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But I couldn’t give Captain Byron the satisfaction of seeing me winded. I was sure my red face and frizzy hair already gave me away. I was sure the sweat dripping down my brow and running down my neck was enough to inform him that I was exhausted.
I kept going, even as the rest of the students left, even after the other pack left. I wasn’t sure if Captain Byron was around but I didn’t want to assume. I knew the sun was close to going down, which meant he had to leave for his frolick in the forest soon, but I wouldn’t stop until it was dark just to show him he couldn’t break me.
Is that what he’s doing you? Breaking you?
I ignored the condescending voice and kept running. Every now and then, I was forced to look down and see what I was stepping on just in case it was a root or a stone, something that might cause me to trip and humiliate myself.
I ran, even when the sun started to dip, when the sky turned a gold color and the blue was almost drowned out.
“Foster.”
I ignored the voice. It was probably my mind playing tricks on me. My nails dug into my palms and I forced myself to speed up. I wasn’t sure if it actually worked, but it felt like I was putting more effort into doing what I was trying to do. Which was to keep up and run. Not make an utter and complete fool of myself.
“Foster!”
I glanced to the side and frowned. Apparently, Byron was still there, watching me with narrowed blue eyes. His lips were impassive, arms crossed over his chest. He had the stance of someone who clearly thought I was wasting his time, and yet, he hadn’t told me to stop. Instead, he continued to watch me, probably counting all the ways I was running wrong.
Without warning, my foot snagged something and I shot forward. I managed to catch myself at the last moment, but my cheek still hit the hard dirt, causing a thousand prickles of needles to engulf my skin. I grunted, managing to swallow any whimper. I knew his shifter hearing would be able to pick up the sound easily, and I didn’t want to give him anything to throw in my face if I could help it.
“Congratulations,” he said as he walked towards me. “Your obstinance has taught you how to eat shit.”
I pushed myself up. Not that he offered me his hand, but even if he had, I wouldn’t have taken it.
I wiped my palms on my thighs. Byron stepped forward, eyes still narrowed. Instead of looking at me as a whole, however, they focused on my cheek.
“I think it’s time you went back to the Ack building,” he said.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on some full moon ritual?” I demanded. I could barely formulate the words, given my breath came out in gasps, but I couldn’t bring myself to be embarrassed.
“I will be.” He reached forward, his fingers tentatively curling under my jaw and tilting my head to the side. I tried to jerk back from his touch but I couldn’t. His eyes still fell on my cheek. “You need to clean that up.”
“Afraid it’ll scar?” I snapped. I didn’t even know why I said it. It wasn’t like he was concerned with my face. He had no reason to be attracted to me or to care one way or the other. But once the words were out of my mouth, I couldn’t swallow them back up. I couldn’t stop myself from saying more. “I didn’t realize you had claim over facial scars. What, humans can’t mark up their skin?”
Instead of being offended, the corners of his lips flickered up. “There’s so much fire in you,” he murmured. “Why are you so angry?”
I lashed out. I couldn’t help it. If he didn’t know why I had all of this anger inside of me, then he really was an idiot.
“I don’t know,” I said, yanking my head away from his fingers. “Maybe because my mother was killed by some monster. I have no other family. I was sent to some werewolf school where I don’t know anyone. And mycaptainseems to hate me.”
Byron frowned. “I don’t hate you.”
I scoffed. “Could have fooled me,” I muttered.
There was a heavy silence surrounding us. The wind blew through the trees, causing twigs to snap if not break
“You should go inside,” he said again. “It’s not safe for you outside during a full moon.”
“Like you care.”
Byron took a step forward, his entire face contorting into an aggressive scowl. “What is your problem?” he demanded to know. “Every kind thing I’ve said –”
“Kind? Do you happen to know the definition of the word, or –”
“-you’ve had some sort of smartass comment in response,” he continued. “You’re angry, sure. I get that.”
“Do you?” I said. “Because you asked why I’d be –”
“Look.” He held up his hand. I clenched my teeth together even though I didn’t want to obey the command. I did. “We’re stuck with each other, whether we like it or not. We need…we need to figure out a way to get along. Or, at least, be civil.” I opened my mouth, ready to tell him that I wasn’t the one going out of my way to antagonize him. He seemed to have a problem with me. And I had a problem with him because he had a problem with me. “Bothof us. But now is not the time. I’m not going to tell you again. We’ll discuss this matter more tomorrow. You need to go back inside.”
