by Donna Flynn
“I will count on that,” he told her reaching out to clasp her hand. “You and me forever right?” They said that to each other a million times in the past, but she never known he had meant it as more than just a thing friends say to each other. He so badly wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he knew she was not ready to hear it.
“Forever,” she replied feeling as if she missed something important.
He pulled into the parking lot at the school, parked, and came to her side to help her out. Everyone stared as she took his hand and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as they walked towards the school amidst the wide-eyed stares of everyone present. Alec always garnered attention when he was around. Males wanted to be like him, and females usually threw themselves at him even when she was at his side. She had just forgotten what it felt like.
Alec was also aware of all the attention they were receiving as he followed her into the school, but as always he focused only on Mercy and where she was going. She led him to the office, where he gathered his schedule, then walked him to his locker. As luck would have it his locker was across from hers and Kirk waited there his eyes narrowing as they approached.
Mercy saw Kirk and smiled. His whole demeanor changed. A wide smile took the place of his frown and he reached for her hand, pulling her close and kissing her while glaring at Alec.
It took all of Alec’s control not to punch him in the face, but a smiling girl next to them moved in front of him interrupting from his murderous thoughts.
“Hey I’m Lane. Ignore them, they just started dating.” She waved her hand dismissively, but he saw the hurt in her eyes as she cast a sideways glance at Kirk and wondered if he had found an ally in her.
“Alec, it’s good to meet you.” She smiled brightly and he could not help but smile back, then she reached for the paper in his hand, looked it over then handed it back.
“Let me show you too your locker so they can have some privacy.”
He peered around the crowded hall and wondered how anyone could have privacy there, but shook his head and followed her taking in everything about her with one glance. She was tall, slim, her body well toned, and had an infectious laugh that drew one to her. Immediately he knew she had to be a cheerleader.
“Here you go.” She pointed to the locker glancing back to where Mercy leaned against hers, Kirk in front of her his hands on her hips as he smiled down on her adoringly. Her bottom lip trembled slightly and her soft brown eyes grew suddenly moist as she stared at them.
“You okay?” he asked placing his hand on her arm.
“Oh yeah allergies,” she told him swiping her finger under her eyes to dab away the moisture.
“Hey girl,” Gina walked up, but stopped short when she noticed Alec with her friend. “Well, well, you must be Alec.” She looked him over not bothering to hide her interest. “Mercy has talked about you nonstop since I met her, it is an honor to met you at last.”
“Gina I have to go, can you show him around?” Lane asked then turned to him with a thin smile. “It was nice to meet you, maybe we will have a class or two together.”
He watched her rush down the hall and duck into the restroom wondering if anyone else knew about her feelings for Kirk, but decided she probably hid them since she and Mercy were friends.
“So what brings you to our little neck of the woods?” Gina said leaning against his locker with a seductive smile.
“You are well aware of whom and what I am, so don’t bother with the niceties.” He leaned closer piercing her eyes with his own. “I have not had the chance to talk to you before now, but I am sure Lucan has already spoken with your mother after the debacle the other night. Let me just say this, if you so recklessly put Mercy in harm’s way again the consequences will be severe. I won’t have her in danger just to satisfy your own selfish needs. ”
“Whoa there tiger, I knew she would be with Kirk, he would never let anything happen to her. Besides, it was her needs I was looking after, her brothers keep her locked up like a vestal virgin.”
She smiled seeming none too concerned by his threat. so he stepped closer his body taunt, his wolf hovering just under the surface. He pushed his dominance towards her and knew she felt it when she paled and her hands began to tremble. “Never again place her in danger or you will answer to me,” he warned.
“I won’t I swear,” she told him her lips quivering.
“Good now I need your help.”
He smiled and she melted ready to do anything he asked if it put her on good terms with him.
*****
Mercy looked to where Gina leaned against the locker gazing upon Alec with adoration.
He leaned in close as they spoke, one hand on the locker next to her head, the other on her shoulder. The pose intimate for two people who had only just met and a sudden rush of jealousy overcame her with such ferocity she found herself taking a deep breath to calm down.
She had been upset when he had taken off with Lane without even saying goodbye, but now she was infuriated that Gina her best friend, was chasing after him too. Her anger was completely irrational and she tried to tell herself she only cared because she did not want to see her friends get hurt, but she knew it was more than that. Deep down she feared he might find the one girl that took him away from her forever and that idea terrified her.
“Hey babe you ready to go?” Kirk asked noting how she stared at Gina and Alec with a frown.
“I promised Alec to take him around,” she told him pulling her hand away. “Go on ahead to your first class, I will meet you after.” She did not give him time to respond, but took off in Alec’s direction.
Kirk smothered back a growl and stormed off down the hall angry that she had so easily dismissed him. He had not realized Alec would be at the school, but know he knew he had to step up his game. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he thought about how to do just that.
*****
“Hey guys ready for class?” Mercy asked forcing herself to smile as she walked up behind Alec.
Alec was aware the minute she made a beeline towards them. The rush of her emotion she experienced seeing him with Gina, was easy to pick up on even from across the hall. He was aware of her jealousy and decided to use that to his advantage.
“I’m ready.” He looked to Gina who was still staring at him as if star struck and grinned. “Are you ready?”
“Oh… yes.” She turned to Mercy and blinked as if just waking up. “Let’s go, we don’t want Alec to be late on his first day.”
*****
By the time lunch came around word had gotten out about the new guy at school. A bevy of girls surrounded Alec as he sat down to eat, except for the one he wanted next to him more than anything. Mercy sat with Kirk at the other end of the table where he was forced to watch them flirting and sharing their food like two lovesick fools. His own food was left untouched on the tray in front of him, as he grew more aggravated with each passing minute.
“She has no clue does she?” Gina asked sliding in next to him, pushing away another girl who frowned, but moved down the bench grudgingly.
“No and for now I want to keep it that way,” he replied sharply, the hard edge of his voice making his bad mood clear.
“Don’t kill me,” she said raising her hands in the air. “I thought you two were only friends until this morning, but I can see how much you care for her, so let me help.”
He realized he had been surely towards the girl. Her help could only be to his benefit so he decided to take her up on her offer. “Sorry it’s hard watching her with him.” He laid his fork on the tray and turned to face her. “What does she see in him anyway?”
“Well, he’s good looking, athletic, treats her like she’s the only girl in the world and they have a lot in common.” By his frown, she could tell he had not liked her answer. “Look she has no clue your into her, why don’t you just tell her?”
“I can’t. She won’t take me seriously. Mercy thinks I am a flirt and un
able to commit to one girl.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “And what would have given her that idea?”
“I used to date a lot of girls, but only because I did not understand what I felt for her and was trying to vent my frustrations.”
“Sure that’s easy to believe,” she said with a doubtful expression.
“Look, when I first met her she was six and her parents had just died. She was lost and afraid, I was her only friend and although I felt our connection, I had no real idea what it meant. When I realized how deep our connection was I thought about going to her brothers, but then she started asking questions about boys and I lost it. At first, I dated other girls to keep busy and vent my frustrations, but then Mercy caught me out on a date one night and it became a way to keep her at arm’s length so I let it go on. ”
“I don’t understand. Why not explain to her what we all are and save everyone the pain? I mean, her brothers are pack surely, she would understand and be forgiving. ”
“She would never understand.” He glanced to where she sat, holding Kirk’s hand, talking with his friends happy and content with her life. “Her parents were killed by wolves and she was attacked by one of the young ones in our pack before they moved here. She hates wolves and if she knew what we were and what she is destined to become it might be too much for her to handle.”
“Females are not born pack. She doesn’t have to be like the rest of us she could choose a normal human life,” she reminded him. Her own turning had been an accident, a chance encounter with a male Were that ended with her being bit and left heartbroken when he fled in horror after. It could have made her bitter, but she always knew what her parents were and planned to turn one day anyway so she went with it embracing her Were side whole-heartedly.
“Mercy is a different case. Her mother and father are both part of the two oldest packs in our history and the mix of their DNA created an anomaly that made her Were from birth.” She stared at him with amazement, and he went on. “We were unsure when she will shift, but when the other male attacked her and tried to force her to bond, the only way to save her was for me to claim her in front of my pack. Once I spoke the words, the bond between us became harder to resist. Whether she feels it or not, I am her Bond Mate and she is my destiny. I have no choice, but to convince her I am the one she should be with or I will be missing a piece of me for the rest of my existence.”
“Does she remember any of the attack?” She peered down the table at her friend, realizing for the first time how very little she truly knew about Mercy’s past.
“No and it is better that way for now, but Kirk’s father threatened to tell he what we are if we do not allow him the chance to court her.” He looked to where Mercy sat with her head on Kirks shoulder frowned. “So, even though I want to rip his head off right now I can’t.”
“Are you afraid she will run if you tell her everything?”
“I know she would run, but who she might run too frightens me. Once she becomes part of someone else’s pack her choice is gone and she wouldn’t understand that until it was too late.” He growled under his breath as he glowered at Kirk. “That’s what he’s counting on.”
“Aren’t you afraid Kirk will tell her anyway? It would certainly increase his advantage.”
“His father has always been a friend of ours, they won’t break the deal and I won’t give him the satisfaction of failing and handing her over to him.”
Gina frowned worried her friend might be drawn into the middle of something that would not end well. Kirk wouldn’t step aside easily, his Alpha instinct would never allow it, but as her Bond Mate Alec would never let her go, he simply couldn’t live without her. “So she has to choose between the two of you.”
“She does not have to choose either of us, but I hope she will in time come to see I am the one for her.” He stood as the bell rang, ignoring the uneaten food on his tray. “Of course as her best friend I bet you could sway her decision.”
“I could try, but I doubt she will listen. She thinks I am a little too flirty with guys, but hey I am in your corner I don’t like the thought of her being used as a pawn, even if Kirk’s intentions are good.”
He smiled genuinely liking the outspoken female now that they were on the same page. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” She linked her arm through his and they turned to leave only to find Mercy in front of them holding hands with Kirk, frowning as she stared at their connected arms.
Mercy’s lips tightened into a thin smile as she contemplated ripping Gina’s hair from her head, but somewhere inside a part of her that knew it was wrong prevented her from acting upon her thoughts.
“Oh hey we were just leaving,” Gina, told her noting the look of displeasure on her face, slightly nervous there might be trouble. Alec might not believe it, but she knew Mercy and her expression clearly said she was jealous and ready to defend what she thought was hers.
“Well don’t let us stop you. I thought Alec needed help finding his classes, but it seems he had no trouble finding someone else to escort him.” She looked up at Kirk and forced herself to smile. “I guess you were right, he doesn’t need me at all.” Saying it made the pain even more real and she felt her heart shudder in response.
Kirk smiled and squeezed her hand. “I told you he’s a big boy, lets go.”
She made no protest as he pulled her along behind him down the hall, but when she turned back to look at Alec, tears laced her eyelashes and she felt as if her heart were breaking. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that girls were throwing themselves at him, it had always been that way, but for some reason the hurt was worse than it ever had before.
Alec watched them go, his body trembling with anger. Kirk definitely knew how to push his buttons, but if he was not careful, he might hit the one that ensured war between their packs.
“Alec are you alright?” Gina asked worried that he might chase Kirk down and give him what he deserved for the little stunt he had just pulled.
“I’m fine, shall we go?” He placed his hand on the small of Gina’s back following as she led him to his next class, neither one of them up for conversation after their encounter with Mercy and Kirk.
*****
Once in the class Alec took the open seat next to Mercy and smiled warmly, deciding it was best to confront her. “What was that back there?”
“What?” she said with a glare.
“You know, the whole he does not need me thing? You are the one who sat so far away from me at lunch. Gina was just being nice since I did not know anyone in the school yet.”
“I couldn’t get past all of the girls who flocked to meet you, so we sat at the other end.” Her fingers tapped the desk as she spoke a sign he knew meant she was still very angry.
“I would have made room for you,” he told her taking out his notebook as the teacher closed the door and the bell rang.
The teachers nasally voice as she began the day’s lesson stopped Mercy from answering, but she felt Alec staring at her throughout class, which made her nervous and uncomfortable. Once the bell rang signaling the end of class, she flew out of the door into Kirks waiting arms happy to get away from Alec and the confusing emotions he stirred in her.
“Damn!”Alec swore as he saw them moving though the hall, Kirks hand possessively on her waist.
“Problem?” Gina asked behind him watching the pair navigate the hectic hallway.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” he told her as they walked together.
“Really, because it seems Kirk is winning this thing without even trying.” He scowled at her and she laughed. “Look she thinks you’re a skirt chaser right?”
“But I’m not,” he denied earning a lifted eyebrow. “Well I guess I was, until I saw her all grown up and ready for a relationship.” He saw Kirk kissing her goodbye at the door of her classroom and tightened his fist wanting nothing more than to punch him.
“Fighting won’t make her notice you, Mercy hates violence,”
she reminded him.
“I don’t think anything I do will get her to notice me the way I want as long as lover boy is around,” he told her punching the nearby locker in place of the grinning jock.
“Let me think on this, I am sure we can come up with something.” She stopped at the door of his next class and in full view of everyone leaned in close pressing her lips to his ear. To those watching it would appear she was flirting and that was what she wanted, because Mercy’s eyes were glued on them. “She’s watching and if she truly did not care about you, I don’t think the look on her face reflects it.” She kissed his cheek and darted under his arm back into the hall whistling as she walked away.
Alec meet Mercy’s eyes seeing clearly the hurt look on her face before she lowered her head and fumbled with her books. He took a seat behind her hoping to talk, but she never looked back during class. Impatiently he waited for the end of class to speak to her again, but when the bell rang, she ignored him when he called her name and rushed to the hallway where Kirk waited with open arms and a triumphant smile.
Chapter Eleven
Alec sat in the car at the end of day waiting for Mercy, eager to confront her. She had been so far off the mark assuming he had any interest in the other girls at school and he wanted to make her understand that was not the case. Unfortunately, his eagerness to get to the car and talk to her meant he was forced to watch as she said goodbye to Kirk.
His hands tightened on the wheel as she wrapped her arms around his neck and moved in for the long kiss. Jealousy threatened to break his tight control, his body tensed and sweat beaded his brow as he watched them together their bodies pressed close, their lips melded together. He wanted nothing more than tear them apart and pound Kirks face into the pavement, but he fought the urge, clenching his hands tighter.
