It was very hard to think when an aggressively handsome, and unfortunately furious boy was staring me down. Teeth bared like fangs. The air around us felt electrified and I wondered for an instant if he was about to shift.

C’mon Moriko say something!

The computer screen caught my attention, the name, the family I was supposed to be a part of. I couldn’t afford to get kicked out of this school if I wanted to stay safe and alive and find out what happened to my family, and if I really was a Suzuki, what with all their money and power, there was no way I’d let him get away with talking to me like that. No, I, Moriko Setsuki, was never the best at standing up for myself. But I decided Makiko Suzuki was.

Indignant, I said, “Excuse me?” and pushed myself to my feet. “Who the hell do you think you are?” He backed up a step, thrown off by my response, and his aggressive look turned to a curious one. “I thought the library was for all Shifters, not just the bullies, but I was wrong apparently.”

His brow creased and his nostrils flared. I thought he was going to yell, but he just asked, “Who are you?”

I countered with, “Who are you? Since you interrupted me first.”

He cocked an eyebrow but answered easily enough. “I’m Ejiro.”

“Makiko Suzuki,” I said, curious as to his reaction.

But…he didn’t react at all. There was no recognition from him, unlike Shane’s enthusiasm, Darius’s references, Zel’s sullenness, or even Alexei’s indifference. It didn’t even look like an act to try to pretend it wasn’t a big deal. The name didn’t register at all. Why was this the most unsettling reaction of all?

Still channelling my best haughty rich girl, I raised my voice. “Don’t you know who I am?”

He looked me up and down. “No,” he said huskily, “You don’t look like someone worth knowing.” It was like a cold slap to the face, because it felt like it was me he was judging, not Makiko. “But that still doesn’t answer my question. Why don’t you smell like a Shifter?”

Before I could even begin to think of something to fire back, Sameera appeared behind Ejiro, her little fists on her hips and indignation in her eyes.

“Excuse me!” she squeaked. “There is no yelling in the library!”

It was the break I needed to escape. Grabbing my books, I shot back, “Maybe you need to get your senses checked. Until then, you can leave me alone.”

I stormed out to the sound of Sameera berating him for being rude to a Suzuki.

Still shaken, I hightailed it back to Wayward Tower. I guess not every boy at this school could be a literal prince charming. I passed through the quad, and my eyes snagged on the bulletin board with all the general announcements and info for the incoming school semester. I paused in front of it, seeing flyers for a range of clubs, meetings, and organizations.

There were normal things like chess club and study groups, but there were also things like foraging club, nest-making, and community…grooming? Even the flyers were kind of out there, like the ones for hunting parties—Join the Brighthaven Pack, open to wolf Shifters only—and synchronised flying for bird Shifters—Mystics given special consideration.

In the middle was a big flyer announcing early arrival orientation party, which was tonight! Should I even go to that? I figured I had to, if only to keep appearances, even though after the library, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide.

A wave of sadness hit me. Only a few weeks ago, I was super excited about going to a university, making new friends and having a place I wouldn’t have to leave in a year like I had through my whole childhood. Nothing about this was fair. I had the strongest urge to call my parents, even though I knew they wouldn’t answer. It would have been enough to hear their voices over voicemail, but one of the first things I’d done when I decided to flee was toss my phone so I couldn’t be tracked.

This was so far out of my depth. Conning my way into a Shifter school, playing at the elite mysterious student everyone seems to have opinions about but no one seems to know... It was too much.

My steps slowed as I neared the dorm. If I could just focus on survival for now, I could handle the rest later. That was all that mattered.

I sniffed once, twice, but I couldn’t hold back the tears as they tracked down my face. I was full-on crying by the time I got to the top of the stairs, barely holding in my sobs. I just had to get to my room, then I could break down in peace.

But when I opened the door, I was shocked and beyond embarrassed to see Shane, Zel, Darius, and Alexei gathered together on the sofas. They all turned to me, expressions ranging from feigned indifference to guilt, and I knew I’d interrupted an intense conversation. No doubt about my apparent Suzuki-ness. I may not be a Shifter, but gossip was universal.

Knowing they were talking about me did not help me stop the tears. In fact, they just came faster. I was standing in the doorway in front of four of the hottest guys ever, crying like a toddler.

Shane got up first and came to me, all comfort and reassurance. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked gently.

“Maybe the famed Suzuki’s aren’t so tough after all,” Zel muttered.

“Shut up,” Darius snapped.

“I’ll grab some tissues,” Alexei said with a light roll of his eyes, disappearing into one of the rooms.

Shane sighed. “Guys, stop being so mean. It’s obvious Makiko is just having a hard time adjusting to being away from home, right?” he asked, squeezing my shoulder.

I went with it, but it didn’t help that the mention of home made the tears flow a little faster, made my lip tremble. Shane opened his arms to offer a hug, and I stepped into him, the feeling of safety from before wrapping around me, if only for a little.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he murmured. “If I’m honest, I miss my family too.”

I swallowed the sob that threatened to burst from my lips and was actually glad when Alexei returned with tissues. If Shane kept holding me like this and being so incredibly understanding. the waterworks would only get worse. Alexei handed the box off wordlessly, his face only showing mild discomfort at my tears.

It hit me in that moment how surreal this was. The idea of a jackal—who was also the hottest ever—hugging me and a dragon prince handing me tissues while a tiger and a jaguar squabbled about me was so ridiculous. So suddenly hilarious that my tears turned into a hiccupping laughter.

Most of the guys looked at me as if wondering if I’d be needing a strait jacket, but Shane was beaming at me. I smiled back and took the tissues from Alexei.

“Sorry for the sudden burst of emotion,” I said, stepping out of Shane’s arms to sit down. “I’m not usually weepy. You’re probably right, Shane, it’s just being away from home. I’ll be all right.”

They seemed dubious while I took a minute to wipe my face, glad I hadn’t gotten to ugly crying with snot. Shane settled on the arm of the chair beside me, cutting off their line of sight and giving me a bit of privacy. I gave him a grateful look, and he returned it with a playful wink, surprising me as a bit of peace settled into me for the first time in days.

“Are you all going to the party tonight?” I asked, leaning forward so I could see them all, my voice returning to normal as I tried to calm down.

“Absolutely,” Shane said enthusiastically.

Darius cocked an eyebrow at me. “Do you intend to be there?” he asked instead while Zel shrugged silently and Alexei smirked to himself.

“I better put in an appearance,” Alexei drawled, “or I’ll disappoint all the girls.” Then of course, he winked at me.

I started to feel a little better. Even if they were all kind of scary Shifters, they were…nice, in their own ways. Maybe, just maybe, it might not be so bad being with all these gorgeous guys. The eye candy value alone was astronomical.

I was about to answer Darius when the door suddenly opened behind me, startling me out of my moment’s peace entirely.

“Hey!” Shane said, twisting around, a big grin on his face. “Our last roomie finally decides to put in an appearance!”

The other boys seemed just as surprised as I was. Darius and Zel both stiffened, their lips drawing back into light snarls before they caught themselves. Alexie looked even more indifferent, which I was beginning to believe was merely an act to hide just how much attention he was paying to any given situation.

“Makiko,” Shane said, putting a hand on my shoulder to turn me a bit, “Meet Ejiro.”

And standing there in the doorway, his expression coldly neutral, was the boy from the library.

Oh no.