The Wolf's Prey (4 page)

I'm not good
enough; I've never felt like less in my entire life. In two days,
this Alpha has made me into nothing.

Lydia comes in
the room smiling sweetly. "Alpha Hall."

"Why did you hit
Jocelyn?" He demands.

"She was trying
to steal Adam from me." She answers, looking at her
feet.

"We aren't
together, Lydia. We never were." Adam groans.

"I believe your
daughter will get the three day suspension along with the boys.
Jocelyn, you can go back to class."

I stand up and
leave. In class I ignore the speculative glances and take notes. By
the end of the day I'm drained. I answer all of Marta's questions
and go up to my bedroom. I collapse onto my bed and don't wake up
until the following day.

********

Friday

I haven't seen
Alpha Hall for three days. I was starting to think he was over his
protective instincts until Marta found out that he was out of town
visiting a neighboring pack. I had seen Beta Holden a few times,
but didn't realize he was my shadow until one day at lunch when a
couple of girls started making snide remarks to me. I watched as
Beta Holden walked over from the corner of the room and whispered a
few words to them. They put their heads down and didn't look at me
again.

After school was
over I felt nothing but relief. Meeting Marta at the car she was
all smiles.

"What's up with
you?" I ask smiling at her happiness.

"Mom and dad are
going back to see Alpha Rhys."

"Why?"

"I don't know.
They didn't say. Mom just called when I was at lunch. She said you
wouldn't answer your phone."

"My phone was
off. This news is making you jump in your seat because?"

"Girls night!"
She yells.

I laugh. "Girls
night? Who'd you invite?"

"A few girls from
my geometry class, Elizabeth Edwards, Missy Stern and Leah Dixon.
Leah's brother is twenty-one so she's bringing the
beverages."

"Nice. When do
mom and dad leave?"

"They already
left! We have all night!" She squeals.

Once we got home
Marta opened a bottle of wine she stole from my parents after the
move. They never even noticed it was missing. We pour a glass and
end up finishing the bottle before any of the girls get to our
house. We cook frozen pizzas and the bell rings. Marta leaves to
answer the door and comes back with all the girls.

It's awkward at
first. Then we all start drinking the vodka and wine Leah brought.
Two hours later we are all singing and dancing in our underwear in
the living room listening to Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball, passing
around the bottles.

After Miley is
done singing I play Mac Miller's Watching Movies and attempt to rap
along. I'm doing pretty well until someone stops the music. "Hey,
why'd you stop the music?" I ask taking a drink of wine. They point
behind me and I turn, surprised I spit out my drink all over him.
He doesn’t even blink.

********

Take
off Your Shirt

I look at the red
wine stains on Alpha Hall's white shirt. "Fuck me, I'm in so much
trouble. I'm so sorry!" I say loudly and wipe at the stains. He
stands there with his arms crossed watching me. Panicking, I start
to pull up his shirt trying to take if off so I can put it in the
dryer. He uncrosses his arms to make it easier on me but he's too
big. "Take your shirt off and I'll dry it." I order
apologetically.

Slowly he lifts
up his shirt and I help him, pulling it all the way off. I run to
the laundry room, throw it in the dryer and slam the door shut.
Turning it on, I see one of my dad’s clean white t-shirts and run
back to the living room. The Alpha is standing where I left him. I
see that the other girls have their heads down smirking. I bring
the shirt to him and he looks at me. Unable to read his expression
and say, "It’s my dad’s."

I hear a snort
and laughing. I turn and see Marta holding her stomach and the
other girls are holding their hands over their mouths. "What?" I
ask.

"That's not going
to fit him!" She points out.

"Its cotton, it
stretches and uh, breathes." I try to explain the stupidest thing
I've ever done. I hold the shirt to his chest noticing its three
sizes too small. This only makes Marta laugh harder and fall to the
ground. "He doesn't have to wear it." I snap throwing the shirt at
her.

"Good, because it
would look a lot like a condom." Beta Holden remarks fighting a
smile. "Although, it would be funny to see you try to dress him,
too."

I turn red. "Oh,
my God. I undressed you!" I realize horrified. I hear another body
fall behind me. I am so happy they're enjoying this. "I swear I
didn't mean to, Al-Lennox. Please, don't be mad at me." I
plead.

"I'm not mad, but
next time finish the job." He mutters at the same time Marta stands
up saying. "Our parents are gone. You can't blame us for a little
having a little fun." She pouts.

"I heard about
your aunt. I'm sorry." He replies seriously.

"My aunt." I
state confused. He nods. "What about her?" I ask still flustered
about his earlier statement.

"The car
accident." He clarifies.

"What? Why didn't
my mom tell us? Why aren't we there?" I ask shocked. I look at
Marta who doesn't seem surprised about the news. "You knew!" I
accuse.

"She's fine,
Joce. She just has a broken arm and some cuts and bruises. Mom told
me not to tell you because you’re not allowed to leave the
territory and I knew you'd leave and get in trouble. I was just
trying to help you."

Mad at Marta I
don't respond to her. I just leave and go back to the laundry room.
I take out Alpha's stained white shirt just as I turn to leave I
run into him. "Sorry. Here," I say holding out his nearly dry
shirt.

He takes it.
"I'll talk to Alpha Rhys. Maybe your aunt can come visit
here."

I nod. "Thank
you." Then I remember what Martha said about me not being able to
leave the territory. "Why can't I go see her?"

"You can’t
because you’re an unmarked female wolf under eighteen."

"That's the
reason?" I question incredulously. That's so stupid.

"That along with
the fact I'm claiming you on September 22nd. I don't want anyone
getting to you before I do."

"My birthday." I
say stunned.

"Same day as the
challenge." He replies nodding.

"Why?" I
ask.

He stares until I
start to get self conscious. "I want you." He states
simply.

"So all
this isn't because I'm considered the weak link in your
pack?"

"Why
would you think that?"

"I can't
run with the pack, you lift me in and out of your truck like I'm
made of glass. You ordered me to tell you if any one showed
interest in me, the same morning someone told me it was because you
didn't want me to mate and produce weak pups in your pack. I fell
asleep at the park and it warranted a search of the territory. I
didn't eat dinner and you made it seem like you had to make sure I
ate breakfast. You left for three days and I was being watched by
the Beta. Is that enough?" I ask frustrated.

He steps
closer his eyes on mine. "Yes, that's enough." He replies. I step
back but he pulls me to him. His hand lifts to my face and his
thumb traces my lips.

"Can we
go back to drinking?" I hear Marta yell from the living
room.

Ignoring
her I say, "I can choose a mate before I'm eighteen."

He leans
down and whispers, his mouth brushing my ear, "You wouldn't like
what I'd do to him." I tense up. Is he's threatening me?

His eyes
narrow on mine. I feel like he's trying to work something out on
his head so I stay quiet.

***********************************

Alpha
Lennox Hall POV

The fact
that she brought up finding a mate before her birthday pissed me
off. I didn't hesitate to tell her what would happen if she did.
From the moment I saw her, I wanted her. She doesn't act like any
of the other females in the pack. I never liked the female
attention I received and she definitely doesn't give me her
attention. I'm used to walking into a room and turning on every
female in it. When I came to take their scents and faces she spaced
out and didn't bother hiding it, I thought it was a ploy. Her
innocent eyes and the fact she didn't respond sexually to my touch
or presence angered me. It still does. I've given her extra
attention and figured at some point she wouldn't be able to control
her response to me. I was wrong. Whispering in her ear, touching
her hip and I smell nothing.

Even when
she was running her hands on my stomach trying to undress me she
was unresponsive. The other girls reeked of the lust I caused them
to feel.

I intend
to make her want me. I just have to figure out how. Judging by the
way she looks at me she's not comfortable with my size. I can't
help that part but I need her to relax around me and not notice it
so much. Realizing I'm still touching her lips I lean down placing
my mouth on hers. It's an innocent kiss but I still hear her gasp
when I pull away.

"Don't
drink anymore tonight." I demand putting my shirt on and walking
back to Holden. He's standing bored in front of a room of half
naked drunk girls. Like me, he doesn't favor girls asking for
attention. These girls are trying their best to get to him but he's
not having it.

I walk
past him to the door not even glancing at the other girls, knowing
he'll follow. I walk to my truck and get in.

"You went
after her, but you didn't leave with her?"

I clench
my jaw even tighter. "I told her she is mine."

"What was
her response?"

"She said
she could find a mate before her birthday." I growl.

"I was in
that school three days. She got a lot of shit. The whole pack
things you don't like her, that you’re making her an outsider. Give
her time to readjust. Now she knows you want her. Maybe it will
make her more aware of you."

"I
haven't gotten a sexual response from her."

"She's
different. She won't fall at your feet without knowing you
first."

*********

No
Swimming!

In the
morning, I'm the only one without a hangover only because Lennox
ordered me to stop drinking.

I go
outside and sit on the front porch hearing the girls wake up
gradually. Drinking my tea and honey, I watch the sky change colors
and reflect on last night. Why would the Alpha want me?

I hear
the roar of an engine as it comes up our road. I see it's a red
jeep with the top off. The driver pulls in and parks. I notice he
doesn't have a shirt on just a pair of sunglasses and shorts. Then
I notice a small black sports car behind him. I don't know either
of the guys. Maybe they're rides for Marta's friends.

"Hey,
want to go swimming?" The guy in the jeep asks. I look him over,
way too big and muscular. No way do I want to be alone with
him.

"No,
thank you."

The front
door opens and Marta, Elizabeth, Leah and Missy come out. I can see
they're wearing their swim suits under their clothes. I guess they
didn't want me to go with them.

"Elizabeth, tell your friend she has to come."

"You have
to come. Go get your suit on." Elizabeth says bored.

"I think
I'll just stay here."

"Just
come!" Marta yells pushing me through the front door. Reluctantly,
I walk to my room and change into my white bikini. I throw a long
white tube top dress over it and white flip flops. I walk back
outside and the guy in the jeep jumps down waving me over to the
passenger side of the jeep. He opens the door and I get in.
"Thanks." I say quietly.

"You're
welcome, babe." He replies smiling and shutting the
door.

He gets
in and pulls out of the driveway after the little black car leaves.
I silently wonder why no one else rode us.

"I'm
Tom." He introduces himself.

"Jocelyn."

"I know.
The whole pack is talking about you."

I groan.
I really don't want to hear about more gossipy rumors. He laughs.
"Don't worry. I know bullshit lies when I hear them."

"Where
are we going?"

"To the
falls."

"Why
didn't anyone else ride with us?"

He
shrugs. "I only invited you." He states. I look at him. He's a
jock, I can tell and a very cute one, probably popular. He has
thick arms and a broad torso. He's tall and very
athletic.

"Aren't
they your friends?"

"Yeah,
but I just wanted it to be us."

"Why?"

"So we
can get to know each other. Now, tell me about
yourself."