by Belle Harper
“Don’t leave because the dumbass arrived. We can order some pizza and sit back, watch something else, make a night of it?” Now I felt weird. Was there something going on? Was he trying to keep me in here on purpose?
“No.” I pushed past Jett and heard Ranger call my name but my heart started to race. Was the door locked? Did they lock me in? When it opened, I felt like I could breathe again. I quickly made my way down to the kitchen, still holding the dirty plate, when I saw Raff. He was laughing. Wow, I had never seen him laugh like that. I was trying to look at who he was laughing with when Raff turned, those beautiful blues twinkling at me.
I guess I couldn’t sneak up on him even if I wanted to.
“Was the movie good?” he asked as I slowly padded toward him.
“Huh?” Oh yeah, he could hear the movie. I wasn’t sure I would get used to this amazing hearing thing. I nodded and smiled to myself. The movie was just as good as the book, maybe better because Mr. Darcy was so hot. At first I wasn’t sure, but as the movie progressed along he was every bit the Darcy I dreamed of.
“Jett mentioned pizza and watching movies? I think that’s a great idea.” I turned to see Galen. He had on a dark sweater and tight blue jeans. Oh man. His lazy smile made my heart skip a beat. No, no… he wasn’t for me. He was old—okay, he looked young but was old— and a vampire, who may or may not drink blood, I was still curious about that, but the number one reason I had to stop thinking like this was that he was my teacher. I had Raff, the sweet and amazing Rafferty King. I quickly made my way to him as if to prove to Galen that he didn’t affect me, I hooked myself under Raff’s arm. He laughed again, this time at me, and the sound was like music to my ears.
“Hey,” he whispered to me. I looked up and smiled
“Hey, back.” Then I heard a clearing of a voice. I turned to see Nash was here. Great. Followed by Maverick. Guess the whole family was home.
“I will order the pizza. What does everyone want?” Nash asked a little louder than needed. I didn’t say anything, I still didn’t want to speak to him after what he did to Raff. But then I saw him nod a couple of times. Holy shit, Nash was taking their order and I couldn’t even hear them. This was crazy. When he looked to me, I shrugged.
“I will eat whatever there is. I like pizza.” Raff said. Nash raised his brow at me, then shrugged as he looked to Galen. I placed the plate down in the sink.
“Pepperoni.”
I looked over to Galen, who smiled at me, he knew I was watching him. He never eats… Why was he getting pizza?
“Let’s go pick a movie, before Ranger picks what he wants.” Maverick said as he walked out of the kitchen to the movie room.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lexi
Twenty minutes later, I was seated where I was earlier. Jett had moved places, I guess he didn’t want to sit next to Raff. I didn’t care, I was snuggled up with him while the boys all argued over a movie choice.
“Pizza is here.” I could smell it as Nash brought a stack of pizza boxes down and placed them on a table in the corner. Everyone got up and there were some plates handed around. I turned and passed a plate to Raff, then reached back and gave one to Galen. He smiled at me as I turned back to the pizza. Oh my gosh, so many types. I waited for the guys to all pick some. Raff put a few on his plate and gestured for me to do the same. I nodded but I wanted to wait to make sure they all had enough. They all started to take their seats again, and apparently, Ranger had picked the perfect movie and was going to surprise us all when we sat down. Maverick groaned at that. It made me laugh.
“Here, I got this for you.” Galen held open the box of pepperoni. He passed me a slice, then a second, then when he put a third on there, I looked up and caught him smiling at me.
“Um… didn’t you want any? You ordered it?” I was so interested to see if he could eat it.
He winked. “I got it for you.” My heart sped up a little on that statement. Oh my gosh, he got pizza for me?
“What… why?” He placed a slice on his plate and my eyes followed it. He picked up a napkin and wiped his fingers.
“Because I knew you wouldn’t ask Nash. You’re stubborn like that.” He winked and walked away and took a seat just off to the side. I guess he was staying for the movie. Nash was not here anymore, and Lyell didn’t come down at all. It was just all the other Lovell brothers, Galen, Raff, and me. It was strange how everyone was acting so… normal. Like this was a regular night, in a room with four werewolves—shifters. And a vampire. And me, the girl who smells good to them, or something weird. Maybe I was a unicorn?
My eyes found Galen’s. He was holding his untouched pizza but his eyes were on me. Oh hell. Was I something he wanted to eat? I quickly turned back to the screen. Shit, would I want that? Was that bad that I wouldn’t mind if he did…
“Okay, everyone. Tonight’s movie is one we all will enjoy. Including Galen here… That’s right shifters, vampires, and mystery girl. Tonight’s movie of choice—my choice—is none other than—” Ranger started tapping on his thighs like a drum roll and I heard Jett groan in embarrassment, “Twilight.”
Everyone groaned, well… except for me. I looked back at Galen. Did he tell them? Did he tell Ranger what I said at the diner? It was as if he could read my thoughts as he shook his head slightly. I let out a deep breath, everyone settled down, and the movie started. Considering how many of them complained, nobody moved to change the movie or leave the room.
We were about halfway through and Ranger paused the movie. I was nice and full, Raff was stroking the back of my hand, and I was almost asleep from everything.
“Popcorn time.” Ranger bounced down over to the machine and started loading it up. While we were waiting, I stole a sneaky kiss from Raff. I pulled him closer to kiss him deeper when Ranger popped up in our faces. It scared me a bit and I pulled away.
“Pop quiz time.” I looked over to Raff, who looked just as puzzled as me.
“Since Galen has so lovingly decided to have dinner with us… again, even though we know we haven’t served anything he would normally eat.”
Maverick stood, he was siting nearest to me, but just below Galen.
“That is out of line. Galen is welcome here for dinner. It doesn’t matter what he eats.” Ranger took a step back, placing his hand over his chest.
“Oh dear, brother, tis all in good fun. I was only joking.” But when I looked to Maverick, he didn’t look like he thought it was funny. In fact, no one laughed. That was not very nice. He was still a person with feelings.
“Ahh… well, my question here is for our young Lexi. A.K.A Bella. I am curious, with your own Jacob here… Were you Team Jacob or Team Edward before… you know, all of this.” Ranger waved his arms around at everyone. Jett stood and pushed Ranger away from me.
“You don’t have to answer. He is just being his usual dumbass self, just ignore him. Most of us do anyway” Jett said as he smiled down at me. Ranger mocked hurt, dropped to the floor like his brother had injured him. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile on my face. Ugh… I hated this guy.
“She doesn’t have to answer… but it would be fun to know. Team Jacob-s? Maybe?”
I pressed myself closer to Raff and Ranger chuckled.
“Oh, so Team Raff only?” I wasn’t going to take the bait. I only just found out about the whole multiple guy thing, and now he was pushing me, obviously wondering if he had a chance. I knew he wouldn’t stop, no matter what I said. I sat up and looked at them all, everyone was watching me but Galen looked away. I felt a little sad. Did he wish I was Team Edward? I wanted to be Team Galen.
Ranger was bouncing around in front of me, I could feel Raff tense up a bit. Fuck it.
“I think Bella should have had them both. It wasn’t fair she had to choose. I say have your cake and eat it, too.” Ranger bounced super high and he made a large happy wooing sound.
“Hell yeah… And maybe a few from the wolf pack too, right.” I rolled my eyes and eve
ryone laughed.
Raff wrapped his arms around me and whispered into my ear, “I think that sounds like the perfect ending to the movie.”
I didn’t want to look over at Galen, but I could feel the heat of his gaze on me. When the movie restarted and everyone had popcorn, I shifted so my head was in Raff’s lap. I could see Maverick watching me, he gave me a small smile before he looked over his shoulder to Galen. When I did the same, our eyes met. It was dark but I could see them. He didn’t smile, he didn’t move. He was frozen and so was I. Maverick touched his knee and Galen’s eyes flicked to where his hand was. It lingered there for a while before Maverick looked over to me. I gave him a small smile, caught staring at him again was a little embarrassing. When he realized his hand was still on Galen’s knee, he jerked it off fast and I quickly looked away.
Holy shit. Galen knew that he was bi because… I looked back over and Maverick was glaring at me.
Oh fuck. Were they like together?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lexi
There was a dull ache in the pit of my belly. I squeezed my eyes tighter and pressed the heel of my hand to stop the cramp. Ugh… great. It was that time of the month. I rolled over and felt movement in my bed. I opened my eyes and Raff was looking at me.
“Are you okay?” Oh man, shit. These were white sheets. I have probably just left a nice stain on them.
“No, I think I just got my period… Nope, I am one hundred percent sure I have it.”
His eyes widened at my statement. He looked around the room, then back to me. I guess he wasn’t used to females and their cycles.
“How did I get to bed last night?” The last thing I remembered was the movie and feeling sleepy as I laid on Raff’s lap.
“I carried you here, then got kicked out by Galen and Alaric. I came back when you needed me.” I rolled to be closer to Raff but then realized that wasn’t so good and I needed to get to the bathroom quick.
“I don’t want to be rude… but well, I am leaking everywhere. I need to get up to clean myself off.” I almost laughed at the look on his face. He nodded and was out of bed and to my door fast. I pulled back the sheet and as I suspected, I ruined the sheets. Why were they white? This was just asking for trouble.
“Do you need anything? Like, you know… for… it.” He couldn’t even look me in the eyes. Scared the poor guy with female problems.
“Fuck, I don’t have any tampons. I left them at Jack and Grayson’s house. Can you maybe ask Alaric to get me some?” I didn’t think Alaric was exactly the right person for this, but he wanted me to live here. He nodded and gave me a cute little smile as he ducked out. I moved in a way that I wouldn’t get any on the white carpet, because that would be hard to get out. As soon as I was in the bathroom over the tiles, I relaxed. A nice hot shower would help with the cramps.
I was in the shower a good twenty minutes before there was a knock on the bathroom door.
“Did you get some?” I called out around the glass shower door. I couldn’t hear anything, so I shut the shower off and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around myself. My hair was still wet and dripping everywhere. I opened the door to the bathroom, but it wasn’t Raff on the other side.
“Galen.” I tightened the grip on the top of the towel. He was wearing some dark jeans and an army-green knitted sweater. He held up a bag and handed it to me. I took it, my wet hands slipping slightly.
“I heard Rafferty… he was a little concerned. So, I dashed out to get you what you needed. If there are any brands you prefer, just let me know for next time.” My mouth dropped open. He got me tampons? My sexy as sin history teacher got me tampons.
“Thanks,” was all I could muster up as I closed the door on him. I rested my back against the door and looked up to the ceiling. I wasn’t sure if that was embarrassing or sweet. Sweet, let’s go with sweet.
I opened the bag. “Oh my God.” I sighed. There were three different boxes of tampons, but there were chocolate bars and some Advil in the bag as well. I was being all girly and sappy now. Galen was the sweetest.
I quickly took some Advil, dried up, and took care of my lady business. I packed away the boxes and left the bathroom with the bag of chocolates in my hand. When I stepped out into my bedroom, I noticed the bed was freshly made. I froze. Who did that? I was going to take the sheets down. Oh man. They would have seen. Like I know it was normal and natural and shit, but these guys didn’t live with women.
I hadn’t asked them yet about their mother. I had seen photos of her around the house and I assumed she had passed away. I was waiting for someone to tell me or bring it up, but they never spoke of her. It was like she didn’t exist. I didn’t want to pry in case it brought up painful memories and maybe that was why they didn’t speak about her.
I grabbed a pair of jeans, a fresh T-shirt, and a hoodie from the closet and got dressed. They were clean and smelled so nice. I won’t forget to find Raff so I can get marked before I left for school.
“Good morning.” I smiled to the table full of huge, sexy men when all their eyes flashed to me. Galen moved from behind me and made me jump slightly.
“Here.” He handed me a glass of orange juice and a bagel as he proceeded to pull out a chair for me to sit. Shit, I could get used to this treatment.
“How are you feeling?” Jett asked.
I felt my cheeks heat up a bit. “Can you smell me? Like smell that I have my period?” All their eyes darted around at each other. Jett looked right at me and nodded. Fuck this. I was not going to school with that many shifters smelling me and then smelling this.
“I’m not going to school, fuck that. Can you bring me my work?” I placed a hand over Raff’s as I looked at him. He smiled and everything felt right in the world.
“No, you can’t take off school. Other females at the school get their… you know. You need to go.” Alaric happened to enter the room right then and to hell with that statement.
“No. Fucking. Way.” I crossed my arms over my chest. I already had to deal with the weirdness on a normal day, and I had no idea what menstruating would do them.
“What do I smell like? Because its already grossing me out that you can smell it.” No one said anything, they just looked at me like I was crazy for asking.
“I think this is a good opportunity for Alaric to find more information about what Lexi might be. What do you think?” I turned to see Galen look at Alaric. I spun more and could see Alaric clench his fists and his eyes were not like they usually were. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Shit, did I piss him off? I tried to give him a smile but that just made him growl low.
“She doesn’t understand, she isn’t from here. She is right, the other shifters will have a field day with this. You know it, we all know it. I will make sure that Lexi gets all the work. She will graduate, she is doing very well. And this gives you a chance to find out some things and we can work out what she is. Isn’t that the reason she is here? To find out and keep her safe?”
Galen was good with words, because yeah, I wasn’t doing very well at school. I knew for a fact I wasn’t where I wanted to be academically. But I was coming to terms with never going to college. I had moved schools too many times, it set me back over and over. And once again, I was just a mediocre student.
“Yes, that is part of why she is here. That is actually a good idea. Maybe we can do that DNA test we thought might help. If that is okay with you, Alexis?”
DNA test? To see if I was some supernatural thing? Fuck, yeah might as well work out why I smell to all of them. I nodded to Alaric, this was the best idea. I hope I turned into something cool like a unicorn or a dragon. I turned back to the table, all the guys were watching Alaric except for Maverick, who was watching Galen. I smiled at that.
“Are there like dragon-shifters?” All eyes were now on me. The look on Jett’s face was comical.
“No… Why?” Ranger asked in a funny tone.
I glared at him. “So I could burn you.” There was a few chuckl
es.
“I will do the DNA test, maybe I turn into a unicorn?” I wiggled my brows and a few of them snorted. When Ranger opened his mouth I beat him too it.
“So I can stab you with my horn.” I directed at him. Raff started laughing and it warmed me up. I reached over for him and pulled him in close. “Don’t forget to mark me before you leave.” I didn’t know where this DNA place was, but I wanted everyone who came near me know that he was mine, and I was his.
He looked down to where the brothers were all sitting then back to me. Then he did something that surprised me. He kissed me in front of them all, and as he pulled away, he winked.
“I won’t forget,” he practically growled under his breath. Fuck, that sent shivers down my spine—the good kind.
Everyone started talking and doing their own thing as I ate my bagel, but I couldn’t keep my mind off the chocolate bar tucked in my hoodie pocket. It was probably melting but I didn’t care. It would still taste so good.
Chapter Forty
Galen
I gave Rafferty a lift to school, he was quiet, more so than usual. I tried to make conversation but he gave me nothing to work with, so I stopped and tried to give him some space. Obviously, he had something on his mind and he wasn’t in the mood to share.
I knew I should have gone back home and fed as soon as I walked into school. I had something in my office to hold me over until the end of the day. But first, I needed to speak to Karen about Lexi’s grades. I headed straight for the office.
“Oh, Mr. Donovani,” she clutched the gold cross around her neck, “you frightened me. I wasn’t expecting you.”
I nodded and smiled as I causally walked over to her. I was hungry and I could hear her blood rushing through her veins, my fangs were itching but I held myself. I had never fed on someone at school, and I wasn’t about to start today with her.