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26
Harper
Every time we eat a meal together or see each other in class, I want to ask Liam about his wolf. He never brings it up. I wonder if he even remembers that night but I don’t ask. I know he doesn’t like to talk about it and I’m not going to bring it up where anyone might hear us.
He’s especially quiet tonight. Somehow, I’m eating dinner with Liam, Corbin, and Damon all at the same table. It’s not the first time it’s happened, but it’s still a rare occurrence. All four of the males are silently eating. It’s a little weird.
Sadie squeezes in next to me and reaches for a roll. She takes a bite and nudges me with her elbow. Wordlessly, she moves her eyes around the table. I know what she’s asking and I shrug in response. I have no idea why they’re all sitting here like we’re in mourning.
“So, that was some show in the hall today, wasn’t it?” she says, breaking the silence. “Did anyone else catch it? Em and Tasha at each other’s throats. Never thought I’d see the day they turned on each other. I almost miss them coming after Harper.”
I lift my brows.
She laughs. “I saidalmost.”
“It’s weird,” Liam says. “They’ve been friends as long as I can remember. And we all went to grade school together.”
“That’s what happens when you’re fighting for the top spot,” Sadie says. “Everyone’s the enemy then.”
I push my food around on my plate. Suddenly, the mashed potatoes and roasted chicken taste like cardboard. It’s a painful reminder that I’ve slipped even lower in the ranks and that the number one and two spots are held by Tasha and Em.
The last two people I want to see in those spots.
“Neither one of them are even that great in class,” Damon says. “It’s so weird. Makes me wonder if they’re hunting monsters or something.”
“It’s probably all the nasty tricks they play on people,” I say.
“They haven’t done anything to you lately,” Corbin says. “Unless you’re not telling us something?”
The whole group is silent and I swear they’re all leaning closer to me to hear my response. I roll my eyes.
“Stop worrying about me so much,” I say. “They can’t hurt me. Nobody can. Which gives me very few opportunities to fight back.”
“Nobody would blame you if you went after them,” Damon says with a wicked smirk. “We all know they deserve it.”
“I won’t do that,” I say. “I’m going to have to keep working harder. Maybe I should start doing more practice on the weekends?”
“You’ve spent all your time practicing on the weekends,” Sadie says. “It’s not moving you up the ranks.”
“I think we might have to face the fact that what we’re doing isn’t working,” Corbin says.
“It’s my father,” Liam says.
I look over at him. “Of course it is. He’s the one who gave me this stupid necklace.”
Liam shakes his head. “It has to be more than that. I hate to say it, but Damon’s right. There is no reason for Em and Tasha to be ranked that high.”
“He’s got a point,” Sadie says. “Honestly, my money’s been on Liam since day one. How he’s down below you makes no sense.”
“I’m being punished, same as all of you, I think,” Liam says. “I’m sure my dad gets updates on who Harper spends time with.”
“So what you’re saying is that I need to spend time with Tasha and Em?” I laugh, trying to break the tension.
It doesn’t work. Nobody laughs with me.
“Come on, guys. What are we supposed to do about it?” I say. “I’m trying everything I can think of.”
“No, you’re not,” Damon says. “You don’t have to play nice. We’ve all said it. But Harper, you have to start taking the offensive.”
