by Belle Harper
I agreed because the more distance I could put between me and the guys until I could clearly think about this, the better. And Ada was a good reason for them not to talk to me about what had just happened, because even I didn’t know what had just happened.
I had just got out of the shower when I heard a knock at my bedroom door.
“Lexi, it’s me.” I could hear her giggle as I opened the door in just my towel. She rushed through the door, suitcase and backpack in tow.
“Lexi… dang. Do you always open your door in nothing but a towel?” Jett waved his hand, fanning himself in a dramatic way, before giving a low wolf whistle. If I didn’t know how fun he was, I would have been worried at that. I clutched it tighter and shoved him from the doorway.
He laughed as he put his hands up in surrender. “I was just showing your friend to your room, being a good host. And letting you know that everyone has left for a run…” He winked.
“So, you girls have fun with girl talk and I will be outside chilling if you need me, listening to the sounds of rock.” He pulled some earbuds from his pocket and popped them in before walking off, waving behind himself. I laughed as I closed the door and watched as Ada flopped onto the white king-sized bed.
“Holy hell, this bedroom is amazing. And what the hell happened? Where have you been hiding? Here… and you didn’t tell me you were living here. I heard that from Ranger. And oh my God, Ranger talked to me. At school, in front of like a heap of people.” She talked so fast, then she jumped up and squealed loudly at the flowers that Ranger had brought me.
“This is what he got? Holy crap. I told him I wasn’t sure about flowers, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this big when I told him.” I laughed. The bouquet was a huge bunch of wildflowers mixed together, which is kind of funny because that was how he smelled to me that first time we met.
“You told him to buy me flowers? What did he ask you?” Shit, did he ask her how to impress me and she told him to buy me flowers?
“Oh yeah, he said you had your monthly and wanted to know what to get you. I guess he wanted to cheer you up or something. Did you get chocolate and a massage?” Her eyebrows wiggled and she laughed. I was so glad she was here right now. I needed this.
“Yes, to the chocolate…” How do I tell her the massage was maybe a little different than how they normally give them, and in a pool. “They have a movie room. I say we raid the kitchen and watch movies, maybe we can sleep in there? It’s amazing. Just let me get dressed real quick.”
When we were all comfy with our goodies all laid out, I tried to think of how to ask her if she thought this was crazy and weird—the whole Raff and Ranger thing.
“What is it? You have a look,” she said. I knew I needed to be quick. Jett told me they were going for a run and his wearing headphones and listening to rock were code for “we are not listening.”
“So, Raff and I are like… he is mine—”
Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my god, you’re with Raff? I… Wow, he is so fucking hot and mysterious.”
I laughed; she didn’t even let me finish. I nodded. “Oh, hell yeah, I know right… so many tattoos.” Her eyes were wide and she nodded, waiting for me to proceed.
“So, like earlier, in the pool…” She gasped. I didn’t know if I could finish with her doing this. I was nervous to tell her for some reason, but I guess that’s because I never told someone my boy problems before.
“Just let me finish. So earlier, I was in the pool, making out with Raff… and you know, dry humping him in the pool.” She held her hands tight to her mouth and nodded. Fuck, why was this hard.
“And um, Ranger…” I waited for that to settle with her. “He, um… joined in.” Her hands fell from her mouth, but she didn’t say anything. I think she was speechless. I made Ada Stephens speechless.
“I didn’t kiss him, but he… Well, he wants to go out with me, too… I think. Well, no, he said that he does, even with Raff being my boyfriend. Like, is that normal? Do girls really have more than one? I have never had one before, so two at once seems like… like a lot?”
She held her hand up and nodded. Shit, she probably thinks I was some greedy whore.
“Girl, that normal and no, that’s not a lot. You’re crazy for even thinking that. Holy hotness, you come to school and score the most-wanted guy in our class. And the new guy, who is a total mystery and God, those eyes.” I laughed and agreed because Raff really had amazing eyes.
“You know, my sister’s best friend, Kiara, has two boyfriends. We all thought people might say something rude about them, but they walked around school all holding hands and kissing. The guys didn’t, you know, kiss each other but they both kissed her, and I always thought, that’s what I want. And you lucky thing can have that with Raff and Ranger.”
I sat up straighter. There was a girl Ada knew who had already done this?
“Oh wait, Jett and Mekhi were dating Clare Briggs last year, and that was all in the open. But they broke up… It was sad because I was friends with her, not close but still. She was upset at first, but then she was all happy and moved off to college. I wouldn’t go to college and leave them yummy guys behind. I would have stayed. We thought they would get married and everything.”
Wow, that just made me feel even worse for Jett. She was all happy to move away and leave him. I couldn’t bear to think about moving away from Raff… Ranger… God, Galen and Maverick. I wouldn’t want to leave here. I felt the same as Ada.
“Where is this friend now? Your sister’s friend, Kiara?” Because if she was with these guys, I was to assume she knew about them being shifters and everything. And maybe I could talk to her.
“She lives in Rawlins with them. They all got a house after graduation and moved in over there. I saw her last week, she stopped by to say hi to my parents. She is getting married… well, not to both of them. More like having a commitment ceremony thingy. She invited us and my sister is coming home, and I can’t wait for you to meet my sister. I told Destiny how the jacket fit you like it was destiny. She didn’t find it as funny but was excited to meet you when she gets back over spring break.”
Wow, this was amazing. I felt a lot better hearing that someone else did this two boyfriends thing and was still living like that. Having commitment ceremonies and people accepting it. Well, for the shifters it was normal. It was the regular folk that I thought might have some problems.
“Did you like… you know… with Raff? Is he big?”
I slapped her arm and told her to shut it. And we hadn’t gone that far, but I had seen it, and I couldn’t help it… I showed her the size with my hands. She whistled and I nodded and then we both laughed.
“Let’s watch a movie with hot guys and pig out.”
Chapter Fifty
Lexi
When Monday morning rolled around, I felt amazing, like everything was going to work out. Talking with Ada really helped. I had avoided Ranger most of yesterday after Ada went home, but he had spent a lot of time talking with her during breakfast, which was nice. She was a little overwhelmed by the Lovell bothers. Lyell didn’t know what to make of her, and I was starting to suspect Ada was a bit of a nervous talker.
“You can ride with us, if you want?” Ranger had been acting very sweet toward me, like not so in-your-face as he had been. I had a feeling he was worried I was upset with him, or that was my guess after what had happened in the pool. No dirty thoughts. I was starting to come to terms with the whole two boyfriends thing and how, like maybe, I might be okay with it. Ugh. I didn’t know. I didn’t even want a boyfriend or to fall in love when I moved here. I had plans and that all changed, but for the better, and I wouldn’t take it back. I could never give up Raff. What was an extra boyfriend… or two or three?
“Um, okay thanks.” Ranger’s face lit up and he stumbled out of his chair as he stood. Everyone laughed, but he didn’t care. He had the biggest grin on his face like he had just won the lottery.
The school day didn’t start o
ff bad; if anything, it seemed a little too easy. An essay I wrote in English came back with amazing marks. I didn’t think I had done that well to be honest, since I was a little distracted about the whole move to the Lovells and I didn’t get a chance to study much for it. Statistics was boring, but Raff being in class with me was the best part.
When lunch rolled around, Raff came and took my hand in his. I didn’t think I would ever get used to it, this feeling of floating whenever he was around. And the little pulse of electricity that seemed to thrum between us whenever we touched.
“Hey.” I pulled him down for kiss him in the middle of the cafeteria. Some students watched us, but I didn’t care.
“Did you want to sit with the boys?” he asked, pointing toward the table that Ranger and Maverick sat at each day. Ada stopped next to me and wiggled her brows.
“Hey, Raff, how are you?” she asked. He looked a little stunned that she was talking to him; I knew he doesn’t talk much, well to other people at least. He talks plenty to me now.
“I am good.” was all he gave her. She gestured with her head to the table behind her, knowing she was talking about Ranger and I rolled my eyes and laughed.
“What, haven’t decided yet? Cause, wow, if I was you, I would have and it would be a ‘hell yes’.”
Raff didn’t say anything. I guess he knew I had spoken to her about it—just left out the whole wolf part. But if Raff was going to sit over there, that meant that the Kiba boys had accepted him. Then I should too, if I was going to be Pack Kiba, too. And because he was mine and I wanted them to know, I would kill them if they touched him ever again.
“Okay, I will eat with them.” I kissed him again as he made his way over to the table. I watched as Ranger’s eyes found mine as he moved over for Raff to sit beside him. All the guys smiled and nodded at him, accepting him. It made me feel such relief. He had a pack now. He would be protected forever.
“You gonna invite me to come sit?” I spun back to Ada; she wore a little more makeup than I had seen her wear before.
“You better sit with me because that is way too much testosterone for me.”
She looped her arm in mine as we took our trays over to the table. Instantly, Raff and Ranger moved for me to sit between them—it was almost as if it was planned. I watched as two other guys on the opposite side moved and one waved for Ada to come over. I think that was Noah. Yeah, Noah. I smiled, I felt great, they even accepted Ada.
I placed my tray on the table and stood over the bench seat and sat down. The extra space that was beside me was swallowed up with two warm bodies. Oh boy, my heart sped up a little.
“How is your day going so far?” Ranger asked, his voice a little strange sounding. I cleared my throat as Ada looked between us, her eyes lit up and she smirked.
“Good.” I didn’t know what to say. All the guys at this table were shifters and well… maybe this was a bad idea. I should have gone to Galen’s office. I had been wanting to talk to him, but also, I wasn’t too sure what to say to him after the pool. He had been around for dinner last night, but it had been awkward to say the least. Even Maverick was… well, he was not the same. I was worried I messed something up there. And I wanted to make it right again.
After a few minutes of being here it wasn’t too bad, they started talking about football and other stuff. Obviously, being careful not to mention anything about the fact they can turn into huge gray wolves. I eased into the conversation, nodding like I had a clue about football and eating my pizza. Even Ada was smiling as Noah talked to her.
“Hey, Ranger.” I turned to see Olivia standing behind Ranger. Her hand rested on his shoulder.
He turned around and gently brushed her hand off. “Hey, Olivia.” He seemed a little unsure what to do as he looked at me. I didn’t know what to do, either. We hadn’t said anything about what was going on between us, we hadn’t even kissed. When he looked at me again, I stole a glance at her and she gave me the good old death stare. Like I would shake in my boots. I just shrugged my shoulder and turned back to the table and pretended she wasn’t there. Funny enough, so did Ranger. She threw a little hissy fit before she stomped off.
I rested against Raff and he slid his hand around my waist. I wanted to laugh about her dramatic exit but just nestled into him and secretly sniffed him. He smelled so good. I reached under the table and held my knee. When Ranger was talking about some story, I slowly crept my fingers across to his knee. He stopped speaking for a moment as I felt his warm hand move over mine and flip it over, intertwining our fingers tightly. He kept on talking, but now there was a lightness in his voice that wasn’t there before.
I felt someone watching me. I looked over and saw it was Maverick. He quirked his brow at me and I winked at him, and I was rewarded with a smiled. It was worth it for the dimples.
When the bell rang to tell us lunch was over, I couldn’t believe it—the time had gone so fast. Ada was chatting a lot to Noah, and yes, we were getting looks from other girls. But I didn’t care. Fuck them. I didn’t think they could tell I was holding hands with Ranger under the table, but even if they did, they couldn’t say anything to me that would make me change my mind about it.
I lined up for history and I could feel Ranger close behind me. My pulse sped up, my mind going back to holding his hand. And the feelings I got from that gave me butterflies. It was the same feeling when I held Raff’s. It felt… right.
“Hey,” he whispered into my ear. My skin prickled. Holy fuck… How was my body responding so strongly to him just being this close. I looked over my shoulder and saw his goofy smile.
“Hey, back at you.” He straightened up and looked around before he leaned in again. I could feel his hot breath on my neck, he sniffed me and I giggled.
“You smell like Lexi and Raff. So fucking hot. I wanna lick your pretty throat.” I trembled slightly, then I heard a throat clearing, and my head whipped around. It was Galen. My cheeks went red. Fuck, he heard Ranger. This… oh man. I looked around and there were two guys looking at me. Dirty thoughts… they could smell my dirty thoughts. This was… ugh. I turned around and smacked Ranger across the chest. He laughed and put his hands up.
“I only tell the truth; you should know that by now.” The Ranger I thought was lost had now returned.
“Yeah, well, you don’t play fair,” I grumbled back, but I didn’t really mean it. I was smiling as I went into class and sat in the front, Ranger followed and took the desk next to me.
This was going to be the longest class of the day.
Chapter Fifty-One
Galen
It was so hard to teach a bunch of teens, and it was even harder to teach with a hard on. God, why did Ranger have to say that, the prick. He would have known I was close, and he knew it would affect me, especially with the whole vampire, shifter, and Lexi conversation.
He knew I liked her more than I should, and I knew I shouldn’t. I had been wrestling with this for some time now. But I couldn’t stop. The feelings for her grew every day and I had to keep reminding myself that this was wrong. I was too old for her. She needed better than someone like me.
I had wanted to speak to Lexi all day and I was waiting for her at lunch. I heard about her DNA results and Alaric wasn’t too sure how to break it to her. He had asked if I would do it since I helped with the shifter speech last week. I half agreed, only because I wanted to get her alone. The shifter speech was terrible, so I was hoping to do much better today.
How was that only a week ago? It felt like a lifetime. When class ended for the day, I called Lexi over as the other students left the room. Ranger could hear this, too, I didn’t care. He lingered around, not wanting to leave. Maybe he was worried that I would steal her away. And to be honest, the thought had crossed my mind for a moment.
“Lexi, I was wondering if it would be okay for me to drive you home. And go back to my place where we could talk?” I could see her cheeks pinken up. Was she blushing?
Oh man, this girl. I was d
one for. Her smell drew me in and I wanted to taste her, her blood, her… But I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I wanted her in a way a teacher shouldn’t.
“Yes, that sounds like a plan. Will I come now?” I didn’t know why, but that had all the blood rushing back to my cock. Fuck… that pool scene. I couldn’t get it out of my head, and it played over and over in my mind, torturing me in the best possible way. She was so beautiful, sensitive, and the way she just let go like that… Fuck.
“Yes, let’s go.” Before I cum in my pants like a teenage boy.
The drive was full of tension. I wasn’t sure if it was coming from me or her, probably the both of us. But it wasn’t helping.
“Did you want me to stop and get something to eat first?” I remembered that it was only last week when we were at a diner eating breakfast and she told me she was Team Jacob. Letting me know I didn’t stand a chance. But then, days later, she was Team “have them both.” I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knew I should leave it, that I shouldn’t interfere, but I had never felt like this for anyone before.
“Yes, please. I am a little hungry. Maybe we could get some burgers to go?”
I also shouldn’t be going over as often as I was to the Lovells. I shouldn’t be watching movies and doing all these things that teenagers do. I was well past that; I may be frozen at the ripe age of twenty-one, but I had more experience than Rafferty, Ranger, Maverick, and Lexi, times four. I was hundreds of years old, and I should tell her that today.
