Sorority Row
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Sorority Row Copyright 2017 by TL Reeve and Michele Ryan
ISBN: 978-1-68361-177-6
Cover art by Ravenborn Covers
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
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www.decadentpublishing.com
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
ROAR
Mischief, Mongrels & Mayhem by Heather Long
Sorority Wolf by Rebecca Royce
Phoenix Rising by Cara Carnes
Imperfect Mate by Lia Davis
Shifted Plans by Brandy Walker
Tempting Her Tiger by Virginia Cavanaugh
Craving Cameo by TL Reeve
Changing Her Tune by Brandy Walker
Phoenix Crossing by Cara Carnes
Unrequited Mate by TL Reeve and Michele Ryan
Also By TL Reeve
Saving Their Princess
The Bodyguard and the Dom
Their Secretary
Craving Cameo
All or Nothing
Omega’s Heart
Winter Magic
A Wolf’s Contract
Private Wolf
A Wolf’s Deception
A Wolf’s Bargain
Bear Essentials
Oracle’s Vision (with Michele Ryan)
Crouching Lion, Hidden Human
Unrequited Mate (With Michele Ryan)
From Michele Ryan
Power to Forgive
Oracle’s Vision (With TL Reeve)
Unrequited Mate (With TL Reeve)
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoy Sorority Row, book 2 of the Turnskin University series. Bell, Jackson and Christoph burn up the sheets and prove to everyone, they are meant to be.
This book, for me, is all about those who might not have thought they fit in anywhere. The house of Misfits is dedicated to you. Because you always have a home with us!
As always if you would like to drop me a line or leave a review, please do!
Until next time!
TL
authortlreeve@hotmail.com
Dear Reader:
Thank you for reading Sorority Row, the second installment of Turnskin University. Bell, Jackson and Christoph, along with the secondary characters were a blast to write.
We loved bringing, as we termed them, the misfit pledges to Bell’s doorstep. Each one brought something different and amazing to the Sorority and thanks to Bells dedication, they all finally had a place where they belonged.
TL and I look forward to bringing you further adventures as soon as possible! We already have ideas and plots formed for several more books.
If you’d like to leave a review, we appreciate it! If you’d like to drop me a line, you can send me an email at: Michele.Ryan@hotmail.com.
Michele Ryan
Welcome to Turnskin University...
The Greek Shifter Games have come to a close, and Bell must focus on gaining enough pledges to keep her house. Sigma Epsilon Xi doesn’t have tons of money. Nor do they have tons of sisters. They need ten pledges in thirty days or they’ll lose their ramshackle house. Add to it, their house is on the verge of being condemned. And, as if her life isn’t hard enough already, she has two dominant males hot on her tail—Christoph and Jackson.
Things take a turn for the worst, when she has to make a good impression for Christoph’s parents. She has to deal with the questions from her father and her uncles, as well. At every turn, however, one situation or another arises, threatening the progress she’s making.
Christoph and Jackson don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, but mating Bell—claiming her for their own—drives their every action. But both men have secrets. Can they put their differences aside and team up to be who she needs?
With the help of 555-ROAR, can these mates find their way, or will the stresses of Greek life, keep them apart?
TL’s Dedication
To Michele, thank you! You’re my awesomesauce when I need a boost and the best writing partner in the world. Stay sparkling! To the readers, thank you!
Michele’s Dedication
To TL, thanks for always being there for me. Thank you never seems like enough! You’re an amazing person, friend and writing partner! I don’t know what I’d do without you! To my husband and children, thank you for being patient with me when dinner is late or the clothes aren’t folded because I’m writing. To Heather aka WTM, aka Momma, I still can’t believe this is real. You need to pinch me. Hard!
Sorority Row
Turnskin University #2
555-ROAR Series
By
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan
Glossary of Names
Hayden Raftery: (Wolf) Vice President of Sigma Epsilon Xi. Daughter to Jace, Loraine, and Blake. Bodhi’s twin. Mated to Nico Lopez.
Nico Lopez: (Wolf) Hayden’s Mate. Bad boy in his youth.
Bell Dryer: (Lion) President of Sigma Epsilon Xi. Her mates are Christoph and Jackson, and she is Hayden’s cousin and Zoe’s sister.
Zoe Dryer: (Panther) President of Xi Beta Xi. She’s a handful, a lot like her father. Her mate is Rocky, a falcon.
Christoph St. John: (Lion) Young alpha. Bell is his mate.
Jackson Dalco: (Dragon) Bell’s mate and Christoph’s.
Rapier Dryer: (Lion) Alpha of the Dryer Pride. Zoe and Bell’s father, and mate to Jasmine Dryer (human). Owner of Dryer Construction.
Utah Blake: (Tiger) Son to Osirus Blake and Jenna Blake. Member of the Dryer pride. Deaf. Works construction. Older brother to Rosie and Ramsey Blake.
Raquel Leon: (Human) Newest member of Sigma Epsilon Xi. Interpreter for Utah when need be. Also, has a deaf brother at home. Genius level student, who doesn’t look the part.
Victor Lorenz: (Horse, Andalusian) Thespian, lover, not a fighter. He’s wounded, but strong, and wants to change the world, starting with Sigma Epsilon Xi. He’s creative and funny, and suave. Also, the first openly gay member of Bell’s sorority.
Shelly O’Rourke: (Unicorn) Shy, funky, loves 80’s things and a new member of Sigma Epsilon Xi. Favorite movie is Legend (Yes, the one with Tom Cruise). She’s a little disheveled, but she does that on purpose. All of her family, except for a few, are dead. She is that fabled “rare” unicorn.
Joy Hrid: (Water element) Bubbly personality. New member of Sigma Epsilon Xi. She’s spunky and fun and always wants to help. Has a positive can-do personality.
Chapter One
Two w
eeks after the Greek Shifter Games…
“There’s not enough.” Bell Dryer shifted through the pledges and groaned. After Nico Lopez, Christoph St. John, her first potential mate, and Jackson Dalco, her second potential mate took their spots as champions, she’d thought their worries were over. How could girls not flock to their sorority? Hadn’t they shown they could have a good time, stay poised, and stand up for the fundamental principles of the school? “We’ve worked so hard. What’s the point anymore?”
“Don’t get discouraged. We’ll get them.” Hayden, her cousin, best friend, and vice president of Sigma Epsilon Xi, pulled one of the applications out and grinned. “How about this girl?” She handed it to her.
Bell stared down at the picture. The girl’s long black hair had been done in small twist braids weaved with hues of pink and purple. Over her right eye and down to her temple trailed a line of small paw-print tattoos. And the large, round black-frame glasses perched on her nose, gave her a rocker-nerd vibe.
“She speaks three languages, English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, and she’s human.”
“Whoa. What’s her GPA?” Hope bloomed inside of her.
“Four point one.” Hayden scrunched her nose up and handed the application to her. “I didn’t know anyone could get a four point one.”
“It’s lots of work.” Bell glanced at the paper. “Let’s offer her a tour of the house, see what she thinks.” After placing Raquel’s in the “maybe” pile, she grabbed another application off the stack. “What about her?”
Hayden flipped through the paperwork. “I like her.”
Joy had approached her after the Greek Shifter Games had ended. The slight flush to her cheeks and the way she rambled on about everything and nothing gave her an endearing quality. Then, when she said she was a water elemental, well, it pretty much sealed the deal for Bell. She wanted her to become a Sigma Epsilon Xi sister. “She’s cute. Funny. She’ll make an excellent sister.”
“Invite her.” She put the applications aside. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“Let’s throw a party. All the other Greek houses are. We should, too. Who knows, maybe we’ll get pledges from it.” Hayden pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Bell.
She glanced at the flyer and frowned. “I’m not sure.” She looked around. The place, though home, could use some work. Their Greek letters had fallen off the front of the house a few days before. The school maintenance department hadn’t reattached them, even though she’d written up the work order and dropped it off. The windows barely opened, plus the screens had long since vanished. Sometimes the water ran orange because of the old pipes, and the cracked and warped floors were less than desirable, but they called it home. “This place….”
“We’ll use the yard. We can ask the guys to clean it up. We’ll do drinks and snacks. I’m sure Bodhi can deal with the music. It’ll be fun.”
The door opened a second later, and Zoe stepped inside. “What up, bitches?” Today she wore a leather vest over a white tank top, and she’d wrapped a purple bandana around one thigh of her jeans. “Why do you guys look like you’ve lost your best friends?”
“Hayden wants to throw a party.”
“Way to go!” She raised her hand for a high five then glanced between them. “Don’t leave me hanging.”
“The house isn’t up to par,” Bell huffed.
She lowered her hand. “Do it outside.”
Hayden gave her a smug grin. “See? We’re in agreement.”
“We don’t have time to plan it.” She didn’t want to be such a fuddy-duddy, but she wouldn’t risk the reputation of her sorority by throwing some half-assed party. “If we do it, we won’t have time.”
“Well, the flyer says Friday.”
“Okay, so we have five days. We can put a party together in five days.” Hayden glanced at Zoe. “Right?”
“Sure. We can. We’ll do a cosponsored party. Sigma Epsilon Xi and Xi Beta Xi.” She tapped her chin. “You should really have Dad come in here and fix the place up.”
Bell groaned. “Damn it!” She didn’t want her father to do anything for her. She wanted to stand on her own two feet. Some people had the tendency to treat her different due to her being the alpha’s daughter. So many times, she wanted to call and ask for help, but she held off. “Why don’t we do this at your place, Zoe?” She winced at how whiny she sounded. “Shit.”
“That’s a negative. Wait. Did you just curse?” Shock filled Zoe’s voice.
“She’s gotten into the habit.” Hayden chuckled. “I blame all those late nights with Jackson. She came home with a hickey the other night.”
Bell rolled her eyes, but the heat filling her cheeks gave them more ammunition. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you and Nico last night. Miss I-have-a-mate-now.”
She shrugged. “He’s irresistible. What can I say? Plus, I waited a long time for him.”
“You’d also get lucky if you’d give it to your mates.” Zoe grinned. “Dad and Mom are going to freak the fuck out when they see who your mates are.”
“Shut up about...them.” She didn’t like talking about Christoph or Jackson. It made her uncomfortable. She’d never been the one to put herself out there. Being the “bitch in heat” had been inconceivable to her. Of all her siblings, she’d been the wallflower.
“Lighten up. They’re yours. There’s nothing wrong with having sex.” Zoe glanced at Hayden. “Tell her.”
“I don’t think she wants to hear the sex talk.”
“No, I really don’t want to hear the sex talk. I mean it’s not like...you know...I haven’t done it before.”
Zoe gave her a dull stare. “Really?”
“In a roundabout way.” She gave a nonchalant lift of her shoulder.
“The only way sex happens is when tab A goes into slot B.”
Bell groaned. “You are so crude.”
“Would you prefer visual aids?” Her sister grinned. “I bet I could find some of your old Barbie and Ken dolls.”
Nico stopped on the bottom step. “What the fuck have I walked in on?”
“Sex 101.”
He walked to the couch and sat beside Hayden. After placing a kiss to the mark on her neck, he picked up the flyer. “We’re doing it with Omega Pi Delta. You guys thinking of joining in?” Nico had quickly and efficiently slipped into school life after spending years apart from Hayden. He’d never struck Bell as being a fraternity guy, but with Alex Marquez, president of Omega Pi Delta, he fit right in.
Bell nodded. “We just have to throw it all together and see what happens.”
“Well,” he replied. “What can the guys and I do to help?”
Zoe got this dangerous glint in her eyes. “I’m glad you asked.”
Bell winced. Oh God. What have I gotten us into?
***
What the hell am I missing here?
Bell opened the fridge and counted the number of trays of sandwiches and cold-cut rollups. The gate on the side of the house banged shut again as another group of partygoers arrived. Is one of these hiding? Either her count was off or the caterer screwed up. She prayed it was her count.
“Hey.” Zoe came up beside her and peered into the open refrigerator then glanced at her. “We need food. Like, yesterday.” She glanced down at Bell’s shirt. “Where’s your name tag? If we have to wear these stupid things, so do you.”
“Who the fuck cares?” One-forty-one, one-forty-two….
“Then why the hell are we wearing them?”
Bell turned on her sister. “I am in crisis mode. I don’t care if you wear them or stick them up your butt. I can’t make a count!”
“Easy, killer.” Zoe held up her hands. “Your claws are out.”
“I’m aware.” She pushed an errant lock of her hair behind her ear. She wished she’d pulled it into a ponytail, but Hayden had talked her out of it. S
aid it matched Bell’s outfit. She should have added a blue headband to pair with her sweater. “Can you count this for me? I’m so frazzled, I keep getting a different number every time.”
“You’re supposed to serve it, not count it.” Zoe playfully elbowed her.
“I don’t have time for your crap, Zoe. Just count the items in the damn tray for me. It’s short, and if my count is correct, we don’t have enough food to cover the party.”
“It’s just food.”
“Exactly! Without it, people won’t stay, and we need them to hang out and have fun.”
“Shit. You’re right.” Zoe scrubbed her forehead and blew out a breath. “Take it all out. It’ll make it easier to count. Maybe it’s why you missed a few.”
A low growl vibrated from Bell’s chest, catching her off guard.
Zoe slid her shock-filled wide-eyed gaze to her. “Did you just growl at me?”
“You’re making it seem like I can’t count. It’s basic fucking math!”
“You need a beer to help you relax and chill the fuck out.” Zoe got into Bell’s face and curled her lip. “And, if you growl at me like that again, I’m calling Mom.”
“There’s no alcohol at the party.” She ignored her sister’s comment. What are we, two?
“No worries. I’ll get Rocky and tell him to stop to get you a bottle of tequila to calm your ass down,” she teased.
“I am calm.”
Zoe snorted. “Sure you are, and I’m sugar and spice and everything fucking nice.”
“Not today. Please, I’m begging you. Can you just give me one day when you are not being…you?”