“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I needed to go visit the witch and soon. “Sorry, you must have me confused with someone else.”
The vampire’s eyes glowed ever so slightly. “Why are you working with the witches?”
He was trying to mind control me. That was one of the nice things about being wolf royalty. I was too strong to bend to their power. “Once again. No clue what you’re talking about.” I turned to escape, but the vampire jumped out of the ring and grabbed my arm.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?” His voice was loud as he stared daggers into mine. “Now, answer my question.”
“Whoa.” Alec hurried over. “What’s going on over here?”
“It doesn’t concern you.” Kurt jerked me closer to him as he took a deep sniff of me. “What are you?”
“She’s a person.” Ella loudly laughed. “What else could she be?”
I refused to cower to him. That’s what he wanted. I stood straight and met his stare. “Do you actually think I would tell you?”
He hissed, and his canines began to extend.
“Get the fuck away from her.” Mason’s loud voice and growl seemed to fill the room.
But Kurt acted like no one had spoken to us. “You better be careful.” His mouth spread into a large smile. “I’m not always so gentle.” His hand clasped my neck, and he began to squeeze.
This asshole had gone too far. With all my strength, I jammed my knee into his crotch, causing him to release his grip on my neck and fall to the ground.
“I guess one person beating the shit out of you wasn’t enough.” I pretended that I was going to kick at his face, and he reached for my foot that never appeared.
Instead, I dropped with my elbow right on his neck. He went limp immediately.
“Who the hell is that?” Matt’s drab olive green eyes scanned me over. “I mean, I knew she was fucking hot, but you didn’t tell me she could fight.”
Mason shook his head and scowled. “No. No, you’re not.”
“I don’t think that’s up to you.” Matt jogged over to me and smiled. “You’re hot and badass. We could make so much money together. Where did you train?”
“First off, none of your business; and second, I’m not interested.” The last thing I needed was any attention on me. I had to stay under the radar. If my uncle somehow caught wind and saw my picture, it would all be over.
“Don’t listen to him.” Matt waved Mason off. “This is strictly a conversation between you and me.”
“My decision has nothing to do with him.” I hated narcissistic assholes that tried to manipulate people into doing what they wanted. “So, fuck off.”
Matt’s face spread into a huge-ass grin. “You say that now, but wait.”
I was done talking to him. “Are you ready to go?” Between the vampire and now this guy, I wanted to get the hell out of here.
“Yup.” He captured my hand and tugged me toward the door. “Alec, make sure Ella gets home safe.”
“Aren’t you going to the bar?” Meredith frowned and stared at my and Mason’s joined hands.
“Nope, not interested.” He waved at the other two girls. “I’ll see you around.”
“Bye, Elena.” Ella rushed over and gave me a hug. “I’ll see you in class Monday.”
“Bye.”
We walked out into the parking lot, which was pretty much dead. It was kind of eerily quiet now after all of the noise and commotion in the gym.
“That was kind of interesting tonight.” Mason chuckled as he held the door open for me.
“What was?” I slid into the seat, hoping he wasn’t going to bring up the vampire.
He shut the door and jogged to his side and climbed in. “What did that ... guy say to you?”
Vampire had almost crossed his lips. I felt bad holding back my past, but I had to protect all of us. “Oh, nothing. Rambling about me smelling familiar.” If this wasn’t confirmation that I had to stay away, I wasn’t sure what else would be. Tomorrow, Mason Lockly could no longer exist for me.
His hands tensed on the steering wheel for a second before he started the car. “You don’t seem very upset about it.”
“Guys say weird things to me all the time.” I shrugged. At least I wasn’t lying on this one. “You kind of get immune.”
“Well, I hate that I wasn’t the one to kick his ass again.” He pulled us onto the main road heading back toward my house. “You’re awfully strong.”
I figured this was going to come up. “You kicked his ass better.” I cleared my throat and gazed out the window. “Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you home.”
For some reason, I hadn’t expected that, and I probably should’ve. Of course, he wanted to go hang out with his friends. It was better this way. “Okay.”
“What’s wrong?” He glanced at me and reached over the console to intertwine our fingers.
“Oh, nothing.” The last thing I wanted was for him to feel obligated to spend time with me. I savored his touch, knowing it would be one of the last ones I would ever experience with him.
“Will your guardians be upset if we chill on the back porch for a little while?” He squeezed my hand comfortingly.
“Guardians?” My breathing increased. “Why would you say that?”
“Because you said they raised you and aren’t a couple.” He tilted his head and glanced at me. “So that would make them your guardians.”
“Right.” So many parts of my life were getting crazy. It felt like I couldn’t keep up. The longer Mason and Ella spent close to me, the more I’d be putting them in danger. It wasn’t right. I had to come clean or leave.
Now that I had made that decision, the drive home seemed twice as fast as normal. I took a deep breath and turned my body toward him. “Do you mind if we stay in the car for a second?” This was it.
