“What’s going on over here?” A man’s voice booms through the hallway. “Break it up. Everyone get to class.” The hall empties just as the first bell rings and everyone heads to their first period.
Sabrina waits for a beat before she, too, leaves, but not before I see the hate-filled look in her eyes telling me things between us are far from over. If anything, Jordy stepping in only added fuel to the fire. If she didn’t hate me before, she certainly does now. Great. I was going to need to deal with her. Sooner rather than later or things would continue to escalate.
Mr. Chavez—the school principal—comes into view, eyeing Jordy and me warily. “Mr. Salgado, Ms. Romero, get to class.” He claps his hands and I move to do as I’ve been told but Jordy’s grip on my wrist stops me from making my escape.
His dark brown eyes meet mine. “That shit happens again, you find me. Got it?”
“Why?” I’m so confused as to why he’d help me in the first place. Is this because I slept with his friend? Jordy comes off like the nice guy, sure. He reminds me a lot of Kai back home. Which is how I know Jordy never makes a move that isn’t calculated, and he had no reason to step in just now and help me. I’m a lone wolf. The witches are right. I’m not Pack. I don’t see why he cares.
He frowns at me. “That’s a dumb-ass question, vanilla. What do you mean, why?”
I shrug my shoulders and rather than answering him, I say, “Fine. I’ll find you.”
“See that you do.” Satisfied, he releases me and we both head off to our first class. I spot Rafael waiting for me outside the door leading into English. He doesn’t say anything. His dark brown eyes meet mine, but I can’t get a read on him. I know he saw what just happened but whether he cares or not is a complete mystery to me. I wish I could crack his hard exterior shell. I’m still pissed at him. He was a complete ass Saturday morning and never bothered apologizing for it afterward, not that I’d expected him to. However, I did expect him to talk to me again, but I got nothing. Not even a goodbye on Sunday as everyone drove out heading back into town.
Without a word he turns and heads into class. I sigh. I do not have the energy to deal with both Sabrina and Rafael today.
By lunch, the entire school is buzzing with news that the wolves have claimed me. And not just one wolf. No, though that would have been more than enough, but Jordy made sure to say ours as if he speaks for all of them, making me the property of not one asshole but three. I’m not entirely sure what being claimed by them means. If any wolf tried to lay claim to me back home, he’d court me first. He’d make his intentions to one day claim me as his mate known. This is different. No one is trying to woo me and I sure as heck have no plans of belonging to anyone, let alone three wicked wolves.
The stares and whispers have definitely increased tenfold. If I thought this morning was bad, the afternoon is even worse.
So much for flying under the radar till graduation.
I grab my lunch as quickly as possible, intending to take it and hide out in the library, but Desmond puts an end to that idea when he lifts my tray from my hands and with his own carries them both over to the table in the corner forcing me to follow if I want to eat. I almost consider letting him just have my food. It’s not like I plan on eating much of it anyway.
I’ve lost six pounds since mom died. Which is a lot given my already lean body didn’t have much to spare. I should eat more. My wolf needs the fuel but I just can’t seem to stomach it. Though I had no problems eating the albóndigas Rafael made for us.
Des sets my tray down on the table beside Rafael before rounding to the other side and taking a seat next to Jordy. No one says anything about my arrival, they just dive into conversation like nothing is weird about me sitting with them.
Alrighty then.
I poke at my lunch—a chicken patty with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. The lunch lady said it was chicken fried steak day but nothing about this looks like chicken or steak. Still, I make an effort to swallow a bite before using my fork to move things around so it at least looks like I ate something.
I spot Zheng a few tables away, his gaze trained on me. When he realizes I’m looking at him, he flicks on his mirrored shades and turns back to the guys he was talking to.
I deflate and look away only to see Rafael’s gaze lasered in on me. His mouth is set in a hard line as dark brown eyes search mine. “Something going on between you and Liu?” he asks.
I roll my eyes. “He’s my friend and he doesn’t seem all that fond of you three. That answer your question?”
Rafael nods and sucks his bottom lip into his mouth before throwing an arm over my shoulder and giving Zheng a fuck-you grin. God. Guys can be such assholes sometimes.
I shrug out from under his hold. “Stop trying to stir up trouble,” I tell him, smacking his arm.
He grips my chin and turns my face toward him in a possessive move. I lick my lips and his eyes track the movement, hunger in his gaze. “Isa, haven’t you learned I’m nothing but trouble?”
His head dips and he presses his lips to mine. At first, it’s a soft press but then his teeth are tugging on my bottom lip, urging me to open
