had thought of turning her. Now, with all this stuff going down, I was glad I had restrained myself.
Lately, Mary was volunteering at the local kids’ hospital. She was working on a mural for their play area. Mary was good people. Good people who didn’t want me to flunk out of school. How sweet .
She was sitting beside me as I traced the matemark on my neck and tried to give a rat’s ass about this lecture. I’d ditched the choker on the way to class and just let my long hair be my cover.
To be honest, I needed a distraction. So I was sitting through a general studies class, chewing on my pencil and trying to decide when to show back up around my Pack. I had to smell different, and any wolf would notice my matemark—the fluid lines of that mark were like giant, neon blinking arrows.
Nope. Safer to stay away from supernatural beings as much as possible. My plan had worked through three whole classes. Then Vampire Barbie walked in.
Turns out Shelly was the TA, or more likely had compelled the prof to believe that she was the TA. I had never seen her in that class before, but she damn sure knew I was there. Her eyes found me immediately. Crap .
I gauged the exits. Not too far . I was sitting in the back row. Too bad my name and a request to stay after class were out of Professor Reagan’s mouth before I got one foot on the stairs.
“I told you, you were gonna catch trouble for missing that project.”
“Thanks. Your astute observations are infinitely helpful.”
“No problem. If you need help with the makeup work, we can hit the library study rooms together.”
Mary spent a lot of time on the third floor of the library. The study rooms were okay, but the hottie who worked on the janitorial staff there was the real reason my bestie was so studious. I knew the guy. He was of the furry persuasion. Not bad to look at, but not my type. I didn’t take kindly to him eying my human buddy the way he did, but that wasn’t my biggest concern at that moment.
As the room emptied and Professor Reagan found himself walking away without the benefit of knowing why, I pulled my wolf tight to me. I didn’t know what this was going to be, but I knew if it turned bad, I would need her strength. Jake’s skin was the toughest I had ever abused, but I wasn’t sure if it was his mixed heritage or the vampy side of him that caused it. Either way, if Vampire Barbie wanted me dead, it wasn’t going to be an easy fight.
“I find I have a little problem.” She reminded me of a shark circling prey as she paced in front of me. I tried not to fidget or check for open wounds.
“Blood stains on your shirt? Use cold water.”
She wasn’t amused. So much for charm.
“Jake is missing. And the last thing I heard was that he had blown off his dinner date to go find you.”
“Oh?” When unsure of what information the enemy had—or whether they were, in fact, the enemy—I find it best to play dumb. With my long, red hair and gum smacking between my teeth I could look the part.
“You reek of him.”
“So that sense of smell isn’t just a wolf thing? Damn. I thought I was special.”
She did that creepy statue-still thing vampires do, while I paced like the caged dog I was.
“Is he still alive?”
“Of course! He’s my ma—” Crap.
“He’s your what?” She barely moved her mouth. The words sizzled from between her teeth.
“Nothing. I gotta go.” I slapped my palm against my messenger bag. “Class.”
“You will take me to him. I may look young, but I have grown powerful over time. I will see my Protector, or I will slaughter you here. I will have no issue with tearing you apart if harm befell him.”
“Are all vampires this melodramatic and bitchy? Or is it just a hobby of yours?”
Her fist hit me for a first-rate face punch. I had to give her credit for not hesitating. I also had to give myself a minute. My face needed a reboot.
I was resetting my nose as we hiked through the trees toward the
Lately, Mary was volunteering at the local kids’ hospital. She was working on a mural for their play area. Mary was good people. Good people who didn’t want me to flunk out of school. How sweet .
She was sitting beside me as I traced the matemark on my neck and tried to give a rat’s ass about this lecture. I’d ditched the choker on the way to class and just let my long hair be my cover.
To be honest, I needed a distraction. So I was sitting through a general studies class, chewing on my pencil and trying to decide when to show back up around my Pack. I had to smell different, and any wolf would notice my matemark—the fluid lines of that mark were like giant, neon blinking arrows.
Nope. Safer to stay away from supernatural beings as much as possible. My plan had worked through three whole classes. Then Vampire Barbie walked in.
Turns out Shelly was the TA, or more likely had compelled the prof to believe that she was the TA. I had never seen her in that class before, but she damn sure knew I was there. Her eyes found me immediately. Crap .
I gauged the exits. Not too far . I was sitting in the back row. Too bad my name and a request to stay after class were out of Professor Reagan’s mouth before I got one foot on the stairs.
“I told you, you were gonna catch trouble for missing that project.”
“Thanks. Your astute observations are infinitely helpful.”
“No problem. If you need help with the makeup work, we can hit the library study rooms together.”
Mary spent a lot of time on the third floor of the library. The study rooms were okay, but the hottie who worked on the janitorial staff there was the real reason my bestie was so studious. I knew the guy. He was of the furry persuasion. Not bad to look at, but not my type. I didn’t take kindly to him eying my human buddy the way he did, but that wasn’t my biggest concern at that moment.
As the room emptied and Professor Reagan found himself walking away without the benefit of knowing why, I pulled my wolf tight to me. I didn’t know what this was going to be, but I knew if it turned bad, I would need her strength. Jake’s skin was the toughest I had ever abused, but I wasn’t sure if it was his mixed heritage or the vampy side of him that caused it. Either way, if Vampire Barbie wanted me dead, it wasn’t going to be an easy fight.
“I find I have a little problem.” She reminded me of a shark circling prey as she paced in front of me. I tried not to fidget or check for open wounds.
“Blood stains on your shirt? Use cold water.”
She wasn’t amused. So much for charm.
“Jake is missing. And the last thing I heard was that he had blown off his dinner date to go find you.”
“Oh?” When unsure of what information the enemy had—or whether they were, in fact, the enemy—I find it best to play dumb. With my long, red hair and gum smacking between my teeth I could look the part.
“You reek of him.”
“So that sense of smell isn’t just a wolf thing? Damn. I thought I was special.”
She did that creepy statue-still thing vampires do, while I paced like the caged dog I was.
“Is he still alive?”
“Of course! He’s my ma—” Crap.
“He’s your what?” She barely moved her mouth. The words sizzled from between her teeth.
“Nothing. I gotta go.” I slapped my palm against my messenger bag. “Class.”
“You will take me to him. I may look young, but I have grown powerful over time. I will see my Protector, or I will slaughter you here. I will have no issue with tearing you apart if harm befell him.”
“Are all vampires this melodramatic and bitchy? Or is it just a hobby of yours?”
Her fist hit me for a first-rate face punch. I had to give her credit for not hesitating. I also had to give myself a minute. My face needed a reboot.
I was resetting my nose as we hiked through the trees toward the
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