Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“You broke the wrist of a student at school.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“At school. In front of humans.”
“Forgive me, Sir.”
He scrutinizes my face.
I work hard to remain perfectly still. Perfectly stoic. I don’t allow myself to swallow or sweat. I don’t want our pack alpha to smell fear on me. That would confirm the idea that I’d done something wrong.
“Principal Olsen was inclined to forgive your behavior on account of chivalry–you were defending a female teacher.”
“He suspended me until Saturday’s game, Sir.” I point it out in hopes that he’ll decide I’ve already been appropriately punished.
“Eric will have to wear a cast for at least four weeks to avoid suspicion. That’s a lot longer than three days, isn’t it?”
The fucker deserves it as far as I’m concerned. I keep my face blank of irritation, though. “Yes, sir.”
Alpha Green must sense my disagreement because he stands, sending a blast of power in my direction. It’s all I can do not to take a step back and show how much it affected me.
“Violence is in your genes, Asher.” He points a finger at me. “Your father was violent. This pack put up with incident after incident with him, brushing it off as part of wolf nature, but in retrospect, it’s clear he didn’t know right from wrong.”
I don’t know what he’s referring to. Sure, my dad got into brawls at the pub. He knocked me and my mom around when he was in a mood. But his ultimate crime wasn’t violent.
A familiar mix of shame and anger makes my neck flush with heat. I keep my lips closed, dragging breath in through my nose.
“Do you, Asher?”
I blink, not sure what he’s asking. My brain was out reviewing this perspective of my dad.
“Do you know the difference between right and wrong?” he roars.
Fuck. I made him mad.
“Yes, Alpha.”
He raises his brows. “Do you?”
“Yes, sir.”
He glares at me for a moment. “Son, let me explain this very clearly. I won’t excuse your violence again. You are a hair’s breadth from getting banished like your father. Any more incursions, and you’re gone. Understand?”
My heart hammers against my chest. “Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
I hate this town. I hate this whole damn pack.
I especially hate Lotta James because all of this–this whole damn mess–rests firmly on her slender shoulders.
Lotta
I enter my casita and flop face down on the bed that takes up half the apartment. Sunlight streams in through the windows, making the polished saltillo tile glow like a warm sunset.
I left school after my visit with the principal. I usually stay and paint until late evening, but I’m not capable of doing anything creative right now.
It’s a miracle I didn’t get fired. I’m not sure how I managed it. Probably only because my mom is pack royalty, and both of my parents are part of Alpha Green’s high council.
My phone buzzes with an incoming text.
What’s up, Arizona?
It’s from Andy–one of the three human roommates I left behind in Chicago when I realized there was no way I could keep paying rent. We’re not friends, but I muddied the waters by playing the roommates with benefits game with him for a spell.
What can I say? I was lonely. He was hot, for a human, and available. Too self-involved and just in it for sex to sniff out my secret.
I don’t know why he’s texting now. We weren’t in a more than business texting relationship. Even if that business sometimes included booty calls.
I text back,
??
I’m coming to Scottsdale to meet with a gallery owner my mom knows. I might be able to get you a meeting, too.
Oh. Unexpected. Andy’s a trust-funded sculptor. He’s never had to work a day in his life. He thinks far too highly of his art and doesn’t give a shit about anyone else’s. He’s not usually the kind of guy to throw anyone a bone.
My pulse picks up speed.
That would be great. I would appreciate it. Scottsdale is just down the hill from Wolf Ridge.
Cool. I’ll let you know.
I’m light-headed. The rumbling in my stomach gets me up off the bed. Something about shifting last night has made me ravenous today. I swear it’s like hitting transition again. Great–I’m having a second puberty. As if the first one wasn’t awful enough. Coming back here was such a mistake. But what choice did I have?
I failed to find a job in Chicago that paid enough to cover my student loans and rent. I was substitute teaching there for twenty bucks an hour. When the human art teacher at Wolf Ridge High went on medical leave for the rest of the school year, my mom called and talked me into coming home to take the job. The long-term substitute contract pays more than I was making in Chicago. It’s a seven-month commitment teaching the subject I love. I decided my mom was right–it’s a chance to catch up on my bills and figure out my next move.