The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

in total chaos. Intellectually, I know this is a new day—a new semester. But a part of me is still on edge, like something could go sideways at any moment. If for no other reason than the weird vibe growing between Wade and me.

I’d thought we’d be growing closer by the time he moved here. Not the other way around.

“You ready to head inside?” Wade asks, putting his Impala in park.

I turn to him and chuckle softly. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“It’s just a school, right?” He shrugs, then quirks an eyebrow. “Besides, it’s not like I haven’t been here before.”

“Yes, but this is literally as far as you got last time,” I say, shooting him a knowing look. “Well, okay, so you made it inside the doorway.”

“True, true,” he nods. “On the upside, it still stands. No hellmouth or anything. And it is a pretty nice door.” His grin beams back at me and makes my heart flutter.

I shake my head, trying to chase away this anxiety and let his lighter mood take root. Yet it still sits there like a rock in the pit of my stomach. I want to reach out to him, touch his face, and tell him how I’m feeling, but…

“Come on,” I finally say, kicking open my door.

Wade follows after me, circling around the front of his car and reaching out to take my hand. I slide my palm against his and we walk through the sea of cars toward the massive structure. Our feet crunch against the snow glittering the ground, and I tug my coat in tighter.

“So, anything I should know? Best people to go to for help, or places to avoid when I don’t want to study?” Wade asks, nudging me in the shoulder.

“Well, for sure, the person to talk to is Ms. Cain for almost everything. She’s a strange duck, for sure, but she’ll know how to point you in the right direction. I swear, she’s a walking encyclopedia.”

“Good to know. Can you point her out when we get inside?” he says, his breath billowing out in clouds in the chill morning air. Even the tip of his nose has begun to turn pink.

“You can’t miss her. She’s the main admin. We have to go to her to first,” I say, reaching for the handle of the massive door.

“Cool. Makes things easy,” Wade says, grabbing hold of the door as it opens and shooing me through. He gives me a sideways glance and shakes his head. “That’s my job, woman.”

My lips curve upward and I step to the side, allowing people to go around us. “I know how to open a door, Angel.”

“I’m sure you do. That’s not the point,” Wade says, giving me a knowing look.

“Hey there, guys,” a familiar voice rings out.

I look up, surprised to see Cat bounding down the hallway and heading toward us. Her black hair is twisted into a bun on the top of her head and she’s dressed up like one of the head mistresses you’d see in Harry Potter or something. Regardless of all of that, she looks good. Like she’s finally gotten the rest she desperately needed so her body could heal after the car accident and everything that followed.

Trailing behind her is Colton, dressed in a grey suit and a tie that doesn’t exactly look uniform. Despite his obvious attempt at also dressing up, he remains ever the same when his gaze locks on the floor as he shuffles toward us.

When Cat reaches me, she wraps her arms around my neck and holds on tight. My eyes widen as I look at Wade, whose eyebrows rise into his hairline. I wrap my arms around her, returning her embrace.

“Cat, why are you here? You don’t need orientation. Besides, shouldn’t you still be in bed?” I ask, pulling back. “I thought the doctors were giving you a couple of weeks more before your system was back to normal?”

“I couldn’t spend another day in that room. I was about to climb the walls. Besides, Ms. Cain asked Colton and me to help with new student tours, so…here we are.” She beams, turning back to Colton. “What are you doing back there? Yeesh, you’re so awkward.”

Colton juts out his chin, but his lips slide into a sideways grin.

“Yeah, uh, sorry guys. Good to see you both,” he says, glancing between me and Wade before his gaze drops back to the floor.

My insides clench, and I bite my lip. I haven’t spoken to Colton since the day we resurrected Cat—and the day he kissed me. It’s just been too weird.

Clearing my throat, I step forward, sweeping my hand out to the side. “Guys, you remember my boyfriend, Wade, right?”

Cat grins broadly. “Yep, sure do. We didn’t get much time to chat, but I feel like I know everything about you. Autumn is absolutely enamored.”

Shooting her a sideways glance, I mutter under my breath, “Cat.”

She takes a step backward, shaking her head. “I, uh… I meant to say, I’m totally looking forward to getting to know you, Wade.” A big, cheesy grin erupts on her face and she raises her eyebrows. Then she shifts her gaze back to me like whatever she just said totally made up for the humiliation I feel coming my way.

I run my hand over my face.

Wade chuckles, turning from me to Cat. “The feeling is mutual. Autumn’s told me a lot about you both. I’m looking forward to being around more.” His eyes float to Colton, who glances up just in time to catch Wade’s discerning gaze. The tension between the two of them settles between us like a heavy fog.

Inhaling sharply, I take Wade’s hand and say, “Well, on that note, we better get moving. We have to go see Ms. Cain and get Wade to his orientation session. See you guys around?”

“Okay, catch ya around. If you end up in the Elemental Magic wing, stop by and say hi. It’s where we’ll be,” Cat says, spinning around on