Tainted Romance

by Simone Elise

  "ENOUGH!" I yelled, holding them apart. Ebony glanced at me, respecting my authority. Allie, however, slammed my arm out of her way and launched at Ebony, taking her to the ground.

  "Fuck," I cursed. The girls thrashed around on the ground, both getting hits in. Every time Ebony landed one, I wanted to hit her. Protection of my mate swirled within me.

  God, it was already starting.

  Blake Falcon was here now, and he was yelling at Allie to stop it. I was prying Ebony off Allie, while Blake pulled on Allie's arms, dragging her backwards.

  "ALLIE, STOP IT!" he roared at her, gripping her shoulders, and bringing her to her feet.

  I had my arms wrapped around Ebony, keeping her pinned against my chest, while she kicked and wiggled.

  "Ebony, calm down," I spoke into her ear, hoping she would stop fighting me.

  My attention was still focused on Allie, and I watched as she ducked to the ground and slid under Blake's legs and came charging at us.

  I spun quickly, pushing Ebony into Taylor's arms. I spun back just in time to catch Allie.

  "YOU'RE DEAD, BITCH!" Allie roared at her, shaking in my arms.

  "OH, BRING IT ON!" Ebony roared back.

  What the hell started this? The group that had gathered cheered, encouraging it.

  Blake tore Allie from my grip, which was a good thing because Ebony had pried her way out of Taylor's arms and was ready for the next round. I grabbed her wrist, spinning her back in my arms.

  "Ebony, calm down, you don't want this," I yelled in her ear.

  Ebony wasn't a violent person. She would hate herself later for this.

  Allie was thrashing about, but Blake was keeping her blocked.

  "Allie, CALM DOWN!" he shouted down at her. His hands were on her waist, preventing her from moving.

  My inner wolf growled at the sight. Someone else was touching our mate. We didn't like it - that was putting it mildly, to say the least.

  Then I watched in horror as Blake crashed his lips against Allie’s. It stilled her, and she stopped thrashing around like a wildcat. He was kissing her.

  Just like that, everything changed, and it wasn't the girls that needed to be pulled apart. It was Blake and me.

  I grabbed Blake's shoulder, twirling him around and sucker punching him in the face. It took him a second before he realized what happened and swung at me. I dodged it, but took his second swing on the jaw.

  Allie took the opportunity to try and attack Ebony again, and I swung my arm out, stopping her and sending her flying into Chase's arms.

  Blake's fist connected with the side of my face, and I sent two punches into his in return. He touched what was mine, my wolf growled within me. He hated it and, just for that, he wanted to rip Blake's head off.

  "ENOUGH!"

  That voice could stop a train in its tracks. I couldn't fight it. I dropped my fists to my sides, my chest heaving. Blake's eyes were just as deadly as mine. He didn't want to stop, but just like me, he had to.

  I turned to look at dad, and he was furious. I wiped the blood from my lip with the back of my hand.

  "Principal's office NOW," he fumed before storming off.

  My eyes were automatically attracted to Allie. Her wide eyes were slowly turning back to emerald, and she shoved Chase's arms off her.

  Had she realized yet?

  Her eyes locked with mine and my wolf growled in acceptance. He had connected with her wolf, and I felt her inner beast growl back. She knew.

  Shit just got complicated.

  Chapter Three

  An ice pack rested on my bruised knuckles. Normally I wouldn’t have taken the nurse up on the offer, but Blake had a hard head.

  Allie was sitting silently two chairs away from me. She hadn’t looked at me, or spoken to me. She just sat there silent, while blood slowly ran down the side of her face.

  The door opened, and Ebony walked out, looking embarrassed. She swiftly closed the door behind her. I gave her a smile. Dad would have been hard on her as he hated fighting.

  “See you later,” she muttered, shooting me a smile. “Good luck.” I noticed the glare she gave Allie before striding out.

  Blake had already had his turn in there. Dad was quick with him because everyone had stated it was me who started on him. Bloody speculators.

  “Winters,” Dad called.

  “Good luck,” I said, watching Allie get up. She didn’t say anything, and she didn’t look in my direction. I wanted to grab her and make her look at me, but, instead, I watched her close the door.

  ***

  Dad went on about respect and gave me a well-performed lecture. My punishment was I had to look after my little brother this weekend which mightn’t sound bad, but it would ruin everything I had planned.

  I hated babysitting nearly as much as I hated school.

  “Now, Zane, I expect better. Do you understand?” Dad was a lot calmer, and I nodded my head. I was sure I was going to get a headache from all the nodding I’d been doing.

  “Yep.” I had my hand on the door. Everything within me wanted to go and see Allie. I needed to know what she was thinking. “I have to get to class, so see you tonight.”

  After he nodded his head, I was out of there quickly. Where was she? Would she have gone to class? I walked out the front door and stopped in my tracks. There she was sitting on the steps, head in her hands.

  Looks like she hadn’t got far.

  "So, are we going to talk about this or are you just going to keep groaning?" I looked down at Allie. She was sitting on the step, groaning and grunting to herself. What was going through her mind I didn’t know. Hell, it might kill her to talk back to me!

  "I can't believe this is happening," she groaned, looking up for the first time. Her eyes were wide with terror. "I've always been good! I respect my body, I don't sleep around, and how do I get awarded? I get you!"

  "Hey, that's not nice!" She was making me sound like a disgusting piece of dirt or something. I have women falling to their knees. Heck, I'm sure numerous females would die to be my mate. "You could have got someone worse." I crossed my arms.

  She grunted, rolling her eyes and dropping her head into her hands.

  "What you could have! You could have ended up being mates with that guy who sits at the front of our English class. You know the one, always picking his nose, big eyes, looks like he’s been slapped in the face with a shovel."

  She pulled her head up. "Oh my God, and you are VAIN. Of course, you are, look at you." She gestured her hand in my direction. "You are the spitting image of a male god."

  I smirked. "Now that's a bit more like it."

  "Not a compliment."

  "I'm taking it as one."

  I looked Allie up and down, and I just couldn't see it. Why did fate think she was my other half? I thought I would get an angel, you know pure and sweet.

  "Stop staring at me, or I'll spoon your eyeballs out," she threatened, getting up.

  Perfect example right there. Definitely not an angel.

  "You know, Zane?" A dangerous look crossed her eyes, and I knew I was in for it before she begun. "You are the most self-centered, heartless jerk I have ever known. Hell, you're the definition of a jerk!"

  The school doors opened behind her, and my dad walked out. Allie, however, didn't seem to notice our little conversation had suddenly got an extra pair of ears.

  "You,” she poked me in the chest, "Are arrogant, self-absorbed, and are going to ruin my life!"

  "Allie, stop." My eyes darted up to my dad who was grinning watching the little brunette rip shreds off me.

  "Don't tell me what to do! You don't have any control over me yet," she fumed, and I put my hands up surrendering.

  Allie wasn't going to back down, so before she could open her mouth and say one more insult, or worse spill the news about her being my mate, I darted my eyes to dad.

  "Hey, Dad, so you're heading home now?"

 
I watched out of the corner of my eye as Allie stiffened. I hope she was ashamed.

  "Yes, I am.” Dad walked down the stairs and stood next to Allie. "I see you and Miss Winters get on.”

  Allie slowly peeled her eyes off the ground to look up at him. "Sorry, Alpha, I didn't realize you were there.”

  "No need to apologize, I am sure you aren't the first to yell at my son."

  I scoffed at that.

  "Will you be joining your mom tonight? She is having tea with us." Dad didn't look a bit angry at Allie, which annoyed me. I was his son after all, so couldn't he at least give her a comment about respect?

  Allies eyes were wide, and she looked as if she had just been struck by lightning or the possible fear of having dinner with me tonight. I watched her smugly.

  "I, um, can't." She tucked her hair behind her ears.

  "Why would that be?" I piped in, interested in her excuse. Surely, she wouldn't have anything on. It is Allie Winters after all - a baby had more social events than her.

  Her eyes narrowed in my direction. "I have a date if you must know."

  She did? With who? Suddenly I wasn't looking so smug, and I smiled bitterly at her. Who was she dating? She did realize that had to stop, didn't she?

  "Oh, with who?" Dad questioned, taking her by surprise.

  "Um, you won't know him, he’s, um, tall and…" She scratched the back of her neck.

  She was lying. She was lying on purpose to try and get out of a dinner with us. Well, let’s face it, she was trying to get out of dinner with me. She continued to babble, and dad wasn't buying it. She was basically hanging herself with her mumbles.

  "It's with me," I spoke up, silencing her nonstop babble. "Allie, you suck at lying."

  "You two are actually going to dine together?" Dad looked suspicious. "Are you sure you will still be breathing at the end of the night?" His lips twitched with a smile as he looked at me.

  "Allie won't kill me." I looked at her, standing speechless with this cute confused look on her face. "Will you, Allie?"

  I'm sure she had numerous comebacks or smart remarks, but she didn't say any of them. She just shook her head in reply.

  "See, Dad, you have her word."

  "No, I have a head shake," he corrected me. "Now shouldn't you two be in class."

  Well, we would be I thought if Allie wasn't having a freakout. "You're right we should get going, come on, Allie, we have Math."

  "No, I have Art." She crossed her arms, realizing what she had just committed herself to sinking in. "Alpha Harris." She nodded before spinning on her heel and taking off up the steps.

  "I better go," I said to dad and darted off in Allie's direction, catching the door just before it closed. "Allie, wait up."

  "What the hell were you thinking committing us to dinner together? Did you not get the hint, Zane? I hate you." She glared sideways at me while keeping a fast pace.

  "Don't kill me with the love now," I scoffed.

  "Kill you, that is exactly what I want to do."

  "Allie, you are going to have to face it, we're…

  She slapped her hand over my mouth. "Don't you dare finish that sentence," she hissed up at me, her emerald eyes on fire. "Someone might hear you." Her head snapped up and down the passage, shocked no one was in sight.

  I pulled her hand from my mouth, "Allie, you mightn't like it, but you and I have things to talk about so I'll pick you up tonight at seven." Just touching her was setting something alive in me, something I hadn't felt before.

  Did she feel it? That slow pull starting between us.

  "Fine," she huffed, pulling her hand from mine. "But just so you know I'm not happy about this."

  "Whatever made you think I was?" I snapped back her, as her bad attitude was getting to me. I wasn't going to lie, I wished my mate was someone else; someone who at least didn't walk around glaring at everyone.

  “See you tonight, Allie.” I walked off leaving her standing there.

  Chapter Four

  ALLIE

  Ever felt like you could barely breathe? Like your lungs were squeezing shut. At this moment as I sat across from Zane at the small restaurant table, I was having that feeling - my nerves were suffocating me.

  “Are you going to eat, or just stare at the plate?” Zane spoke up.

  I twirled my fork in the pasta. How could I eat when I was this nervous?

  “Ok, well, I did want to eat my meal while it was hot but it looks like you aren’t going to eat until we get this over with.” Zane sighed, putting his knife and fork down.

  How was he so calm while my heart was thumping outside my chest! Did he even care just how huge this whole thing was?

  “You and I, well…. we are, umm…” He scratched the back of his neck. “Well, we’re mates.” He shifted uncomfortably. I take that back, he does know how huge this is.

  While a part of my body was thrilled, another part, the larger part, was disgusted and was deciding if running was appropriate.

  “Now that we have got the obvious out of the way, how about we move onto what the hell are we going to do?” I wasn't hiding my panic. The panic was clear in my voice and was clearly painted on my face.

  My plan had always been to get out of here - to move away and never look back, and now…. he could lock me down here forever.

  The amount of terror I felt couldn’t be explained.

  “Well, what do you think we should do?” He gave me that look, which somehow knocked the air from my lungs. He slowly arched an eyebrow as I continued to stare at him.

  “I think we should pretend this never happened,” I gushed; my words tumbling into each other and it was entirely his fault for looking so bloody good!

  “Well, that isn’t going to work,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes and acting as if he had a better idea. “You know it won’t. We will end up fighting it, and then you will end up falling in love with me, and I’ll end up giving into my wolf, and before you know it, we will be as whipped as a married couple.”

  I gulped. He just detailed my nightmare.

  “So…” I swallowed sharply. “So, what do we do to stop it?”

  “Come on, don’t you want to be madly in love with me?” He smirked, his eyes flickering with dangerous charm.

  “Zane, you better have a plan.” I glared across at him. I would not fall for his charm.

  “A plan?” He laughed. “I’m not a fucking spy or anything.”

  “Great, we are doomed.” I dropped my head into my hands. I am doomed to fall in love with his stupid boyish grin, and then I’ll be stuck here - forever.

  “Look, why don’t we just try and prolong this as much as possible?” Zane offered, watching me with an amused smirk. “At this point, nothing has to change. I don’t want to be with you, and you don’t want to be with me; however, wolf Zane thinks a hell of a lot of you, so he will want to be with you.”

  With wide eyes, I just stared back at him.

  “So why don’t we just try and be friends. You know the saying, happy wolf, happy life.” Zane smirked at me, taking a gulp of his water. “So, what do you think?”

  “Friends, you and I?” I snapped myself out of the shock.

  “Yeah, we can catch a movie sometime or tea, or just hang out at school or something. Look, I’m not going to lie and say I want to do this, but we don’t get a choice.” He sighed frustrated and ran a hand through his hair. “This way we can still do what we want. I can still keep, you know, seeing people, and um, you…” He threw a hand out at me, suddenly looking very awkward. “You can still keep seeing people too.”

  He suddenly looked nervous and was watching me with caution. What was he waiting for, me to come across and attack him?

  “Ok.” I nodded my head. “That sounds good.” I slowly smiled at him.

  “Really?” His eyebrows furrowed together. “Wasn’t expecting that,” he muttered to himself.

  “So, we do friends? We can do that.�
� I was saying the words, but I wasn’t sure if I actually believed them, and even as Zane nodded his head I knew he was thinking the same; could we really do this?

  ***

  It took a few days and, to be honest, I was really annoyed with myself it had taken that long, but I had figured it out, there were two Zanes. There was restaurant Zane, he was relaxed, flirty, and bearable, and then there was school Zane. School Zane had short-term memory loss and pretended like I was invisible. School Zane ignored me and was a stuck-up selfish prick.

  It had taken me three days to work out there were two Zanes. Boy did that piss me off. I had wasted my Monday being nice to him. On Tuesday he ignored me - hell, I was still nice to him, and then Wednesday afternoon it clicked. I was sitting in English, listening to him talk to that dick, Taylor, about the girls last weekend and that’s when I discovered school Zane.

  I took a seat in the middle of the classroom, leaving an empty seat next to me for Blake. The bell rang, and the students were filing in.

  There was one more development that happened across the three days; a development I really didn’t want to admit. Zane and my wolf had connected mentally. That’s right, Zane now could invade my mind whenever he liked.

  “Hey, Allie?” Blake waved his hand in front of my face, bringing me out of my self-pity.

  “Sorry.” I shot him a smile and brought myself back to the present. “Where have you been?”

  “It’s first period, Allie.” Blake looked at me confused.

  Right, it is the start of the day. “Right.”

  “You ok?” He placed a hand on my knee.

  ‘Allie, your boyfriend is speaking to you.’ Zane’s sweet velvet voice swiped through my mind.

  “Yeah, it’s nothing.” I put my hand over his, and, for some reason, I felt calmer. "Just a headache."

  ‘Are you ignoring me?’ Zane’s voice spiked with interest.

  ‘Leave me alone,’ I snapped back at him while smiling at Blake. ‘And who told you Blake was my boyfriend?’