Filed to story: The Rise Of The Lycan Queen
“Yeah, you should’ve.” There was something about him that irritated the hell out of me. I wasn’t sure if it was his cocky-ass attitude or that he was a great brother. Either option didn’t bode well for me. “I only came to that fight for your sister. It had absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“Well, maybe my sister shouldn’t be inviting other people.” He crossed his arms and looked down his nose at me.
“If you have such a problem with me being there, why is it okay for her?” I refused to back down.
“It’s none of your business.” His breathing was ragged, and his nostrils flared.
At this point, I wasn’t sure if I was angry, turned on, or both. I wanted to push him down and work all of this sexual frustration between us out so I could move on. “If she invites me again, I’ll be damned glad to go.”
“I think she might be able to take him,” Alec whispered to Ella. “How is this possible?”
“No clue, but I fucking love it.” She didn’t bother to whisper her response. “I told you there was something about her.”
“We don’t need you encouraging her.” Mason talked to his sister, but his gaze stayed on me. “Sometimes it’s best to stay with our own kind.”
Even though he hadn’t expected me to know what he meant, the message was loud and clear to Ella. I wasn’t a wolf, so stay away. “Are you trying to insult me here? What exactly do you think I am?” If he was going to make covert comments, I was going to call him out.
“That’s none of your business.” A vein popped out between his eyebrows that somehow made him look more attractive.
My wolf was fighting to push forward, desperate to be with him, and this was the first time I had to push back this hard. “I don’t have time for your sick, twisted game.” I refused to cower. “If you have something to say about me, just say it. Don’t be cryptic.”
“Fine.” He stepped into my personal space, and my breathing turned ragged.
His eyes darted straight to my lips. “You aren’t made for us.”
“Stop it, Mason.” Ella’s voice was almost a desperate plea. “She’s my best friend.”
He groaned as he touched my cheek and breathed me in. “I need for you to stop hanging around me.”
“I’m not hanging around you.” I needed to be clear and smack his hand away from my cheek, but I couldn’t. My cheek buzzed ever so slightly from his touch. “I’m friends with your sister.” I hadn’t meant for it to happen, but she tore down my barriers.
“I think we might need to give them some privacy.” There was a laugh in Alec’s voice.
“No.” Mason and I shouted at the same time.
“Okay then.” Ella tilted her head, examining both of our body languages. “This is strange.”
“This wouldn’t be strange at all if you hadn’t ignored my fucking text.” Mason’s voice lowered even more.
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Everything in my being told me to stay and fight him, but this wasn’t the time or place. There was a small group forming, watching our very public disagreement. “Apparently, I’m the problem here, so I’ll go.”
It took everything in me to turn and walk out the door. I wanted to fight and show him I was more dominant, but that wouldn’t accomplish anything other than making a scene and upsetting my wolf more.
As soon as I stepped outside, I took a deep breath, but his earthy scent was still strong as if he was surrounding me.
“Wait.” He grabbed my arm and gently tugged me around.
“Look, let’s not do this.” My heart fluttered as he kept a firm grip, not letting me go.
“You feel it too.” He pulled me into him, and my legs refused to resist. “I don’t understand what’s going on. I’m being a dick, and I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt you, but whatever is going on between us can’t happen.”
“Hey, baby.” A tall blonde sashayed over and side-eyed me. “What’s going on?”
“Leave me alone, Bridgette.” His eyes never left mine.
“Are you being serious right now?” She placed her hands on her hips, making her tank top somehow pull lower. Her cleavage was on display for the whole world to see. “Last night, in my bed, you were very attentive.” She smirked at me. “It was the best night of my life.”
It stung that he slept with her. Maybe I was just imagining this bond between us.
“It was a mistake.” He lifted my chin to meet his eyes. He then turned his head in her direction and glared. “I said leave me the fuck alone.”
She huffed and continued to stare as if she couldn’t believe he’d just dismissed her.
“Look, obviously you and she need to talk.” I tried to keep the jealousy from my voice. I had no reason to feel that way. He wasn’t mine. My wolf howled inside, refusing to clamp down.
“No, I need to talk to you right now.” He turned his back on her and focused on me. “I couldn’t get you out of my head, and I fucked up. I don’t understand what’s going on between us.”
Our connection wound tighter as if his words were all it needed to strengthen our bond. He felt it too, but he thought I was human. That could be a good thing. He would think it was just crazy lust. Humans can’t mate with shifters. It was physically and mentally impossible. “Me neither, but it’s probably best for both of us to keep our distance.”
It was so ridiculous to be upset over him sleeping with the girl. Shifters had needs, and he was fighting our bond. I couldn’t get mad. I was fighting it too.
He rubbed his hand down his face and groaned.
“I’ll make it easier for both of us.” I turned around, and it took all my strength to pull my arm from his hand and move my legs. Without turning back, I took off as fast as I could and escaped.
I wound up skipping first period on Friday, not ready to face Ella and her inevitable questions. The way Mason and I were acting toward each other was asinine.
As I drove to the university, I parked in the overflow section. Both Ella and Mason knew where I normally parked so I had to be cautious. I walked the long way around campus heading to the back door of the building where my eleven o’clock class was. The only way they would find me was if they were specifically sniffing me out.
When I was only a few feet away from the classroom, I caught a whiff of Mason’s earthy scent.
Shit, he was near.
Before I could even take another step, he appeared, his eyes locking on me.
‘Run’ screamed in my mind. I glanced at the door only a few feet away from me. It was the girls’ bathroom, so I rushed inside.
I was relieved that there were several other girls inside. He couldn’t come in here unless he made a huge-ass scene. I should be safe here, at least for a little while. I walked into the closest stall and took a deep breath. Ugh, the stench of shit filled my nose. I should’ve known better than to do that in here.
It wasn’t long before the other girls left, and I glanced at my phone. Class had started, which meant I wouldn’t be safe in here for much longer. Everyone would be in class, and the occupants of the bathroom would be sparse. He could walk in here.
Maybe he’d already left. I could be completely overreacting. I walked out of the stall and headed to the door. I didn’t have to get close before his comforting scent hit me.
He was still waiting out there.
There had to be a way out of here. I scanned the room, and a window caught my eye. I rushed over to it and moved to open the window but the damn thing wouldn’t budge.
“Aria, you okay in there?” Mason’s voice was laced with humor. “Did you eat something bad this morning?”
