Chapter 2

Trying to outrun a werewolf was impossible for a human. I know. I had tried outrunning Mike several times before that little fact dawned on me. So when I raced out of class, I aimed for the busier halls to the nearest girls’ bathroom.

Since today was being rather nasty I decided to be extra safe. I picked one of the stalls in the middle and went inside, locking it, then waited. The bathroom door suddenly opened with a loud bang as it hit the wall. I jumped and nearly fell over when I backed into the toilet. I somehow managed to keep my footing and froze, not even breathing. It was the longest second of my life until I realized the voices I was hearing were of some girls and not Mike’s or Dean’s.

I sat down on the toilet with my hand over my racing heart. Closing my eyes, I let out the breath I held. As I listened to the three girls talk about some teacher and how she was the worst I couldn’t help but ask the dreaded question - Why.

As a rule, I never asked why; not even in my head. In the end, what did it matter? My life was what it was, for good or bad. Would knowing why Dad had to die in the car crash change my life in some way? Would knowing why Mike was so cruel make the punches hurt less? I didn’t think so. Yet, today I couldn’t help but ask. Why did I have to be hiding from werewolves instead of out there with those girls complaining about horrid teachers?

The girls left with another bang of the door, leaving the bathroom feeling emptier somehow. I sighed and shook my head. The last thing I really needed now was to feel sorry for myself. What I needed was a plan of action. I took out my phone and checked the time. I figured a good twenty or thirty minutes, I’d be in the clear to leave. No way would anyone, besides me, stay more than thirty minutes after school if they didn’t really need to.

Sure enough, about twenty-five minutes passed and the schools were silent. Adjusting the strap of my backpack, I left the bathroom with a triumphant grin. Point one to me! I hurried to my locker and spun in the combination. As I put the majority of my books away, I realized someone stood next to me, leaning on the lockers. I looked over and froze. It was Dean. 

“Hey,” he said, grinning at me.

With a quick glance, I saw we were alone. Not good. “Uhm, hey,” I replied, careful to keep my tone neutral. If I pissed him off I didn’t have the protection of witnesses. I looked around again, realizing there was a piece missing from this equation - Mike. “At least give me fair warning,” I said closing my locker with one hand and the other feeling the small canister I kept in my pockets for emergencies.

Dean had the audacity to look confused. “Fair warning?”

“You know, like is Mike waiting around the corner or outside? This has to be your idea. Mike has never been exactly the patient type.”

Dean shrugged. “I don’t know where he is. Haven’t seen him since fifth period.” He suddenly lifted his hand towards me.

Flinching, I jumped back and out of his immediate reach. Without thinking I pulled out the canister and pointed the small black nozzle in his direction. Dean held up his hands, eyes wide, and on the canister. He must have guessed this wasn’t your average pepper spray. It wasn’t.  This spray was laced with silver just for werewolves.

“Don’t touch me,” I warned him. Might as well go all in. If I was going to get the crap beat out of me then I was going to make it worth it. “I don’t give a flying flip who you are, who your dad is, or whatever is going on with your dad and Mike’s. We’re done. Do you hear me? We’re done. Tomorrow, round two begins. We’ll see what new ways you guys come up with to prove how worthless I am, but for today we’re done. So you’re going to back off and I’m going to go home. Got it!” Without waiting for an answer I turned and ran as fast as I could.

I didn’t stop until I was at my front door. Bending over with my hands on my knees, I gulped in air. The adrenaline was leaving my system and the shakes with a small dose of panic started to take over. Dead. I was so dead. Once Dean told Mike I not only threatened him but threatened him with silver, Mike was going to lose it.

Forcing all thoughts of Dean or Mike from my head, I focused on getting my breathing under control then went inside.

“There you are,” Harry said, setting down the newspaper he was reading. “I take it the day didn’t go so well,” he added after looking me over.

With a shake of my head, I said, “I hope you remembered that sundae.”

A frown tugged at Harry’s face and he nodded, getting up from his chair. I almost felt sorry for him. Even after all this time, he still held onto the hope that one day the pack would one day wake up and accept me. Yeah, that was never going to happen.

“What happened?” he asked, going into the kitchen.

I followed him and sat at the table with a sigh. “The typical really.”

He handed me the ice cream from the freezer and nodded at me to continue. I ogled the sundae for a moment, licking my lips. It had all the works and my mouth watered just at the sight of it. I took a bite and savored the sugary deliciousness of vanilla ice cream with a splash of chocolate fudge and caramel. Once I swallowed I explained what happened. “He wanted me to kneel in front of the new guy. Kneel of all things. I guess what’s left of my dignity kicked in and I said no before I realized it. You can imagine how much Mike loved that.”

Harry’s eyes flashed bright gold and his face twisted. The expression was an angry, wild thing. My eyes widened and I froze. “Sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean to. Like I said it was a knee jerk thing.”

“Don’t,” Harry warned me much like I had warned Dean. “Just don’t. Don’t ever apologize for defending yourself. Not here. Not with me. Not ever, do you understand?”

Oh, okay. He was mad for me, not at me. Sweet. I nodded “Got it. It’s cool,” I said then shoveled in another spoonful of ice cream. After a second I groaned. “No, not cool! Brain freeze.” I rubbed my forehead, waiting for it to pass.

Harry looked up at me. His eyes still were a warm gold, but his face didn’t have the Better to eat you with my dear expression. Finally, he broke and laughed. “You are something else Brook.” His expression turned serious once more. “Did Mike do anything else to you today?”

“Nah,” I said, deciding it was best not to tell him about my run-in with Dean after school. I didn’t want Harry to go all big bad wolf on me again.

“Good. Just stay on your toes, Brook, and keep your head down.” Harry gave me a light pat on the shoulder. “I have to head back. The alpha is having a big dinner to welcome Dean to the pack. Your mom and I won’t get back till late.”

“Actually glad I am going to miss that. Try not to have too much fun,” I said and took a big bite of the sundae.

Harry narrowed his eyes. “Ouch. Now that was below the belt.”

I grinned and waved at him and continued to eat. When I finished my sundae, I prepared a hot bath. I poured in some bath salts Harry had bought me a couple of months ago for my birthday. The salts and the hot water helped ease the aches and pains I’d gotten throughout the day.

After my bath, I laid out on my bed to get some of the mountain of homework done. I had been working for about half an hour when my phone dinged with a text. Having to take care of Mom when Dad died, I lost all my friends from before. Now, I was just Missy Mistake to everyone, well everyone except Anna. With her family on the low end of the pack hierarchy, Anna kinda got what I was going through. She couldn’t be seen with me, though, or Mike would have a fit. So we texted when we could. Honestly, it was a lifesaver.

Putting aside the math assignment currently driving me insane I read her text. Sooooooo bored. What u doin?

I bet, I thought with a smirk and replied. Sorry, not sorry. At least you’re not doing homework.

Homework might be better than this! Ugh!!!!!! Before I could reply she sent me another. Have you seen the guy from the other pack??? He’s like  Then Anna sent me a bunch of emojis with the hearts for eyes.

I blew out a breath. And here I’d almost forgotten my run-in with him. Though, if I was being honest Anna was right.  The guy was beyond good looking. Too bad he was a werewolf and an ass just like Mike. I thought about telling Anna about him, but something made me hesitate. I didn’t know what, but instead of telling her about this afternoon I just sent we may have a serious problem with girls bursting into a fiery mass of hormones when he gets near them and added a couple of fire emojis.

For real! He sat by me today in English and I swear I almost died!!!!

I shook my head with a little scoff. He does have pretty eyes. I give him that. 

The next morning I tugged at my turtleneck as I walked into school. It really was still too hot for the thing, but Mike had bruised me too badly for makeup. Now running later than I intended, I had to hurry to get to class. With a glance down the hallway, I spun in the combination to my locker and stuffed the first half of the day’s books into my bag. It’s not that I’m obsessed with being on time, but if Mike ditched class and saw me. Well, it usually meant a very bad hour and a half for me. Last time it took weeks for the bruises to fully heal.

I slammed my locker closed and turned. With a gasp, I came to a quick stop to prevent smashing into Dean. How long had he stood behind me? Creepy… He grinned and I tried to move around him when his hand shot out to the lockers next to me, cutting off my escape.

Now, in all fairness what happened next should be considered his fault. He triggered my flight versus fight response. Because I swear, when I slapped him across the cheek it wasn’t planned. I had no doubt my eyes were as wide open as his. A bright pink handprint marred his cheek and my hand stung as if I had slapped a slab of concrete. Several f-bombs ran through my head before common sense kicked in. Time to get the hell out of there!! I squeezed past him and ran to Math class.

I raced into class, practically crash landing onto my desk. Mr. White gave me a disapproving look then shook his head. I didn’t care what he thought of me. I had bigger problems now; like serious, serious problems. When Dean told Mike I hit him, Mike would hurt me and we’re talking hospitalization kind of hurt. That is if I was lucky.