Page 74 of Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths
Isa’s mine. She has a lot to answer for and I’m pissed as hell with her, but she’s still mine.
I take another step toward them and my boys follow suit. But then she smiles up at the guy and accepts his hand. She threads her fingers with his and the two of them turn their backs on us and head to the school’s front entrance.
I stop in my tracks, my eyes glued to their hands. Their fucking entwined fingers like this is middle school or some shit.
What. The. Fuck.
Desmond puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “You’re growling, bro.”
I leash my wolf as my gaze stays locked on their retreating backs, every instinct in me screaming to go after her. To take back what’s mine.
Jordy swears beside me. “Who the fuck is that dude?”
I grind my teeth.
“We still need answers,” Des says beside me. “You guys didn’t see her last week. Something happened.”
“I don’t fucking care.” Anger bubbles up inside me. She bails on the game, ghosts me for over a week, and then shows up with this asshole. I’m not about to let her make a fool out of me. Fuck this. Fuck her. “She’s on the outs. I don’t have time for petty bitches and their games. That’s not how we roll.” Both of them nod their agreement, but Jordy looks hesitant.
“There’s gotta be an explanation,” he hedges. I glare at him and he puts his arms up, palms out in surrender. “Whatever you say, man. We’ll ice her out.”
I nod and scrutinize the guy beside her. I don’t know him. Don’t even recognize his face. Not once have I ever seen him near her before. But she blew me off forthatguy. And now, hand in hand, she’s making sure the entire school knows she’s dropped me.
She didn’t even have the decency to call. My pops showed up to the game. He never comes to shit like that. He never has the time. But he came to see me play and I had it all planned out. He was going to meet my girl. I told my fucking parents about her. My mom knew Isa was supposed to be there and she no-showed. Fucking bailed. No call. No text. Nothing.
A tick forms in my jaw and I glare at her retreating form. As if she can sense my attention her head swivels to look over her shoulder and her eyes lock on mine. Pools of chocolate brown meet my stare head-on and she flinches.
I hope she sees just how pissed off I am. How done I am with her.
The guy beside her slows his steps. I watch as she untangles her hand from his and he frowns at her. She says something to him. She’s shaking her head and glancing over at me again. He says something back and they argue for a moment before a decision is made.
She turns around and heads in my direction—the new guy hot on her heels. She chews on her bottom lip, worry lines deepening with every step she takes. Good. She should be worried. If she’s expecting a warm welcome, she won’t find it.
The guy has a blank expression. I can’t get a read on him, but he stays close to Isa. Almost like he wants to protect her. His hands are tatted and he’s dressed in dark denim jeans and a black hoodie with the words Star Valley, Arizona, printed on the back.
It clicks.
This dude is from her old Pack. He’s clearly a shifter based on the way he moves but he’s not a wolf. Is he the ex? The ex that doesn’t look like an ex anymore?
They’re almost to us when Des asks, “What’s the plan?”
I shake my head. I don’t know. She’s coming over to us but she’s with him. They clearly have some sort of relationship with each other and I have no fucking clue what’s going on. Was I some side piece of hers? She said in the beginning she didn’t want anything serious. We didn’t use labels. I never called her my girlfriend, but fuck, she was my girl. She’d beenmy girl.
None of it matters now. “Stick to the plan. Ice her out. I’m done.”
They nod and we each grab our bags, heading straight toward them. Isa’s steps falter and her skin pales, highlighting the sharp angles of her cheekbones. Has she lost more weight?
When we’re right in front of them she says, “Rafe?” My name on her lips is whisper-soft and it does something to my wolf, twisting my insides around, but I don’t respond. I don’t react. Instead, I push right between her and her new guy and head straight to the doors. My steps never slow.
She gasps before saying a little bit louder, “Rafael?”
I keep going. Then the asshole with her calls out, “Bro, what’s your problem?”
I whirl on him. Dropping my backpack on the pavement, I close the distance between us and get right in his face. He holds his ground and fury flashes in his eyes as a red sheen drops over them. Fucking Bouda. Great.
Isa sucks in a breath and takes several steps back. She’s as white as a sheet but I can’t find it in me to fucking care.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but this is my school. My territory. Don’t talk to me again. Ever. We clear.”
