“Let’s go sit…” Her voice trailed off, and she paused.
“What’s wrong?” I followed her eyes, and there stood Mason with Alec at the same table as the other day.
“Why the hell is he here?” Her shoulders slumped, and she turned her head toward me. “I’m sorry.”
“Let’s just go the opposite way.” Maybe he hadn’t seen us. A girl could hope.
“Yeah, okay.”
As we turned to head back outside, his voice stopped me in my tracks. “Ella.”
“Shit.” She spun on her heel back toward him. “Don’t come over here and be an ass again.”
“I’m not.” He lifted both hands in surrender. “I just wanted to check on… I mean apologize to her.” His eyes were nearly my undoing. “Look, I’m sorry about the other night. There was a lot going on, but I should’ve been nicer to you. I mean, you protected my sister when I couldn’t.”
“Wait…” She raised a hand and placed it on his forehead. “You apologized. Are you sick or something? Your forehead doesn’t feel warm.”
“I’m in agreement with her.” Alec punched him in the arm. “You’ve done a lot of shitty things—like sleep with girls and tell them they're worthless right after.”
This wasn’t what I needed. Him being nice to me would only make this harder. “It’s fine. Don’t apologize or be nice. Just leave me the hell alone, and everything will be fine.”
“Oh, damn.” Alec burst into laughter. “I don’t think you’ve ever been turned down by a girl.”
“He wasn’t asking me for anything.” I needed to get away and fast. “Look, Ella, I’ve got somewhere I need to be. I’ll see you Friday.”
“But…” Her bottom lip stuck out, and she glared at her brother. “Why are you here? You should be getting settled in for your next class.”
Right when I turned to move, she reached over and grabbed my arm. “You aren’t getting out of here that easily.”
“If she wants to go, then let her go.” Mason huffed and shook his head. “I should’ve known better than to try to be nice to you.”
“Yeah, you should’ve.” There was something about him that irritated the hell out of me. I wasn’t sure if it was his cocky-ass attitude or that he was a great brother. Either option didn’t bode well for me. “I only came to that fight for your sister. It had absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“Well, maybe my sister shouldn’t be inviting other people.” He crossed his arms and looked down his nose at me.
“If you have such a problem with me being there, why is it okay for her?” I refused to back down.
“It’s none of your business.” His breathing was ragged, and his nostrils flared.
At this point, I wasn’t sure if I was angry, turned on, or both. I wanted to push him down and work all of this sexual frustration between us out so I could move on. “If she invites me again, I’ll be damned glad to go.”
“I think she might be able to take him,” Alec whispered to Ella. “How is this possible?”
“No clue, but I fucking love it.” She didn’t bother to whisper her response. “I told you there was something about her.”
“We don’t need you encouraging her.” Mason talked to his sister, but his gaze stayed on me. “Sometimes it’s best to stay with our own kind.”
Even though he hadn’t expected me to know what he meant, the message was loud and clear to Ella. I wasn’t a wolf, so stay away. “Are you trying to insult me here? What exactly do you think I am?” If he was going to make covert comments, I was going to call him out.
“That’s none of your business.” A vein popped out between his eyebrows that somehow made him look more attractive.
My wolf was fighting to push forward, desperate to be with him, and this was the first time I had to push back this hard. “I don’t have time for your sick, twisted game.” I refused to cower. “If you have something to say about me, just say it. Don’t be cryptic.”
“Fine.” He stepped into my personal space, and my breathing turned ragged.
His eyes darted straight to my lips. “You aren’t made for us.”
“Stop it, Mason.” Ella’s voice was almost a desperate plea. “She’s my best friend.”
He groaned as he touched my cheek and breathed me in. “I need for you to stop hanging around me.”
“I’m not hanging around you.” I needed to be clear and smack his hand away from my cheek, but I couldn’t. My cheek buzzed ever so slightly from his touch. “I’m friends with your sister.” I hadn’t meant for it to happen, but she tore down my barriers.
“I think we might need to give them some privacy.” There was a laugh in Alec’s voice.
“No.” Mason and I shouted at the same time.
“Okay then.” Ella tilted her head, examining both of our body languages. “This is strange.”
“This wouldn’t be strange at all if you hadn’t ignored my fucking text.” Mason’s voice lowered even more.
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Everything in my being told me to stay and fight him, but this wasn’t the time or place. There was a small group forming, watching our very public disagreement. “Apparently, I’m the problem here, so I’ll go.”
It took everything in me to turn and walk out the door. I wanted to fight and show him I was more dominant, but that wouldn’t accomplish anything other than making a scene and upsetting my wolf more.
As soon as I stepped outside, I took a deep breath, but his earthy scent was still strong as if he was surrounding me.
“Wait.” He grabbed my arm and gently tugged me around.
“Look, let’s not do this.” My heart fluttered as he kept a firm grip, not letting me go.
“You feel it too.” He pulled me into him, and my legs refused to resist. “I don’t understand what’s going on. I’m being a dick, and I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt
