by Holly Hook
He's got to still be alive, I think.
I can't let myself think the alternative.
"Sure. I know that's forbidden, but we can," Marion says, pushing out the words.
"It'll be better than out here." I don't see Gavin yet or his truck. We've arrived a bit early.
Marion and I circle the yellow building and enter through another door. The school is incredibly quiet, but I breathe a sigh of relief as Marion wraps her arms around herself.
"We'll be okay in here," I promise, wishing I could truly reassure her.
"This is taboo," she says.
"It's a dumb taboo," I tell her, eyeing the rows of lockers and the walls that end overhead in rafters. "We can hang out in here. Alan is a creep, I'll give you that. About him, you were right. But the other people in the Rose Gang are fine."
She looks at me, hope in her eyes. "Those guys Alan brought aren't. Gavin thinks a drug deal went bad or something."
Alan doesn't do drugs, I want to say. And neither do the Rose Gang.
"We don't know what it's about," I say. The world I've entered is more complex than I realized.
And far more dangerous. I head to my locker, trying to outrace all my horrifying thoughts. But the question of staying safe today plays on my mind. Alan won't try anything in front of witnesses, will he?
No. Alan is too smart for that. Sure, everyone's scared of him, but scared people can arm themselves. Dad even bought a few handguns years ago when he was worried about "undesirables" moving into the high-rise. Undesirables, it turned out, who were educated and just wanted a better life.
I open my locker as Marion looks on, not wanting to separate from me as I gather my books. "You okay? This isn't so bad."
She breathes out. "We should just get to our classrooms. I don't know if they're unlocked or not, but we can try."
It turns out the classrooms are unlocked this early, though the teachers aren't present. I don't know where the staff huddles in fear so early in the day, but it's not behind their desks. I open the door to my first class, Money Management. At least Alan isn't in that one.
A hand grips my shirt collar and squeezes. I lash out by slapping the attacker as Marion screams.
"Get in here," Valerie hisses, pulling.
I can't resist. Her strength outmatches mine five-fold as she pulls me close, so close that I'm looking right into her blue eyes. They're the same suspicious eyes from the blond wolf two evenings ago. And they're anything but friendly.
"Let go of her," Marion says, following us into the classroom.
"This isn't about you. Please step out so we can talk," Valerie says. "Please." And she lets go of my shirt so that we're both standing near the first row of empty desks.
"It's fine," I tell Marion. "We just need to chat, is all."
My new friend still hesitates as I switch my gaze between her and Valerie. But at last, Marion exits the room and slowly closes the door behind her. That's amazing, considering the dread Valerie must give off to everyone in town but me. Poor Marion must be praying.
"Okay. I'm cutting right to the chase," Valerie says, all business. "I don't hate you, Beckah, but you're causing problems. Things were fine until you showed up."
"I've figured that out." My throat goes as dry as the Arizona desert. I stare right into Valerie's eyes, determined not to let her intimidate me. But there's also no kindness or tolerate in the depths of her eyes.
What if she's jealous?
"Tyler is like a brother to me, and your coming here has put him in danger," she hisses. As she leans close, a very low growl emerges from her throat. "Alan has split from the pack, and now he's found a new one. They're threatening to take over Tower, and if that happens, this town is doomed. They've already made one kill and nearly infected another." Valerie punctuates her sentence with a sharp nod. "These werewolves are normal. They're not civilized like us. They have no regard for life. The Rose Pack is different. We're not normal werewolves."
"The town? Doomed?" I want to throw up. A horrible taste rises in my throat. Valerie's giving me space to think, to fix this. She even backs away a bit, but she keeps her arms crossed, waiting for me to say something. I breathe out. I've felt this before, every time I had to answer to Dad for a screw up or an unacceptable grade. And I know I'm going to cave. "This curse. It's not fair to any of you." I should tell her that I didn't ask to come here, that I was sent here for reasons beyond my control, and that with my dad, there's no way I can go back home right now. But those excuses are flimsy and Valerie will know that. "I don't know if I can leave. I'm in exile just like your pack is, and I never meant to have Alan come after me. In fact, I think Alan brought me here. He could have threatened my dad and made him send me here." Pain knifes into my chest as I speak my fears out loud.
"Perhaps, but pack matters are more complicated than you know," she says, once again drawing close. For the first time, a real threat blooms in her eyes. "I don't know what Alan's plan is, but Tyler saved me. I need to help keep him safe. He saved all of us. And things have to stay this way, at least for now. Beckah, you have to find a way to go back home and cut off all contact with Tyler. And with us."
"What?" I'm shocked at how loud and shocked I am.
"You need to go. There's no other way." Valerie seizes the front of my shirt, holding me there, making it impossible for me to escape. I'm at her mercy, and while up this close, I can see the animal in her eyes, a creature in a trap, a creature who's scared. "If you do, there's a chance we can mend things with Alan and drive out his new pack mates."
"I...I can't just go back home," I say. I'm shaking, not only with terror but with rage. None of this is fair to anyone. "My dad...he'll kill me. And Alan might follow me. It's me he's after, Valerie."
"And there's nothing you can do against him. If you're lucky, he'll just curse you. If not, your life will end soon. Either way, you won't ever leave Tower again. You're from New York. Rich. With a family who cares about you." Jealousy burns green between her words.
"How do you know?" I ask, grasping her hands. But her grip is iron.
"We talk to each other," she says.
Tyler told her about where I'm from? Well, he would have had to.
"Look, I didn't ask to come out here and I don't have a way to leave. There has to be another way to get rid of this threat. To make Alan happy. My parents won't let me go back home right now. My dad's rigid. They'll send me right back." The truth spills from me. "And then my dad will make my sentence longer. He's like that. You do not cross him."
And then Valerie's face softens, to my shock. She lets out a breath and loosens her grip on my shirt, but doesn't let go.
"Try to find a way to leave. Any way. And if you can't get out of town, you need to break up with Tyler, and it needs to be obvious to all involved. Only then will we have a chance at getting our alpha back. And Alan. Then we can go back to our lives, separate from the rest of Tower."
Valerie doesn't want to remove her curse. She wants Tyler to remain in his state. I ball my fists, wanting to slug her, but that's a fight I won't win. She eyes my fists as if she can hear my anger.
But I know what I have to do, for everyone.
"Fine," I say. "I'll pretend to break up with Tyler. And I have a way to do that. Will that be enough to keep Alan away from me?" I don't understand how that will work when Alan came after me before Tyler and I got involved with each other, but Valerie seems convinced and I need to make her happy.
She lets go and exhales. That's a good sign. "I think so. Something has to work here. And you had better make it good and convincing."
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I hate this. And so, I know, will Tyler.
But at least I know he's alive. Valerie all but confirmed it. Once we have our agreement, we return to our seats for the start of class. Marion comes in and eyes me up and down to make sure I'm not dead and Valerie takes her spot at the back of the room, where she always hangs out.
The lesson seems to drag and so does
Advanced Lit during the next hour.
Then I remember.
Third hour. Statistics.
If Alan's back, he's going to be there, and so will Tyler. Tyler and I have been sitting together for the past two weeks, side by side, and I took the seat that Alan once occupied.
I have to be convincing, or Valerie will find a way to force me out of town. Will she hurt me if she gets desperate enough?
Alan will. That's his plan.
The bell rings, and I rush to Statistics, determined to have some seats still empty once I get there. Mr. Jorgenssen is already in the room, keeping his gaze locked on the marker board as people enter.
And Alan sits on one far side of the room, and Tyler on the other.
I meet gazes with Tyler as Alan's prickling stare descends on me. The tension in the room is so high that I can barely breathe. I don't spot any of the new guys in here, but if they're in school today, they're not in the advanced classes, that's for sure. Traditional werewolves probably aren't into studies.
Tyler has a purple bruise around one eye. A vicious animal scratch down the side of his face. Another gouge on his shoulder, barely hidden by his T-shirt. He's sitting, stiff and unmoving as if changing his position will hurt him.
He's been in a fight.
And Alan doesn't have any injuries. It's clear what's happened. Alan and the new wolves attacked him. And Tyler, judging from the empty yet terrified look in his eyes, barely got away.
No, he mouths.
I've done exactly what he's told me not to.
Don't screw this up. I've done that enough.
I force a snort and a glare at him. And then I whirl, giving him a view of my back, and sit down at the front of the room.
I've snubbed him.
And I want to die inside.
Tyler has to understand. My heart hammers even though the classroom fills with other nervous people. Class time seems to drag on forever. The werewolf who wants me infected or dead is sitting just feet behind me, studying my every move like the predator he is. Sweat gathers between my fingers as I try to focus on my Statistics assignment. I know that if Alan decides to attack right now, even the teacher won't be able to stop him.
But he doesn't.
Instead, he lies in wait.
And I've left Tyler with my glare and my snort. Graceful.
The bell rings for lunch, and I take all the strength I have not to run to the safety of the cafeteria. I've been worrying about the walk between buildings all morning, so I'm sure to meet with Marion and Gavin as they wait for me near the exit doors.
"Hey," I say, offering a friendly wave.
And a horrific idea forms in my mind as I eye Gavin. No, I don't want to do it, but if there's any day to stoke his ego and accept a ride home, it's this one. Walking will be too dangerous and even Tyler might not be able to protect us while he's in his injured state. Do werewolves heal fast? Giving Tyler a bit of time to rest might be what he needs.
If he realizes what I'm doing. I don't think Valerie will go to him and tell him I'm using a ploy to keep us both alive.
"What's wrong?" Marion asks.
I need something, and quick. "I think I sprained my ankle this morning."
My comment has the desired effect. Gavin's face lights up. "Do you need a ride home today?"
My skin crawls but Gavin sure beats dealing with Alan. "I might. If you would, that would be awesome." For effect, I pick up my foot a bit.
Gavin doesn't tell me he hopes I feel better soon or that he's sorry I hurt myself. Nope. I'm an opportunity. What is his problem? I've never seen a guy so desperate for female attention, especially since Marion hangs around him all the time. They must be on the best-friends-only basis, then.
We eat together, and the tension in the room is palpable, as Tyler would say. Tyler and I haven't been sitting near each other at lunch, mainly because we wanted to keep things low key, but this arrangement hurts all the same. Tyler, still injured, sits with Valerie, Cammie, and Chaz on the other side of the room.
And meanwhile, Alan sits with the two new guys in the opposite corner.
People avoid both tables like the plague, though they divert more towards Tyler's table to avoid the newcomers. Watching people exit the lunch line is like watching the last toothpaste squeeze out of a tube.
"Something went down," Gavin says.
"No kidding," Marion says, eyeing me from the side. "Someone had a fight."
I gulp but try not to look at Tyler. I have to say something that I know the werewolves will hear, and I have to do it now. Silence isn't convincing enough. Right now, Alan is listening.
But so is Tyler.
"We should all just stay the hell away from that business," I say. "You were both right. The whole thing is creepy all around."
"Exactly," Gavin says. His mood has lifted, despite all the tension around. And that grosses me out. "I see we're rubbing off on you." Then he grins.
Tyler watches us as we eat mostly in silence.
But so does Alan. I sneak a glance at him to see that he's got one intelligent eyebrow lifted, and he's still studying me like a piece of prey. Why did Valerie think that a breakup would get him to leave me alone? This plan is stupid. Alan came after me before I even knew Tyler existed, for crap's sake.
This is for Tyler's safety.
Not mine.
She's willing to let myself go under the bus to save him. But what can she do? Those new guys are huge and as wolves, they'll outmatch the four remaining Rose Gang members. The pack's best bet is to get Alan back on their side and drive out the newcomers.
And while they're doing that, I'm cutting off Tyler's protection.
"Beckah?" Marion asks.
I'm pushing the food around my tray. "I have a lot going on. Been getting behind on my studies." Tyler will be back. He has to know what I'm doing.
"Oh. Understandable," Marion says.
"I can still give you the grand tour of Tower today," Gavin says, completely ignoring the I'm behind on my studies part.
I really need to get home. But I can't say that. "Sure. That might be good. I know I've been hesitating and too worried about my grades."
"You need to chill." Gavin scoots a bit closer to me, but I don't dare to look to Marion for help. Gavin smells like dried mud and the outdoors. "I'll show you the hunting trails and all the shortcuts around Tower."
"Thanks. That sounds great." I lift my voice, and Gavin beams.
* * * * *
The grand tour of Tower isn't as bad as I expect. Gavin just drives around, full of himself as the truck's engine sputters at times and the suspension squeaks. But I can't fault him for that. The people of this town mostly don't have the money to fix their vehicles. It makes me realize just how separate I've been from the rest of the world my whole life.
And at least he still has hunting rifles behind the truck seats. Rattling sounds alert me to the presence of ammo under the seats, too.
"And this back here," Gavin says, turning down a dirt road, "is where my family has their deer stands. The game is great out here. The deer come out at dusk because they like to lick the salt off the rocks out here." He motions to a bunch of boulders that dot the land between the scattered pine trees. Other than the dirt road and a few tree stands, as well as hunter shacks, there's nothing of interest out here.
"Interesting," I say because it's the right thing to do. If Gavin likes hunting, that's great.
"Let me show you the pond back here," he says, circling around and driving down an even narrower, more weed-choked back road.
I grip the armrest, we're bouncing up and down so bad. And Marion, from her position in the back of the truck, leans in through the dusty back window. "Hey. If I throw up, you're going to clean it."
Yeah. Gavin made her ride in the back.
But Marion doesn't seem mad anymore. In fact, she seems relieved, mainly since Gavin isn't going around and moping now.
"Just puke in the back. I can hose it out."
&nbs
p; "Ew," I say.
He smiles at me. "Well, here it is."
The pond is pretty much a glorified puddle with algae in it. A few lily pads dot the water and bugs fly in clouds over the murk. Well, the blue dragonflies are pretty, but that's all.
"It's...a pond," I say.
"Exactly," Marion says.
"I come out here all the time just to think," Gavin says. "After a long day of hunting, I might watch the sun set. There's no way I stay out here after dark, though. It gets creepy out here at night."
I sit upright. "Have you ever seen anything?" The isolation makes this spot creepy right now. I see nothing around us but trees.
"Well, I've heard some things," Gavin says. I sense his mask coming down. "Animals, mostly. Sometimes it's just a weird uneasy feeling."
"That happens in the woods sometimes," I say. "My mom and I had that feeling a couple of times, and it turned out there was a mountain lion nearby. We didn't see it until we were back in our vehicle. It was in a tree, staring at us."
"You usually don't see them," Gavin says. "If you do see one, it probably doesn't want to attack you. The feeling I get sometimes is something else. It just feels like there's something out in these woods, watching."
I gulp, knowing what he means.
"And I've never gotten the chance to see it. I'd love to hunt whatever is causing the woods to go dead silent sometimes."
I grip the armrest again even though we're stationary. Gavin would shoot the Rose Pack. I know it. The antlers on the front of his truck tell me that he sees animals not only as food, but as trophies.
"Maybe it's time I get home," I say, even though the sun is still a couple of hours from setting. "This tour was great, but I really do have double the homework to catch up on."
"Oh." Gavin's smile drops off, but at least he doesn't go back to the sour guy he was in public. Is there something to Gavin that I haven't seen yet? He's not the same guy he was earlier today. Maybe he's just moody. "Yeah. I suppose you do."
I pray that Gia is home, but I doubt she'll be able to protect me from Alan and his new pack mates. I want Tyler to stay with me, so we can do our homework together and chat about things that no one else in Tower understands. Marion is great, and maybe Gavin isn't so bad, but they're not capable of fighting off wolves.
