“You heard me.” He grinned wickedly. “You and your mom are little vamp sluts. Can’t go a second without getting dicked down or bi— Ouch, ow, fuck let go!”
My fingers tightened on his ball sack, twisting as I went. “I’m sorry, what was that? I can’t hear you over all the dick I’m getting.”
His eyes flashed yellow, and fur sprouted along his arms, his teeth elongating.
“Don’t you dare shift,” I growled, getting into his face as his knees gave out on him. I had to release him so I didn’t getdragged down with him, but I took pleasure from shoving him over with my foot.
The wolves watching us backed up a step but didn’t interfere. Probably would thought that it would be unmanly to need help fighting a woman.
My bully rolled onto his hands and knees, back arching, bones cracking. I crouched down in front of him, annoyance adding to my fury.
“Do. Not. Change.” My booming voice rang out through the gym. I chalked it up to the acoustics of the open space, making me sound all scary like the Wizard of Oz.
Whatever it was, worked. His back relaxed. Fur receded. His eyes returned to their normal color as he watched me with a terror he hadn’t had a moment ago. He shoved back from me, fell back on his ass, and scrambled away.
“Stay... stay away from me,” he stuttered, fear and piss stinking up the gym.
I straightened until I was standing, watching him with growing confusion. I took one step toward him, and he yelped, covering his head with his arms.
“Oh-kay.” I paused, shaking my head at him. “Next time, watch your mouth.”
“Yes, of course,” he croaked out, his body shaking all over. “I promise. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I left him like that while his friends crowded around him, completely baffled by what had just happened. By the time I’d left the gym and started toward Julian’s apartment, I’d chalked it up to the wolf not expecting me to stick up for myself. Then again, most guys couldn’t handle a little rough action with the goods.
Oh well, at least he’ll leave me alone from now on.
“Caw!”
My head jerked toward the sound. A single black crow sat on a tree branch in the courtyard. Its shiny black eyes stared at me, its head tilting to the side as if waiting for something.
Rolling my eyes at my dad Antoine’s theatrics, I tried my best to ignore the crow. It seemed to watch me all the way around the courtyard until I turned down the hallway.
Most students had gone to lunch or were trying to get some last-minute homework done in the library, leaving most of the hallways deserted. No one noticed me slipping into the teacher’s quarters and heading to Julian’s apartment.
I turned the corner and stopped dead at the auburn-haired beauty standing in front of Julian’s door. Dipping back behind the corner, I watched her wait. She must have just knocked because Julian opened the door a moment later, his face going from wary to surprised before landing on polite professionalism.
“Professor Campbell,” Julian said, his eyes peering at her over his glasses, his hair wet and slicked back, button up shirt open at the neck. He’d clearly just gotten out of the shower after our training.
“Julian,” Professor Campbell giggled and stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his bicep, “how many times do I have to ask you to call me Abigail?”
Julian nodded. “Abigail. What can I do for you?”
“I thought we could go have lunch together. Somewhere off campus? I know this cute little cafe about ten minutes away.”
I couldn’t see her face but assumed she was giving him some kind of pouty look with the way her voice seemed to pucker.
My eyes rolled at her obvious attempts to gain his attention. If she wanted to get a hunter like Julian’s attention, you didn’t flirt with lunch. You showed off your weapons skills or knocked him on his ass in training. That’s what impressed him, not getting some soggy sandwiches.
“Of course.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. Julian’s eyes shot over the professor’s head and locked with mine.
“I’ll meet you at the front gate in twenty minutes? I have to give something to a student.” He jerked his chin toward where I hid.
Seeing my ruse was up, I stepped out of the shadows and leaned against the wall, a tight smile on my face. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Oh.” Abigail blinked at me and then smiled to Julian, unsure. “I’ll just meet you down there.”
