Page 70 of Wicked Savage Wolves
There’s a knock on my door and before I can answer, it swings open.
Natalia walks in to find me sitting on the edge of the bed wrapped in a towel.
“You’re up?” she asks, sounding surprised.
“Yeah.” I stand and reach for my clothes. A pair of sweats and the oversized hoodie I picked up from my shopping trip with Zheng.
“Oh, umm…” she mutters before turning around. I roll my eyes but gingerly put on my clothes before wrapping my long brown hair in the towel and resuming my seat.
“You can turn around now,” I tell her.
Natalia frowns when she sees my outfit, but thankfully doesn’t comment. “Were you going to go to school today?” she asks.
I shake my head. I have no idea how much time I’ve missed. My days have all sort of blurred together but I know I’m in no condition to survive Hellbound High today. “No. I don’t think I’m ready for that but …” I turn to the window. “I kind of want to go outside. Smell the air. You know?”
She nods, a small smile on her face. “That sounds like a good idea. I’m glad you’re feeling better. You had me worried there …”
I choke on a laugh. Right. I had her worried. But not my dad.
She helps me down the staircase and through the foyer. I only need to pause once to catch my breath and Natalia thankfully doesn’t mention it. Stepping outside, a familiar car sits in the driveway and I freeze.
Desmond stands there, leaning against the hood of his black Escalade, arms folded over his chest. “Isa,” he calls out and tilts his head back to his car. “I’m giving you a lift. Come on.”
My heart rate picks up and my eyes turn to Natalia, pleading with her to say something. Anything.
Des takes a step forward, his guarded expression now worried. “Isa?”
I suck in a breath. Then another. My breathing becomes erratic.No. No. No.
Understanding washes over Natalia’s face and gives me a barely perceptible nod before she turns to him. “I’m sorry, young man, but you need to leave.”
Des smirks. “I’ll get right on that. As soon as Isa gets in the car.” He flashes her a wolfish smile. “I’m a friend from school. I’ve given her rides before. She’s safe with me, ma’am.” He tries to catch my gaze but I can’t look at him. I can’t … breathe.
My hands are clammy and a cold sweat drips down my spine. My heart hammers in my chest. Faster. Harder. I know a panic attack lingers right there on the edge and I hate it. The urge to shift is strong but I hold myself back as my wolf paces inside me, unsure how to respond.
Do we go on the offensive and attack? Do we run away? My thoughts are a jumbled mess and I spot the telltale ripple across my skin.Crap.I’m going to shift. I can’t shift. Not yet.
My temples pound, a headache now coming on strong, beating inside me like a battering ram as I fight to keep my human skin.
“Isa?” she whispers.
I can’t do this.
I know Des is safe. He’s my friend. He’s safe. I know that. But being near him right now is sending my mind into a spiral. He’s dominant. He’s a threat. Claws pierce through my fingertips and my jaw begins shifting, my mouth filling with fangs.
I turn and rush back inside the house, ignoring both of them as they call out for me.
I can’t.
I’m not ready.
I just can’t.
I rush up the stairs to my room as fast as my injuries will let me, slamming the door and locking it behind me just as my wolf forces me to shift. I fall to my hands and knees, my spine arching and my bones cracking. I claw at my clothes, desperate to get them off. Naked and chest heaving, fur encases my body and I crash forward to the floor, my shift complete and both my body and mind exhausted. I close my eyes, blocking out the sounds of Natalia moving in the house, and sleep.
28
Isabella
