Chapter 7

I sat on my bed, legs bent and my arms resting on my knees. Mom lectured me for nearly an hour before she let me go to my room. There was a moment I thought of telling her everything and part of me really wanted to, but I couldn’t. Despite all that had happened so far, it didn't change the fact that Mom needed Harry. Knowing the truth would force her to choose between us.

A knock on the door came a moment before Harry opened the door. He shook his head when he saw me. “You’re in it deep,” he told me and took a seat on the foot of my bed. “So what really happened?”

“What always happens - Mike,” I replied. Did everyone forget about Mike suddenly? With a sigh, I explained. “He was drunk I think. He stank of booze. Before I could go into school he pulled me off into the woods, giving me this-” I pointed to my busted lip. “When I tried to stop him. He was ranting about his dad and Ry-Dean.”

Harry’s lip quirked. “I know he’s Ryder.”

My jaw dropped for a second then I narrowed my eyes at him. “Uh huh, you do, do you. I’m guessing that’s why you didn’t kick him out last time?”

“Something like that. So what else happened?”

“He told me his dad wants to start a war using Ryder.”

Harry’s expression fell. “I was afraid something like that would happen when I heard about this little exchange between our packs.” His face suddenly went blank. “Why did he tell you this?”

I shrugged. “No clue, but he did say one more thing…”

“What?”

“He mentioned his dad really really doesn’t like me.” I started and saw the truth of what Mike told me in Harry’s face. I swallowed, feeling a pit in my stomach open up. So his alpha did consider offing me because I didn’t have any pack connections. “So with the alpha going all evil plotting over here; on a scale of one to ten, in how much danger am I in?”

He didn’t answer at first which wasn’t exactly comforting. “As we stand right now, I think you’re a two. I haven’t heard anything that might suggest my alpha is planning on using you for the evil plotting as you called it. However, I am going to ask a few I trust that are higher up in the pack than me. If I hear anything that worries me, you’ll be the first to know, okay?”

I nodded, though I was far from reassured. Especially since he looked more and more worried as we talked.

“Just,” he started, setting a hand on my forearm. “Stay off his radar the best you can. I mean really stay off it. Don’t do anything that might remind him you exist.”

When did my life become Harry Potter-esque ? “Don’t worry. I’ll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I don’t exist.” I expected a laugh or something, but instead, he just gave me an odd look. Of course, Harry wouldn’t know the book or at the very least, the movie. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Never mind. I promise I’ll be good.”

Harry patted my arm. “I know. Good night, Brook.”

“Night.”

The next morning I groggily walked down the stairs towards the wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen. My legs and feet were still sore from my little trip through the woods, but the cuts the branches gave me had stopped stinging. I heard Mom rummaging around the kitchen, and I hesitated, but my stomach rumbled with complaint that I wasn’t eating yet. I took a breath and walked into the room.

“Morning. Breakfast is on the table,” Mom said. Her terse voice told me she was indeed still mad.

I cringed, hating it when she was mad at me. “I’m sorry, Mom. I really am. I swear I never meant to make you worry.”

She turned to face me, her lips pressed so tightly together, they were a good shade paler. “I know you didn’t, Brook, but that’s not the problem here. The problem is something is going on, and you’re not talking to me.”

Alarm shot through me. “What? I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Mom sighed, her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head at me. “Baby girl, I have been your mother too long not to notice something has been bothering you and has been for a long time. I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

Guilt swelled inside me and I did my best to swallow it down. “I’m fine and there are no problems. I swear.”

She shook her head again and I had a feeling she didn’t believe me. “Alright,” she said finally, setting a plate of waffles in front of me. “But remember I’m here. No matter what.” I force a tight smile and nodded before starting to eat.

Surprise flashed through me when I saw Ryder waiting for me on the corner. “Hey,” he said, smiling at me.

“Hey back.” My stomach did that weird twisty thing, making me a bit nauseous. That he was here, talking to me, and… all that was so unreal. I had expected to wake up this morning and find it had all been a dream or at least the parts with Ryder in it. “Should you be walking with me? Mike won’t-”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle Mike. Maybe say I’m getting you to trust me so I can shove you in a locker or something.”

I made a snort of a laugh. “Have you seen our lockers? I’m not a big person, but I don’t think you could fit me in there.”

Ryder shrugged. “That’s all semantics, besides I talked with my Dad, told him what Mike’s doing to you. He’s going to bring it to the other alphas.”

Say what? Something that felt too much like embarrassment trickled through me. “Why? I’m just a human. Why would any of your kind care about me or Mike bullying me?”

Ryder stopped, giving me the puppy face again. “Not all of us are like this pack, Brook. Humans aren’t beneath us, just different. Mike and his dad are barbaric and cruel; two things an alpha should never be. The Black Mountain pack isn’t much better either since they’re allowing it.”

“Ah,” I said, but I didn’t believe it if I was honest. We went into school and stopped at my locker.

Ryder leaned on the locker next to mine. “There is also something else I need to tell you,” he started but the bell cut him off. A look of pure annoyance passed over his face. “I guess I’ll have to tell you later.” With a light laugh, Ryder leaned over and kissed my cheek.

My stomach fluttered as I watched him leave then realized I needed to get to class myself. I opened my locker, shoving everything I didn’t need inside. Slamming it shut, I raced down the hall. As I turned the corner, someone grabbed me and shoved me into what I think was the janitor’s closet. I turned and sucked in a breath. Mike followed me inside and closed the door behind him. “Mike…” I breathed, fear slammed into me when I saw the dark look in his eyes. Oh God, he must’ve seen the kiss Ryder given me. I was dead, so very, very dead.

“Missy, Missy, Missy,” he said moving his head side to side slowly with a disapproving tone. “You of all people should know better than to run around with Dean Williams.”

Oh, God! Please help me...someone. A shudder of fear tore through me and I took a step back. “We were just...he didn’t mean…” My mind ran blank, and I was unable to finish a sentence. As he came closer I stepped back until I ran into the metal shelving. Trapped! I was trapped with a pissed off Mike. There was no escape and no witnesses. My heart pounded in my chest.

His fist hit me so hard and fast, I was doubled over before I’d even realized what happened. The air escaped my lungs, and as hard as I tried, I couldn't get the air to go back in. Just when I thought I might pass out, I finally managed to take a deep breath.

Mike grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back up straight, shoving me against the shelving. “Stay away from him, Missy. Stay away, or I will really punish you, got it?” Fear made my mouth dry and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. He pressed me against the shelving harder. “I said got it?”

“Y-yes, I got it,” I managed to say. “I w-won’t go n-near R-Dean again.”

Looking appeased Mike pet my head like I was a faithful dog or a child. “That’s my girl,” Mike said and grabbed my face. “Don’t let him kiss you again. Got it? If he kisses you, I’m going to rip out his spine and beat you bloody with it. Then I’ll visit your mom.”

I gasped. He’d never threatened Mom before. “I-I won’t.”

Mike grinned before he leaned forward until our foreheads touched. “I knew you wouldn’t let him interfere,” he said, sounding truly relieved. His hand brushed along my still throbbing stomach. I stiffened and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Something was wrong here, like really, really wrong. Mike never got this close to me before, and he never touched me like this.

“If you behave and do what I tell you, Missy, I’ll protect you from my dad,” he said, almost in a whisper. “I promise if you follow the rules the only one who will hurt you will be me.”

If I thought I was scared before, it had nothing on how terrified I was right now. The need to escape slammed into me. “I’ll behave,” I said, my voice shaking. I’d do anything to get out of there right now. “If my mom is safe. I promise I’ll stay away from Dean, and away from everyone until I leave for college.”

Mike’s eyes snapped up to look into mine, glowing a golden amber now. “Leave? You can’t leave! You’re mine. I need you!” He twisted one of my wrists as if to prove his point.

I cried out as the sharp pain raced up my arm. “B-but don’t you have like a mate or something. Why do you need some dumb human?” I felt awful for even suggesting someone else should take my place, but I had to get out of there.

Mike snorted, repulsion on his face. “I don’t need a mate,” he snapped then sneered at me. “But if that’s what you’d like then we could work it out.” He brushed his nose softly against my cheek. “Could be fun...I could even turn you so I wouldn’t have to be so careful.”

Terror and panic slammed into me. Oh God, anything but that. I couldn’t let him do that to me nor could I stay here to be his punching bag for the rest of my life! “No,” I shouted. The most basic, primitive part of me screamed to escape. My knee jerked up, hitting him hard in the groin. He yelled out in surprise and pain, letting me go as he fell to his knees. I ripped open the door and ran.