Twenty – Vail
My first self-defense class was both inspiring and unnerving. I was proud of how I’d held my own against Reed, who was one tough mothershifter. He hadn’t gone too easy on me, working through a program of kicks and strikes until my limbs felt like wet noodles. But he’d given me a respectful nod at the end of each set, and it was the first time since arriving at the academy I’d felt like I was made for shifter life. Because fighting, I could do. Which meant I was twice as determined to learn how to hold my own in my wolf form.
It was a good goal. And one I could cling to while the rest of me felt like it had been tugged out at the roots and tossed off a cliff.
Because Reed Marshall, alphadouche and special friend of Pearl LaRue, had nearly kissed me.
And I hadn’t made a move to stop him.
Which was why I felt so unnerved as I wrapped my scarf more tightly around my neck and hurried to the Dud Dorm. Jasmine had managed to get in touch with Marnie and set up a lunch date in our old haunt. Despite being part of the same pack, I’d barely had a chance to see her since I’d been thrust into all things omega. And as much as the dud breakroom was still the least appetizing place on campus to eat, seeing her sitting there in one of the dingy booths made my chest swell with happiness.
She looked up from her soggy sandwich as I put the picnic basket on the table, and flipped the lid. “When the girls heard about our lunch date, they packed us some things.”
Marnie peered over the edge, her eyes bulging at the assortment of treats. “Oh, wow. The perks of living with the best caregivers on campus.”
“I walk around on a permanent sugar high,” I told her as I slipped into the booth, “but I miss you. And… being invisible.”
She gave me an amused look as she pulled the fried chicken and egg salad out of the basket. “Only someone who’s never been truly invisible would say that. From day one you were turning heads and wagging tongues. ”
I dropped my head onto my folded arms. “At least then I could be written off as the clueless dud. Now I’m the girl who betrayed the Clan Alpha and got collared as punishment.”
She winced around her fried chicken. “How are the other girls treating you?”
“The omegas feel sorry for me. The others… Well, let’s just say the self-defense lessons are going to come in handy.”
“Ugh. They’re just jealous.”
“Jealous?” I stared at her in disbelief. “How could anyone think being collared like a naughty dog is a good thing?”
“It’s the same thing as not being invisible.” She lifted a shoulder. “If Jasper didn’t care, he would have just passed your punishment off to some other wolf and moved on. If he ignored you, you would’ve eventually faded into the background. But instead, he’s made a statement. He might not be able to claim you right now, but he’s made damned sure no one else can either. That’s a kind of caring, in a roundabout way.”
I was already shaking my head. “That’s alphadouche control run rampant.”
“To a shifter, there’s nothing worse than being a lone wolf. Everyone wants to feel like they belong.” She leaned forward, staring at my neck. “Does it hurt?”
“Other than my pride?” I pulled off the scarf and smirked as her chicken leg hit her plate.
“Gold blazer. Gold neckpiece. That’s really intense.” She leaned forward to stare, then flipped the little pendant over, smirking when I raised my brows. “Just making sure it doesn’t have Property of Jasper Arras engraved on the back.”
I swatted her arm. “Don’t give him any ideas.”
“I think the Clan Alpha can come up with kinky ideas all on his own,” she told me with a snicker. “But does it really keep other guys away? It looks so harmless.”
I blew out a breath and dug in the basket for the lemon squares I’d seen Jasmine pack. “I don’t know. I’ve kept the scarf on, but in Biology today, the freshman boys were all daring each other to approach me like I was radioactive. And Reed…”
“Reed?” she prompted.
I shook my head. “He said it wasn’t so bad.” When she lifted her brows at me, I added, “He’s giving me those self-defense lessons. Every omega has been assigned a beta guard to train them, but thanks to Jasper’s alpha voodoo, none of the guys can come near me. So, Reed is doing it.”
“Poor you.”
“Poor me? Poor Reed. Only, I’m not sure either of us hated it that much.” I blushed at her curious look. “I got him in a bulldog choke. He taught me the axe kick and the hammer fist. And then he gave me my omega ring and we… almost might have kissed.”
“What?” she screeched, dropping her fork. “What the hell’s a bulldog choke?”
“Wrestling move. I totally had him pinned. Which he thought was pretty cool, by the way.”
“Of course, he did. Because Reed Marshall is a robot ninja.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “What? What does that mean?”
“As your shifter sister, I have to warn you that the Marshall clan are a strange bunch. His mom is nice enough, but his dad is… odd.” She blushed and dropped her voice, even though we were alone in the breakroom. “He looks like an accountant, but he’s the pack alpha for a reason.”
“Which is?”
“Secrets. Intimidation. I don’t know. No one’s ever come right out and said it, but Alpha Marshall knows everything. And no one crosses him, even though there are much bigger, nastier alphas in the pack. There just has to be something really dark lurking under his fur to keep that kind of control.”
If there was anyone I trusted it was Marnie, and she’d never led me wrong when it came to the shifter world, but I had to wonder if she wasn’t exaggerating a bit. Reed’s folks had seemed pretty nice when I’d met them at the dance, and so far, Reed had been nothing but welcoming. “Well, the other part we’re focusing on is getting my wolf out. If Reed can help me with that, I don’t care how weird his family is.”
She watched me for a moment. “And Jasper? Are things really that broken between you? Because that chunk of jewelry around your neck looks kind of permanent.”
I shook my head. “He told me if I shift, and if he trusts me again, he’ll take it off. I’m not sure I care about earning his trust back, but I want to get my wolf out even more than he does. So, that’s my focus.” I didn’t want to talk about the alphadouches and my messy feelings anymore, so I propped my chin on my hands. “And how are things with you? Any sign of your wolf? ”
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Maybe. Well, it was just a peek. But after the Hunter Moon Formal, I saw Baron in the dining hall. He was leaving with Pearl, and I heard him say something nasty about you as they walked by my table. I don’t even think he saw me there, but I got so mad…” She huffed out a breath. “I was gripping my fork so hard, I didn’t realize there was brown fur all over my hand.”
“You went wolf paw!” I gasped. “Marnie, that’s so great!”
“It was just one hand. But yeah, it was real fur. And for a moment I could feel something shifting inside me.” She gave me a shy smile. “I’m pretty sure it was my wolf, and she was pissed at those alphadouches bad-mouthing you.”
I groaned and reached across the table to hug her. “Screw the alphadouches. I’m so happy for you. Now you’ve connected with your wolf, I bet you start full shifting any day.”
“I’m just glad I can tell my folks. I know my mom is terrified I’ll be a dud for life. This little bit of wolf paw will make her year.” She grabbed my hand and took a close-up look at my omega ring. “To say nothing of being friends with the most famous omega on campus.”
“Famous or infamous? You might want to ease your mom into the idea of our friendship.” I gave my containment collar a derisive flick. “I’m not sure she’ll think I’m a good influence.”
“She’ll love you,” she assured me. “Just be ready for her to try to mate you off to my brother. She’s obsessed with getting pups out of my siblings.”
I laughed. “Then we’d be real shifter sisters.” I gnawed on my lip. “But I’m not so sure about the pups bit. I’ve got Den Night to survive first.”
“Oh, right!” Her eyes went wide. “Better you than me, sister.”
“Not a fan of pups?”
“In small doses, maybe. But a whole pack of them?” She gave a slight shudder. “Just make sure you wear thick socks. Those ankle-bitters aren’t playing around.”
***
Marnie and I packed away the rest of the picnic in the refrigerator, and I sniggered at how much she enjoyed writing her name on all the leftovers. Since we didn’t have any classes together, and most of my free time was spent confined to Omega House, we vowed to meet in the breakroom for lunch every day. We shared a long, warm hug and then she helped me wind my scarf back round my neck. I wasn’t sure how much of a disguise it was, but my next class was deportment and I figured the teacher might consider flashing a containment collar poor form.
Not that I was an expert. I had a vague idea that deportment had something to do with not slurping your soup and walking around with a book on your head. Which weren’t exactly talents of mine, but if it helped me be a better wolf, I was prepared to give it my best shot.
The teacher was exactly what I expected. A small woman with her gray hair scrapped back into a bun, she stood at the front of a spacious room with a shiny wood floor and mirrors for walls. There were no books, however, or tables with fancy place settings. Just the stern-looking teacher, a bunch of guys and girls standing in pairs, and a huge black piano in the corner. “Ladies, today’s dance is the waltz. If you would please take the floor with your partners, we will practice what you learned in the last lesson. Is there anyone without a partner?”
As the others moved off, I reluctantly lifted a hand, and she gave me a pinched look. “Name?”
“Vail Chance.” I cringed. “I mean, Vail Marrow.”
None of the omegas laughed – that wasn’t their style - but more than one guy picked up speed as they moved away from me. The teacher watched them with a frown, waving a hand at a tall guy with shaggy dark hair who looked like he was trying to fade into the mirrored wall behind him. “Xavier, you can be Ms. Marrow’s partner while Chloe is in the medical bay. Assume the position, please. Ms. Marrow, just follow Xavier’s lead.”
The guy looked like he was in need of the medical bay himself. “Are you a Marshall wolf?” I asked as he reluctantly joined me.
“Sawyer,” he muttered. “But I know who you are.” His gaze skidded over my face and then slammed to the floor. “I can’t freaking believe this.”
The piano started up and the other couples began swooping around the room. I saw Nadia amongst them, my friend watching anxiously over her partner’s shoulder as she waltzed past. The dance teacher seemed oblivious to the tension, snapping at poor Xavier, “What are you waiting for? Quickly , Mr. Sawyer!”
“Yes, Ms. Vine,” he muttered, his fingers biting into my waist as he dragged me into the swirl. The threat of my collar cleared a nice wide path for us, but sweat popped on his brow and his teeth were making a grinding sound. He might have been a good dancer, but he was a stiff as a board and his eyes were locked on our feet. His focus didn’t stop him from stumbling over his own, and for once I wasn’t the worst dancer in the room.
“Xavier, what is wrong with you? Chin up! Your partner is in your arms, not under your feet!”
He jerked to a stop, snatching his hands back and shoving them in his pockets. “It’s her, Ms. Vine. I can’t be near her!”
The piano kept pounding on, but the teacher waded through the dancers, her dark eyes snapping. “What are you talking about?”
“She’s… off-limits.”
“I’ve never heard such nonsense…”
“It’s true.” I sent him an apologetic glance. “I’m actually contagious. I think I should go to the medical bay with Chloe.”
“That won’t be necessary, Ms. Vine.” As Jasper appeared behind Xavier, the other boy reared away from me, defensive words bubbling up. But Jasper just murmured, “Well done, wolf,” and gave him a little shove. When Xavier had fled to a safe distance, Jasper clasped my hand, pulling me to his side. “I’d love to partner Ms. Marrow.”
I glared at him, hating the way my stomach flipped and my heart rate accelerated. This wasn’t the Jasper I’d fallen for, but a harder, colder version. A gold statue, in place of the sunshine boy. And even though his hand was warm in mine, his gaze was cool and calculating as he looked me over. When he gave my collar an approving smirk, I instantly pulled away. “I don’t want to dance with you.” I turned to the teacher, who was watching us with pursed lips. “Ms. Vine, I really don’t feel well. Can I go to the medical bay?”
“Not until we have our dance,” Jasper murmured. “Ms. Vine, could you play Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz? It’s my favorite.”
Of course , he had a favorite waltz. The other students kept their distance, but as he swept me into the dance, I was back to being the klutz who couldn’t make a step to save her life. “Don’t fight me,” he murmured. “You just have to follow my lead.”
“Like a good little dog?” I felt my insides twist as the gold flared in his eyes. “Why are you doing this?”
“Dancing? Seems like every time we step on a dance floor, something happens to fuck it up. I just want to feel you like this. In my arms.” He gave me another smirk. “Or at least I would if you’d relax a little.”
“Relax?” I was pretty sure I was frothing at the mouth. “How am I meant to relax when you have me on a leash? You told me this is just jewelry, but it’s a containment collar. It’s punishment, right? You want me to feel small and helpless? Like I’m the weakest runt in the pack? Well, I’m not going to let you. I’m going to fight you every step of the way. And Reed’s going to help me!”
“Reed will keep his goddamn distance.”
“Why? He’s doing what you said. Protecting me for real, by teaching me to fight off assholes like you!”
Jasper stopped so suddenly, I tripped over my own feet and would have fallen on my ass if he wasn’t crushing my hand. Which pulled me hard against his chest right as his alpha power blasted out of him. Black spots exploded on my vision at the force of his power, the mirrored walls bending and flexing as I struggled to stay upright. Deep inside me, something twisted tight, and for a moment I had an image of a black wolf caught in a trap. Not her neck, but her paws, raw and bleeding inside a pair of manacles. But the vision shattered as Jasper ground out, “Ms. Vine, clear the room. Now!”
The walls were still sliding around like putty, but I didn’t miss the stampede for the door, or the dark look Ms. Vine shot my way. Nadia was the last out, and she called back, “Vail didn’t do anything wrong, Alpha!”
I couldn’t see the look he threw her, but the next moment the door slammed shut and we were alone. Cocky Jasper was gone, the transformation to Scary Alpha complete. I expected him to hit me with another wave of his power, but instead he pushed me away. His scent flooded the room, sharp as singed hair, and I had to lock my knees to stay on my feet. While I hugged myself through a full-body shudder, he paced in front of me, his hands raking through his hair. “You think I like it like this? I told you it’s for your safety. Do I like the fact other males can’t look at you without tasting my scent? Of course, I fucking do. But I’m not the asshole here.”
“Then prove it!” I grabbed the collar, squeezing the pendant so tight it bit into my skin. “Take it off!”
“I can’t!” He spun back to me, and I was retreating before I could stop myself. “If you stopped and thought about it for one goddamn minute, you’d see I’m doing this for you. And I gave you exactly what you wanted! To take it all away. ”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You mean the omega speech thing? I just wanted some space… I didn’t ask to be made radioactive!”
But he wasn’t listening to me, and I was still back-pedaling until I felt the cold wall at my back. He followed, slamming me into the mirror, his body pushing against mine until I could feel his growl rumbling up from his chest. “You’re untouchable. Protected. A Marrow wolf in an enemy’s den. Don’t you get what that means?”
“Reed said everything is political. Is that what this is? A way of getting at my grandfather?”
He went still for a moment, lifting his head to stare at himself in the mirror. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but then he growled, “Fuck Reed and his paranoid ass.” He pulled his elbows tight, caging me in. I felt the hard thud of his heart, but his lips were gentle as they skimmed the edge of my ear, sending tingles shooting through my fuddled brain. “Show me what he taught you, sweet thing.”
The old nickname hurt worse than a slap and I tried to heave him off me. “No!”
“Show me, Vail.” He ground his chest against mine. “You’ve got an asshole right on top of you. What are you going to do?”
I brought my knee up in a savage thrust, but he was too quick, blocking me with his thigh. And then he laughed, the sound burrowing into my chest. “Reed didn’t teach you that move.” He ran his nose along my neck. “You smell so fucking good. Do you know what my wolf is doing right now? If you could see inside my head, you’d be blushing, sweet thing.”
“Jasper…” Where the hell had that needy little voice come from? I tried to hold on to my anger, but his lips were dropping kisses from my neck to the edge of my mouth, and then they were sliding over mine.
I breathed him in. I wanted it to taste different – for the thing between us to be a watered-down version of what we’d had – but it was as perfect as ever. His big hands held my head against the glass as I fell into his kiss, heat pooling in my belly. I chased every suck and nip and stroke, my mouth growing warm and soft under his caresses. Somehow I got his shirt half undone, but he was careful to keep his hips back, so that even while I ached for more of his warm, golden flesh, all I could focus on was the kiss. And then a rumbling came from deep inside me, a sound both eager and irate. My ribs shook with the force of it, the kiss ending on a gasp. As the sound spiraled out of me again, it vibrated against his bare chest. With a groan, he eased back and cupped my face in his hands.
“There she is,” he whispered. “That’s one beautiful purr, sweet thing.”
I was pretty sure it was actually a pissed-off growl, but I wasn’t about to ruin the moment by translating. Especially since his hands went straight to the buttons on my shirt. I held my breath as he thumbed them open and peeled the fabric back. For a long moment he just stared at my chest as my heart hammered against my ribs. But then he swiped his thumbs across the lace cups of my bra, dropping a tender kiss against the straining peaks. It wasn’t nearly enough, and my back arched, pushing my breasts into his hands. It was a pretty clear invitation, but he just wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tight.
“You feel that?” He held me still, and I realized our chests were now vibrating in unison. “That’s our wolves, Vail. They don’t need words. They already know we belong together. You get that?” I nodded, feeling the vibration down to my toes. “That sound says you’re mine. Not Reed’s. And not Marrow’s.”
I nodded again, but I could still feel the angry edge to my growly purr. Part of me was ecstatic, but the other part was all anger, and my hand went to the collar. “Then take it off. If we’re meant to be together, you don’t need this.”
He stared at me with hooded eyes. They were heavy with lust, but it was an unrelenting gold that gleamed through his lashes. Scary Alpha was still in charge, and as the realization washed over me, I pushed him back and fumbled with the edges of my shirt. But he grabbed my hand and smoothing out my curled fingers, pressed something into my palm. Paper crackled, and when I looked down, I saw the letterhead of the fancy hotel in Huntington.
“No more secrets, Vail. And no more letters. You want to invite Marrow onto my lands, you ask me first.”