“Keep the noise down.” Mr. Beth said, from behind his newspaper, watching Una.
Una looks around for a group, but she’s too slow. She makes her way to the front of the room with the only twosome left.
My attention turns to the boys, who are watching me like some prey.
“This is my brother Hunter,” Finley said, he opens his book to the right chapter – like we are actually going to work.
Another Stanton brother. Great. I try to keep my disappointment to myself, but I know my face has betrayed me. Another reason for Alexandra to want to kill me.
“I’m betting you met, Alexandra,” Hunter said with a smirk on his face. He didn’t seem turned off by my reaction.
“It’s the wolf’s fault,” Finley said under his breath.
“What’s up with the hate on for Clark? And Una?” I shift in my seat unsure of how much I should push these guys. I should be keeping my mouth shut and observing, but that wasn’t me.
The boys look to each other as if they are having a private conversation in their heads. Hunter nods to the left, and I can’t wait any longer.
“Not fair. Spill it.” I put my elbows on the desk and look from one to the other. They had been forward with me, now it was my chance. Maybe I could crack this thing and be out of here by next week.
“Like I said, there’s a lot of politics here,” Finley said, then shifts his attention to Hunter. Was Hunter the leader of their den? Didn’t make any sense to me if he was. Sure he was confident enough, but he didn’t seem to be organized.
“It’s not all that it seems.” Hunter wraps his massive arms around the back of his chair. He’s another magnificent specimen. Wavy thick black hair. Bodybuilder physique. He was the largest of the brothers. I’m close enough to see the green specks in his eyes that the others didn’t have. “It’s not something we can talk about here.” He said, his eyes scan around the room to make sure no one was listening.
I sit back. This must be what I’m here for. I couldn’t let them know that, but I’d speak to Clark later. It did seem like they trusted me for some reason. Hard to believe since we just met. I can’t deny the instant attraction I feel and familiarity. I’d not felt that with anyone before. I read about it in books, but romance wasn’t real. Desire was. And I desired them all - foolishly.
“Okay.” I’d use another tactic. One way or another, I’d find out what was going on here. I was good at that. In no time I’d have them talking, well at least one of them.
“How do you like it here?” Finley asked, changing the subject.
“It’s fine.” I watch their reaction. I could tell they were fishing for information from me as well. “For a first day.”
“Where are you staying?” Hunter asked. He pushes his books aside and leans in on the desk. I catch his scent. Not what I had thought a full blood vampire would smell like. The scent is clean and intoxicating.
“What did you just do?” Hunter’s eyebrows shift down, and his lips part slightly showing his pearly white fangs. He’s on defense mode.
I shift back in my seat, afraid for the first time. I wasn’t amongst friends here, and they knew more than I did. Maybe even why I was here. “I smelled you.”
“Oh.” Hunter sat back in his seat, unsure of how to respond to my honesty.
“Have you been around full-bloods before?” Finley asked.
“Yes.” The lie came quickly to my lips and I hope they couldn’t tell. They exchange a look, and I’m not sure if they bought it or not. Clearly me being a mutt wouldn’t be a secret here.
“What about your folks?” Finley fumbles with his paper as he glances to the front of the class to Mr. Beth. Hunter leans back in his chair with his large arms crossed over his chest and observes me.
“I don’t have parents,” I said, figuring everyone had already known that tidbit. “I mean, I don’t know them.” No one had ever asked me about my past before. Everyone in Nelly’s house came there under the same circumstances, so there was no need to hash out our feeling to each other. It was just an unsaid thing. It’s how we coped with our new forced life.
“I’m sorry. That must be hard.” Finley pushes his chair closer to me, and his knee rubs against mine. I can hear his voice in my head, “She’s better off not knowing them.”
“What?” I sat up straight in my chair, angry with his comment.
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” Finley looks to Hunter confused, and Hunter’s body becomes rigid as if he’s ready to fight. He had heard what Finley said in his head as well.
My face flushes as I realize I heard his thoughts. My eyes flash to the door and wonder if I should make an escape. That would be ridiculous with a school full of supernaturals.
“Nothing,” I mutter, trying to play it cool. I hope it’s a fluke but want to try again to see if I can hear what he is thinking. “I don’t like talking about it.”
Finley slides his chair back so there’s no way I could touch him again. Why couldn’t I hear his thoughts when he held me?
“Let’s get something down.” I grab Finley’s paper and begin to write. Nelly had taught us how to use plants to heal, and in no time, I fill the page with idea’s much to the boy’s amazement.
“How do you know all this?” Hunter grabs the paper and reads.
“Real life teaches you more than this school ever could.” I fold my arms over my chest and scan the room. I’d get sick of these full-blood know-it-alls quickly.
The bell rings, and the boys shove their books into their book bags as if they have
