by Tl Reeve
Bodhi turned in his seat with a burger in hand and smiled at her.
She loved her brother dearly, but the boy could pack away the food. “Another one? Don’t you feel like a cow by now?”
“I am a growing boy still.” He winked. “So, what do you have for me?” He patted the seat next to him. “Take a load off. You look beat.”
“Aren’t you a complimenting fool?” She plopped down next to him, wiped out after an early morning sorority meeting. Thanks Bell. She shouldn’t sound so bitter about it. She actually liked the small group of girls who called themselves sisters. The charity they’d chosen to send their winnings to—if they won the Greek Shifter Games—helped hundreds of orphaned shifters in foreign countries.
“So, what’s going on?” He took another bite of his burger then wiped his lips as he chewed. “Everything okay? Do you need anything?”
“Everything is fine. In fact, it’s better than fine. However, I need you to keep the week of spring break open.” She snatched a fry from her twin’s plate and popped it in her mouth. She sighed at the salty greasiness. “Loraine and our dads are pregnant!”
Bodhi stopped mid-bite and stared at her. “Are you serious?”
She nodded.
“Whose is it?”
“Blake didn’t say. But, I am sure whether it is his or Dad’s, they’ll be happy. The baby is due in the spring, and they want us there for the birth.”
“Cool. I can’t wait to meet the new pup.” A hint of excitement tinged his voice when he hugged her tight. “Anything else going on?”
“No. Not really,” she hedged. “Maybe. Are you doing the whole GSG thing?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Bell had this issue with her sorority, and, lo and behold, yesterday morning she inducted me into her gang of seven, and now I’m their vice president,” she replied. “I’m going with her as a lady of the games, and I’m nervous.”
“Congrats. We should have fun. I’m taking my second as my teammate. You and Bell will be our ladies.” He grinned before taking another bite of his lunch. “Are you going to the mixer Friday night? Do you have a date?”
“Yes, I’m going to the mixer. I promised the girls I’d be there for them. It would also seem our little cousin has a mate. A falcon named Rocky. Some kind of biker badass. I am sure her dad is going to be thrilled.” Sarcasm laced her words.
“You’re deflecting.”
“No. I’m not.” She crossed her arms and stared her brother down.
“Fine,” he sighed. “You’ll be at the dance with Zoe and Bell. Anything else?”
Huzzah! “As a matter of fact,” she began, “do you happen to know any single wolves? I’d like to go on a date.”
“Oh hell no,” her brother exclaimed. “I am not stepping into the middle of your battlefield. I happen to like my body being in one piece, thank you very much!”
“Scaredy-cat!”
“Whatever, brat,” he snapped. “I’ll see what I can do to help you out. But I’m not telling Nico. You can when you talk to him.”
“Yeah, not happening any time soon.” She stood up and gave Bodhi a hug. “I’ll see you at the mixer.”
***
Hayden, with her cousins in tow, walked into the community building. Zoe, in head-to-toe leather, looked like Barbie gone bad. Bell wore a cute calico print knee-length dress with a matching hair ribbon. The dichotomy between them made Hayden shake her head. “So, go find your prospective dates and have fun.” She grinned. “Remember, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Don’t wait up. Rocky said something about meeting his parents at some clubhouse later. Peace.” She waved then took off, parting the crowd as she went.
“So, how do I look?” Bell pushed the fabric of her dress down, a nervous habit Hayden had picked up on, and glanced up at her. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
“Sweetheart, you’re going to knock him dead.” She hugged Bell and watched her other cousin drift into the throng of people. “Well, kid, looks like you’re on your own.”
Mingle. In order for her to move on and start a new life without Nico, she had to make the first move. Now or never, Hayden. You’re a Raferty. No one messes with you, and guys would be stupid not to get with you. Now, go break a leg. She stepped onto the dance floor and strolled around the area, making her way to the drink table. Her stepmom always told her the best way to make new friends was to put herself out there and engage. She could do it.
“Tell me you’re not all by yourself, she-wolf. Which sorority are you with?” Hayden turned and came face to chest with a muscular jock. She tilted her head back until her eyes locked with his, and she sucked in a breath. Stunning. From his amber eyes to his long sable hair and a smirk of indifference, he made her body pulse to life. Hayden’s heart hammered. Her fingers itched to touch his body, but she didn’t dare without permission. This fine specimen had been 100 percent grade-A alpha.
“Hi. I’m with uh….” Shit, total brain fart moment. What’s the name of her cousin’s sorority? She licked her lips and watched as his gaze took on a predatory glean. “Sigma Epsilon Xi?”
“You don’t sound too sure of yourself, she-wolf.”
“Sorry. You startled me.” Made me turn into a bumbling idiot more likely. “Yes, Bell is the president of our chapter.”
“Ah, the little lioness.” A hint of arousal filled his words. “It’s good to have you here. I’m Hill. Your brother, Bodhi, said you’re looking to get back into the dating game.”
Thank you, Bodhi. I owe you big time. “He might have been correct.”
“Great. I have a friend who could really use a gentle hand. He’s kind of geeky…okay really geeky.” He turned a bit and pointed to a guy dressed in distressed jeans, a superhero T-shirt, and Converse. “I know you could break him, but he’s my VP, and I didn’t feel right leaving him alone while I got down and dirty with my girl.”
“Er, um.” She looked at the guy again and swallowed hard. Fuck, I should have known Bodhi would do this shit. I am so kicking his ass. “I guess I could help a guy out. What’s his name?”
“Winston.”
“Awesome. Uh….” She cleared her throat. “Have fun with your girl, and Winston will be just fine.”
“Thank you, she-wolf. I won’t forget this favor.” He squeezed her shoulder, and, for a second, she thought he might have crushed something…seriously.
“No problem,” she gritted out.
Once Hill walked away and wrapped his arm around some svelte long-haired beauty, she shook her head. Should have known better than to even get my hopes up.
“Do you know about gamma ray technology?”
Gamma what? “I’m sorry?”
His lips curled into a smug grin. “Of course not. Do you even know who Bruce Banner is?”
“Yeah. Sure,” she answered. “He’s part of that superhero group, Justice League, right?” Hayden floundered for the right answers, feeling a little inferior to the uber-nerd next to her.
“Wow. I asked Hill for a favor, and this is what he brings me. A newbie.” Winston shook his head. “How in God’s name have you made it through your childhood or teen years without picking up one comic book and reading it?” Hayden started to answer, but he lifted his hand. “Rhetorical question. I didn’t expect an answer.” The bastard might be a geek, but he also carried the air of a beta wolf with confidence. Too bad his body and attitude didn’t match his title.
“Listen you little—” She growled at him as he answered his phone, ignoring her for the moment. Oh yes, I am so going to kick your hyena ass all over campus. When I am done with you, you’ll be begging for my forgiveness.
“Now, where did I leave off?” He slid his phone into his pocket. “Ah, yes. Now, I remember. How much a newb you are. First of all, you never mix Marvel with D.C. Second, if you’re not sure what gamma ray technology is, read about it in The Incredible Hulk, or even Captain America. Either one will wo
rk.”
“I know Captain America,” she bit out. “He’s the one with the shield and dresses in red, white, and blue.”
“At least you know him.” He looked down his nose at her. “Those were my homies on the phone. I would appreciate it if you could take one for the female team and let me tell them I kissed you.”
“What?” Could this night get any worse?
“I macked on you. Felt you up a little. Oh!” His eyes went wide as he pointed at her. “Give me your panties.”
“Listen, you little freak of nature,” she snarled. “You need to think twice before you open your mouth and—”
“Issues?” Hayden knew that voice. Alex.
“Nope, not a one.” She watched as Winston scurried off and huddled in a corner with his hobbit friends. “Please tell me they shift into maggots so I can step on them later.”
“I wish, babe.” Alex laughed. His long black hair held in place by a leather thong, he wore his workout clothes as though he’d come straight from football practice. “So, what did Winston ask of you?”
“He wanted to, ‘mack on me and feel me up,’ and the coup de grace, he wanted my freaking panties.”
Alex growled, and his eyes turned an eerie shade of gold. “That little bastard. I told Hill to keep his mutts in line, but he’s too busy banging some out-of-towner chick no one likes.”
“Chill. It’s all good. He’s still a virgin, and I’m now in better company. So, which fraternity are you representing?” She followed him to the giant punch bowl near the back door.
“Lambda Alpha Pi. You?”
“Sigma Epsilon Xi. Bell is my partner. Who is yours?” She accepted a glass of punch from him.
“I’m not sure. My VP had to pull out of the games. Poor grades on his last set of exams. But, I’ve been assured I’ll have a replacement.” He pointed to the cup in her hand. “Remember to go easy on those. You’ll need a clear head tomorrow morning.”
By her second cup of the Hawaiian Mambo, she forgot all about Wins-what’s-his-face. In fact, she felt footloose and fancy free. Screw Nico. Screw that dumb jock, Hill. She didn’t need any of them. “Alex,” she murmured, “have sex with me.”
“Whoa,” he muttered, embarrassment tingeing his words as he took her cup away. “Where the hell did that come from, Hayden?”
“I don’t want to die a virgin,” she answered. “So, you get the honors. I like you. You like me. You have boy parts. I have girl parts. It’ll work out fine. We’ll bump uglies and go our separate ways.” She tilted her head to the side. “We’ll have fun.”
“I don’t know,” he hedged. “I heard you’re supposed to have a mate around here somewhere.”
“Pfft. Nico? Nope.” She waved him off. “He doesn’t want me.” In the distance, she heard a low, menacing growl. She turned her head to the side and caught a glimpse of the man who tore her heart apart. “Speak of the devil. Gotta go.”
She moved through the room and exited via the side door. The cool night air hit her like a ton of bricks, and she sobered a little. Shit, should have brought a coat. Though she wore skinny jeans and a long-sleeved baby doll tee, the early fall crispness bit at her exposed flesh and made her shiver. Damn him for showing up like that. He’s not supposed to be here. He should have stayed home where he belonged.
“Don’t run from me, Hayden.” The hard edge to his voice made her inner bitch want to roll over and expose herself to her mate.
“You lost the chance to tell me what to do when you slept with some random chick.” Anger warred with grief and all-consuming lust, a maelstrom of emotions crashing through her. She trembled. Her finger twitched. She wanted to run them through the silky tresses of his hair. Scratch her nails down his back while he…. No, don’t even go there. He means nothing to you. Never will.
“The sweet scent of your arousal says otherwise, little wolf.” He took a step toward her, holding his hand out in placation.
“If I’m aroused, it’s not because of you,” she spat. “It’s all for Alex.” Lies. All lies, but she didn’t dare give him an inch. Because, if she did, he’d take a mile, and she was afraid of what would happen to her. You know exactly what would happen. You’d forgive him. You’d wonder when he’d cheat on you again, and inevitably you’d be alone.
“You never could tell a lie very well.” Amusement laced his voice. “You look good, little wolf.” He advanced, still keeping his hands in plain sight. “I’ve missed you.”
Her feet stayed rooted in their spot. Her mind said run. Her heart said stay, listen to what he had to say. “Thanks. I’ll see you around.” She turned from him and took a step, only to hear him growl once more. “Growling? Am I so far beneath you now, that you’re reduced to growling at me when you don’t get your way?”
He sighed. “No. I’m sorry. I’m trying to say I’m sorry and you’re not giving me a chance.”
She snorted. “You don’t deserve anything from me. You lost your chance, as you say, when you fucked some stranger.”
“You were a little girl!” he growled.
“Six weeks and I’d have turned eighteen! You needed to fuck so bad, you couldn’t wait six weeks for me?” Her body vibrated with rage, cooling the desire coursing through her.
“I know!” He closed the distance between them and loomed over her. “Don’t you think I realized all my hopes and dreams were right at the tips of my fingers if I’d waited? I screwed up. I hurt you. I get it. I always have.”
“Then I’m going to say this one more time, Nico. We’re through. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to hear you. I don’t want anything to do with you.” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat as tears burned in the corners of her eyes. “Leave me alone. I don’t love you. I never loved you.”
Before he had the chance to say anything else—do anything else, she shifted and ran away. The crisp scent of wilderness and spice she associated with him threatened to drive her insane while he stood so close to her. Hayden’s heart clenched when she saw the anguish in his eyes at her proclamation of never loving him, and a bit of her resolve crumbled. Damn it. The wall she’d built around her heart—her soul had protected her for two years. Now, after being in his presence for ten minutes, doubt created the cracks, spreading out in a spider web pattern, weakening her. She cursed Nico as she ran through the campus and into the woods. She pushed herself deeper into the thicket, needing time to repair the damage he’d inflicted. I’ll never roll over for you ever again, Nico Lopez.
Fuck!
The text Nico had been waiting for came in only a few hours before the mixer began. A participant in the games had to pull out due to bad grades and being disciplined by the school for other infractions. The e-invite allowed him access to the mixer while the paper invite would be sent to the gaming council by the morning.
“Hey, man.” Alex came up beside him. “You’ve got shitty timing.”
“I’d say it’s perfect timing. There’s no way in hell I’d allow you to even contemplate sex with her. She’s mine.”
“You might want to explain this whole mine thing to her.” He chuckled. “She seems to believe you don’t hold any claim over her.”
“Yeah,” he mumbled. “That’s none of your business right now.”
“It is my business if we’re going to work together tomorrow,” Alex snarled. “I don’t know how some no name got an invite to the games or how you’re my partner for them, but I intend to win this shit. I have a girl I need to impress.”
Nico turned toward Alex. “Then we’re on the same page. I intend to win this to prove I’d do anything for Hayden.”
“Good.”
Since they’d metaphorically pulled their dicks out and engaged in a pissing contest, Nico relaxed a bit. “So what’s on tap for tomorrow?”
“Archery.” Bodhi walked toward them with another guy. “I know we’re all looking forward to that.”
Nico grunted. “Have we sized up our competiti
on?”
“There are three you need to worry about in this contest.” The new guy held out his hand. “Christoph.”
“Nico. Nice to meet you.” He shook the man’s hand. “So who are these four we’ll have an issue with?”
“How about we talk about this in private? Don’t need another team overhearing us.” With his head held high, Christoph strolled for the parking lot. “I hope you don’t mind going to a bar. My partner is Rocky, and he’s out with his girl.”
Nico’s gut clenched. The last time he’d gone to a bar, he’d hurt his mate. He hadn’t been back since. Nor had he imbibed any kind of alcoholic beverage. “A bar?”
Christoph glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door to his lifted pickup. “Problems?”
“No, nothing.” Nico caught up to the guys and climbed into the back with Bodhi. No way he’d tell them about the night not so long ago which ended up ruining his life and sent his mate running from him.
“You’re new to frat life, aren’t you?” Christoph gazed at him through the rearview mirror.
“Uh, yeah. Right place at the right time, type deal.” Bodhi snorted. “Anyway.” He glared at Hayden’s twin. “I’m not sure I’ll even do a good job with this.”
“You’re a shifter. You’ll do fine.” The lion turned the corner and pulled up to a seedy-looking place. Cars and motorcycles lined the parking lot and around the front corner. When they got out, the thump of country music pulsed from the building. Interesting. “Come on. I’ll explain everything inside.”
Nico’s lip curled at the putrid stench surrounding the entrance, and it didn’t get any better when they walked inside. Stale beer, sex, and urine assaulted them. If anyone else seemed bothered by it, no one said a word. They weaved their way through the tables bunched around the bar while people played pool near the rear of the place.
“Zoe?” He’d know the girl anywhere. Her midnight hair had been pulled back in a braid, and she wore all leather. “What are you doing? Your dad is going to kick your ass if he finds out you’re in here.” The girl glanced up at him and shrugged before going back to talking to the burly biker in front of her. “Hey, shithead, do you know she’s only eighteen?”