Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths: An Urban Fantasy Romance (Blood and Magic : Hellbound Book 1)
it would take for her to really get angry. To break out of this little mold of manners and set her wolf loose?English, Calculus, Spanish … hmmm. I eye her. Spanish 4 is for native speakers. I was right in my assumptions about her. “Mexican or Puerto Rican?” I ask, giving her another once-over. I’m betting Mexican but I’ve been wrong once or twice in my life.
“Mexican.”
Right again.
I tuck her schedule into my back pocket and move down the hallway.
“Hey, I need that.” She rushes to keep pace with me, her shorter legs having to work double time just to keep up. Students eye her with open interest, and I decide to make things even more interesting. We don’t have many female shifters here. Most are submissive and my Pack isn’t willing to risk them being harmed.
Without missing a step, I toss an arm over her shoulder and pull her close to my body as I lead her through the halls. She stiffens, a growl working its way up her throat.
“Chill. I’m walking you to class. Just helping out the new girl.”
Her mouth tightens, her nostrils flaring, and I bet she’s trying to scent the lie, but good luck with that in these crowded hallways. A few seconds pass and she nods, so I decide not to be a complete ass and slow my steps just a little. Not really for her benefit, but because I want to delay this little stroll and make sure as many students as possible see the two of us together.
The guys in the hall eye her with a mix of fascination and confusion. The girls though, they’re looking at her with open disdain. Perfect.
I spot one of my best friends—Jordy—farther up the hallway waiting for me outside our next class. He lifts a single brow in question. The corner of my mouth lifts and I give him a knowing look. He doesn’t bother to hide his annoyance. Jordy isn’t one for games. He’s one of those you’ll get more bees with honey types, but he won’t interfere. It’s not his style to go against me.
I stop when we reach Isa’s next class and once again I make a show of opening the door for her, only this time I shove her inside. “Yo, Sabrina?” I holler.
Sabrina Hampton whips her head toward me. Her light brown eyes widen in surprise and the beginning of a smile curls her lips—until she spots Isa.
“Take care of my girl.” I wink in Isa’s direction and close the door.
Let the chips fall where they may. Sabrina is going to have a field day with this one. The little witch has been trying to get with me for as long as I can remember. She’ll make Isa’s life hell if she thinks she’s a threat to her shot at the prize, and I just put a bright red bullseye on Isa’s forehead. We’ll see how our little wolf handles it.
A small group of students have formed behind me but as soon as I turn, they scatter, even though they’d been waiting to get into the class I just walked away from. I smirk. I’ll never tire of being the reigning wolf surrounded by so many sheep.
Jordy is waiting for me outside Economics and he doesn’t look pleased. “That the new shifter girl your dad was talking about?”
I shrug. “Might be.”
His eyes darken.
“Why? You trying to call dibs or some shit?”
He shakes his head. “Do you always have to be a dick?”
Another shrug. “Don’t act like you care.”
He punches me in the shoulder. “She’s a wolf, or does that not matter to you?”
I shrug. “She isn’t Pack.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter. We’re supposed to stay away from her. We’re not juveniles anymore. You can’t keep getting your ass in trouble for no reason other than to entertain yourself. We had an agreement, cabrón. No more distractions.”
“Stop stressing out over nothing. Rourke asked me to help her out this week. I’m only doing what I was told.”
Jordy doesn’t look convinced but lets it drop with a shake of his head. “You don’t ever do what you’re told. Not unless you’re getting something out of it, or the order comes directly from the top. If this game of yours fucks up what we have going on here, I’m coming for your ass, and you know Desmond will back me up.”
Yeah. Yeah. Whatever.
4 Isabella
The looks I’m getting aren’t friendly. I’m pretty sure that girl—Sabrina—wants to murder me. I didn’t miss the way she looked at Rafael when he called for her. She all but preened under his attention. Until she saw me.
She wants him. I can’t really blame her. Before dating my ex—Oliver—I might have wanted him, too. The dominant wolf every girl thinks she can tame. But I learned my lesson going down that road once before and my heart’s been through enough as it is.
I’m not some masochist, so she doesn’t have anything to worry about from me.
That doesn’t stop her from glaring at me as she stabs a wicked sharp dagger into the surface of her desk. Almost like she’s imagining stabbing it into me instead. The teacher doesn’t tell her to put it away. He doesn’t even acknowledge its existence and I realize she isn’t the only one with a weapon. Several students carry daggers at their waist or a sword on their back.
None of the shifters I’ve seen carry weapons that I’ve noticed. Then again, we are our own weapon. We don’t really need a blade to protect ourselves.
Rafeal asked her to take care of me—his girl. I could smack him right now. Does he have any idea how much those two little words have royally screwed me?
Thankfully I don’t have to sit by her, and class passes uneventfully with little more than hushed whispers and sneers aimed in my direction, but what can I do?
Nothing. That’s what. It isn’t worth challenging her or anyone else for that matter. I don’t want a fight and I