Fated By Starlight by Krista Street

Chapter 2

~ WYATT ~

So Avery Meyers was back in my life.

I walked steadily down the stairs to the underground tunnel, the new recruits scurrying behind me as they tried to keep up. I didn’t look back at them. I couldn’t.

I knew meeting Avery again was going to affect me. I just hadn’t anticipated it being so powerful.

But seeing her again had caused a cataclysmic response in my chest that I hadn’t felt in . . . well . . . not since the last time I’d seen her eight years ago, which meant I needed to get my shit together.

“This tunnel is what we commonly use to access the garage from the main buildings,” I called over my shoulder. “There are walking paths on the grounds, if you prefer to be outside. However, this is the most direct route.”

Chris Larson followed hot on my heels. I could scent his eagerness as easily as the cleaning detergent used on the recently scrubbed floors. He was so impatient to prove himself that he reeked of hope.

The corner of my mouth kicked up. I remembered that feeling. I’d felt the same when I’d first joined the Supernatural Forces seven years ago.

“We’ll go first to the barracks so you can drop off your bags. Then we’ll do a tour.”

“A tour of the entire grounds, sir?” Chris asked.

“Yes, Private, of the entire grounds.”

I inhaled when I turned the corner down another hallway in the tunnel. The new recruits all had their own scents, and their heightened emotions gave off unique smells, but it was the underlying lilac scent that I focused on.

Avery’s flowery fragrance hinted at her witch background, but since she was only half witch, and not a very strong witch at that, it was subtle, but it was enough for me to know she was there.

Eight years had passed since I’d detected that scent. Eight years since she’d left Ridgeback, my pack town in British Columbia.

Even though I’d purposefully breezed over her figure when I entered the garage—not wanting to draw attention to our shared history—I’d still caught the inquisitiveness of her eyes and the thick length of her hair.

She had the same dark lashes and clear apricot skin that she’d had as a teenager. But she’d matured more, her breasts were fuller, her hips more curvaceous. Damn. If I’d thought she was hot eight years ago, that was nothing compared to her now.

Even though she was only at the SF temporarily—the gateway to the Supernatural Ambassador Institute—I had a feeling it was going to be a long three months.

I fought the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose.

Shit. I was going to be a goner again if I didn’t control this.

I took a deep breath and called over my shoulder, “Living barracks are on the west end of the property. You have to leave the facility to reach them. Does anyone need a refresher on admittance protocol to the buildings?”

A string of, “No, sir”s followed.

I gave a curt nod and resumed my fast pace.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Charlotte Morris whispered.

My ears perked up when I caught her quiet question in the back of the group.

“Huh?” Avery replied.

Charlotte laughed. “I knew you were thinking about him. I’m guessing you’ve heard of him?”

My brow furrowed as I wondered who Charlotte was referring to.

“Charlotte, they can probably hear you,” Avery hissed quietly.

She was right. Any vamp or wolf could easily hear conversations yards away. Chris and Zaden were probably listening too.

But Charlotte just laughed again. “Sorry. It’s just so obvious that you already have the hots for him.”

My nostrils flared, and my ears really perked up now. Hots for him? Hots for who? Is Avery already crushing over a new recruit?

That possibility elicited a surprising twist in my gut.

I filtered through the sounds pummeling my senses—the air from the vents, the beating of everyone’s hearts, the tap of footsteps—as I turned the corner to the hallway leading to the elevator. With practiced concentration, my senses tuned into Charlotte and Avery’s conversation, and the rest fell to the background.

I knew I should respect their privacy, but I had to know who’d caught Avery’s eye.

“I don’t have the hots for him, Charlotte. No more than you do, but if you’re asking if I know that Wyatt’s the third son of Walter Jamison, then yes, I do.”

Me? They’re talking about me?

“It’s nothing to be intimidated by,” Charlotte replied. “Just because he’s an alpha’s son doesn’t mean he’ll lead a pack one day.”

“I know that. My reaction was just from nerves. I mean it’s our first day. Aren’t you a little nervous too?”

“Well, yeah, a little, but your face actually paled when you got a look at Major Jamison.”

It was true. I’d noticed Avery’s change in complexion as well.

I kept walking, pretending to be oblivious to the conversation that had completely captivated me.

“Are you going to confess to whatever caused that reaction?” Charlotte asked. “I know it wasn’t just nerves.”

Avery sighed. “Fine. It’s because I’ve met him before. We lived in the same town when we were teenagers. It was only for a couple of years, though, while my parents were on assignment there, but during that time Wyatt and I attended school together. I was surprised that he’s our commander. I didn’t even know he worked for the Supernatural Forces.”

My heart stopped. Avery remembered me.

But Charlotte just carried on, oblivious to how that news affected me. “No shit? You lived in Ridgeback, BC, and knew him?”

“I wouldn’t say I knew him, but we lived in the same town for a few years—” But Avery abruptly stopped talking when my footsteps slowed.

I internally cursed myself for walking so fast. We’d reached the elevators, which meant I had to address my recruits again, which ultimately meant that Charlotte and Avery’s conversation stopped.

Turning around, I kept my voice even when I said, “We’ll take these up to the main floor. Do you all have your maps from your acceptance packets?”

Everyone nodded and pulled out their materials that they’d been mailed the previous week.

Avery fumbled with her bag, cursing when she dropped it. It made a big thump on the floor. Cheeks flushed, she crouched down and pulled out her packet from the front pocket of her duffel.

I bit my cheek to stop my smile. She looked cute when she was nervous.

Clasping my hands behind my back, I reminded myself that my attention should be on training as we waited for the elevator.

“Private Baker?” I said to Nick. “Can you tell me what areas on the map are strictly forbidden to new recruits?”

Nick cleared his throat. “Yes, sir. The prison cell block is off-limits as are the indoor training rooms unless we’re instructed to enter them, sir.”

I nodded. “Very good. And Private River, what must all SF members do when entering and exiting buildings?”

Eliza twirled a strand of purple hair around her finger before stopping the nervous movement and standing straighter. “Sir. We must scan ourselves in and out of every door so the tracking system knows our whereabouts at all times, sir.”

“Correct.” The elevator dinged, and the large doors began to open just as my eyes slid to Avery. “And Private Meyers, at what week are new recruits allowed to leave headquarters without alerting security staff first?”

Her lips parted. She licked them briefly before replying, “Um . . . not until week four. The first month we’re required to alert SF security to our plans if we leave the premises.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Do you care to try that sentence again, Private Meyers?”

Charlotte kicked her from behind, and mortification filled Avery’s scent. “Sir, sorry, sir. Sir, it’s not until week four that we’re allowed to leave headquarters without alerting security beforehand.”

“That’s correct, Private Meyers.” I bit back a smile, made a precise turn, and stepped onto the elevator.

Avery’s heart rate picked up. It was easy to detect amongst the other recruits. They started to shuffle into the cramped elevator after me.

Chris snickered in Avery’s direction, and she looked like she wanted to sink through the floor.

I knew she was still feeling embarrassed that she’d addressed me incorrectly. I should be more irritated that a new recruit hadn’t mastered the most basic form of addressing a superior—it was clearly spelled out in the handbook as being an expectation and requirement from day one—but all I felt was satisfaction that Avery remembered me from Ridgeback and addressed me today as she had then.

Damn.

That wasn’t good.

Snap out of it, Jamison. She’s your new recruit and nothing more.

Avery was the last to get on the elevator. With everyone’s bags, it was a tight squeeze. Charlotte’s arm pressed against Avery’s side while Chris stood at her back.

I stayed in the corner by the elevator controls next to Eliza. As we ascended, I felt Avery’s darting glance a few times, but I kept my attention on the doors.

When the elevator opened on the main floor, we all waited for Avery, since she was front and center, but she didn’t move. She looked lost in thought.

“Private Meyers?” I said gently.

Her eyes snapped open, then widened, as if surprised to see a hallway in front of her. A blush flooded her cheeks as everyone waited for her to get out of the elevator. “Sorry! So sorry!” she exclaimed. “Sir!”

The doors began to close again since no one had exited, so Avery rushed forward, but she did it so fast that she tripped over the bag at her feet.

She stumbled over it and started nosediving. Her jaw was about to become very well acquainted with the concrete floor.

I lunged forward, my large hand engulfing her upper arm. I winced at the sudden stop in her movement. It had to hurt. But at least she hadn’t face planted.

Her heart was thundering when I helped her stand upright, and her eyes refused to make contact with mine when she mumbled, “Sorry, sir.”

I loosened my grip, but I didn’t let go. My nostrils flared when her subtle lilac scent flooded me again. Damn. She smelled so good.

A second passed, then she raised mortified-looking eyes to mine. I kept my expression impassive, even though my heart rate had just joined her galloping speed.

Her light-brown eyes, flecked with gold and dark brown, stared at me with an intensity that made my breath seize.

I abruptly released her and took a large step back. My heart was beating rapidly now. Too rapidly. My wolf suddenly whined inside me, his attention focused on Avery.

I cleared my throat and said gruffly, “Recruits, please grab your bags. I’ll show you to the barracks before we begin the tour.”

A rush of air swirled around me as everyone hurried from the elevator. I turned stiffly, hoping none of my recruits noticed the flaming emotions that had just engulfed me. My wolf was now wagging his tail eagerly.

The guys pushed to the front of the group. Chris’s ardent eyes followed my every move. I detected lighter footsteps, letting me know the women had joined together at the back of the group.

Good. I needed some distance from Avery, so I could get my head sorted out.

But it didn’t stop my hearing. I still caught Eliza’s soft tone when she said, “How are you fairing, Avery? Are you gravely injured?”

“No,” Avery mumbled. “I’m fine.”

From Eliza’s innocent questions, I knew the fairy had no idea what had just passed between Avery and me, but Charlotte’s mirth-filled tone was another story.

“Come on, Meyers,” Charlotte said. “We’ll help you through the door. I’m sure one blundered response to our new commander and a near face plant are enough excitement for you for one morning.”