Heather

Someone help!" The gym was quiet. Perfect. They’d just as soon let the boys kill each other as help me. "Let. Him. Go. Now!" I put all the force of my will into the words.

Brent’s eyes burned bright yellow. He took a deep breath and let go. Xander slid to the ground. A little line of blood dribbled down his neck.

I knelt next to Xander and laid him flat. "Wake up. Please. Wake up, now. Xander! It’s not funny this time." He wasn’t waking up. "Someone get some help!" No one was doing anything., and I didn’t know any first aid. Especially werewolf first aid.

Xander’ eyelids fluttered.

"Xander? Can you hear me?"

"Werewolf. Remember?" he said. I could barely hear his scratchy voice. "We heal fast."

Now that I could breathe again, I got up and shoved Brent. "You could have killed him!" All I got in response was a growl.

Dastien’s gaze stayed trained on Xander.

I reached a hand down to help Xander to his feet. Brent’s growl grew to a roar.

Xander dropped my hand like it was on fire. "Shit, dude. What’s your problem?"

Brent stalked toward him, and I blocked his way. A second later, water splashed all over Brent.

Serena peeked from behind him. "Did I hit you, Heather?" She held a large plastic bucket.

"No. Still dry." Mostly.

Brent’s shirt was soaked through. It clung to every muscle. He shook, spraying cold water over all of us, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.

Fuck. I finally got the whole wet T-shirt contest thing.

I didn’t breathe as Brent walked over to Xander, ready to step in between them if Brent got violent again. He held his hand out. "Sorry."

Xander took the hand and got to his feet. "No big deal."

Brent walked to the door of the gym. "Class is over," he said before the door slammed behind him.

"I’m just going to check on him," Callista said.

Serena laughed. "Good luck with that one."

Callista shot her a dirty look and quickly strode out of the gym after Brent. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. I caught Leslie’s glare. Her arms were crossed, but she stayed rooted to her slice of mat.

If she wasn’t my friend before, this was so not going to win her over. Oh well. I was used to no friends. The fact that I had Serena was awesome.

And I had a Brent, whatever that meant.

Adrian was the only one to move as he took a few quick steps to close the distance. He inspected Xander’ head. "Blood’s just surface. It’s already healed."

Xander grinned. "See. I’m just fine." The grin faded. "He snuck up on me. Damn it. No one’s snuck up on me in forever."

"That’s why he’s the best," Serena said. "Good thing I got the bucket. Looked like he was going for your throat."

"Thanks, Serena." They high-fived. "I totally owe you one."

"Speaking of buckets, where did you get it?" I asked.

Serena pointed behind her. "There are always a few filled in the room in case someone gets out of hand while we’re sparring. But it’s usually Brent who dumps it over the student’s head. Took a second for me to realize I needed to get it." She put her arm around Xander’ waist. "Sorry."

"You did fine. No one expected Brent to lose it. He’s usually so calm."

They stared at me. It was too much, especially with the rest of the class already staring. I took a step back. I had zero desire to know what they were thinking.

"Do you know what’s up with him?" Xander asked.

I studied the mats. "Not a clue." My voice was a little too high pitched.

The door slammed and Brent walked back to us with a mop. "Everyone out." Power rolled through the gym, giving me goose bumps. "You four can stay," he said to me, Xander, Adrian and Serena.

Yikes. Leslie wasn’t going to be happy about that, but I was kind of glad. If we were going to talk about what happened, I didn’t need her negativity around.

Some of my classmates grumbled as they cleared out. Brent finished mopping while we waited for the last of the eavesdroppers to go. I bit my lip as he cleaned. I wanted to ask Brent what happened with Callista, but he didn’t look like he was in the mood to talk.

When everyone was gone, Serena broke the silence. She sauntered up to him. "Glad you didn’t forget cleanup duty, Brent." She rubbed her hand down his back.

Did she have to be so touchy-feely? My blood heated but I kept it under control, trying to remember that she was my friend. I concentrated on even breathing.

He cocked his head. "It’s been a while, but I think I remember how it goes."

"Aren’t you the cutest?" She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips.

Red. All I saw was red.

I’m not quite sure how it happened. I don’t remember even moving. One second I stood next to Xander. The next, Serena was flat on her back, and I had her pinned to the ground. A bright red splotch spread across her left cheek.

I was growling when Brent reached both arms around my stomach and lifted me off her.

"Shhh. I got you," he whispered in my ear.

My stomach bottomed out at the sound. The smell of him filled me—the scent of outdoors spread peace through my blood. He was like a drug.

And then came the shame. My face heated and I pushed Brent’s arms off of me. I hung my head and stepped toward her. "I’m so unbelievably sorry. I don’t know what happened...I don’t even remember hitting you, but that was totally inexcusable—"

Adrian laughed.

"It’s not funny—" I started but Adrian cut me off.

"It can’t be. That doesn’t happen anymore." He helped Serena up and ran his fingers over the mark on her face. "You’ve got cajones to try that. She hit you hard. It’ll get worse before it gets better."

"It was worth it." Serena straightened her clothes. "For the record, I called it."

She was ignoring my apology and I didn’t blame her for it. I had to just keep going until she accepted. "I’m so sorry. I don’t even remember moving. I swear I didn’t—"

"Honey, please." She held up a hand to stop my babbling. "I made you do it."

What? I stepped away from her, my gaze darting between the four of them. "I don’t understand."

"You’d only attack me like that if he was your mate. As in an actual mated pair. As in the other half of your soul."

It felt like I was floating.

Xander crossed his arms. "I never had a shot." He closed his eyes.

Crap. I’d hurt him.

Brent stepped toward me but this was all too much. I dropped heavily to the ground and hugged my knees to my chest. I knew what they said was true, but the whole processing it thing was too much. I closed my eyes to think. Was he really my mate?

I’d been fighting my feelings for him. But why? I knew I wanted him. I knew it since I touched that paper in my father’s office. But he kept pushing me away, and I kept pushing him away.

It had to end. I couldn’t deny it. Especially not if I was going to slug Serena over it.

A hand brushed my hair away from my face, but I kept my eyes shut. "Mon cherie, please. Open your eyes."

"Okay. I give up." I swallowed, and opened them. He was sitting cross-legged in front of me.

"We’re not normal," he said finally.

I laughed. "You can say that again."

He smiled, and his dimples showed. "We’re not normal. We never were. I spent a long time feeling not quite whole. And then I saw you and something clicked." He ran his hand down my cheek and I leaned into it. "Believe me, I would love to do this over. To start again and do it the right way. Take you on some dates. Get to know you better. Slower. I lost control for a second and I didn’t even know what happened until it was done. I think the wolf knew that I wouldn’t turn you. I would never take the risk of you not surviving the transformation. But what’s done is done. Give me a chance."

"I’m not the only one who keeps running away."

He sighed. "I was trying to give you time to adjust. Everyone demanded that I give you time."

He was too far away. I wanted to be closer, so I just went with the feeling. I closed the space between us, sitting on his lap, and wrapped my arms and legs around him. I rested my head on his shoulder. "I think it’s only making the whole thing harder for me," I whispered into his ear. "I feel lost and confused when you walk away. Angry. Hurt. I don’t like it. I’m having enough of a hard time with the whole werewolf thing to also figure out a messed up relationship too."

It didn’t take long for him to squeeze me tight. He scented my neck and placed a soft kiss on it.

"I’m sorry that you’re stuck with me, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I swear," he whispered. He let go, leaning back to see my face. "Okay?"

I nodded. "Okay." I startled at the sound of a throat clearing. "I forgot we weren’t alone."

"Unfortunately not alone," Brent said.

"Girl talk," Serena mouthed when I met her gaze.

"Do you want to go early to dinner?" Serena asked aloud.

My stomach answered for me. "That would be amazing," I said.

"We’ll stay here and help Brent clean up," Xander said.

Brent stood with me still attached. I dropped down to the ground and turned to go, but Brent grabbed my hand. I pulled him down to me for a kiss. It was soft and quick, but still burned me all the way to my toes.

"Later," Serena said as she pulled me away from Brent.

We walked to the cafeteria. It was thankfully mostly empty, except for the workers who were busy setting out food for dinner. Most people were probably in the common rooms playing games or watching TV. We filled our plates and sat down.

"You’re pretty quiet," Serena said.

"It’s a lot to take in. Did I just give into him?"

"Yup," she said. "But don’t freak. You’ve got time. Even if Xander and I are right about what’s going on. Doesn’t mean anything has to change right now."

I let that sink in while I picked at my mountain of mashed potatoes. "It’s not that. I feel like I’ve known him forever but he’s still new. Like I’ve known that he was mine since I first saw him, even if I didn’t really realize what that connection was or any idea of what it meant. It’s a lot to get used to. Plus, all the rest of the stuff is throwing me off." I motioned down to the food. "Like this. I have to eat a shit-ton just to stay in control."

"It’ll get better."

I snorted. "That’s what everyone keeps saying."

"They’re saying it because it’s true."

I knew it would, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be more than a few bumps in the road. Things were better with Brent, but he’d mess up and I’d mess up as we figured it out. Once word got around, it’d be hell to pay with Leslie and Callista. And that didn’t even begin to count the whole vampire thing. And Mr. Hoel thing.

Oh and the whole turning furry thing. How had I forgotten that part?