A'S

the one who started this. Three years ago, he was my boyfriend. Then he found out and

why was he standing between me and Bella like a shield? Why did

this was a new game. Break the toy, the

n Alpha uses when he's about to bite. "And listen to me, Bella. You don't touch h

could hear her sharp intake of breath. She wasn't used to being sp

t-" she started, h

e doing," he cut her off."

s a long

ered. She sounded

e hate. She looked like she wanted to kill me. She nodded at Maddox, and then she spun ar

t was

r click

at me. I was still on the floor, looking l

e reached

ribs. Don't take it, my brain screamed. Thi

was shaking. His fingers closed around mine. His gri

't letting go. He pulled me closer, just a step, so I had to look

to my cheeks. He looked at the red marks on my neck whe

this means, r

ly. I couldn't speak.

and, but he didn't step back. He crowded me against the s

d. "I... I didn

touched the corner of his mouth. "You ow

locked up

money, power, an army behind him. I was nothing. I wa

ind of

e me steal for him. He would make me hurt someone. Or... my

llecting the re

kind of favour

d smell mint on his breath. "I haven't decided yet," he said softly.

epped

urning his back to me to check

there,

It echoed off the ti

about to be full of people. I couldn'

I blurted out. M

r him to answer.

exit. My wet shoes squeaked on the floor. I kept

____

thighs were burning, the wet denim of my uniform was sticking to the open

e wet hair plastered to my forehead, the dark stains on my shirt where the mop water had soaked thro

t happened. She just stopped packing and looked

to the class. Th

dn't look at me, but I felt the weight of her words. "We are wolves. We are predators. We are not... scavengers. If you look like you've be

ked up

ars. I kept my head down, staring at my w

he third row. A snicke

used. She caught my eye, held it, and let out a little laugh, covering her mouth

down at the empty desk in the back, the

drag

or the trip in the hallway. I wait

at me. It was like I was a ghost. The girls with her didn'

dox's threa

t them, but the absence was loud. They were top scholars. Alphas in training. They didn't need to be

ted co

d at th

moon came up. Nine hours until my birthday off

n the back of my mind. She was angry. If I cou

eeth and claws and speed. I could run. I could fight. I could tear out throat of anyone who came near m

d in my mind. I had stolen it from his study

. if I'm str

kept my head down.

the final

re shaking, not from fear thi

The courtyard was full of students, laughing, shouti

I could see the street o

hadows fel

the sun. They were tall. Broad. The air pressure

t didn't just sink; it

knew the way they stood. Legs apart, t

lifted

jeans. Matching cold, predat

ere waiting. They were standi

ock was leaning against the gate, blocking the only

"We know it's your birthday. We'r

g in my lap. My father wasn't home. If I took them there, I was leading wolve

my pillow. If I could get to it..

ce sounded dea

___

aint was peeling off the porch. The yard was a mess of we

out of the car. He stretched, his

ke lead. I unlocked the door. The house s

e living room. He kicked a pile of laundry with his b

my throat tight. "

el their eyes on my back, burning holes through my s

ed with books. The sheets were gray and thin. There were no posters on the

e mattress with his toe. "Je

ed out my underwear that was worn thin from too many washes. H

ne likes your body, Isla. You dress like a nu

I stared at the pillow. The gun was r

ing the door. He wa

turned to me, and the playfulness was gone. His face was hard, cruel.

stumbled back onto the bed. The m

" he o

My brain was screaming run,

er and stood at the foot of

at's boring. We n

e," Slade

s were dark, dilated, foc

ng closer until his thighs brushed my knees

e just pulled it down, hard. The fabric strained against my throat, then gave way, exposin

I whispered, my

ut

up and pressed the rough cotton directly against m

rt. It should hav

betrayed m

ectricity straight to my core.

lm and be a good g