by M. D. Butler
I find that very sexy all of a sudden.
Her hair is still in her face when she moves to start up the Bunsen burner. I immediately reach forward to take her hand away, stilling when I feel the pleasure hum through my body as I make contact with her smooth, warm skin.
She jumps and cowers a little before catching herself, and looking up at me. Even though she begins to relax as she feels the pleasure running through her, I can’t shake her reaction from my thoughts.
Oh, hell no.
People only react like that when they’re used to receiving pain from touch. Who the fuck has hurt my damn mate?!
I keep my features neutral, trying not to let on that her reflex has bothered me. She gives me a small, confused smile as she allows me to pull her hand away from the burner.
“What is it?”
“Your hair. You have to put it up. It’s one of my new favorite things, and I don’t want it getting burned.” I return her smile with a genuine one of my own. Can’t help but to smile at her.
“It’s ok. I never wear my hair up, b-but it never gets burned. I’m always careful, and Ms. Umbridge doesn’t care.”
It doesn’t surprise me about the teacher. I don’t think she likes my girl all that much, but I’m not taking the risk. I pull a hair scrunchie from my wrist, a habit I picked up from my little sisters, and turn her stool to face away from me. She gets stiff as a board as I gather her curls up to the back of her head, and secure them in a pretty decent messy bun if I do say so myself.
Perks of being the only son in the family. I might hide from my sisters sometimes, but I still have to deal with them whenever we take a trip back home.
I spin her back around to face me, admiring my work when I notice that she’s still really stiff. I know me putting her hair up was impulsive, but I couldn’t deny myself that bit of intimacy after she didn’t pull away from my touch a few minutes ago. I’m about to apologize when I notice her neck. It’s long and graceful, but that’s not what grabs my attention.
It’s bruised.
It’s dark and vividly discolored, which means it had to have happened recently. Shifters heal fast, so bruises are usually gone within a couple of hours. I can still see the shape of fingers like a collar around her beautiful neck. Someone tried to crush her throat. That makes my vision color with a red haze.
There’s a slight rumble through the floors as I stare at her neck, causing beakers rattle.
She gasps slightly as she lifts her eyes to mine, like she knows that I caused that.
Oops.
I hadn’t even noticed that my attention on her neck had caused her to shrink in on herself until that moment. I quickly leash my control over my affinity before someone notices. Shit like this must happen all the time because no one is looking too worried.
“Sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to do that. I- “. I cut myself off, somehow realizing that we shouldn’t talk about this here. “We’ll talk about this later, okay?”
“O-okay. Umm, we should get started on this. M-Maybe w-we can talk about this at lunch?”
My little slip-up must’ve scared her. The boys noticed it, too, if their constant badgering in my head is anything to go by.
She eating lunch with us. All the seniors eat during the same period, right? You guys have to stay calm when you see her. Don’t fuck up like I just did. Sorry ‘bout that, by the way. I’ll tell you more later. Time to focus.
I push them to the back of my mind as I turn to her with a soft smile, trying to ease her nerves. “Of course, babe. You’re stuck with us now. No way are we letting you slip away from us now. You’re eating lunch with us every day from now on.”
I reach over to turn the burner on so we can get started as she pulls her hair down from the bun. Guess she hides more than just her face behind her hair.
She gives me a barely there smile as she starts working. We work in silence, moving robotically as we both get lost in our thoughts. Only one is circling through me on a loop.
I’m going the have to fuck somebody up.
Chapter 5
Jahla
It was a little hard to focus with his scent sitting in the surrounding air, making me want to lean towards him. Pine and soil. I never thought I’d love the smell of the woods, what with my being forced to live out there and all that.
I think I’m changing my stance on it.
I start gathering up my things as the bell rings at the end of chemistry. I don’t know what to make of Cashel. I guess he confirmed that the group of boys that I saw this morning are my mates, but I still find it hard to believe.
Four?
I’ve never heard of someone having multiple mates, but then again, I never thought I’d have a mate at all. He says that this is how it’s supposed to be for us, but I’m still not understanding what the hell that means.
Maybe it’s because there are fewer females than males. Could the Mother be trying to make sure that everyone has a chance to have a connection? Man, I’m starting to get a headache with all the questions swirling in my brain now.
As much as I want to find out what’s going on, I can’t open myself up to this level of hope. I can’t open up to hope at all. The let-down hurts too much to risk it.
He helps me get my stuff in my bag, a soft smile on his face the whole time. He seems like the type to smile a lot. The perpetually happy type.
Shit makes me nervous.
Sure, other people have happy lives. They don’t have to constantly hide, and keep their head down to avoid getting fucked up just for existing. Must be nice.
Yeah, I can be a real Debbie-downer sometimes. Fuck off and let me be.
As I stand to walk out of the classroom, his hand falls to the small of my back. Even though my reflexes almost make me shrink away from the touch, my instincts have me craving his touch.
This shit is moving way too fast for me. Going through life with touch equating to pain can seriously fuck with a person.
Hi, I’m person.
I find myself letting his hand stay there as we walk through the door and out into the hall. I’ve never felt pleasure at a person’s touch, and I’m curious to know if this is how it’s supposed to be with a mate.
“What’s your next class?” he asks as we walk through the halls. I feel people staring so I take a small step away from him so his hand has no choice but to fall from my back. I don’t want people to see his interest. Attention will only hurt me in the long run. He lets it happen, but steps closer to me like he doesn’t fully accept the separation.
I let him because I don’t to cause a scene.
“I have AP Cal upstairs.” I kind of want him to have the same class, but kind of want some space from him at the same time. I’m not used to this kind of thing, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
“Damn, that’s not me. I think Den is in there, though. At least you’ll have one of us with you. Might help you get used to us being around.”
Shit. So much for getting a break.
“W-which one is that?” A wolf named Den? There’s an opener for a joke if I ever heard one. My wolf chuffs in my head. Someone thinks I’m funny.
“Denahi is the Native American with the weird eyes.” He does a slight grimace before he continues. “He can be a little hotheaded, but don’t take it personal. He’ll never hurt your feelings on purpose, but his words can get kind of harsh sometimes.”
“So, he’s an asshole.” I slap my hand over my mouth as soon as the words escape my lips. I did NOT mean to say that out loud. Now everyone is looking at me. I never speak, so the kids must be shocked.
Cashel just bursts out laughing as we start up the stairs, gaining more looks from the peanut gallery.
“Oh, shit! I can’t wait to tell him that. Might take him down a peg, two.”
“P-please, don’t! I didn’t mean to say that. It just slipped- “
“Hey, it’s cool. You’ll get why it’s ok when you’ve been around us for a while. We’re like brothers from differ
ent mothers. We love giving each other hell. Or, at least I do.”
Mm, there it is again.
I get hit with that warm cinnamon smell from outside. Another one is here. I can tell because his scent is standing out above everyone else’s. I relax as we draw closer to my class. They make me feel safe.
It’s at that moment that I realize Cash has walked me the whole way to class. I’d grown accustomed to his fresh forest aroma during the last class, so I hadn’t notice that he was still with me.
I look up and notice the one that must be Denahi, a scowl on his face as he leans against the door with a couple of girls trying to get his attention. I feel a rush of jealousy that’s so swift; it makes me pause. Why am I jealous? I’ve got to figure this mate shit out because it’s starting to scare me.
Wait, why is he just standing there? Is he waiting for me? If so, how did he know I was coming? So many fucking questions without answers!
As we get closer, Denahi steps away from the door, and sweeps his arm towards the classroom. The girls glare at me. I guess they don’t like the fact that they couldn’t get him to interact with them.
Hey, I’m not the one that was ignoring them. Bitches always blame the other chick instead of finding fault with the dude. Or themselves.
I turn to Cashel before I step into the room, “T-thanks for walking me to class.” I leave it at that, but he beams with a smile so beautiful, it takes my breath away.
“Anytime.” He doesn’t call me babe. I feel a tinge of disappointment at that when I start to walk into class, but I’m glad he didn’t when I notice the two girls still looking at us. He must have known that they were still there and knows how I feel about attention.
Thank the Mother for that.
I look back again in time to see the boys exchange a single glance before going their separate ways. No words. Just a look. If they’re from the same pack, they might be able to communicate telepathically if their friendship is tight enough. Might explain how Denahi knew to wait outside the door of the class.
Keeping my head down, I walk to my seat at the back of the classroom with him dogging my heels.
Get it? Dogging? Because he’s a wolf? There’s silence in my head, so my wolf didn’t like that one. Whatever. You win some; you lose some.
There’s usually a kid that sits to my right, but he gets up when Denahi lifts the corner of his top lip in a savage-looking snarl. Maybe he really is an asshole, but he’s a fine one.
As we sit down, his face falls back into what I’m guessing is his usual look. Dude has his scowl down to a science. He’s just staring at me with that intense expression, though. Mainly at my eyes.
Everyone stares at my eyes.
I’m pulling my stuff out of my bag when his deep timbre makes me jerk my eyes up to his.
“Why are you so nervous around us?”
Okay, then. Ignoring the fact that his voice is making me tingle, I figure he’s the blunt type.
“I-it’s all just so n-new to me,” I whisper. Fuck, bet he can hear all of my nerves in that stutter.
He cocks his head to the side as he continues to look at me. I’m so caught up in his golden stare that I fail to notice the she-wolves from before until they’re right up on me.
“Hey, I don’t think you heard us before. I’m Paisley, and this is Abby. We were asking you how you were liking the school so far. If you are interested, we could- “
“I heard you. I’m not interested, so go the fuck away.”
Damn, definitely an asshole. I can’t make myself hate it, though. Not only are they a part of Blythe’s bitch squad, but they’re also extremely annoying little puppets who don’t have an original thought in their heads. It wouldn’t surprise me if Blythe linked them about trying to get information on the new hotties. They’re lower members of the pack, so I don’t have to worry about them during breakfast. Just at school, and if they’re bored enough to come to the diner when I’m working.
I duck my head to hide the smile threatening to burst open on my face. I’ve never seen someone from the squad get shot down by a boy. They stand there. Mouths flapping like fish as both of their faces turn a nasty looking red before storming away to their seats on the other side of the room.
Their ugly sneers go so well with the blotchy red of their cheeks. Not!
Bet they’ll tell Blythe what just went down. I’m so getting jumped for this later on. My slightly smothered sigh gets Denahi’s attention, unfortunately. Actually, I don’t think he’s taken his eyes off of me.
“What is it? You still haven’t answered my question, either.”
“I-I’ll tell you later. Cashel said I have to sit with you guys at lunch so we can t-talk then. We can’t talk in this class because the t- “
“Ms. Hardnett, I suggest you end your conversation unless you want to see me after school for detention. Mr. Barns, take this as your only warning. No talking unless called on. Welcome to AP Calculus.”
And just like that, our conversation is over. Good thing, too. I can’t stand the stutter that comes with my nerves. I’m not used to talking to people outside of taking orders. I look at Denahi from the corner of my eye right to see his eyes glaze over.
Yeah, they’re linking each other. I wonder what it’s like to have a link with other people. I only have a link with the alpha since I’m not close to any other wolf.
I learned in the shifter that you can form different bonds with other wolves depending on your relationship with them. You can have a familial bond with your blood relatives. Same thing with wolves that are not of your blood just by how closely you associate with them. You know, like how some people consider their friends as a part of their family? It’s all about your wolf, and how they see another.
There’s also the mate bond with is the most absolute. You can feel each other’s emotions, and sometimes their physical pain if the bond is deep enough. Some people mate for political reasons, so the two wolves never really grow to love each other. The wolf won’t settle for someone other than their fated mate if they can’t replicate that bond. Their bond doesn’t go beyond the surface of hearing the others’ thoughts.
Then, there’s the alpha-pack bond, which happens when you’re a member of the pack. It’s just between you and the alpha. He can also command you to do things with his alpha power. It’s never really worked on me, but I know better than to ignore his orders.
Fake it ‘til you make it.
That’s all I have. The alpha bond. My parents are dead, and I only have my inner wolf as a friend. It’s great until the alpha demands me to come hither. Then, all I want to do is bang my head against the wall.
Oh, and any bond not formed through blood has to be sealed with a bite. It’s up to your wolf to determine the type of bond. Being born into a pack or family automatically links you to them. It hurts to sever any link, and can even kill you if the bond was strong enough.
That’s about all I know about being a shifter. Pretty sad, huh? Maybe Denahi can teach me a little about what everything is like.
Denahi.
I wonder if his mother has ever seen Brother Bear. You know, the movie about the boy with the spirit animal? It’s pretty good.
Well, that was random as fuck. Can you blame me? So far, I’ve met a Cashel and a Denahi. Makes you wonder if the other two have unique names, too. I mean, mine is Jahla. I haven’t met another person with that name, so maybe we all fit together with that. Weird names to go with a weird situation. Who the hell knows?
I zone back into class when I see Mr. Dickson starts writing equations on the board. For the first time, I find myself looking forward to lunch. I usually hide out in the library, but I now have a reason to face the cafeteria. If they have answers, I have questions to slap them across the face with.
Shit, when did I get so violent? Calm down, pimp!
Denahi
They’re always in our faces. Never mind that we never give any of them the time of day, but girls never seem to stop trying to gain our
attention. The others are nicer about it, but I couldn't care less about their feelings.
I’m not fucking interested, especially now that I’ve found my mate. I wish I could just tell the world what she is to us, but we can’t risk that yet. I just have to keep shutting down the desperate females.
I really hate females.
Except for the delectable little morsel sitting to my left, of course. I let her scent calm me as I inhale a deep breath to calm my annoyance.
Annoyance at her.
I want to fucking shake her to get her to tell me why she’s so nervous around me, but at the same time, tuck her under my arm while keeping her out of harm’s way.
She’s so small compared to my 6’4” frame. I can’t see her figure with the baggy clothes that she’s drowning in, but her height is pretty diminutive, like a little pixie. Makes you want to bundle her up and keep her safe.
She’s the only girl I’ve ever wanted to get close to outside of my family.
Unlike the two females that were trying to make my fucking ears blead with their squeaky voices earlier, hers is soft and pleasant to hear.
Them, I want to throw through the damn window. Her, I want to cradle in my arms.
One of these things is not like the other.
You’d think they’d take a hint when they don’t get a response, but they’re either dumb as hell, or don’t care. They can’t be dumb if they’re in this class, though.
As the class goes on, I don’t see them write down any of the equations, or take a single note. The teacher smells like a wolf, so that explains why. I’ve seen it happen before. Pack children don’t really have to do anything other than show up to class if a member of their pack is teaching the class. They breeze through for free.
Not my problem.
I may have caused one when I shut them down, however. I saw the looks they were giving Jahla when they sat down; as well as the glaze over their eyes afterward. They’re linking someone about that little scene, I’m sure of it.
I wonder if my mate is getting bullied by these airheaded barbies. That’s not going to fly with me.
My mate. I only spend two seconds savoring that thought before I shake myself back to the task at hand.
