“Of course I can,” I answer. By beating the shit out of all those bastards until they get the message.
She nods haughtily before she pats my cheek.Good. Then we’re on the same page.With those words hangingin the air, she twirls around and exits the dinner hall, leaving me alone with the smoke-filled room.
Irritation flits through me, knowing she won’t stop. She’ll keep testing me until I fucking snap.
And why the fuck does that attitude just make me want her even more?
Old Hag Hesta steps into the room, her hands glowing with magic as she stares at me.
“Were you behind this, Mr Westwood?” she asks.
I take a drag on my cigarette and, ignoring her, leave the hall.
A few of the students linger outside, and my eyes roam over them. I remember every single one who dared to look at her, and a couple of them are right here.
I walk over to two seniors. They’re in the year above me. I stop a foot away from them and lean against the wall, taking a long drag on my cigarette before blowing out a few smoky skulls.
Then I look them dead in the eye.
“Hey…” one of them says, trying to hide his nerves. They may be strong wolves, but no one messes with me around here.
You’re better off if I don’t fucking know you.
“Make sure the word gets around, Aldona’s off-limits. Anyone who so much as checks her out will have me to deal with it,” I say quietly, my eyes hard.
The two exchange looks before glancing at me. “S-sure.We will,” the same one answers.
“Great,” I say, placing my cigarette between my lips and turning to the one who hasn’t yet spoken. He had stared at her for a moment too long.
I know how to read people, and I could tell exactly what had crossed his filthy mind.
“Glad we’re clear on that,” I murmur, before I suddenly raise my fist and punch him across the face. The sound of bones cracking and a howl of pain from him as he slumps back against the wall, sporting a broken, bloody nose, rings through the hall.
The hallway becomes silent. The number of students is small enough for me to remember who was present, and they won’t risk spreading it like wildfire, knowing I’ll be able to trace it right back to them. But still, enough of them to get the picture and get the word around quietly.
Now to go blow off some of this fucking steam.
Well fucking played, Heaven. Well fucking played.
It’s that night,and Jayce has asked me to come to our spot on the roof. I haven’t been there in a while, and as I slip past other students, walking down the silent corridors until I reach the small window, the nostalgia hits.
The same stone floors, the same view, the memories…
I climb up to see all four of my brothers there. Jayce is leaning against the wall with four 18” pizzas in front of him and cases of beer and Coca-Cola.
“The hell is this?” I grin as I look at them all.
Renji chuckles. “Jayce is throwing a going-away party.”
My smile falters. “When?” I ask.
“Tomorrow. But let’s not stress over it; it’s not goodbye, just see ya later. Now come on, let’s eat before it gets cold,” Jayce says.
“And I got music,” Carter adds.
“Keep it low,” Ares warns, as he flips open the first two boxes.
“It’s Benny’s?” I ask, recognising it by the smell.
