Free Lost Wolf (Curse of the Moon Book 1) by Stacy Claflin Page A

came.
    What was I going to do? Who was I leaning on to pay my bills? What if I'd done something wrong, and this was a warning? If only they would have let me know what I'd done to offend them. Or was I supposed to somehow know, but since I couldn't remember anything at all, I didn't know where I'd gone wrong?
    What was I doing? How had I thought I could get through the school year without knowing anything about my past?
    My stomach twisted in tight knots. I probably should have just walked away after the card was declined. My time would have been better spent calling the banks to find out what was going on. Now I would feel guilty if I didn't eat what Toby—Professor Foley—had paid for.
    Wait. Had he asked me to eat at his table?
    I looked around and spotted him at a table near the back of the room. A group of pretty girls sat around him, giggling and talking with him.
    Well, at least he wouldn't miss me. He'd probably already forgotten all about me. I glanced at my plate, but still felt guilty about not eating it. I'd just pay him back, but I didn't even have the means to do that. Plus, I knew I'd be hungry once my emotions calmed down. Since I'd been given the opportunity to eat, I needed to take advantage of that.
    Who knew what would happen once my stash of groceries dwindled? I needed to figure that out along with everything else—my tuition, rent, car payments, and whatever else I could think of when I could think straight.
    Surely, I wouldn't end up on the streets. Or would I?
    I had to stop thinking so catastrophically. There could be some simple reason for the cards not working. It didn't mean my Jaguar would be repossessed and that Landon would throw me out. I'd gotten those things somehow, and I could find a way to keep them.
    People started getting up from their tables in droves. I glanced at a clock. There was only about fifteen minutes until my next class started. I scarfed down the food on my plate, despite not being hungry. Then I followed the crowd and returned my tray.
    My mouth was parched since I'd forgotten to grab something to drink. I found the soda machine and filled a plastic cup with too-sweet iced tea and drank it.
    I was tempted to skip my next class to figure out my finances, but that could wait an hour. I couldn't miss my first day. At least the building was close. And my heart had stopped racing. Maybe eating had been a good idea after all. It didn't feel like the world was going to crumble around me anymore.
    Once inside, I found the classroom easily enough. It was on the first floor. I walked in and froze.
    Carter sat in the middle of the room. My mind spun back to our first date, and I remembered he was in the same psychology course.
    He glanced up and smiled wide, lighting up his entire face.
    I slid my bag off and walked over to him and sat to his right. "It's nice to see a friendly face."
    His expression darkened. "You're not having a good first day?"
    Part of me wanted to talk about something else, but I found myself spilling my money problems to the one guy who had probably never once had to worry about anything like that. "I nearly didn't get lunch today because I had no money. It was awful—right in front of so many people."
    Carter's brow wrinkled.
    "My cards were declined." I frowned.
    "It happens. System glitches or a new employee pushes a wrong button. One time—"
    "But two different cards?" I asked. "Not even from the same bank."
    He wrinkled his brow. "That is odd. Want me to look into it for you?"
    "Thanks, but it's my problem."
    "Well, I happen to want to help. Did you eat anything?"
    I nodded. "Someone took pity on me and paid for my meal."
    "Tell you what. Make your calls and then send me a text. We'll go study at the Jag, okay? Either to celebrate or commiserate. Sound good?"
    "Do I need a formal dress?"
    "Not for a weekday afternoon. You're fine."
    I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though I hadn't unloaded all my problems, at least I had someone to talk with about some