Filed to story: The Rise Of The Lycan Queen
Of course, she was already there, sitting in her normal seat. When she saw me, she waved. “Hey, girl.”
At least she was acting normal. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after how Mason blew up. The thought that he might forbid her from being my friend had hurt me worse than I cared to admit.
“I had so much fun the other night.” Ella turned her body toward me. “Thank you again for protecting me.”
“It was nothing.” Even though she and her brother didn’t look anything alike, my mind couldn’t help but think of him. “He was an ass.”
“Oh, yeah. Mason told me that he mopped the floor with him a little more after you left.” She snorted. “He came home upset because you did most of the ass-kicking.”
“He did plenty of it in the…” Oh crap, I probably shouldn’t be saying that here. “Gym.”
“You’re so cute.” She shook her head and pulled out her phone. “So, there is another one Saturday night…”
“No.” I had to cut her off. “That was a one-time thing.”
“Look, my brother was being an ass. I know.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “For some reason, most girls like that. But you’re different. There aren’t any ulterior motives.”
Dammit. I felt bad now. “Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk, but my life is complicated.” That was one way of putting it.
“Girl, mine too.” She reached over and touched my arm. “Look, let’s just hang out and have fun. We can make a pact not to disclose our secrets.”
The problem was I already knew hers. She was a wolf, and they normally stayed within their pack and social circle. She was taking a leap of faith in trying to hang out with me. Most wouldn’t like it… like her brother.
“What would Mason say?” He made it clear how he felt about me, and I didn’t want to cause issues with her family or inadvertently think of him.
“I don’t give a flying fuck what he would say.” She held up her phone, which showed a text.
Don’t do anything stupid, but make sure she’s okay. Let me know.
“Is that from him?” He’d been all grouchy toward me that night. This was a strange twist. Maybe he was messing with me and Ella.
“Uh, yeah.” She tapped her finger on her desk. “It’s kind of strange. He’s actually asking about you.”
He had to have some ulterior motive.
“Are you going to tell him?” The less she mentioned me, the better.
“Hell, no. He was an ass to you the other night.” She pulled her phone back and put it in her bag. “I just got it out to turn the damn thing on vibrate.”
At least she wasn’t going to respond. That had to mean something.
“All right.” The teacher walked in at the same time as Connor. “Let’s get this going.”
I was just relieved that I didn’t have to deal with Connor this morning, too.
* * *
Ella learned how I operated because as soon as I began packing up, so did she. Right at the cut-off time, I stood and headed straight for the door.
By now, the professor no longer bothered trying to stop me.
“Hey, let’s get our caffeine fix on.” She caught up to me in the hall. “My treat. I should compensate you for dealing with my weird-ass family.”
“Are we going to the usual place?” I had a feeling she was going to rope me in for the student center.
“I’m missing the blonde roast.” She gave a small pout before a smile spread across her face. “Can we go back to the student center?”
“Fine.”
She’d better appreciate how much I love her. “But know this is yet another sacrifice I’ve made for you.”
“I’m totally worth it.” She bumped her shoulder into mine. “And you’ll survive. You’re a big girl now.”
We strolled to the student center in silence and went straight to the coffee.
Within minutes, we were both walking out with our special coffee that I was beginning to love.
“Let’s go sit…” Her voice trailed off, and she paused.
“What’s wrong?” I followed her eyes, and there stood Mason with Alec at the same table as the other day.
“Why the hell is he here?” Her shoulders slumped, and she turned her head toward me. “I’m sorry.”
“Let’s just go the opposite way.” Maybe he hadn’t seen us. A girl could hope.
“Yeah, okay.”
As we turned to head back outside, his voice stopped me in my tracks. “Ella.”
“Shit.” She spun on her heel back toward him. “Don’t come over here and be an ass again.”
“I’m not.” He lifted both hands in surrender. “I just wanted to check on… I mean apologize to her.” His eyes were nearly my undoing. “Look, I’m sorry about the other night. There was a lot going on, but I should’ve been nicer to you. I mean, you protected my sister when I couldn’t.”
“Wait…” She raised a hand and placed it on his forehead. “You apologized. Are you sick or something? Your forehead doesn’t feel warm.”
“I’m in agreement with her.” Alec punched him in the arm. “You’ve done a lot of shitty things-like sleep with girls and tell them they’re worthless right after.”
This wasn’t what I needed. Him being nice to me would only make this harder. “It’s fine. Don’t apologize or be nice. Just leave me the hell alone, and everything will be fine.”
“Oh, damn.” Alec burst into laughter. “I don’t think you’ve ever been turned down by a girl.”
“He wasn’t asking me for anything.” I needed to get away and fast. “Look, Ella, I’ve got somewhere I need to be. I’ll see you Friday.”
“But…” Her bottom lip stuck out, and she glared at her brother. “Why are you here? You should be getting settled in for your next class.”
Right when I turned to move, she reached over and grabbed my arm. “You aren’t getting out of here that easily.”
“If she wants to go, then let her go.” Mason huffed and shook his head. “I should’ve known better than to try to be nice to you.”
