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  Copyright © 2018 by Nicole Riddley

  All Rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of required fees you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known, hereinafter invented, without express written permission of BLVNP Inc. For more information contact BLVNP Inc. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  This book is a work of FICTION. It is fiction and not to be confused with reality. Neither the author nor the publisher or its associates assume any responsibility for any loss, injury, death or legal consequences resulting from acting on the contents in this book. The author’s opinions are not to be construed as the opinions of the publisher. The material in this book is for entertainment purposes ONLY. Cover image from Shutterstock com.

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  Catching Genesis

  By: Nicole Riddley

  ISBN: 978-1-68030-950-8

  ©Nicole Riddley 2018

  Table of Contents

  Chapter I

  Chapter II

  Chapter III

  Chapter IV

  Chapter V

  Chapter VI

  Chapter VII

  Chapter VIII

  Chapter IX

  Chapter X

  Chapter XI

  Chapter XII

  Chapter XIII

  Chapter XIV

  Chapter XV

  Chapter XVI

  Chapter XVII

  Chapter XVIII

  Chapter XIX

  Chapter XX

  Chapter XXI

  Chapter XXII

  Chapter XXIII

  Chapter XXIV

  Chapter XXV

  Chapter XXVI

  Chapter XXVII

  Chapter XXVIII

  Chapter XXIX

  Chapter XXX

  Chapter XXXI

  Chapter XXXII

  Chapter XXXIII

  Chapter XXXIV

  Chapter XXXV

  Chapter XXXVI

  Chapter XXXVII

  Chapter XXXVIII

  Chapter XXXIX

  Chapter XL

  Chapter XLI

  Chapter XLII

  Chapter XLIII

  Chapter XLIV

  Chapter XLV

  Epilogue

  DEDICATION

  My bae, Peter,

  for the best life and putting up with an absent-minded partner in crime. Always.

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  Chapter I

  Worst Birthday Ever

  “Happy birthday!!!” They chorus as soon as I step into the kitchen.

  Mom is beaming, carrying a stack of pancakes dripping with maple syrup to the breakfast table. A single candle is burning right on top of it. Dad is already sitting at the table, smiling wide.

  “Hyaaaahhhh!!!” I hear my sister yell as she bounded down the stairs behind me.

  I blow the candle out before she even reaches the bottom of the stairs.

  “Genesis! Damn it!!!” she yells in frustration.

  “Autumn Harmony Fairchild! Language!” Mom admonishes her.

  I flash my sister a victorious grin before I turn back around and give Mom and Dad an angelic, innocent smile.

  My sister Autumn is two years younger than I am. Last week was her birthday, and I blew out the candle on her special birthday pancakes. I knew she would try to get back at me. Unfortunately for her, I came downstairs early today, and just like that, I've foiled her evil plan of revenge.

  Mom disappears into the living room and I give my sister another mischievous grin. She takes her seat beside me at the breakfast table, scowling at me.

  Not only are our birthdays close together, Autumn and I look almost the same, from our light hazel eyes to our red hair. Sometimes people think we are twins. The only difference is that Autumn's face is a little bit rounder than mine and my red hair is a darker red, closer to auburn, while Autumn’s is more of a strawberry blond. I'm also a bit taller. I'm 5'11” which is just a little over the average height of most she-wolves, and Autumn is 5'9”.

  “Happy Birthday, by the way,” says Autumn “Are you excited yet?”

  “Excited about going to school on my birthday?” I ask back, sharing my stack of pancakes with her. Mom gave me too much.

  “No, silly! About possibly meeting your mate today!” she replies, looking at me as if I've lost my marbles.

  “I don't know...I'd be more excited if I don't have to be stuck in school the whole day on my birthday.” I am, but I'm not going to admit that to her.

  Yeah, we're the regular werewolf family, and as werewolves, we get the gift of sensing out our mate as soon as we turn eighteen. That means for me, sometime during lunchtime today, if my mate is already eighteen and he's living somewhere around here.

  “I had to go to school on my birthday too,” she reminds me. “I can't wait to turn 18 so I can meet my mate already.” She sighs. “Oh, I bet he's so hot. Hotter than your mate. The hottest guy in the whole pack.”

  “My baby girl might be meeting her mate today!” mom exclaims as she comes back from the living room where she hid my birthday gift. She places my gift on the table and says, “You're excited, right?”

  I'm going to be asked this question over and over again today, it seems.

  “No, she's not. She's not going to let any boys near her until she's at least 40,” announces dad.

  I resist the urge to roll my eyes at both of them as I rip open the wrapper. I already knew what's inside: a new airbrush paint set and mediums. I'd been giving obvious hints about wanting it for months.

  “Thanks, Mom, Dad! I can't wait to try it out.” I give them both a hug.

  Actually, I am very excited about meeting my mate. I can feel my wolf, Ezra, being restless and excited the whole night.

  My Ezra is excited, which makes me even more excited. That's why I'm all dressed up today. Well okay, so I'm dressed the same way I always dressed for school every day, in jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing special, but yeah, I am very excited about possibly meeting my mate today. Not that I would ever admit that to my parents. Goddess, no! That would be so embarrassing.

  Autumn and I walk to school. It's just a 15-minute walk. The weather is mild and I always enjoy the short walk.

  When we get to school, Autumn heads off to where her friends are waiting, while I stroll inside to where my friends usually hang out.

  Penny, Reese, and River are han
ging out by our lockers as usual. Reese and River are mates. Penny hasn't turned 18, so she hasn't found her mate yet.

  “Happy birthday, girl!” yells Penny as soon as she spots me, drawing the attention of most other students loitering the hallway.

  She pulls me into a hug and soon after, Reese and River do the same.

  “You're going to have to wait until after school for your gift,” says Reese excitedly.

  “You're going to be 18! Finally. Are you excited?” asks Penny.

  “I don't know. I think I'm a bit nervous,” I admit.

  “Yeah, I'd probably be nervous too, meeting our mates for the first time...but it's exciting too!” shrieks Penny, clapping her hands excitedly.

  “Don't be nervous, Genesis. It'll be okay,” soothes Reese.

  “It's better than okay. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me,” says River, wrapping his arms around Reese.

  “Awww...isn't he sweet?” coos Reese with that look in her eyes as she stares up at River. “Anyway, we'll see you losers at lunch!” she says as River pulls her away.

  “Later, bish!” says Penny. I just give them a little wave before I start digging my locker for my books.

  “Boy, I wish we can mate with one of those hotties,” she suddenly whispers as she stares dreamily over my shoulder.

  I turn around to the sight of three male lycans walking down the hallway. They are so tall, about 6'5 or taller.

  You see, lycans are different than us regular werewolves. For one thing, they are known to be the direct descendants of the moon goddess, so they are treated like nobility in the werewolf world. In fact, our king is a lycan.

  Second, they are bigger, faster, fiercer, smarter, stronger, and more powerful than any werewolf, even alphas. They are like killing machines when provoked. You don't want to mess with them.

  Third, in their human form, they are better looking and more attractive than us regular werewolves who are considered to be better looking than most humans...like way more. So, lycans are godlike smoking hot.

  Fourth, they don't have to belong to a pack. They can travel anywhere alone and not be considered rogues.

  And fifth, they don't have mates chosen for them by the moon goddess like us regular werewolves. They get to choose their own mates, either another lycans, regular werewolves, or even humans they're attracted to. They would form a bond, much like a werewolf's mate bond, or even stronger if they're both attracted to each other, to begin with. Once, I heard a story about a lycan who took an already mated she-wolf, leaving her mate broken since there was nothing anybody could do about it.

  There are only three male and two female lycans in our school of over six hundred students. Only 10 percent out of those six hundred students are humans. All the teachers and the administration of this school are werewolves too.

  The three lycans heading this way right now are Lazarus, Caspian, and Constantine. The female lycans, who are not around right now, are Serena and Milan. I haven't seen those two around for a few days now. They are, of course, drop-dead gorgeous.

  I think Serena is mated to Lazarus, and Milan may or may not be mated to Caspian. There are rumors that those three boys are closely related to our ruling king, but we don't know for sure. There's not much else that we know about the lycans in our school. Not even their last names. They keep to themselves and pay no attention to us mere werewolves and humans. That makes them so mysterious and much more attractive to the female population here.

  So yeah, those three godlike Adonis are drop-dead gorgeous. Jaw dropping. Panty melting. And I so would be making a fool of myself if I don't stop drooling over them—like Penny—and all the other un-mated she-wolves around us right now.

  I quickly turn back and start pulling books I need from my locker. There's no way a lycan would be interested in an Omega like me. Lycans are attracted to strength, intelligence, and beauty. Besides, I might be meeting my mate today. Flutters of excitement start in my tummy at the thought. My wolf Ezra is getting excited. We've been waiting for this for years.

  I grab Penny's hand and drag her along to get to our class before the bell rings. We share English lit together.

  “I can't wait to get out of this place soon. Thank goodness we only have a few months of school left.” I inform Penny.

  “Oh, I don't know...I don't mind school. There are lots of hot guys around like those lycans,” she says. “Or like those boys...too bad they're such jerks and man-whores,” whispers Penny in my ear as we pass the popular group in our school.

  Logan Carrington, our future alpha is kissing or rather shoving his tongue down the throat of Mia Brown, the head cheerleader. They're together, but everybody knows they're seeing other people on the side. Zeke Walker, future delta has his arms around Elle Johnson and Marie Jacobs, while talking to Hunter Stevens, the future beta. I think Hunter isn't so bad. He doesn't seem like a player like the other two. He talked to me once or twice before and seemed pretty nice.

  “I wonder if he's digging for hidden treasure down her esophagus,” I whisper back and Penny starts laughing.

  Hunter turns to look at us, then his eyes shift to me, looking amused. I think his lips twitch a bit like he's trying not to laugh. Cuddly bunny and fuzzy slippers! He must have heard me.

  I practically push Penny into our English lit class, while trying to hide my flaming face.

  Yes, I do think those boys are pretty hot. There's no way in hell I would admit it to anyone, though.

  Logan and Zeke have this class with me and Penny. They enter the class ten minutes after the lecture started. Not that the teacher would say anything.

  Logan slides into a seat in front of me and my wolf stirs. I stare at the back of his golden head for a bit. Logan is about 6'2”, well-muscled; high cheekbones and sharp features like a model; bright blue eyes and golden blond hair. When he smiles, wow. His straight white teeth and those adorable dimples are simply to die for. Well, maybe I have a bit of a crush on him. Just a little bit. I think a lot of the girls here do.

  The rest of the classes went pretty well—boring and uneventful. Art is the only subject I look forward to. Did I mention that my mom is an artist? Well, she is, and I'm very proud of her. Lavinia Fairchild is quite well known. Every werewolf household here has at least one or two of her prints or originals. My dream is to go to an art school and be as good as her.

  We are sitting at our regular table during lunchtime when I suddenly smell that wonderful smell I can't describe. Whatever it is, it smells awesome! Ezra, my wolf is fighting to be let out and take control. I guess I was born during lunch time. I stand up and start following the smell. I can't help it. I have to find it. I vaguely hear my friends calling my name, but I can't seem to focus on anything else but that smell.

  My nose brings me to the popular group’s table. Oh no, I can't seem to bring my feet to stop. Ezra's taking control. Everybody stops talking. Logan Carrington? My mate is Logan Carrington? No, no, no, no.

  His beautiful blue eyes widen as he looks up at me. His eyes soften as they roam my face. I can see lust and hunger flitting across his face briefly as his eyes move up and down my body. But then he looks away quickly. His breathing turns ragged. My wolf howls with joy and my first instinct is to jump on him and stake my claim.

  “Follow me,” he says gruffly, and swiftly walks out the cafeteria through the back door.

  I follow him across the lawn to an oak tree. The tree provides a bit of privacy from prying eyes.

  “What's your name?” he finally asks. His beautiful eyes are not even looking at me. I can't seem to tear my eyes away from his perfect face. The sun is glinting in his golden hair. The shadows fall across the planes of his sharp features.

  “Genesis...Genesis Fairchild,” I finally answer.

  “Fairchild? You're an Omega, aren't you?” he says. “I can't have an Omega as my mate. My pack needs a stronger luna, not someone weak like you. Besides, I love someone else. Mia makes a better Luna than you ever will.” Each word is
like a knife slicing through my chest. Ezra whimpers.

  Oh no, suddenly I know what's going to happen. My heart starts to race, my breath comes out short and shallow. I don't know what's happening to me. All I know is that my heart is breaking.

  “I, Logan Carrington, future alpha of Shadow Geirolf pack, reject you, Genesis Fairchild, as my mate and future luna of my pack,” he utters coldly, not looking at me once.

  My wolf cries and howls in pain. She doesn't understand. Why is our mate hurting us so?

  “Hey baby, what's going on?” says Mia, wrapping her arms around him. Where did she come from?

  “Nothing to worry about, sweetheart,” he answers.

  She looks me over with disdain. She pointedly pulls Logan's head down and plants her lips on his for a claiming kiss. He wraps his arm around her waist, and then they turn and leave. I watch her whisper something in his ear and they both laugh.

  I watch them laugh as I fall to the ground, clutching at my chest. Oh, goddess, it feels like he just plunged a knife deep into my chest and twisted it. Then he just keeps yanking the knife up and down, left and right over and over again until there's nothing left of my heart but a bloody, twisted ugly gash in my chest. Ezra curls up in pain then goes silent.

  ***

  I'm lying on my bed now. Everything was a blur after I fell. I remember seeing my friends Penny, Reese, and River running to me, calling my name in panic. They were asking me what was wrong. River carried me to his car. I don't remember anything else. The three of them must've brought me home.

  “Talk to me, honey. Tell me what happened,” says mom gently, pushing my hair from my forehead.

  “He rejected me, mom. My mate rejected me.” My eyes start tearing up again. I still find it hard to believe that this is really happening to me. I wish this was just a horrible nightmare.