My skin is coated in a thin sheen of sweat, my chest rising and falling at a quickened pace. The food helps but I’ll be on edge until I get some sleep together. I shove the jerky bag back inside the car and throw my clothes on. Rolling my shoulders and grabbing my bag, I make my way across the clearing to our cabin.
We stay here at least once a month. It’s nice to get away from things. Or it would have been if we didn’t have to share the space with the other factions and if my pops hadn’t decided we should host school get-togethers from time to time. But again, this is supposed to be for the good of the Pack. A way to bond with our classmates. Build relationships with our enemies that might one day lead to them becoming our allies.
I glare at Liu and Isa once more before slipping on a pair of mirrored aviators. I don’t care that it’s late. No one’s gonna say shit to me about the sunglasses.
The clearing is packed with people illuminated by firelight. Most hang out next to their cars, or in small clusters by the fire. Now that the sun has set, the vampires have decided to come out. The three I spot look like teenagers, but I’m not fooled. You don’t change a still-developing youth. Not in today’s time. It was a popular practice in the Victorian era so I wouldn’t be surprised if the three vampires posing as fellow teens are pushing one hundred or better. Not that the humans or witches seem to mind. Too many of the foolish girls have stars in their eyes, probably wishing the vamps would sparkle or some shit.
I’m happy to see the members of my Pack are giving them a wide berth. The witches and the humans are a nuisance, but the vampires, they’re a very real threat and the hatred between our kind runs deep.
No one speaks to me and everyone gives me space as I make my way toward the cabin.
A few guys I recognize from Clan Cat nod in my direction as if to saysup?But I don’t reciprocate the gesture. I might talk to some of these assholes at school when I have to, but I sure as shit am not going to tolerate them here. I am not one of them. I’m not a cat. Or a bear. Or a fucking coyote. I’m a wolf. I made the mistake of befriending someone outside my clan already and that shit blew up in my face thanks to a certain tiger on my shit list.
I don’t make it a habit to repeat my mistakes.
In a life and death battle, I’ve always got my Pack’s back. But unless their life or that of another member of the Pack is on the line, I stick to my own breed.
A group of bikini-clad girls walk toward me, and I fight back a groan. Two are witches. They’re easy enough to spot with the distinct scent of magic that follows them wherever they go. The others are human save for one who I’m not sure what she is, but she smells …weird. Off.Like lilacs and dead things.
Jordy stands on the cabin’s porch steps, a smile curing his mouth, and Des leans on the railing beside him. Beers in hand and wide grins on their faces, the girls sway their hips and offer flirtatious looks and stupid giggles as I close the distance between me and my boys.
I stifle a growl. At school, these chicks usually just give me googly eyes but leave me be unless I approach them, but I can tell they’ve already had some booze and a witch’s metabolism is no better than a human’s. If they’re not shit-faced already, they will be soon.
One of the witches decides to be particularly brave, breaking away from her friend group. “Hey, Rafe. You gonna party with us tonight?” she calls out. “My mom leads the Stone Crest Witches. Your dad is Alpha of the Southwest Pack. We should probably get to know one another better. Don’t you think?”
At the mention of my name, I see Isa’s head jerk in my direction.That’s right, pretty girl. I’m here.I don’t bother hiding my smirk. “Maybe.” I holler back to the girl, wanting to gauge Isa’s reaction. She scowls but turns away while the bikini chick giggles. Fucking giggles. I swear these girls get stupider each year, but I eye her rack anyway. Stupid or not, she’s got a good one.
Maybe a quick fuck will get Isa out of my head. I’m not one to discriminate. If I’m going to fuck around, my motto’s always been better it be with someone outside my Pack than in. It causes less problems and it’s worth the minor inconvenience of having to put a leash on my wolf. Besides, I know I’m a possessive bastard. I can’t risk getting entangled with one of my own kind and my wolf losing his shit the next time the girl so much as looks at someone else. Been there. Done that. Don’t plan on repeating it.
“Come find me later,” she says and I give her a noncommittal grunt.
I need to get laid, but the idea of fucking her doesn’t pique my interest. Isa on the other hand…Fuck.Both man and wolf want her. And that’s a big fucking problem.
Inside the cabin, Des flicks on all the lights and we each throw our stuff in our respective rooms. “You could have waited for us to join you on the run,” he mutters.
I don’t bother responding, knowing he’ll move on as long as I don’t engage.
Our cabin is off-limits to everyone outside Clan Wolf and given that we’re the only Clan members attending Hellbound High, we’ll have the place to ourselves. We’ve been known to bring a few girls back for the night, but our cabin isn’t one of the open ones for partiers. We don’t really integrate. We more so supervise. Make sure our fellow Packmates don’t do anything stupid and ensure no one winds up dead.
“I see your girl is here,” Jordy comments with a shit-eating grin when I make my way back outside after putting my things away. I accept the beer he offers me and my eyes track Isa as she follows Liu over to a group of shifters.
My hand tightens around my beer and I clench my jaw. The fucker smiles at her as he leans down to whisper something in her ear before waving at the group around him.Isn’t that nice? Introducing the loner to the Pack?
“I don’t have a girl,” I say.
That earns me a grunt from Des. “Then why are you eye-fucking her?” he asks.
I flip him off with my free hand. “You can’t see my eyes, asshole. I’m not even looking in her direction.”
“Liar,” Jordy adds. “Your headlights are on and that shit shines right through the frames. Just fuck her and get it out of your system already.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not interested in fucking her. I— “
“Right. You want to be a dick and toy with her, that it? You need a new pet project to focus on?”
“What the hell is your problem, man?” I flick up my aviators and glare at him.
Jordy laughs but there’s an edge to his voice. “Nothing. You do you. Fuck her. Don’t fuck her. I don’t care. Just make up your mind already so we can enjoy the damn weekend. I’m too tired for your games so whatever you have planned, leave me out of it. I don’t screw over my own kind.”