by Belle Harper
“Oh, yeah, I think she will be fine. She hit her head pretty bad. Olivia started shit with me, and Ada… well, Olivia didn’t like what she had to say.”
I watched as his fists clenched and his dark brown eyes glowed for a moment. Oh, shit. Fuck.
“It's okay, don’t… fuck, don’t shift.” He shook his head.
“I’m okay. Just, when it comes to Ada. I don’t like seeing her get hurt is all.” I nodded. I could see a few other Rawlins’ guys standing off to the side, obviously waiting for Huxley to return.
“I also wanted to thank you, for saving me. Twice.” He rubbed the scruff on his face as he looked everywhere but me. “I tend to act before thinking. So, you really saved me and I owe you my life. If there is anything you need, not that you would need something from me… ah fuck. Yeah. Ranger is coming. I should go.” I reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. His eyes glowed again, but I didn’t think it was me he was worried about. It was Ranger.
“Look, there is something I need. Would you guys—the Rawlins boys. Would you freeze Olivia out? Don’t look at her, speak to her. I hope this way she gets the idea, that you don’t just go bashing down other girls to get what you want. She might learn her lesson.”
He nodded and looked down to where I was still holding him. I let go fast, as if his arm was on fire.
“Oh, sorry. Try calling Ada after school. I know she would love to hear from you. I don’t think she has a date to the prom…” I didn’t wait to see a reaction from him. I just turned and made my way over to where Ranger was waiting with looks that could kill.
“Babe…” I ran my hand up his chest. He blinked and a slow smile crept over his face. “Aww, Lex. You called me babe. I love it, even though I know you’re trying to distract me. I can't help myself. I see you touching someone else and I get all…” he growled low in my ear and nipped at it. I laughed.
“You heard what I said about Olivia, freezing her out?” He growled low again, before whispering, “she doesn’t exist to the Kiba boys.” I smiled, not that he wouldn’t have done it. I just needed him to spread the word.
He wrapped me up in his arms and I loved the feel of being trapped there. He rocked me from side to side before the bell rang again. Ugh... Class.
When I made it to Art, Maverick was sitting on a table with his work in front of him. He was watching it intently; I thought I would be able to sneak in without him noticing me but the curl of his lip as he turned his head to me told me otherwise.
“You think you can sneak up on me?” His hand pulls on my hip, I stumbled into him.
“Oh, I can try.” I kissed his lips, and he slapped my ass. I jumped. Wow, that kinda display in front of classmates was new. He wasn’t very affectionate outside of the house. If anything, he seemed to be scared of public displays of affection. I used to hate being the centre of attention, but I was slowly learning to ignore it. Heads would always turn when I was kissing three of the hottest guys in school… and displaying our relationship in the open for everyone to see.
I sat down beside him and looked down at his painting, the one I remember he was creating when I first started this class and he hated me, well okay. He didn’t hate me, just wasn’t a big fan on my being here because I smelled like his mate and was scared of me. And what I meant.
“Oh wow, Maverick. It’s beautiful.” He wrapped his hand around my shoulder and pulled me in close. I reached out to the artwork, the dark purples and blacks I remembered, the light colors were new.
“This is you,” he pointed to where he had painted a star. It was big and glowing with yellows and reds. “This is, Galen.” Another star connected to mine with star dust. It was smaller than mine, but only slightly.
I pointed to another star further down that was more red than yellow, “Rafferty?” He nodded, then pointed to another. It had green swirled into it. “Ranger.”
My stomach fluttered, oh Maverick. This one was so dark, so sad and lonely. Now he had these bright stars. I was his star. We all were.
“Mav—” he cut me off with his finger to my lips. He shook his head and smiled.
“Don’t need to say anything, just know that I didn’t realize how lost I was until you came into my life. And now I have seen how bright my future is, there is no more dark. Only light.”
My throat was thick with emotion, Maverick knew I was getting emotional, his hands cupping my face as he brushed his lips against mine. When his tongue brushed along the seam of my lips I opened, reaching for his tee I pulled him to me. Everything around us evaporated, and it was as if we were the only two here, and the whole world disappeared.
A throat clearing had us returning to earth. It was a huge drop back when I felt like I was floating.
“Love birds, there is a time and a place.” It was our art teacher—an older woman who seemed to wear the same paint-stained smock every time I saw her tapped on the table and returned to the front of the class.
I giggled a little as Maverick held my hand under the table.
When the bell rang, we walked hand-in-hand to the lockers to get our bags. Because yes, I started using my locker. Olivia walked past. She saw Maverick holding my hand, and it didn’t stop her from running her fingertip down his colorful tattoos. Oh, hell no. I went to move, but he held my hand tight.
“Something freaky just happened,” Maverick called out for everyone to hear. All heads turned our way. Olivia, with her huge smile aimed my way, tilted her head towards me as if to say “you’re the freaky thing.”
“What was it?” Harley called out as he walked to us. A funny grin on his face as he pushed back his shaggy hair, he looked like a true surfer boy with that hair. He was in my English class, we had never really spoken before. Even though he did sit at the same table as the Kiba boys. He was usually at the end.
“It was something horrible, and it touched me.” Olivia’s mouth dropped open then she screeched out, “Horrible, I’m not the horrible one. Your pathetic girlfriend is the horrible one. Did you know what she did to me, she provoked me.” It was eerily silent before Harley spoke again.
“Fuck, man. I hope it didn’t contaminate you or shit.” Olivia stomped her feet and everyone looked away… everyone. Holy fuck. Everyone was in on this. I just wanted to ice her out of Kiba and Rawlins for a bit. Until she learns how to play nice. Even the humans were doing it too.
“You can all see me. Stop looking away. I didn’t start this, that dumb bitch did.” She was pointing at me, but I ignored her, just like everyone else. Everyone went back to packing their bag and going home and she was still in the hall yelling at students.
It felt good, even though I knew it was bad. But bullies need a taste of their own medicine sometimes. And this was hers.
When we got to the jeep Maverick opened the door and Raff called shotgun and jumped in the front.
“Hey,” I tried to shove him over he laughed and hoisted me up into his lap.
“Hey, back at you.” He kissed me as Maverick jumped in the front. All we were waiting on was Ranger and we would be home with Galen. He was going to make pasta tonight, he told me he was preparing it today. I didn’t know what that meant exactly, I didn’t think pasta took all day, but I was excited to try it.
“Ugh, where is Ranger? He is taking forever,” I asked as I crawled between the front seats and into the back and sat down, waiting for him.
“I will call him,” Maverick had his cell to his ear. When Ranger didn’t answer, I heard him cuss under his breath.
“What’s wrong?” Maverick shook his head, then gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. I shook my head.
“Ranger being Ranger is what’s wrong.”
Oh fuck, what has he done now?
Chapter Thirty-Three
Ranger
That asshole had to be told. Stop hanging around Ada like a lost puppy. But he approached my mate, mine. To ask about her Ada, he shouldn’t even have her number. That needed to be taken care of before the weekend. I knew he would see
Ada at the mate ceremony that Lexi had been invited to, the one I wasn’t happy about.
My wolf even more unhappy about it, I had gone for more runs this week than usual. Not fighting was getting to me, it was how I let out this anger, this emotion I couldn’t contain. I used to spar with Callum back at home. But now he was gone, that wasn’t possible. Noah wasn’t a fighter; he didn’t care for it. Saint would, but he said he was busy… every night this week.
I didn’t voice that to Lexi or the guys; I didn’t want her upset with me about her going to Rawlins for this. Was hard when they were all cool with it. I thought I must be overreacting but really? Not one of us were invited, only Lexi. We were just going to let our mate go to another pack without us. That set my wolf on edge, and I had felt it building up all day. Then seeing her touch Huxley, that took great control to not shift and rip his throat out.
It was Noah’s birthday yesterday. He finally hit sixteen. He invited Ada to dinner; he was so nervous when he asked her. He thought she would say no. but she had told him she would think about it. He called me over to his place on Monday to tell me that Ada had said she would. Zara was so excited, she was fussing around the house. Asking her mates to clean up in case Ada was going to meet them there. But when they gave Noah a jeep—the same as mine and Mav’s— he said he wanted to pick her up and drive her.
They all ate out in Port Angeles. He told me how he picked up Ada and took her to the restaurant, and then he dropped her off at home. He walked her to the door, like I told him to. And she kissed him on the cheek. I was proud. That was my boy there. His moves were totally sloppy, but he was learning. And a kiss on the cheek was better than a slap in the face. Small steps.
“Hey, fucksley. Woods in five.” I slammed my shoulder into Huxley as I strode past and out the door. He gave me a warning growl. Good, I needed a good fight.
I was ready when he approached, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I had been itching for this all day. He was alone. Good, didn’t need his pack here trying to stop him.
“What’s your problem, Lovell. I didn’t touch your mate. She touched me. And I did as she said. Olivia is out. Didn’t you see what happened back there with your brother.”
Yeah, I saw him and Harley fucking with Olivia; I didn’t stick around long for that.
“No, this is about Ada. Back off, she belongs to Noah and Saint. They are gonna claim her and you’re fucking with her head.”
He backed up, his hands in fists as he shook his head.
“Fuck you, they have made no claim. She is fair game; she isn’t Kiba. I have liked her since freshman year. Never had the guts to talk to her. But after she saw me, dying and shit. Well, she didn’t even blink at my scars. You just don’t get it, pretty boy with all the girls chasing after you. Fuck you.”
My wolf was prickling beneath the surface, I needed to strip before I destroyed my clothes and Lexi found out I was fighting. I ripped my tee off, and my shorts dropped just as the pain flashed through me and I was on all fours. I growled at Huxley, who was undressing. He was big; he matched me for size, but I had never challenged him before. He was quiet, usually kept to himself when there were fights. But today I would find just how much better I was than him.
He let out a long howl, fucker. I didn’t let him finish as I launched at him, going straight for the throat, but he dodged me and I grabbed onto his flank. I sunk my teeth in, tasting the metallic of his blood seeping out from the wound. He yelped loudly in pain and pulled away. Snapping his teeth at me but I held on, sinking deeper. I lost myself in my wolf as I let my venom flow into him.
“Ranger.” My name was being called. “Ranger.” Screamed this time. I let go, I could smell her now… my mate. Huxley whimpered as he moved away from me, limping badly. Fucking asshole was putting that on, it wasn’t that bad.
I looked over to Lexi, she thought it was bad, and she looked at me with disappointment in her eyes. I hung my head, my wolf even feeling the sadness of upsetting our mate. Why did I do this, I have so much anger that builds and builds. Why didn’t I walk away? Why do I do stupid, dumbass things?
“Huxley, do you want me to heal you?” I looked over. She was crouched behind him. I didn’t want to shift, but I knew I had to.
“Ranger, what the fuck were you thinking?” Mav asked, his voice with his old monotone back. The one that told me he cared I was fighting but didn’t care I was going against father’s orders. But this time. This time was different.
“He started it,” I protested when Lexi shot me a look that said I would be on the sofa tonight. Fuck, it was my night to snuggle. Why do I mess things up for myself like this?
“Ranger, I… I really don’t have words right now. I don’t understand why you do this. Was this because I touched him?”
I shook my head no, but I knew deep inside it was one of the reasons I told myself that he deserved to be punished like this.
“He is lying,” Mav told her. My mouth dropped. She looked to Raff. He wouldn’t meet my eyes as he nodded.
“Oh, fuck you both. Lexi, babe, I just wanted to tell him to stay away from Ada is all. Because she is—” before I even finished, she had stood up and stormed over to me. Her beautiful hair all wild… like her eyes. Her index finger poked me in the chest.
“Don’t you even start. That’s just another excuse. You just can’t help yourself. Why? Tell me. Why not go join a gym or do kickboxing? Why do you pick on others like this?”
I didn’t have a clue why; I hung my head. I could smell the fear, the sadness coming from her. I didn’t want her to feel like that, and I was the one who caused it because I just didn’t think. I couldn’t be here any longer. I shifted, the pain over in seconds and I took off running.
I needed time, space. She needed to cool down before I told her why. I just had to find the reason why I do these dumb things. I just hoped she could forgive me.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lexi
The pasta Galen made was amazing, but it didn’t help my stomach. I was worried about Ranger. I was mad; I had a right to be. He was fighting with another shifter, all because he thinks that Kiba own her. As if she was some cattle.
“Where do you think he is?” Maverick was shovelling in the pasta, I guess so he didn’t need to answer me, the red sauce dripping all over his chin. “Galen?” He looked worried, his brow creased, but he shook his head.
“This is really good,” Raff added another forkful to his mouth. I assumed he was out running around somewhere, and we had his clothes so he would need to come home, eventually. I decided to just let it go. He will be back soon. He had to be. We had Josh’s big day tomorrow.
“So does everyone know what they are wearing tomorrow?” I was glad that Jack and Grayson invited the guys, they said family was to come. And they were my mates, so they were invited. It had made this even more real, that we were a family to outside eyes. Oh, except they weren’t invited to Kiara’s ceremony. I didn’t know exactly why I was going, I had only met her a few times. But she invited me, I couldn’t be rude. Us wolf lovers had to stick together, even if our wolves didn’t like each other.
“I’m going to wear a grey suit and I couldn’t decide between a tie, or a bow tie.” Galen smiled and wink. I looked up at him through my lashes. He has a bow tie.
“Bow tie, it wins every time. Can I see it now?” He jumped up and took off toward the bedroom.
“Oh, he looks hot in a bow tie.” Maverick winked at me before more food was shovelled in. Honestly… where did all that food go? I know where mine went. I had gone up a bra and jean size since being here and was happy for it. I finally had fat on my bones.
Galen returned with a white shirt on, and a bow tie. It was red. Oh, hell yeah. I clapped. “Yes, this. So, this. You look hot as sin, Mr Donovani.” His eyes narrowed and I could see the dark creeping in. I giggled when he pounced on me. He swept back my hair over my shoulder, his tongue on my throat had my body shiver, oh yes. That felt amazing. Fuck, why did I still have to ha
ve my period?
“Is that all you need to say to get some action? I have been calling him that for years and not once did he lick my throat,” Maverick teased, stretching back on his chair, his tee rising up showing his abs and the trail of hair leading down to the impressive bulge I could see in his gray sweats. He put them on when we got back, I told him he wasn’t allowed to wear them out of the house. They were for my eyes only.
“Maybe it’s the way you say it?” Galen teased back… “You need to go low, deep.”
He pulled away from me and stalked over to Maverick, his dimples appearing as he cocked a brow.
“Mr Donovani,” fuck that was so deep… even that had me getting wet. Galen pulled on his hair, exposing his neck, and licked a line from his collarbone to his ear. I watched as Maverick's eyes closed and he shivered at the feeling. I knew that feeling, I just had the same thing. I watched as Maverick’s hand moved to his crotch and he palmed himself through the tight material.
“It’s good… isn’t it.” His eyes slowly opened; they were hazed over with desire. He looked to me, then Galen. Oh, I want this. Just being a female was in the way today.
“Soon…” he whispered. Then grabbed the back of Galen's head and pulled it to his mouth, I watched as they vied for dominance once again. The kiss was heated, full of power and passion. And once again, Galen was the one to concede. Giving in to Maverick, he lowered to his knees before him. I rubbed my thighs together. I was so worked up from watching I think I could just orgasm from the visual alone.
The front door opened and slammed, we jerked and turned as one to see Ranger standing there, covered in blood, mud and the look he wore on his face scared me. The scene in front of me played out like the night of the “Blood Moon.” That was what I had heard Jett call it the other day. It upset me that people had to lose their lives to protect me, but everyone kept telling me they would do it again. I still held that emotional baggage, but it didn’t trigger me to fall down a deep hole. I didn’t feel as upset and scared about that night as I did right now.
