“Don’t use that card on me,” she said, ripping her arm out of my grip. “I’m leaving now. Just wanted to give you this… you left it on the kitchen table.” She handed me a sketch that I wanted to give to Isabella last night but was too scared and too horny to remember to bring. Hell, I was too drawn in to think about anything when she sat right on that bed of hers and thought she could just disobey me by touching herself.
Jane crossed her arms over her chest. “You know that it looks awfully like Isabell—”
“School. Now.”
She stomped down the hall, and I slammed the door. She had to ruin everything for me, like usual.
Ryker cocked a brow at me. “Isabella? You haven’t mentioned her.”
Of course, I hadn’t mentioned her. She wasn’t even eighteen yet, wasn’t legal age to be considered as a Lycan. Ryker didn’t need to know about her. Not now. Not ever.
“I’ve seen her fight,” I said. “She’s good…” I hated lying about her. I wanted everyone to know how great she was. “But… not great. She has a lot to learn.”
Ryker nodded his head and stood. “I can be the judge of that.” He grabbed the file from off my desk. “You’re hosting try-outs for your warriors this week, aren’t you?”
I clenched my jaw. If I didn’t have a pack to take care of, I would kill him right here for even putting the idea on the table of recruiting Isabella. “Yes,” I said.
He slapped me hard on the back, squeezing my shoulder like we were friends. “I’ll be by to see her sometime this week.” And with that he walked out of the room.
I just stood there, staring at the empty doorway. No. No, he would not take Isabella away from me. I wouldn’t let him. I had to do something—anything—to keep her safe. Even if it meant hurting her.
Chapter 4
Isabella
“Are you coming?” Derek asked, leaning against his Chrysler. I groaned and tossed my backpack into his backseat, still frustrated from last night. How could Roman leave me so desperate?
“Hello?” Derek said, waving his hand in front of my face. “Earth to Izzy…”
I shook my head, pushing my dirty thoughts to the back of my mind, and clasped Luna Raya’s keychain onto my gym bag. I had to focus on one thing and one thing only today: winning over the warriors and securing a spot on the team. Although there were more people trying out compared to last year, I wasn’t nervous.
I trained thirteen years for this week.
And Roman knew that I was one of the best recruits. Before he left me last night, he told me he expected to see me here today.
Vanessa jogged past me to her car in a small hot pink sports bra, her boobs nearly bouncing out of it each time she ran, and in a pair of spandex shorts. “You guys are trying out for the warriors?”
“Youare?” Derek asked, brow raised.
She smiled widely at me, batting her lashes. “I think I have what it takes.” She opened the driver’s side door and waved at us. “See you at Roman’s.”
I rubbed my temples. This would be a long afternoon if she was going. All I could imagine was that she would flirt with Roman the whole time, getting so close to him, running her fingers up his chest and smirking at me.
“You’re basically naked, Vanessa,” Derek said.
She placed a yellow manicured finger on her lip. “Am I?” She looked down at herself, then shrugged. “Oh, well. I’m sure Roman won’t mind.” She winked at me, then jumped in her car and raced out of the school parking lot.
I clenched my jaw. She didn’t even want to be a warrior. All she wanted was to get on my nerves. That had been her goal ever since middle school.
“If she gets a spot just by rubbing her tits all over them, I will lose it,” Derek said, his hand clenched into a fist, and turned to me. “But, if you do it, I won’t mind.”
“I don’t have to flirt with him to get a spot.”
It was arrogant to say, but it was true. Everyone, including Roman, knew that I had the most potential out of everyone trying out.Hell, even Mr. Beck—who thought he was the best warrior to ever live—believed in me.
Derek bumped his shoulder into mine, the sun hitting his brown skin and making it glow. “I’m just kidding.”
~~~
