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fast enough. I stopped as I rounded the corner of the building. I groaned, hating myself for running, just like my mother did every time the money ran out.
    Chapter 17
    JONAS
    “What the hell?” I shook my head, trying to make sense of what happened.
    “Talk about skittish. Sorry, my man, but you’ve got a mate with a lot of scars.”
    My wolf growled. This was way harder than I originally thought. I couldn’t walk away from her, it wasn’t possible, but it seemed like I also couldn’t get anywhere with her. She was locked up tighter than Fort Knox.
    I looked at my future beta. “Aura seemed to know the coffee shop lady pretty well. You think I could get her to talk; you know, help me out a little with her?”
    Brody shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”
    “You wanna ride home with the Juniors or tag along with me?”
    He harrumphed. “You think I wanna hang with the munchkins?”
    I threw my hands up. “I didn’t insinuate anything. I just asked.”
    He nodded. “Thanks, but I’ll hang.”
    ~*~
    By the time we got to English, the classroom was nearly full. Aura had already taken a seat in the front row near the center. Clearly she enjoyed English.
    I spent the next hour and a half listening to the teacher ramble on about this semester’s syllabus, the books we’d be reading and a general outline of the assignment due dates. I couldn’t pull myself from Aura though. She focused on the papers in front of her, taking notes and marking certain things. I found her concentration and enthusiasm for the subject adorable.
    When the final bell rang, relief washed over me. The first day was over, without too many incidences either.
    “Ugh. Finally.” Brody sighed.
    I laughed. “It wasn’t too bad.”
    “That’s because your mind didn’t spend the whole day at school.”
    He had me there. I shoved the papers into my book bag and quickly stood. I wanted to walk out with Aura, see if I could get anything out of her. When I looked to where she was sitting though, she was gone. I looked out over the crowd, but didn’t see her in the mix of kids trying to cram through the door. How had I missed her? I was so aware of her.
    “Follow her scent,” Brody droned. I could tell he was already over the whole best friend being lovesick thing.
    “See you at the car.” I skipped out into the throngs of students, all anxious to escape.
    I called upon my alpha aura, a strong pheromone that we released when we took control. It subconsciously urged people to pay attention to us, or in this case, to move for me. Slowly people responded, instinctually moving out of my way. I was a man on a mission.
    I followed her scent outside to the school parking lot, but, among the mix of exhaust fumes, I lost her. My wolf howled, pushing his paws against me. I knew if I shifted I could quickly find her since my senses were further heightened in my animal form, but I couldn’t risk it.
    I sighed in defeat and headed for the Jeep. Brody was already inside waiting for me.
    “Do I even want to know how you got in without a key?” I asked as I got in.
    “No.”
    I pursed my lips and nodded. I shoved the keys in the ignition, started the car and pulled out into the quickly thinning traffic.
    “I think we might need to chance the diner. I’m starving man.” Brody rubbed his stomach.
    My stomach chose that moment to rumble. “The food better be worth it.”
    As much as werewolves loved to eat, we generally disliked restaurants. Our sensitive noses were overwhelmed by the millions of odors stuffed into one business; colognes, deodorants, laundry detergents, sweat, musk, dirt and grime, plus the different foods cooking, and not cooking, in the kitchen. Add the noise factor in and it was our version of hell most of the time.
    We were about a mile away from the school when I saw her. She was walking, her book bag crammed with all of her books, weighing down her shoulders. My pulse quickened, the need to protect rising up within me. I pulled along