It was ridiculous and a little bit pathetic. I mean, sure he was undeniably attractive, but that was the extent of it. I should let it go at that and not think about the beautiful human anymore.
    Unfortunately, all I saw in my dreams that night were eyes the color of violets.
     
    The rest of my week was not much better. Between stressing out about my upcoming biology course and pointlessly fantasizing about the elf-like Simon Treviso, I continued getting random texts from Cole. All of them were filled with sappy drivel about how much he missed me, how sorry he was and about how much he had changed. I staunchly disregarded every single one, but that didn’t keep my blood pressure from rising each time.
    “I should have stayed in England,” I muttered.
    “No, you shouldn’t’ve.” Brie’s voice was firm, allowing no room for argument as she spoke between sips of her caramel macchiato. Her green eyes flashed. “And don’t think about telling him to leave you the hell alone. If you text him back, even if it’s to tell him to get lost, he’ll still see that as you reaching out to him.”
    “I know, but it’s really starting to wear on me.” I stood, tugging on my jeans where they had twisted slightly as I had squirmed, then flopped back down into the coffee shop’s plush chair. “I just don’t understand why all of a sudden he’s decided to bother me. Why now? Why didn’t he bother me with emails or something while I was in England? It just doesn’t make sense, and it’s friggin’ obnoxious.”
    “I understand. I get it,” Brie said sympathetically. “Just give it a couple more weeks, and if he’s still bothering you, we can think of something else. If worse comes to worst, you can always change your number, y’know?”
    “Yeah, but that’s a pain in the ass.” I shrugged and gulped down a swallow of white chocolate mocha, savoring the rich flavor. “But if I have to, I have to.”
    “Good girl.”
    I barely restrained myself from rolling my eyes like a teenager. “I’m not a dog, Brie.”
    “I know.” Her lips twitched. “You’re more like a sulking kitten that lost its string.”
    “You can be traded for a new best friend, y’know,” I retorted smugly.
    “I could, but I won’t.”
    “You seem very sure of yourself.”
    “I’m always sure of myself when it comes to you.”
    The red-head grinned and winked about the time I went to take another sip of my coffee, causing me to laugh and nearly choke on my drink. “Thanks. I appreciate your subtle attempts at homicide.”
    “As always, you’re welcome.”
    We continued talking and joking with each other for about half an hour, when my phone started blaring the Statler Brothers’ Atlanta Blue , the deep voice of Don Reid soothing to my ears.
    I lifted the gadget to glance at the name and number, and frowned. “Oh good Lord,” I mumbled before sliding my phone for my friend to view. “I don’t even want to read it. It might make me ill.” I waited until her eyes went wide for a split moment before narrowing. “What does he want this time?”
    She snorted on her coffee. “Well apparently, he’s been doing some bird watching,” she managed in a deceptively flat tone. “Something about wings and you flying free.” She pushed a couple of buttons before sliding it back to me. “It looked like he was trying to rip off some naturist poetry or something.”
    I glanced back at the screen, finding it devoid of any messages. “Thanks.”
    “What’re friends for?”
     
    I