Page 36 of Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths
“I’m sorry. I was a dick.” The corner of his mouth curls up in an apologetic smile.
Really?“I’m sorry, too. I really wasn’t trying to be a bitch and ghost you.” It’s true. Granted, I also wasn’t trying to steer clear, so I wasn’t a cock-block either. But he doesn’t need to know that. He also doesn’t need to know I was swept away by good looks and hot tattoos. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d made poor decisions and probably wouldn’t be the last. First Oliver. Now Rafael.Urgh.
“Are we cool?” I ask, shoving away my inner monologue. I could berate myself and my poor decision-making skills later. “Because I like hanging out with you. I don’t have many friends here and it’d be nice not to lose that with you.”
He exhales sharply. “Yeah. I know I’m overreacting. It’s just…” He pauses. “I have bad history with Rafe and the other wolves at Hellbound High. It’s hard seeing you be so cool with them, ya know?”
I quirk a brow in question because no, I don’t know. I have no idea what issues lie between them. Only that it appears to be mutual and that somehow their Pack is letting the feud continue without stepping in.
“They’re assholes. Especially Rafael. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Rafe’s used his dominance and position in our Pack to get what he wants before. I just...” He gives me a knowing look. “I don’t want to see you taken advantage of.”
I can’t stop the heat I know is spreading across my cheeks, so I look away. “I’m not a submissive,” I tell him, equal parts embarrassed and annoyed. I’m not the type to bow down to the whims of a man. I have a spine. And besides, I’m not looking for a relationship here. I have too much baggage for something like that right now. I want fun, and last night I got that. Sure, this morning sucked, and Rafael is a complete asshole, but it’s not the end of the world either.
Zheng reaches out and tucks a strand of hair that escaped my braid behind my ear.
I still can’t see his eyes and have no idea what he’s thinking, so I go with my gut. “You don’t have to worry. We came here to have fun, right? You got laid. I got laid. Neither of us needs to make a big deal of it. It’s just skin privileges. Is what’s-her-name you hooked up with the love of your life?”
He snorts.
“That’s what I thought. Let’s not make mountains out of molehills. How about we hang today? Just you and me and whatever friends you have here that you actually like? No wolves allowed except for me.”
His smile widens, giving me a glimpse of dimples I hadn’t noticed before. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
16
Rafe
She doesn’t look at me the rest of the weekend. I should have expected this. Calculated the risk. I know she’s not some meek little submissive wolf, no matter that she sometimes pretends to be. She’s punishing me for leaving her hanging and it’s fucking working. What was supposed to be a punishment forher, a reminder of who the fuck was in charge here, ended up backfiring on me and now I’m watching her like some lovesick dog without his bone.
I keep forgetting she isn’t like the rest of the girls here at Hellbound High. She doesn’t give two shits who I am and she’s making that abundantly clear. She sticks close to Liu all day Saturday, leaving me little room to swoop in and take her. Not unless I want to make a big show of it, and yeah, that’s not happening. So, I’m left to stew as she laughs with the motherfucker, drinks with him, lets him touch her. It’s not romantic. At least I don’t think it is for her. But every time that asshole throws an arm around her shoulders, my wolf rakes his claws beneath my skin and I want to pummel his face in.
Isa Romero is mine. Mine to fuck. Mine to hurt. Mine to soothe, should I decide to. I’m itching to touch her and it’s doing things to my head I don’t like. My wolf is agitated and I’ve never been so close to losing control of him the way I am now.
“Rafe, what’s your deal, man?” Des asks as I brood on the cabin porch sipping on a glass of water. “I figured you’d fuck the girl out of your system and walk away. What gives?”
I grunt. “Maybe I just want a few more fucks before I move along.”
Before I finish the sentence, he’s already shaking his head. “Nah. I’ve seen you with girls. This one is different. I get the whole mind-games shit you like to pull with chicks, but even that’s different with her. You cooked last night, and don’t try and bullshit me into believing that was for me or Jordy. You did that for her. Why?”
Jordy interrupts, stepping outside, still rocking that stupid bright-ass bikini over his sweatpants. “I like Isa. Can we keep her?”
Des and I both jerk our heads toward him. “What?” I ask, surprise coloring my voice.
“I said, can we keep her?”
“She’s not a puppy,” Des chides, but his brows furrow like he’s wondering the same thing.
“Why?” I ask again.
Jordy rolls his eyes. “Hello, I just said because I like her. She’s a badass she-wolf. Are you even paying attention? What is up with you today, man?”
I turn to Des but all he does is shrug and raise a brow as if to say,don’t ask me.Some help he is. I don’t get this side of Jordy. Sure, the guy’s nice to pretty much everyone, but only at face value. He doesn’t actually like people. I don’t even think he cares for Des or I all that much and we’re his best fucking friends.
“What happened to you two fuckers saying I needed to focus on Pack business?”
“I changed my mind. I wanna keep her. If you’re not into her anymore now that you’ve had your fun just say the word. I don’t mind sloppy seconds. Based on the sounds I heard coming from your room last night, that girl is well worth the trouble.”
