It was at least bearable, waking me up only twice in the week. It also showed up early one morning, as well as once during my lunch break.
“So, he ended the call?” Tiziano asked from my right, shaking his head. “Just like that?”
“What an ass,” Lachlan scoffed from my left.
“That’s what I said, too!”
“An ass with warts. And extra fat!” Tiziano said as he grabbed the remnants of his BLT.
A mini cucumber rolled out, bumping his chest and then hitting the floor before he accidentally stepped on it. Sad ending. His mouth unhinged and widened like a python’s.
The three of us were having a snack break between classes. Students trotted in every direction, chatting and laughing in small groups, or alone with their thoughts and headphones. I told the guys about the mystery man, if only for them to confirm how much of a jerk he was being.
“I could track down his warty ass and shove his phone in it,” Lachlan announced, standing up and brushing off his hands on his sweatpants. The logo of our pack was printed on the side pocket—a comet slashing through two mountain peaks.
A laugh bubbled up in my chest as I hopped onto his back from behind.
“No need. I can do it myself,” I giggled, squeezing his neck with my arms. Having a sibling was and always would be the best gift my parents ever gave me.
Tiziano, grinning at us, walked backward along the corridor. “Remember when Lach hung Creepy Hairy Leeny off the telescope? Mrs. Dimsums from astronomy finally had her proof aliens live amongst us.”
Lachlan, a hand on my elbow, huffed out a growl. “I should have used his hair to mop the whole astronomy department.”
“You should have,” Tiziano agreed while I sputtered, “Should not!”
“No wonder he’s Weepy Leeny when he sees you now.” Tiziano high-fived Lachlan over my head.
“Leeny didn’t do anything. Just a few Post-It notes.”
He was one of the few I’d had the misfortune to call a stalker in the past. Seven in total. One had dared to crawl under my balcony and sing me a song about some parts of my body resembling vegetation from the Amazon rainforest. My dad, in turn, had chased him around the pack until my brother had caught up with him and left him vegetative—his words, not mine.
“I have an idea how to counterattack Phone Guy.”
Phone Guy was what Tiziano called Rudolph. Not that I’d specified that I called him Rudolph.
Tiziano was the evil mastermind of the group, if not the whole pack. If one of us was targeted, Tizzy raised his quills like an enraged porcupine, shot vengeful arrows, and went to war.
“Do you still have his number?” He pressed his fingers together conspiratorially.
“I have it…” I had two, in fact, since that was the number of times I’d had to block him.
“Perfect.” The muscles near his jaw twitched as he smirked with infernal intent. “Consider Phone Guy properly punished.”
While I was in the hospital later that day, humming my way through paperwork, my phone called for attention from the pocket of my white apron. I took out my stethoscope first. With a huff, I exchanged it for my phone.
I peeked at the screen. Didn’t recognize the number.
Instantly, I knew who it was.
“I’m not interested in talking to someone who won’t even say where they’re?—”
“Dark Diamond.” He cut me off in a harsh voice. That annoying shiver traced my spine again, and treacherous little hairs on my arms rose. “That’s where I’m from. What do you have to say about that?”
My pack’s main wereball rival. Their current Alpha was in constant competition with the Comet Alpha, also known by some as my father.
“Oh, okay. Good to know. Your production of eggplants surpassed the output from last year.”
I maintained a certain neutrality, mulling over paperwork with the phone tucked between my ear and my shoulder.
