Filed to story: The Rise Of The Lycan Queen
“She doesn’t do clingers.” Ella entered the room with a huge smile on her face.
“I’m not clinging.” He huffed and raised both hands up.
“What do you call this?” She pointed to the book I had open on my desk. “She’s got her textbook out, trying to read instead of talking to you.”
He wasn’t understanding the clues from me. I’d only given him my phone number so I could escape and never responded to any of his texts. To top it all off, I ignored him when I saw him in this class and avoided him to the best of my abilities. Maybe she could get through to him.
“She’s just playing hard to get.” His face kind of fell, and he glanced at me. “Right?”
“No, sorry.” I couldn’t lie and try to tell him it was me and not him. “We’re just not right for each other.”
“But we just had sex…” He jerked back as if he’d been burned. “Are you saying I wasn’t a good lay?”
“I’m really trying not to.” But he was about to force my hand. I was trying not to embarrass the guy.
“So, since you’re having trouble breaking it down.” Ella plopped in her seat beside me. “That means yes. You weren’t good.”
“I was drunk.” He spoke louder despite the fact students were beginning to trickle in. “Let’s do a sober do-over. You’ll see.”
“No, I won’t.” He reminded me of the type of guy who always got what he wanted and never had to work at anything. He probably never had to handle rejection like this before.
“In other words, not interested.” Ella shook her head and gazed at me. “Be glad I’m here to be your wingwoman.”
“That’s usually for picking up guys.” She beat to her own drum, and I liked it.
“Eh, it’s for everything. Pick-ups and dumps.” She lifted a finger in the air. “Not to be confused with bowel movements.”
“Noted.” Even though I couldn’t stand Connor, I didn’t want to steamroll him, and class should be starting any second. I took a deep breath and leaned toward him, lowering my voice, “You weren’t bad.”
“I wasn’t?” There was hope glowing in his eyes. “Then, what’s the problem?”
“There wasn’t a connection.” He had been boring as hell, but I was sure, for a true human, he’d been excellent. I’d had a few sexual encounters, and most of them had been the same way. I was betting it was because whether I liked it or not, I was a wolf. “That’s it.”
“But I…” He trailed off and took a deep breath. “Okay, got it.”
“It looks like you kicked his puppy or something,” Ella whispered, probably not realizing I could hear it.
“Thanks for the talk?” Though he had meant it as a statement, the tone ended on a question as if he wasn’t sure.
“Yeah, I’m glad we’re on the same page finally.” I needed him to leave me alone now.
“You have a break between classes, right?” Ella pulled out her notebook and pen.
“Uh, yeah.” She couldn’t be trying to talk me into going to the student center with her again.
“How long of a break do you have?” She tapped her pen on her paper.
“About an hour.” I didn’t want to hang out on campus, but at the same time, I didn’t have time to leave campus either.
“There’s a coffee shop a few blocks away.” She leaned toward me and winked. “It’s right by the university; not in it. Why don’t we go hang out over there?”
“I’m not sure…”
“Where are you going to go? Sit in the other classroom for an entire hour?” She tilted her head toward me and arched an eyebrow. “We both know that it’d be more fun if you spent time with me.”
That was precisely the problem. I didn’t mind her company. “Fine, but as long as it’s not on campus.”
I agreed, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I was making a big mistake.
The next few weeks seemed to pass in a blur. Even though I tried fighting Ella’s friendship, she’d completely lured me in. She was funny, blunt, and a breath of fresh air.
We stood from our desks as we both walked out into the hallway together. “Coffee shop again, or are we ready to brave the Student Center once more?”
“Coffee shop.” She’d been mentioning the student center more and more lately.
“Ugh, fine.” She pouted. “It’s just that the coffee shop is so much farther to my next class.”
“So, you’re getting lazy on me?” She had yet to tell me about being supernatural, which I didn’t blame her for. Hell, I hadn’t told her about me being one either.
“Hey, it’s hard to be so put together.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder as she snorted. “I can’t keep rushing to class. I get all sweaty.”
“I’m sure you can handle it.” I had a feeling eventually she was going to wear me down.
“Ella.” A deep, raspy voice echoed in the hallway.
“Great.” She huffed and turned to face the person head-on.
I took a few steps off toward the side and continued my march to the front of the building. That was until Ella grabbed my arm.
“Don’t you dare try to sneak off. This won’t take long.”
“Hey.” The guy I’d seen in the hallway that day after I ran from the student center was standing right in front of me. His eyes darted to me and kept hold. “Who are you?”
“Nobody.” A shiver wanted to rock through my body.
“You sure don’t look like a nobody.” A small grin peeked through the corner of his lips.
“No! Do not hit on her.” Ella stepped in between us and pointed her finger at him. “She is my friend, and you better back off.”
“What?” He stepped around to look at me once more. “I mean, I should know your friends, right?”
The bastard was hot and arrogant. I should be disgusted, but my damn body was responding to him in very inappropriate ways. I had no clue who he was, but he was definitely a shifter, which meant that was not good. “Nah, I think you’ll be fine letting me keep my secrets.”
“Maybe I…”
“Mason, stop.” All humor was removed from her face. “Seriously, she’s my friend. One I don’t want to share with you because then when you break her heart, she’ll not want to be my friend anymore.”
Something passed through his eyes. “Hey, that’s not true…” He winced and nodded his head. “Fine, since you asked so lovingly.”
