by Aileen Erin
“Look. There are tons of packs to choose from. All over the world.”
Mr. Dawson sped up the pace again.
“You. Don’t have. To choose. Now.”
I was too winded to respond, but I didn’t like where he was going with this.
The call of the pack slid over my skin, urging me to stay in step with everyone else. It took me a couple of tries to get my footfalls to break their beat. It wasn’t that I had anything against the pack stuff, but I didn’t like the idea of having someone dictate my moves, even if it was just the way I was running.
“What. Are. You doing?” Chris said.
I couldn’t answer him. Staying on the offbeat took all my concentration. I forced my legs to move faster until I was next to Mr. Dawson. Whispers followed in my wake. I was gasping as I reached him.
“You’re just full of surprises,” Mr. Dawson said with a smirk.
I matched his pace, but made sure my feet hit the ground just before his did.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ninety-seven.
A drop of sweat rolled off my nose as I straightened my arms, completing a push-up.
Ninety-eight.
My arms felt like jell-o. I was losing form, and my lower back was starting to ache.
Ninety-nine.
I collapsed down on the ground. The grass felt cool on my hot cheek.
It hadn’t taken that long to finish the laps around the gym with the pace Mr. Dawson set. He wasn’t done with our torture by any means. As soon as we were done running, he took us outside next to the Cazadores track. I’d already done more sit-ups than I’d done in my entire life, a cool 124 and a half before I gave up. I was counting that half. I’d earned it. But the rest had done over 500. They were beasts. No wonder they all had amazing bodies.
Everyone was still trucking along, like there was nothing to 200 push-ups. Their bodies moved to the ground and up together.
I rolled onto my side facing Chris and massaged my biceps. “I can’t do it. I can’t do one more freaking push-up.” Triple digits wasn’t something humanly possible. Or Tessa-possible.
Chris looked over at me, pausing an inch from the ground. “What are you? A girl?” Chris pushed himself off the ground, clapped once, before landing, and did it again.
“Oh, come on! Are you for real?” I shoved him.
“Hey! Watch it!” Shannon said as Chris tumbled into her.
A throat cleared above me. “Trouble, pups?”
I rolled myself up and sat on my heels. “Not anymore. I’m almost breathing normally again.”
He crossed his arms.
“I can’t do one more, Mr. Dawson. My arms have turned into cooked spaghetti noodles. And they’re shaking.” I held them out.
His mouth set in a firm line.
“I’m not used to this. It’s a miracle I lasted this long.” My stomach growled. “And I’m starving. There’s no telling what could happen, and I don’t want to be responsible for any more disruptions today.”
He laughed. “Okay. Okay. You’re done for now, but you need to be at my cabin in thirty.”
If I was in trouble for not finishing the work-out, I was going to freak out. “Because I’m not as strong as Captain America over here?”
Chris picked up his pace at the attention.
Mr. Dawson shook his head. “No. You’ve surprised me with how well you’ve done today. I expected you to drop out while we were running.”
I patted myself on the back. “Give me a few days. I’ll kick all their butts.”
“Care to put money on it?” Chris said.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Alright. Enough,” Mr. Dawson said. “You’ve got 30 minutes, Tessa. I don’t want to have to come find you.” The threat behind his words gave me the energy to get up. He started to walk away but stopped. “It’s straight back behind the medical wing, okay?”
Shannon stopped mid-push-up. “Does that mean we’re done here?”
“Nope. Listen, pups. We’re hitting the course in five, everyone runs it once and then we’ll do some asanas to finish. I want to see you working! Up and down! Now.”
“You okay?” Meredith said from the ground.
“Fine.” I stood on shaky legs. I was going to be in a world of hurt tomorrow. “Guess I’ll see you later?” I brushed myself off and went back to the dorms to shower.
Even though I was physically exhausted, my mind raced as I showered. What did Mr. Dawson want to talk to me about? I wondered if it was because I ran out of his class. But he couldn’t really expect me to stay there while that jerk, Nikki, said all those things about me. I hoped it wasn’t the whole “implications” thing. Wasn’t being a werewolf punishment enough?
That workout destroyed some major calories, and left my stomach feeling hollow. I threw on some clothes without really looking at what I was wearing and grabbed a thin pair of lace gloves. I took a sandwich and soda from the common room as I left, eating as I walked.
I bumped into Dastien on the way to Mr. Dawson’s cabin.
“Hi?” I said.
He stopped to let me walk in front of him. I looked over my shoulder and he was right behind me. “Are you following me?”
“No.” He grinned. “We’re going to the same place.”
He didn’t say anything as we walked. I moved to walk next to him and gave him a very overt once-over. He was wearing a pair of khaki pants and an Underworld T-shirt for their “Best of” album.
Why did he have to be so awesome? Next to Nine Inch Nails, Underworld was pretty much my favorite band. “Nice shirt,” I said.
He rolled his eyes. “Sure.”
“I’m being serious. I love Underworld.”
“Fine.” He raised an eyebrow. “Then what’s your favorite song?”
I walked backward, facing him. “Back to testing me?”
He shrugged. “I have unusual taste in music. Most people don’t know anything about the groups on my shirts, but they always have a comment.”
By “people” he totally meant girls. He thought I was hitting on him. I was, but that was beside the point. I went back to walking normally before I tripped over something. “‘Born Slippy.’”
He glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, and I stuck out my tongue at him. He stopped walking. “That one’s too popular.”
“Fine. How about ‘Cowgirl.’”
“Another.”
He thought he could break my Underworld knowledge. How cute. “Pearl’s Girl.”
He laughed.
“King of Snake.”
“Okay, I believe you.”
“‘Moaner.’ I can keep going.”
He laughed harder.
“‘Push Upstairs.’ ‘Rez.’ ‘Jumbo.’”
He put his hand over my mouth. “Enough.”
When he lowered his hand, I crossed my arms. “Never question my love of obscure electronic music.”
“As it happens, I like your shirt too.”
Crap. What shirt was it? I glanced down, and met his gaze. I waited patiently, tapping my foot.
“‘Flaming June.’ ‘Knowledge of Self.’ ‘Somnambulist.’” He started singing. “Simply being loved, loved, loved. Is more than enough.”
He had to have an amazing voice. I shoved him. “Okay. I got it. When it comes to music, we’re totally weirdo twinkies.”
Dastien’s smile disappeared. “I think you might find it’s more than that.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
He cleared his throat. “Do you really like Chris?”
I gave him my best sly grin. “Sure. He’s a nice guy.”
“Don’t be dense.”
I squared my shoulders. “You really think calling me a fancy word for dumb is going to get you anywhere?”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” he said softly.
This guy was more than frustrating. “Honestly, I have enough to deal with right not without worrying about hurting a couple o
f boys’ feelings. I need time to figure this out.” I motioned to myself.
“You’re not answering my question.”
“And you’ll notice that I never accused you of being dense.”
“Then I’ll ask a different question. What do you feel for me?”
God. Like that wasn’t a loaded question. “I feel so many things for you that I don’t know my ass from a hole in the ground.” I sighed. “Let that be enough for now.”
He started to close the distance between us but dropped his hand before it could touch my face. “It’s enough.”
“Good. Because now we’re late.”
We walked around the medical building to a small cabin. I climbed up the three steps onto the porch. A well-worn, wicker rocking chair sat next to the door. Before I could knock, the thick wooden door swung open.
“Come inside,” Mr. Dawson said. He’d changed from his workout clothes into a pair of faded jeans and a green T-shirt. The piney soap from his shower blocked all other scents.
The cabin was one large room. The bed stood against the wall to the right. A door next to the kitchen opened just enough so that I could see the bathroom. To the left, was a small sitting area. A kitchen with a small breakfast nook that looked out to the trees took up the rest of the room. The two men I’d seen parking the Expedition earlier stood up from their chairs in the sitting area when we entered.
“Tessa McCaide, meet Sebastian Braun and Donovan Murry. Two of the Seven,” Mr. Dawson said.
Oh crap.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Dastien stepped in front of me. “I take full responsibility. She had no choice or option.”
What the hell was he thinking? He couldn’t say that. He’d be killed.
“We’d like a word with you. It isn’t an easy thing to bite someone. Especially if you’ve not gone mad, which I can see for myself that Michael wasn’t lying.” Donovan’s Irish sing-song voice was really pleasant to listen to. His hair was black, but his eyes were a crystal, clear blue. “Have a seat, lass, while Dastien tells us what he’s about.”
I started to step around Dastien but he rumbled a low growl.
“Quiet down,” Sebastian said. “No harm will come to her.”
Dastien stepped aside. I sat across from Donovan. His power whispered along my skin.
“Tone it down, Dono,” Sebastian said.
Donovan capped his powers so much that I had to check to see if he was still sitting there. Dastien sat next to me.
Sebastian’s white-blond hair and fair skin made his moss colored eyes stand out. “Why’d you do it?” Sebastian said as he settled into the last spot, across from Dastien.
They cut straight to it. I shifted in my seat, waiting for Dastien to answer.
He cleared his throat. “I didn’t set out to turn her. My wolf momentarily took control. It seems he has chosen her as his mate.”
What the hell was he talking about?
Donovan leaned across the table. “Did he really?”
Yeah. Did he? I stared at Dastien, and he shifted in his seat before saying anything. “Yes, Sir. Once she got near, there was nothing I could do to stop it.”
Sebastian studied me. “Interesting that your wolf would choose a human.” His German accent showed through on the word “wolf” turning the “w” to a “v.”
Great. So his wolf wanted me but I wondered if he—the guy—actually wanted me. Was that possible?
Mr. Dawson stepped to the table. “I think you might find her interesting on a couple of different levels.”
“Really?” Sebastian reached his hands across the table toward mine.
I put them on my lap, out of his reach. The look he gave me, like I was a new treat to try out, didn’t ease my mind.
“Don’t hide them,” Sebastian said. “Take off your gloves.”
His power rippled along my skin. Goosebumps followed in its wake. “I’d really rather not,” I said, ignoring his command.
Sebastian turned to Mr. Dawson. “I see what you mean.”
“Do as he says.” Mr. Dawson gave me a nod of encouragement. “It’ll be alright.”
He didn’t know that. In fact, I was nearly certain he was wrong. Meredith told me that certain werewolves had developed special powers, and I’d bet my ass Sebastian was one of those wolves.
I met Mr. Dawson’s gaze. “If something happens that I don’t appreciate, I will never trust you again. And I will do my best to get out of here as quickly as possible.”
Donovan laughed. “She’s got you by the balls, Michael.”
“Just don’t make a liar out of me, Sebastian,” Mr. Dawson said. “You cost me the two strongest wolves from my pack and there’ll be hell to pay.”
I don’t know what all that meant, but I figured it was something significant. And I guessed I had to do as they asked. “For the record, this is a terrible idea.” I pulled off my gloves, folding them in my lap, and reached across the table.
I closed my eyes and waited for the onslaught as Sebastian grabbed my hands.
Nothing. I got nothing from him.
And then I felt it. A tingling in the back of my mind. He was reading my thoughts, my feelings, my memories.
“Hey!” I tried to pull my hands from his, but he tightened his grip. “Stop.” The invasion continued. He picked at my most private memories. Poked into the worst times at school in LA. Uncomfortable didn’t even begin cover it. “I said stop!” I visualized him in my mind and shoved him as hard as I could.
He dropped my hands. “I’ve never been so cleanly pushed out before.” He clapped once. “Ach, mein Gott! I can’t wait to see what she can do in a few years.” He nodded to Donovan.
“Teresa Elizabeth McCaide, you’ve been pardoned,” Donovan said.
“Good. Because I didn’t do anything in the first place.” I muttered the last bit under my breath, but from the smirk on Sebastian’s face, he heard me.
“Dastien Brys Laurent,” Donovan said.
He stood straight. “Yes, sir.”
“You’re not to leave Cedar Ridge until you have this matter well settled. She’ll make you work for it.” Donovan winked.
Dastien’s eyes flashed to gold. “She’ll be mine.” The words sent a shiver down my spine.
I opened my mouth, hopefully with a snarky comment, but nothing came out. I was paralyzed under Dastien’s gaze.
“We’ll have a word with you in private now, Dastien.” Donovan’s words drew my attention. “It’s been lovely meeting you, Teresa. You’ll want to go eat now. Your wolf is perilously close to slipping free and from what I’ve heard, you’re not wanting to let her out yet.”
I couldn’t feel it, but I wasn’t going to argue with him. I barely stopped myself from running out the door.
When I got to the cafeteria, it was mostly cleared out—except for the guys. I spotted Meredith at the usual table with the gang, and waved before grabbing a tray. The boys surrounded me.
“Can I help you?” I said, a little more harshly than I meant to, but they were really invading my space. That wasn’t something I ever enjoyed.
Gabriel from Were history class stepped forward. “It’s you we want help. Can I carry your tray for you?”
He’d been a jerk to me in class and now he wanted to help me. Why? Because he thought I’d turned down Dastien? Yeah. That was so not going to work for me. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
The guys formed a wall when I tried to go to the table. Why were they being so weird? “Excuse me,” I said, trying to get them to move out of my way.
“You didn’t get enough red meat. You’ll need more.” Gabriel chimed in again.
A redhead that I didn’t recognize from any of my classes stepped forward. “Allow me.” He started to pile more food on my plate.
“Okay, I think that’s good. I’m going to go sit down now.”
They cleared a path for me. By the time I got to the usual table, Meredith was laughing so hard tears rolled down her cheeks.
&nb
sp; “Laugh it up, roomie.” I dropped my tray onto the table, rattling the silverware. “What the hell is going on? Where are all the girls?”
She kept on laughing. I shot her what I hoped was a mean look. She put her hand on her chest and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I had to wait and see your face. Word got around about how you refused Dastien in class, and well, you’re fresh meat now.” She started cracking up again.
Refused Dastien? “What?” I gave Chris a pleading look.
“When you got between me and Dastien, you turned him down and opened yourself up to new claims.” He took a bite of his roast beef. “The girls are pissed.” He said the last word in a high pitch squeal. He was enjoying this. The bastard.
“Let me get this straight. All the girls hate me now and the guys want to see if they have a shot?”
“Yep,” he said.
“Great. Just great.” How did I always manage to get myself into the worst situations? “But you’re not mad?” I said to Meredith.
“It’s too funny to get mad over. Plus, I happen to think you’ll end up with Dastien.”
Chris frowned. “You don’t know that.”
I pushed my tray away and put my head down on the table.
Someone tapped my shoulder. “You should really eat, Tessa.”
I swirled in my chair to see Gabriel standing behind me. I gave him my best scowl and he took a step back. “How come they’re not like this with you?” I said to Meredith.
“Long story.”
I waited for her to say something else, but she stayed quiet.
The guys backed off after I started eating. I found that eating slowly was key. If I ate too fast, then I’d feel full, but it wouldn’t last for more than a few minutes. It took me forever to actually fill up, but hopefully that would be enough to keep myself from Hulking out for now.
Meredith and I walked to the dorms together after dinner. The air had cooled. The cicadas’ song soothed me as we strolled. By the time we got to the dorm, the girls were already huddled around the TV watching the news.
“What’s going on?” Meredith asked.
Imogene glared at us. “Shut up.”
I truly despised that girl.
The reporter on screen had hair teased into a big lump on the back of her head, making her look a little alien-like. The banner said her name was Rebecca Nunez. “…have been tracked by the FBI since they crossed the Oklahoma–Texas border. If they continue at the same speed, the killer or killers could be in the Greater San Antonio area in days. Victims have been brutally murdered, throats ripped out and their bodies drained of all blood…”