Jordy meets my stare and his eyes narrow, sparking with something I’m not used to seeing in his gaze. “She’s the relationship type.”
I work my jaw harder. “And this matters to you because…”
“You’re not.”
“Never claimed I was,” I remind him. And then I add in for good measure, “She laid her cards out first. She wants fun. No strings. Don’t jump down my throat for giving the girl exactly what she asked for.”
Both their expressions consider me for a moment, searching for any deception. Then Des asks, “She really said that?” He doesn’t sound convinced and his nostrils flare, trying to catch me in a lie.
“Yeah, fucker. She did. So calm down.”
“Fine, let’s assume we buy that. What’d you do to piss her off?”
My shoulders sag and I grit my teeth.
“Come on, fucker. Spill.” Jordy says, all but bouncing beside me. The guy is wired this morning. I need to remember to hide the coffee from him. He must have consumed a full pot.
“I fucked her.”
“And…?”
I huff out a breath. “And I withheld her orgasm when she refused to beg for it.”
Desmond whistles and Jordy whoops, then says, “I always knew you were a shady asshole with control issues but fuck, man, that’s cold. And let me guess, you still got yours?”
I nod grinding my teeth together. “My wolf wants her submission.”
Jordy cackles, covering his mouth as he folds over at the waist before he straightens. There are tears of laughter shining in his eyes. “And your human self was too far gone to deny it. Idiot. If you want inside that pussy anytime soon, expect to do some groveling.”
Not. Fucking. Happening.
17 Isabella
The hallway is teeming with activity as I walk toward my first class Monday morning. I ignore the looks directed my way as I have been since I transferred here, but something about a few of them make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge.
There’s more hostility in them now. Not just the usual indifference I’d grown used to last week.
I’m not winning any popularity contests this year, not that I expected to being the new girl, but I have a feeling the camping trip is why I’ve suddenly earned the extra attention, in particular from the girls of this school. If looks could kill, let me tell you, it’s like I just walked onto the set of the human movie drama Mean Girls and every girl walking past is another Regina George with their eyes locked on me, marking me as prey.
Screw that. I’m a wolf. I’m not anyone’s prey.
Straightening my spine and ignoring the looks, I head to my English class. A few students finger the daggers or swords at their waists but it’s an idle threat. Nothing more and I for one am not easily frightened.
Spotting Sabrina and a group of her friends, I step to the side to avoid her, but of course, she sees me, and before I can slip into my first-period class, she’s shoving her way through the crowded halls right toward me.
I grimace. This isn’t going to end well.
My wolf perks up her head, and I fight to tamp down her interest. She would love a fight right about now. I’d kind of expected a confrontation up at Shadle Creek and was relieved when one never happened, but it looks like Sabrina’s been biding her time and now this seems to be her golden opportunity to put the new girl in her place. She has no idea what a mistake she’s about to make.
Her upper lip curls into a sneer and four more girls close in beside her. All of them smell like sage, rose, and lavender, letting me know not only are all five witches, they also all belong to the same coven.
I brace myself for whatever verbal lashing she has to offer, knowing it likely has to do with her being kicked out of Rafe’s cabin that first night. I try to soothe my wolf, reminding her that we’re not here to fight. That hurting people who can’t hurt us back is wrong, when the next thing I know, an open palm zips toward my face.
I grab her hand mid strike, stopping her from making contact with my cheek. My lip curls into a snarl. WHAT. THE. HELL?
My vision goes red. My wolf lunges forward and I have to fight to keep from shifting and tearing out Sabrina’s throat. The desire to taste her blood in my mouth is strong. What was she thinking? I lock my limbs, forcing myself to hold still as my grip tightens and the bones within my hand grind against one another.
She winces and wrenches her arm, but I don’t let go despite her struggles. My nostrils flare. If I take even a single step toward her, I’ll snap. I can’t do that here.
“You’re such a stupid whore,” she snarls, spittle flying toward me coupled with her vile words. All eyes turn toward us, the silence in the previously boisterous hallway deafening.
Goddammit. Claws prick my fingertips and I know my eyes have gone silver.
Her friends step forward, forming a half circle around me as a snarl works its way up my throat. Let go, Isa. Let her go. You’re above this. I repeat the words in my head again and again like a mantra as I take deep cleansing breaths in an effort to calm my wolf. I uncurl my fingers and she jerks away, hugging her arm to her chest and rubbing at the skin on her wrist.
“An assault against our coven won’t be forgiven,” she hisses.
I take a predatory step toward her. “I did not assault you. Are you stupid? You tried to slap me. All I did was stop you.”
“Liar!” she shouts, making sure everyone else in the hall hears. “You attacked me. Look at my arm!” She waves her bruised arm in
