“Liu is bad news.”
I shove him but it’s like trying to push a concrete wall. He’s less than an inch away, the heat from his body seeping into my own. My breaths come out choppy and I struggle to form coherent words. “Am I’m just supposed to take your word for it?”
Jaw clenched, he nods.
I push on his chest again. “Look. I don’t know what your deal is, but Zheng is the only person who’s bothered being nice to me. I’m not going to stay away from him just because you say so. You have no right to tell me what to do.”
Rafael’s lip curls into a snarl. “I have every—”
“Hey!” Jordy interrupts. “We’ve been nice.”
Rafael takes a step back. My shoulders relax and I take a deep breath before turning to face the other guys.
“You two have,” I say, signaling to him and Des. “But he,” I stab a finger in Rafael’s chest, “along with the rest of this school, have been complete jerks.”
A tick forms on Rafael’s jaw but I’m not having it. I might look the part of a meek little submissive but I’m not one.
I storm off toward the school’s exit, ignoring him as he calls after me. He can screw off for all I care.
5
Isabella
The week goes by in a blur. After that first day, Rafael stopped playing guide and I was fine with that. Sure, I missed the glimmer of camaraderie we shared at lunch the first day, but I wasn’t looking for a replacement Clan. He’s a brooding jerk anyway.
I ignore him whenever I see him in first period or in the halls, and the rest of the school—aside from Zheng—thankfully decide to ignore me now that they’ve realized hanging out with the wolves was a one-time thing.
Adjusting to life in El Paso is a new experience, and it feels a lot like being trapped in purgatory. I see Brian’s assistant more than I see him. She’s there every morning at half past seven, eager and willing to cart me off to school, though all week I’ve had to catch a rideshare to get home.
It would be easier if I ran the seven-mile distance. I can maintain a four-minute mile with little effort but the look on Natalia’s face when I made the suggestion put an immediate end to the idea. No human runs seven miles in skinny jeans and strappy sandals. It would label me a shifter on sight, which apparently is a bad thing.Go figure.
I’m making my way out of my last class—eyes glued to my phone as I punch in the address of the school for a ride request—when Zheng calls out to me in the hallway.
“Hey.”
I slow my steps and wait for him to catch up.
“Hey.” I smile.
He tugs on the straps of his backpack, a nervous smile on his face. “Got any plans this weekend?”
I shrug. “Not really. I’ll probably just hang out at home and get caught up on homework.”
He nods and sucks on his upper lip, his eyes shifting nervously. “Well, there’s a party this weekend. A bunch of us go out in the woods and camp for the weekend before the holidays come around. It’s a chance to let our beasts out. Maybe go on a run through the woods.”
“Is it Pack only?” I ask, giving him a speculative look.
“Nah. It’s an all school sort of thing…” He shrugs. “They like us to mingle outside of school. Bond and all that, you know?”
“Oh. Cool,” I say, not really sure where he’s going with this, because the idea of a bunch of unsupervised paranormal teenagers sounds like trouble just waiting to happen.
He tilts his head, a question in his eyes, but I’m not sure what response he’s looking for. He runs a hand through his dark hair and shakes his head. “So, uh, would you maybe want to come? With me, I mean? I can pick you up if you’re cool with that…” He trails off and looks away, a slight blush on his otherwise pale cheeks.
Oh.Oh!“You’re inviting me?” I squeak. As soon as the words leave my lips, I want to smack myself.
The corners of his mouth twitch into the beginnings of a smirk. “Yeah. I think it’d be fun. If you came, I mean. I think you would have a lot of fun. I know you don’t have a Pack here but,” a shrug, “it might help you to, you know, be around other shifters. I promise I won’t bite.” There’s a playful glint in his eyes that tells me that last bit might not be true.
I chew my bottom lip. I want to go. My wolf desperately needs to run. The inability to shift has been grating on my nerves. It isn’t healthy but I haven’t had much choice.
