“Is there a problem?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“Just fine, bro,” Cameron responded. He turned his attention toward Candra. “I’ll deal with you later.”
I strode forward a few steps, stopping by Candra’s side. “I think you need to leave her alone.”
Cameron and Ethan smirked and shook their heads, practically laughing. “Mom and Dad won’t be happy about this one.”
Shit. Why didn’t I think of that? Now they’d definitely lock me up in the basement. I’d get my break from school and seeing Candra, but it’d be my parents’ decision, not mine. Cameron and Ethan turned on their heels and stalked off, back to Cameron’s car, I supposed.
“Mom and Dad? You’re their—” Candra’s words returned me to reality.
“Brother? Yes,” I confirmed for her.
She stared in the direction they departed. “Are they always like this?”
Did she really have no idea why they treated her differently? “You could say that.”
She peered up at me underneath dark lashes. “Well, uh, thanks for saving my ass, I guess.”
She didn’t know. Oh, wow. This changed everything. “Let me know if they bother you again.”
“I hope you don’t get into any trouble. I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. Trouble? She had no idea the amount of trouble I was in. “I’ll see you around.” I hated leaving her alone like that, out in the open, vulnerable, but my guess was that Cameron and Ethan had made their way back to the parking lot and headed home by now, leaving me stranded. It was going to be a long walk, maybe even a “walk of shame,” but the crazy thing was . . . I didn’t feel remorseful at all.
“The Fight”
If there was one thing I liked about this school, it was that gossip traveled quickly, which meant if my brothers were doing anything they weren’t supposed to, I’d know before the next class period. For instance, Cameron was in a fight with some kid in the next hall over at the moment. I was used to his antics by then, though; he was always brawling with someone so he could keep his macho status secured among the ranks.
What I wasn’t preparing for was Cameron cornering Candra against her locker. I caught the beginning stages of the exchange as I stood at the end of the hallway. Students gathered around, some stared at me, expecting me to play back-up to my brother. Most of them were too scared to jump in and stand up to him, because Cameron never lost a fight.
“You won’t last here,” I heard Cameron say.
“Excuse me?” Candra had this look on her face comprised of annoyance and fear.
Cameron leaned in close, almost like he wanted to kiss her. My fists clenched, and I felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, because she was in danger. It felt like she was mine.
“Get out of my face,” Candra ordered.
Cameron laughed. “You need to go far, far away, little one.”
“I’d love to go home, but until I graduate, I’m stuck here.”
He shook his head.
“What is your problem? I mean, what did I ever do to you?” Candra asked.
“Long story.”
“But I haven’t been here that long.”
“Oh, Candra, it’s painful how little you know. You have no idea what’s about to happen to you, yet everyone around you does.”
“You kicking my ass?”
He belted out a laugh. “Not even close.”
“So, wait, you’re not going to kick my ass? I’m confused.”
Oh, my God. I was right. She didn’t know about the prophecy, or why she was here. I couldn’t believe her family hadn’t broken the news. They owed her that much.
Cameron began to walk off, then glanced over his shoulder and said, “Tell Randy and Beth we’re coming for them. Soon. They won’t last this time.”
The sudden shift on Candra’s face wasn’t a good indication. She was highly pissed. Apparently, threatening the lives of her family was not the way to go on Cameron’s end.
“We’re?” she repeated.
Cameron continued down the hallway and responded without turning around, “Oh, yes.”
“Stay away from them. I don’t know what you’re up to, but you won’t get away with it!”
That did it. Cameron pivoted on his heel and stormed back to his spot in front of Candra. “I can get away with anything. Neither you nor that pathetic aunt and uncle of yours can stop me.”
“The police could.”
Poor thing. She had no idea my family controlled most of the city, including its employees.
“You really are new,” said Cameron.
“It’s not right.” I could almost hear her finish the sentence in her head: It’s not fair. She was about to receive a crash course in what was fair around here.
“Call the cops.” Cameron threw his hands up and paraded around the hallway, only causing more laughter. “I surrender.”
“I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll do everything in my power to stop you from going near my family.”
“I’m shaking. Really.” Once again, he stepped closer to her, and I wanted to punch him. “Plus, I’d like to see you try.”
In response to Cameron caging and embarrassing her, Candra shoved him. Cameron literally flew through the air before his body crashed through a window across the hallway. Every student who witnessed the event held their breath. Every. Single. One.
Then they ran, fearing for their lives.
Candra stood in place, dumbfounded by what just happened. She was already experiencing changes, and she didn’t even know it. She booked it out of the hallway, heading straight for the parking lot. I followed. Somebody needed to calm her down. Besides, Cameron would heal in no time, as long as he triggered his werewolf side.
“Candra, wait!” I called out to her. She didn’t stop. “Candra!” I caught up and grabbed her arm. She turned around, squinting when the sun hit her face. “Talk to me. Say something.”
“Something,” she mumbled.
I smiled. She wasn’t as shaken up as I originally thought; she still had a sense of humor.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
I glanced at the school. “I have classes here, in case you forgot.” She didn’t respond to my sarcasm, so I added, “You’re going to be okay.”
“No. Something’s seriously wrong with me. I need help.”
“Nothing is wrong with you,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Cameron had it coming to him. I just didn’t think you would be the one to do it.”
“He’s probably cut up pretty badly.”
“Cameron will be fine.”
Her mouth hung open, and she yelled, “Fine? The guy went through a window! I’m sure he has glass stuck in him and is bleeding everywhere.”
“Why are you so worried? He threatened your family.”
“You saw everything? I only meant to make an impression, not, well, you know.”
“C’mon, I’ll show you he’s okay.” I motioned for her to follow me.
“I can’t go back in there. I saw the look on everyone’s face. They think I’m a freak.”
A freak? That was cute. Yeah, we were definitely beyond freakish, but it wasn’t my place to tell her why. So, I respond, “No more than I am.” Which was the truth.
“You’re Marked”
Unbeknownst to Candra, Jana, and Blake, I’d been keeping a close eye on them all night. I saw the shit that went down at May’s Ice Cream Shop with my brothers, and I wanted nothing more than to intervene. Of course, that would’ve sparked a firestorm of controversy between the community and my family, especially when they found out I was defending a Lowell.
The three of them walked to the local theater, where they stood in line to buy their tickets. It seemed like they completely shrugged off the incident with Cameron and Ethan so they could have a fun evening. Good. My brothers caused enough trouble already, and they just never knew when to stop. It wasn’t like they cared, either; they played by their
own rules.
And since they were allowed to create their own set of laws, I was going to stir the pot and create mine. I honestly had no idea where the thought came from, but I considered it all day. Yeah, I knew what the prophecy stated, I knew my family was in danger, but I didn’t feel that way when I was around her. Plus, I was tired of trying to live up to my parents’ expectations, only to crash and burn over and over again. Screw that. If I wasn’t good for them now, I wasn’t going to be good enough any time in the near future.
Unlike my brothers, I wanted to go for a more subtle approach, something that would cause a great deal of impact later on. I wanted to mark her. When the time came, I’d finish the ancient ritual. She’d have no clue we’d be linked forever.
As I advanced toward their small group, all three of them began to laugh. The couple in front of them collected their change, and then headed inside. I made it just in time.
“You’re not buying your ticket,” I said, upon my approach.
Candra turned around, fully expecting Blake to be the one who spoke, but then she noticed me.
“Um, hey,” she responded.
“Hey.” She had this doe-eyed expression, like she couldn’t believe I actually stood in front of her. Meanwhile, Jana and Blake were glaring at me like I was here to cause trouble. Ignoring them, I reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out twenty bucks, handing it to Candra. “Get whatever you want.” She gladly accepted the money without any clue as to what I just did. Jana and Blake knew, judging by their faces. I was pretty sure they wanted to murder me. Without delay, I turned on my heel and casually strolled off, doing everything in my power to control the grin on my face.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Rogers expressed her creative side at an early age and hasn’t stopped since. She won’t hesitate to tell you that she lives inside her imagination, and it’s better than reality.
To stay up to date with Rebecca’s latest books, check out her website at www.rebeccaarogers.com or find her on social sites such as Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.
Table of Contents
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are eithe...
“Now the hungry lion roars, and the wolf behowls the moon.”
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
The End
Bonus Content
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Blood Moon (Silver Moon, #3) Page 17