The wolves closed the circle as she reached the fountain area. A sob of frustration escaped her as she realized they had herded her toward the brick wall.
As energy diminished, she stumbled against the rough exterior of the wall. The wolves had slowed their pace too. The auburn wolf jogged through the open courtyard gate.
“Leave me alone!” Chloe yelled. Their ears twitched and she received another warning growl in response.
The pack was so close now she had no chance at escape. Four sets of eyes, ranging from emerald, aqua to chocolate, were trained on her. Each wolf had its head down, ears forward and mouth hanging open. She couldn’t run any more. Panting and hurting, she eased along the wall. Her legs shook and threatened to drop her at their feet.
The smallest blonde leaped up, mouth wide and snapping. Chloe screamed and threw her arms up to protect her face. The wolf never reached her. Ryan darted in front of her and knocked it away. The wolf struck the ground, yelped then scrambled to her feet. Confusion and hurt replaced most of the animal’s anger.
Ryan stood in front of Chloe, shirt open and flapping. One of his arms was held behind him, pushing her against the wall. Something akin to a growl rattled up his throat. In the mirror-like window across from them, she saw his face warp into a snarl not unlike the ones the wolves wore.
Chloe couldn’t seem to drag enough air into her depleted lungs. She bent at the waist and put her hands on her knees. The urge to puke made her gag and bile burned the back of her throat.
Ryan moved toward the pack. His hands formed fists and his stance was protective. Both female wolves backed away with tails between their legs and whimpered.
“Ryan, don’t,” Chloe pleaded. The frenzied animals were sure to rip him apart. She grabbed for him, but he had already moved out of reach.
He seemed unafraid as he addressed the wolves as one. “What the hell are you doing?”
The reddish brown wolf offered an apologetic whine. The tip of her tail quivered.
Chloe straightened then blinked several times. To her amazement, the brown male lowered his head in submission. Only the big blond wolf’s face clearly conveyed the rage he felt. Behind him, the others shrank back.
She plucked an image of hatred and loathing from the wolf. He understood Ryan and saw him as an equal, as a wolf. How strange. He wanted to tear Ryan into shreds for interrupting their fun. Chloe tried to focus on the others and their thoughts instead, but everything was so jumbled with too many emotions and images flooding her mind at once. They feared Ryan and the threat he posed. They hated her and her human weaknesses. One of the females wished Ryan would notice her. The other just wanted to leave. The brown male seemed to dislike Ryan and even thought of a time when he had broken a very human arm. She clutched at the sides of her head and wished she could make it all stop.
“We don’t hunt here.” Ryan’s voice lowered to a dangerous growl. “We don’t hunt humans.”
The air around him seemed to shimmer then blur. A faint buzz, like when a radio can’t quite pick up the station, hummed at the back of her brain. Flickers and emotion not associated with the pack filtered into her mind, but she couldn’t make sense of it. Chloe squeezed her eyes closed. When she opened them again, everything was as it should be. She pressed her back against the wall and wondered if she was going to pass out.
Ryan took another menacing step toward the lead wolf. To her surprise, the animal growled then turned to lope away. The others scurried behind their leader. Only the blonde female turned to look over her shoulder before disappearing behind the building. The feeling of loss, of hurt feelings and shock washed over Chloe. She wondered what would make the wolf feel that way. The animal’s emotions seemed to center around Ryan and no one else.
Once the pack was out of sight, Ryan turned to face her. His blue eyes were full of fury, but his words were soft and consoling. “Are you okay?”
Chloe bit her bottom lip and nodded. A flicker of her running, wolves chasing her and the immense longing to join in startled her. She frowned then cast a curious glance in Ryan’s direction. Was there a wolf still lurking somewhere in the shadows?
“Come on, I’ll drive you home,” he said as the security lights around the school winked on.
It took her two tries to speak coherently. “Something’s wrong. You’re all blurry.”
Instead of saying anything, he gripped her upper arm and gave it a tug. “Let’s go.”
Her pace was considerably slower than his and her injured knee had stiffened. “I think I’m gonna pass out.”
By now the sun had sank lower and threw long shadows across the ground. He surprised her by scooping her into his arms.
Secretly she was relieved and a little flustered. He still hadn’t bothered to button his shirt and the bare skin of his chest was warm. The muscles of his shoulders bunched and flexed as he held her against him. For just a moment, she laid her head against his shoulder. “I’m okay now, really. My mom should be here any minute.”
His arms tightened around her. “I’ll wait with you.”
Once Chloe was settled on a bench by the fountain, Ryan stood on the stone seat to survey the area. He squinted into the darkness and frowned.
“That was amazing,” she said as she looked up at her champion.
“What was?” His movement was graceful as he jumped to the ground.
“It was like they understood you. They were afraid of you.” She remembered Jenna telling her they had to get rid of their dog because it was scared of Ryan. The urge to ask him about it was on the tip of her tongue, but she held back. This was the most he’d talked to her in a week. Why ruin a good thing? He might get mad and leave her alone in the dark courtyard.
He glanced at her, but didn’t meet her gaze. “They’re just dumb animals.”
“They’re not. They formed a plan of attack and everything. What’s weird is they saw you as one of them.” She frowned, trying to piece it together. There had to be something she missed, something she didn’t understand.
Ryan looked uncomfortable under her scrutiny. Instead of answering, he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“They would have killed me if you hadn’t shown up.” She offered a wavering smile, afraid to say more for fear of crying.
The look on Ryan’s face was hard to read. Instead of commenting he sat next to her. Nervous butterflies twittered in her stomach when he turned to face her. Why was he being so nice? At school he barely even acknowledged her existence.
She gasped when he took her hands in his then turned them up to examine the palms. They were scraped, but not as bad as her right knee.
His thumb traced over one of the small abrasions. His skin was warm, very warm. Chloe sighed then snapped her gaze up to his. It had just occurred to her that they were the only two people on school grounds. “Hey, what are you doing here so late?”
“I was waiting for you,” he said in a quiet voice. He seemed to be staring at her lips.
It was then she noticed the silvery-white scars that criss-crossed his chest and stomach. She pretended not to see them. Instead, she reached up and brushed a leaf from his hair. “That’s sweet to say, but it’s not true. What were you doing behind the school?”
“Checking on the new lamb.” His gaze slid toward the dark area behind the building.
Chloe’s forehead scrunched with worry. The campus was quiet now. “Is it okay? I heard it right before the wolves came.”
“It’s fine now.” He released her hands.
“Is that what drew them onto campus?” Chloe shivered as the knowledge that she’d nearly become a wolfie snack settled over her.
Ryan shrugged then ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, but it looks like they found something much better.”
It wasn’t until he shrugged out of his shirt and held it out to her that she realized how destroyed her own was. The entire back had gouges and rips. Even worse, one tear ran beneath her arm and around to show the cup of her bra. At
least it was the cute green and white striped one with pink polka dots.
Chloe tilted her head and studied him as pulled it over her head. Would it be silly to admit that she kind of liked him?
Instead, she said, “You aren’t going to have any shirts left if you keep giving them to me.”
A smile flickered across his perfect lips. “I don’t mind.”
She placed a tentative fingertip against a silvery white scar that ran just above his right nipple. Before she could ask what caused them, he gently gripped her hand and pulled it away. “I don’t want you to run by yourself anymore, Chloe.”
A snort of laughter escaped her. “Are you going to run with me?”
It seemed like a silly idea. Surely that’s not what he meant. He could barely stand to sit next to her during biology and art. To run alongside her would be pure torture.
He sighed. “I guess I’ll have to.”
“Right.” She fought a grin. “So, what’s the catch?”
He didn’t say anything.
She became very aware of how pretty his light blue eyes were. They were just inches from hers. One of his hands cupped her chin to tilt her face up. The other supported his weight on the bench as he leaned closer. His lips were a whisper away, making her pulse rate jump.
Ryan’s lips brushed against hers. His touch was curious and gentler than she imagined he would be. It was electric, exhilarating! Then he pulled away and Chloe’s first kiss was over way too fast.
Her cheeks reddened as she pressed trembling fingers against her mouth. Was this what all the fuss was about? Eyes wide, she said, “You kissed me!”
A half smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.”
She closed her eyes then leaned forward, lips parted slightly. Maybe she needed a second kiss just to make sure…
“Chloe!” Karen’s sharp voice rang out. The heels of her shoes clacked on the sidewalk and she seemed to appear out of the darkness that surrounded them.
Chloe jumped to her feet then smoothed her hands down the borrowed shirt. It hung well past her hips and practically concealed the running shorts beneath. She cast an anxious glance at Ryan.
His reaction to Karen’s badly timed appearance was complete opposite of hers. He stood then dusted the seat of his jeans. He didn’t seem to care that Karen might think his being shirtless looked suspicious.
“Ms. Williams,” he greeted her with a friendly smile. Then he turned back to Chloe. “See you later.”
He cast one last glance over his shoulder then moved toward the parking lot. It was dusk now and she could no longer see past the open gates. Once he passed through, he disappeared as though he no longer existed.
Karen crossed her arms over her chest. “Who was that?” she asked in a suspicious manner.
“Ryan,” Chloe said in a voice just above a whisper. Her lips tingled with the memory of his pressed against them. She wanted to touch them again, but instead twirled a finger in her hair.
Her mother’s livid expression melted into confusion.
Chloe fought the grin twitching at the corners of her mouth. “If a guy kisses you it means he likes you, right?”
Karen snorted. “You have to be careful, Chloe. You have no business sitting alone in the dark with an older boy. You’re barely sixteen, for god’s sake.”
“I wouldn’t be alone if you’d show up on time.” Chloe quickened her step. Sometimes Karen frustrated her to no end. “This is why I need a car of my own!”
“I just don’t want to see you make a mistake that you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
“Mom, stop! I don’t want to have this discussion.”
“I realize you’re curious.” Karen’s voice faltered. “Boys will take advantage of naïve girls, Chloe. They’ll tell you anything you want to hear just to get into your pants.”
Chloe plucked her bag off the courtyard gate as she passed. “Save it, Mom. Dad and I had the sex talk last year.”
The shocked, irritated look on Karen’s face was priceless. “I’m sure he bungled it.”
“Probably, but I don’t want to talk about it. Okay?” She glanced around the lot. Ryan’s Jeep was still parked there, but he wasn’t in it.
Karen looked anything but calm as she wrenched the Outback’s door open.
Chloe dropped into the passenger’s side. This discussion was so not happening.
“He’s older than you, isn’t he?” Her mother got inside then stared at her in the dim interior light. When Chloe answered with a nod, she asked, “All you did was kiss, right?”
“Yes!” Jeez, what did she want a signed confession that he’d taken her virginity right there on school grounds? It was stupid really because nothing like that was ever going to happen. Not with Ryan, not with anyone.
She wasn’t going to be like Karen and get pregnant her senior year. Getting pregnant was for really stupid girls and married people. She never planned to make that mistake. She’d seen what it was like and wanted no part of it. Karen and David had shown her that even two people who fell madly in love could fall out of love just as easily. No one was ever really true to another person. They just said and did what they liked as long as it got them some sort of reward in the end. She had witnessed the misery they’d caused each other. People didn’t stay in love. Love wasn’t real. Maybe Karen was right about Ryan. Maybe he was just testing her to see how far she’d allow him to go.
“You’d tell me if—what did you say his name was?”
“Ryan.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Ryan Neal.”
Karen studied her for a moment. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“It’s not like we even like each other, Mom. It was just a stupid kiss.” It was only her first kiss. Their last kiss.
“What happened to your clothes?” Karen didn’t even attempt to hide the suspicion in her voice this time.
Chloe realized the sight of her sixteen year old daughter, alone in the dark and kissing a boy was probably a little startling, but it didn’t excuse the stupid questions. Some sick, twisted part of her wanted to say that they’d made out the entire time, that he was a great kisser and had ripped her shirt in a lusty fit. Or maybe that he’d gotten to second base, whatever that meant.
Instead, Chloe settled for the truth. “I was attacked by wolves. He stopped them.”
“That’s not funny.” Karen started the car then pulled away from the curb.
“It’s true,” she said crossly. It was then she noticed Karen was wearing the long white doctor’s coat. “Why are you so late anyway?”
“Someone came by the clinic at the last minute.” Suddenly Karen’s voice was buoyant. “Your coach is my first client! Mike’s four month old puppy ate a chocolate bar that he left out. He was worried sick.”
The revelation failed to impress her. She said, “Great. So while you and Mike were schmoozing it up, I was about to be eaten. That’s real nice, Mom.”
Karen gripped the steering wheel hard enough to make it creak. “Your father and I are divorced, Chloe. I have a right to move on with my life. Lord knows he has.”
“It’s kind of fast is all I’m saying.” She crossed her arms over her chest. They sat in silence until the car turned onto the gravel road that led to their house.
“He brought his dog in, Chloe. It wasn’t a date.”
“But you wish it was.”
“I’m not going to lie to you. I suspected your dad was having an affair a long time ago. I stayed with him for your sake.” Karen said in a quiet, reflective voice. “Now I’m getting on with my life.”
Chloe felt as though she’d been doused with ice water. “Hey! Don’t lay the blame on me.”
Karen sighed. “David moved on. Don’t I deserve to do the same?”
“Sure, whatever.” When the car rolled to a stop outside the house, Chloe flung the door open and got out.
Karen beat her to the door. “Does it bother you that I’m interested in him?”
“Gross!”
She snagged an apple from the bowl of fruit as she passed through the kitchen.
“There’s sandwich stuff in the fridge.” Karen called after her.
“I’m not hungry,” Chloe answered then slammed the door to her room.
Coach Lewis dating, or being remotely interested in Karen was not okay. After practice Monday she just might give him a piece of her mind.
Chapter Seven
Jenna was sitting at the table when Ryan came downstairs. She glanced up from what she was doing and smiled warmly. “You’re up early.”
He scrubbed a hand across his face then yawned. “Things to do.”
“You came home late last night.” She dropped some dried herbs into the mortar sitting on the table then picked up the pestle. She ground the small brown nub into dust with two quick twists of the wrist.
“Did they notice?” he asked, referring to his aunt and uncle.
Jenna shook her head then motioned for him to pass her a cellophane wrapped package that appeared to have dried weeds inside. She ground them to dust. Next, she added several drops of cinnamon oil. Finally, she picked up a spoon and a small sachet.
He watched her transfer the mixture into the little bag. “What’s that?”
“A protection amulet for Chloe.”
Ryan wrinkled his nose. “It’s a little strong.”
“Too much cinnamon?” She tied the sachet off then sat it aside. “Chloe called last night. I can’t believe they tried to hurt her.”
He plucked a banana from the stainless steel hanger on the cabinet, but didn’t answer. Instead, he took great care in peeling the fruit.
“Ryan?” Jenna pushed away from the table then waved a hand in front of his face. “If you hadn’t been there…”
The sharp aroma of herbs and spices on her fingers made him grimace. “I’m going to talk to them tonight.”
The Bad Wolf Page 7