by Tl Reeve
“I’ll go. Because this party blows, and we all know everyone is waiting for me at mine. But.” Laney looked at him expectantly. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Don’t hold your breath, princess,” Zoe mumbled while Laney flounced off toward the gate.
“I’m not sure,” Jackson addressed him when the vapid girls left, “if you’re just stupid or naive when it comes to her.”
He’d have to tell them what happened with Laney at some point, but, in doing so, he’d have to tell them everything about his father’s plans. It would destroy Bell if she found out his father had every intention of having him mate someone other than her.
“Neither.”
Jackson wrapped his arms around Bell who had yet to look directly at him. “You need to deal with it. The more you allow it, the worse it’s going to get for Bell.”
“I’m aware.” By allowing Laney to say and do what she did, he appeared weak. Laney had a hard-on for Bell. Hurting their tiny mate gave Laney immense pleasure, and he’d do anything to prevent her from getting hurt.
“Doesn’t seem like it from here.”
“Stop.” Her gaze finally found his, confusion swirling in those blue depths. “It’s not the time. Laney is gone, the music is playing, and the pledges seem to be enjoying themselves. I want to have fun, too.”
“Bell.” He cupped her cheek tenderly. “I never told her I’d go to her party. Tell me you believe me.”
“I believe you. But I’m leery. In the past, you’ve gone to her over me...us.”
“And I promised you both it wouldn’t happen again.” Shame washed over him when he thought about the party after the games.
“Your word is your bond,” Jackson added.
Unable to respond, he nodded. He’d put an end to Laney’s shenanigans tomorrow. Somehow.
***
After breakfast, Christoph headed to Sigma Pi’s house to find Laney and put an end to this shit. Her stunt last night hurt Bell once again. However, even with the issues and her outburst, the party had been a success. Sigma Epsilon Xi had gained several potential members. Down side, even after Bell said she believed him about not wanting to go to Laney’s party, she distanced herself from him for the rest of the night.
Lack of sleep, mixed with an overwhelming need to bond with his mates, made for a lethal combo of hormones and emotions swirling inside Christoph. If Laney gave him any shit, he’d have absolutely no problem putting her in her place. He wouldn’t lose Bell or Jackson because of the little bitch.
“Can you believe how stupid they are?” Reagan’s voice reached his ears, and he stopped dead in his tracks behind the bushes at the quad. “Like, oh my God. The laptop locked up, what are we going to do?”
“How’d you get the virus into his computer?” Laney laughed, playfully shoving her friend.
“I asked Winston to build me a bug.” Reagan shrugged. “Which was the easy part. Getting into Bodhi’s computer was a whole other issue. But I had help.” Pride filled her voice.
“And what did Winston charge you for that?”
He didn’t recognize the girl.
“I had to let him pet my kitty for a minute,” Reagan replied.
“You let him touch your pussy?” A hint of disgust laced Laney’s words, and he couldn’t blame her. Winston, the weasel, obviously followed Laney’s blackmail book of how to hook up with a girl. The little shit needed to be taught a lesson before he crossed a line.
“It’s for Sigma Pi,” Reagan responded.
He shook his head. These girls were crazy to give away sexual favors to get revenge on someone who’d never bothered them.
“How’d you get the alcohol in the punch?”
“Easy. I picked the lock to the front door, took a bottle of their juice, and brought it to our house. After I dumped almost all the juice out, I replaced it with vodka.” Laney giggled. “Stupid bitch had no clue. When I returned it, I saw the caterer information out on the table. So, I called from their phone, impersonated Zoe, and told them I had made a mistake. We only needed half the food.”
“Devious! I love how your mind works, Laney.”
“Me, too,” Reagan agreed. “I’d never have thought of that.”
“This is why I’m the president of Sigma Pi and you’re not,” Laney stated.
She couldn’t have been any more of a bitch. How do these girls put up with each other?
Naturally, their revelations didn’t surprise him. The lengths these girls went to shocked him. Having heard enough of their bullshit, he moved out from behind the bushes, revealing himself. Laney had noticed him first, sitting at the small table with a cup of coffee cradled in her hand.
“You have reached a new low,” he growled.
Reagan and the other girl, who he still couldn’t place, trembled. Laney, on the other hand, just gave him a bored look and took a sip of her coffee.
“Please. That bitch is lucky I didn’t do more.” Laney grinned. “I should have called the police for the underage drinking. She would have lost everything right then and there. You should actually be thanking me.”
“Are you for real?” He shook his head, dumfounded at her lack of respect.
“Of course, duh.” She stared at her fingernails. “I think you’ve been hanging around with too many fake bitches. It’s skewed your outlook.”
They could go round and round in this little verbal battle. However, he didn’t have time for her games.
“It ends now,” he snarled, taking the direct approach.
“It ends when I say it ends.” Laney narrowed her eyes, got up, and stepped to him. “And not a second before.”
He saw red. His lion bristled under his skin, trying to force a shift to physically prove his dominance over the smaller female lioness.
“I think you fucking forget yourself, and it’s time I reminded you.” He caught Laney’s gaze and held it. He prevented the shift out of sheer willpower. His vision changed to hues of blue and green. The lion yearned to bite into the fragile skin of her neck and squeeze it until she gave in to his dominance or died because he snapped her neck. The violent thought shocked him, yet didn’t surprise him. When it came to Bell and Jackson, he’d do anything to protect his mates.
Laney took a step toward her friends, her gaze flicking to his right shoulder in submission. His lion grunted then slid away.
“I’m only going to say this once. You will stay away from the Dryer family, their friends, and anything to do with Sigma Epsilon Xi. If you continue on this course, I’ll be forced to act, and you won’t like what happens. Trust me,” he snarled.
“I think you forget what I know.” She crossed her arms and lifted her chin in defiance.
He roared, infuriated by the fact she dared to threaten him. Jackson was right. He’d allowed this to get out of control. He should’ve been upfront and honest with Bell then Jackson. It would’ve saved them a lot of heartache.
“You don’t know shit. This is your final warning. Do not threaten me or what is mine.”
Laney gulped.
“I’ll take your sorority to the board of reviews and explain to them how you broke into a sorority home and created chaos. I’ll also inform them you served alcohol to students under the age of twenty-one.”
“They would never—”
“Never what, Laney. Believe me, over you? I’m an alpha above reproach.” He curled his lip. “I won’t have this conversation with you again. Stay the fuck away from me, Bell, and Jackson.”
Chapter Three
Of all the shit to have to deal with and he’d caused it. Christoph scrubbed his face while he walked away from the group of girls. Shit. He should have stood up to his father. A mate trumped everything. No matter what. If his father didn’t listen, he could challenge, but then what? He could beat his father, the cocky side of his personality assured him such, but the practical side said he needed to watch his step. If this got out to Bell, he’d lose his mate before he
had a chance to consummate it.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this pissed off.”
He stopped in his tracks and faced Nico. “Whatever you want, it can wait.”
“I’m thinking after the conversation you had, this can’t.”
Rage burned in his veins along with a healthy dose of fear. Nico could break him. He could tell Bell everything. “You heard nothing, and if you know what’s good for you”—he snatched the front of his shirt and got into his face— “you won’t breathe a word of it.” He narrowed his eyes. “Do you understand?”
“Whoa, there.” Nico held his hands up. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I swear.”
Christoph snarled and let him go before turning away. “Nothing good can come of this. You know the truth, yes?”
“That you’re being blackmailed? Yeah, I do. So, I’m going to help you out here before it’s too late.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “A few weeks ago, Bodhi gave me this card. Said they’d help me. I’m paying it forward and giving it to you. Call them.”
He took the small white business card with Hui and Min written on the front in bold black script. When he flipped it over, a phone number and several other tidbits of information were printed in the same script. 555-ROAR? “I’m not seeing how this is going to help.”
“Trust me. They will.” Nico took a step around him. “For what it’s worth, Bell would always believe you if you told her.”
Christoph continued to stare at the card. Call them and admit a woman and his father had him over a barrel? No. Alphas didn’t cow down. He’d never admit it. Yet, the idea of Bell having to suffer through his bullshit didn’t sit well with him. He pulled out his phone then dialed the number on the card.
After two rings, someone answered. “Yes?”
“I have a card with your number on it.”
“What can we do for you?”
He scrubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. Everything is so messed up. A woman is blackmailing me and my father is threatening to strip me of everything if I don’t mate a female of his choosing. I have a mate, though. She’s good and kind and sweet. She doesn’t deserve me or the baggage I carry. I don’t know what to do.”
“I see,” the person stated. “If we send you help, will you accept it without question and do what you are told?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Without question.”
“We will be in touch.”
***
“Mail call.” Hayden stepped into the kitchen, with an armload of packages. Most of them had Raquel’s name on them.
Since the party, she and Joy, another pledge, had started living in the house with them, which meant they only needed twenty-eight more pledges. After the rough start to the party and the non-alcoholic party becoming a booze fest, thanks to whoever spiked the punch, they’d received three more applications—Amanda Hugnkis being her favorite.
“There’s a couple of letters in here for you, Bell. Both are from the school.” Hayden handed her the envelopes. “Are they what I think they are?”
She nodded. “I am sure it’s about our pledges not being up to par. I got one the week after the games, so this makes sense after our party debacle.”
Hayden frowned. “We’re going to get those pledges. I know it. We’ve worked too hard not to.” A knock came at the door. “You read the letter. I’ll go answer the door.”
Bell nodded, opening the envelope in her hand. Second notice. Not enough pledges. Twenty-five days to fill her ranks. She groaned. The words blurred together. How in the world would she find twenty-eight more pledges when they’d only collected two and a handful of fake pledges?
“Welcome, Shelly, to Sigma Epsilon Xi,” Hayden announced. “Let me introduce you to Bell, the president of our sorority.”
They came into the kitchen. At first, Bell thought it had been some sick joke. The girl wore rainbow suspenders over a plain, white T-shirt with an iron-on unicorn patch. Her brilliant carrot-red hair lay, or rather stuck out, in a mass of tangles. Big, bug glasses sat on the bridge of her narrow nose. Her large, gray eyes stared at Bell through strawberry lashes, while a smattering of freckles dotted her cheeks and arms. She wore skinny jeans a little too short for Bell’s comfort, and low-top Converse. Bell sniffed the air, trying to figure out if she was human or other. When she got no discernable scent, she frowned.
“Hey, Shelly. Welcome to our home.” She glanced at Hayden who shrugged. “What brought you here today?”
The girl fished her application out of her pink-and-purple trapper keeper and handed it to Bell. “I thought I’d try to pledge.”
Her husky, almost wild tone of voice intrigued Bell. “I’m sorry. I must ask. What kind of shifter are you?”
The girl glanced between them and licked her lips. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
“We promise we won’t laugh.” Bell straightened her shoulders, curious about the girl who tried to hide behind weird clothes and goofy glasses.
“I’m a unicorn.”
Hayden scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “One of the famed mythical creatures who was slaughtered on the banks of the river Suir?”
“Yep.” The girl nodded.
“And your family escaped?” Bell arched a brow, unsure how to take the girl standing before her. Her gut told her to send the shifter away—the whole thing had to be a cruel and unusual joke. But if she sent her away and Shelly told the truth, then what?
“Yes. With a little help. It’s a big complicated story. One I’d love to tell you sometime because it’s epic. However, I really need some place to live. I need family, and I need friends. I’ve got a 3.82 G.P.A. I’m studying Comparative Literature and Latin, and you’re my last hope of joining a sorority. I saw you and you”—she pointed to Hayden—“at the games. Your champions are amazing and dreamy.” A wistful sigh passed her lips. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
Bell glanced at Hayden who grinned. She couldn’t let the girl be alone. She also didn’t like the fact every other sorority had turned her away. Which meant Zoe did the same. I am so kicking her ass! Bell wrapped her arm around the newest member of their family. “Welcome home, Shelly. Would you like to meet the others?”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Raquel. Joy. Could you come down here for a minute?”
The girls appeared seconds later at the foot of the staircase. They reminded Bell of that Christmas program she loved to watch. It had misfit toys. Well, technically they fit the misfit moniker. “Joy, Raquel, this is Shelly. She’s our newest sister.”
She gave a shy wave while hanging onto her notebook in a death grip. “Hi.”
Raquel stepped forward first. “I love your suspenders. I’ve been looking for a pair for forever.”
“Your shirt is so pretty. I love the sparkles. Sparkles are my favorite. It makes everything prettier,” Joy added. “Would you like to see your room?”
Shelly nodded. “Yes, please.” She hurried up the stairs behind Raquel and Joy.
“Three down, twenty-seven to go.” Hayden buffed her nails on the shoulder of her shirt. “When you’ve got it, you’ve got it.”
“Don’t get too cocky, Miss Thang. We got another notice for pledges.” She handed over the letter then grabbed the one she had yet to open.
“This is bullshit, Bell. How many other sororities aren’t at full capacity?” She slammed the paper down on the counter. God love her cousin. She’d do anything to defend Bell, which made her love her even more. “We have to be able to do something.”
“Get all the pledges. I have to believe the universe and the Fates won’t let us down.” She frowned while she opened the second letter. Fear gripped her. “Oh no.”
Dear Miss Dryer,
Per section 34-15-401 (1) your property has been found to be in violation of the state of Colorado’s Housing Code Enforcement. Attached you will find a list of each infraction and the approximate dat
e of revaluation. If the house has not been brought up to code by the date listed below, your house and all its belongings will become property of El Paso County and will hereby be torn down.
Fines can be assessed from $5,000-$40,000 for each unfixed item on the list.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Barbara Halifax
El Paso County Clerk
Her hand trembled as she flipped the page. Red checks dotted the page. Everything from electrical to plumbing to insulation and termites. How did they have termites, and when the heck did they inspect the house? None of it made sense. However, when she glanced down at the bottom of the sheet, she groaned. Three weeks. They only had three weeks to fix everything?
She handed the letter and checklist to Hayden. “What am I going to do?”
The pounding on the front door had Bell looking up from her English book. She’d been sitting in the kitchen, reviewing her notes for the test the following day.
“Got it,” Raquel hollered while stomping down the steps.
She should have turned her attention to her book. Instead, she picked up her phone and smiled when she saw the group texts between her, Jackson, and Christoph. The guys said they would be heading over to pick her up in twenty minutes for a date. They’d been patiently waiting for her to give the go-ahead for the mating, but she kept hedging. Having one dominant mate could be rough, but two. She’d be screwed. She had front-row seats for what her mom went through with their dad. It hadn’t been easy.
Often, her parents got very vocal in their opinions. Her mom would put up a good fight, and sometimes, although not often, Dad would give in to her, but often he held his ground and his word became law. When they grew and got older, Mom would often inform them, sometimes Dad just didn’t need to know. It’d been something she and Zoe continued to do through their teenage years.