Chapter Five
Marshall watched as Scarlett laughed with Trey, the new kid. They’d gotten close, and from what he’d learned in gym, they lived next door to each other. He was pissed off and furious. His wolf was pacing against the surface.
“Are you okay, man?”
“Do I fucking look okay?” Marshall asked, snarling at Jack.
“I’m sorry.” Jack held his hands up.
They were waiting for their parents to arrive. If Trey didn’t walk away from Scarlett in a moment, Marshall was going to fucking kill the bastard.
Out of all of the women to be his mate, he couldn’t believe it was Scarlett. It was just his fucking luck. She wouldn’t let him get near her. During English he’d asked Jack to make a nuisance of himself so Miss Kingry wouldn’t have a choice but to move them. If she hadn’t partnered him up with Scarlett, he’d have done whatever it took to make sure they were. When they’d had to share the book, the floral scent coming off her had made it hard for him to focus. He’d given her no choice but to lean against him to read the poem. It had taken every ounce of restraint not to grab her and claim those lush lips.
“You’re staring,” Jack said.
“Who is this fucker?” Marshall growled the words out. His wolf wanted to go and claim his mate, not watch another man get close to her.
“I don’t know, man. He’s new around here. There’s not a lot we know on him.”
“Then find out what you can.” He didn’t want just anyone hanging around his mate. The scent of the pack swamped him, and Marshall saw his father pulling into the parking lot. “Hello, son.”
“Hey, Dad.”
“Get in, Jack. Your father couldn’t make it.”
“No problem,” Jack said, climbing into the back of the truck.
Marshall slammed his door shut and was unable to look away from Scarlett. The door to her new car was open, but Trey held onto the doorframe, stopping her from climbing inside.
“What’s going on, Marshall?” Luke asked. The tone of the alpha was in his voice, and he was demanding respect.
“I found my mate today.”
He turned around in the car to get one last look of her before his father pulled him away. His wolf moaned, wanting to be in Scarlett’s company. He rubbed at his chest as the pain intensified.
“Son?”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
Marshall shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Jack?” Luke asked, directing his question into the back.
“Her name’s Scarlett Fields. She’s human.”
Luke didn’t show any sign of the news being a problem. It had been some time since a wolf had mated with a human, but it wasn’t unheard of.
“What, Dad?”
“Nothing. It offers a complication, but it’s not unheard of. I can reach out to other packs to see how they approach her family.”
Jack snorted. “You’ve got no chance of reaching out to her family.”
“Why?”
“She wants nothing to do with me.”
“Why not?”
Glancing in the mirror at his friend, Marshall knew it was up to him, not Jack, to tell his father. “I’ve not exactly been the nicest person to her growing up.”
“We bullied her,” Jack said, speaking up.
“You bullied your own mate?”
Shame filled every part of him. “Yes.”
“We didn’t know she was his mate then,” Jack said.
It didn’t matter. His father had warned him about hurting others. No one was sure of their mate until after the change.
“Your mother’s not going to be happy,” Luke said.
He wasn’t happy himself.
No one spoke for the rest of the journey. Luke dropped Jack off first before they headed toward their own home. They lived in a secluded part of the town that was cut off by the forest. None of the locals ever ventured into the forest. Rumors of bears, wolves, and coyotes kept them all away.
His father slammed the door closed, and they headed inside.
The sound of his mother’s humming filled his senses. Great, he hated upsetting his mother, but he wouldn’t have a choice.
Seconds later she came around the corner carrying a bowl. The scent of her baking wafted toward his nostrils.
“How was your first day?”
“It was good.”
“Son!”
Closing his eyes, Marshall took a deep breath. He didn’t want to upset his mother.
“What’s going on?” Carla asked.
“He has found his mate,” Luke said.
She squealed, wrapping her arms around him. “Where is she? I couldn’t wait for this moment. Do you remember when we changed for the first time? We were true mates.”
“She’s human,” his father said.
Carla looked worried. “Oh, dear.”
“I’ve also spent a great deal of time bullying her.” Marshall blurted the words out. It would be better if he told her everything.
“Bullied?”
Marshall nodded.
“You bullied a young woman who’s your mate?”
Staring at his mother he saw tears and disappointment fill her eyes.
“Yes.”
“She’s a human and hates you?”
“Yes.” His wolf dropped his head. The full force of what he’d done finally hit him like a slap to the face. There was no chance of him ever getting Scarlett to want him, let alone love him. Mates were destined. They were fated to be together and were supposed to love, honor, and cherish each other. He wouldn’t be able to look at another woman without thinking about his mate. “I’m going to my room.”
No one stopped him as he carried his bag upstairs to his room.
“Luke, what should we do?”
“I’m going to call a few friends. They know of humans mating with us. I need to make sure he’s taken care of as much as the girl.”
His father moved around. He listened to his parents talk about the different packs all over the world for several minutes.
“He was a bully?” His mother sounded so disappointed in him.
Sitting on the end of his bed, he dropped his head between his thighs.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, Carla. She may never accept him. She’s human. There’s no way she’ll feel such a strong connection.”
“What did she look like?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see her.”
She’s beautiful, more beautiful than he ever imagined she could be. Scarlett was everything he wanted in a woman and didn’t even know about. He was such an asshole. Last year he’d been annoyed with his response to her, lashing out and hurting her for his own issues. Now, he was living with the consequences of his actions, and he hated it.
Running fingers through his hair, he slid down the bed until he landed on the floor. His cell phone went off, and he held it to his ear.
“How are you holding up?” Jack asked.
“My mom’s upset.”
“Do you blame her? Even I remember her talking all excitedly about your mating. It was going to be the event of the year.”
“I’ve fucked it up. I’ve fucked everything up.”
Jack didn’t speak for several minutes. Running a hand over his face, Marshall tried to think of something that could repair the damage.
“What was it like?” Jack asked.
“What?”
“You know, finding her? Knowing she was the one designed to be yours for the rest of your life.”
Blowing out a breath, Marshall rolled onto his back so he was looking at the ceiling. “She smelled of roses, the forest, home. She smelled like home, and when I heard her speak, I knew I could sit and listen to her talk all day. It wouldn’t matter what she said, only that she kept talking and didn’t stop.”
“Wow,” Jack said.
“I wanted to touch her. I wanted to wrap my arms around her, hold her close and never let go. I wanted to fuck her, make love to her, and claim her so no other guy would get the change. She’s the other half of me, and I know I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”
Jack was silent for several minutes.
Marshall got to his feet, heading toward his closet.
“What about her weight? I mean, she’s, you know, chunky.”
Pausing in his closet, he thought about Jack’s question. “She’s perfect, Jack. Fuck, before summer, all of last year I was responding to her. You know, getting turned on just being around her.”
“Why didn’t you fucking say anything? I wouldn’t have picked on her,” Jack said.
“I don’t know. I didn’t understand it. Why did we bully her? She was so fucking scared of me, Jack. She flinched away from my touch as if the thought of my touch terrified her.”
“Shit, man, I’m so sorry.”
He rested the phone against his shoulder as he reached up to grab the box that contained old school photos that his parents had gotten over the years.
“Is there anything you can do?”
“I don’t know. I’m not going to quit or give up without a fight. She’s my mate.”
“What are you going to do about this new guy? He’s not going to back away.”
Marshall walked back to his bed, putting the box on top. “We’re going to become friends with him.”
Jack laughed. “How do you work that out?”
“We become friends with him, I get close to Scarlett. I can’t just leave her.”
“You’re going to get close to her by being friends with him?”
“It’s the only way I can see it can work. When we’re friends, I can push him away using other girls.”
He was going to start being nice to her as well. Marshall didn’t know what he was going to do, but he had the rest of the year to try to figure it out. He disconnected the call and opened up the box. Inside were all the photographs from years ago.
Some of them were class photos. Picking one up from when he was ten, he looked through the photo and stopped when he caught sight of Scarlett. She was standing in front of him in the picture. How had he not known she was going to be his mate?
Sitting on his bed, he went through most of the pictures, and was shocked to find they were close together in each one. Had he known?
His mother knocked on his door.
“Come in.”
He sat in the center of his bed surrounded with pictures of his mate. There were not any of just her, but there was enough to soothe his wolf.
Carla carried a tray filled with cookies and some milk.
“You got through your first day.”
“Is Dad still mad?”
“He’s concerned.” She sat on the edge of the bed after putting his drink and cookies on the night stand beside his bed. “This her?”
Marshall pointed to Scarlett.
“What’s her name?”
“Scarlett.”
“She has a beautiful name.”
He nodded.
“I’m really sorry about this, Marshall.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it.”
“And here I was worried more about your first day back at school.”
He blew out a breath. “She hates me, Mom.”
“Then charm her. She’s your mate, so something has to draw her to you.” Carla stroked his cheek. “I’d advise that you don’t bully her anymore.”
There was no chance of that.
****
The following day Scarlett had gym once again, and the teacher, Mr. Bridges was having all of them running laps. She’d run around the track four times, and she was starting to get out of puff. Trey was running beside her even though he didn’t have to.
“You can run on ahead,” she said, wanting any excuse to just fall back and stare up at the beautiful blue sky.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“You’re going to torture me.” She grabbed her side, slowing down as it got too much.
“Come on, Fields and Decker, get moving.” The teacher blew his whistle.
Picking up her pace, she kept running, wishing someone would come and take her away now. She’d gladly have a broken leg than have to keep running.
“I enjoyed last night.”
Trey had called around to her house when her folks arrived home. He introduced himself as her friend. Her parents adored him, and Scarlett was starting to really like him. He was fun and didn’t bully her.
“Me, too.” She glanced over at him to see him smiling back at her.
“I was wondering if you’d like to come around to mine to study tonight? My mom will be home so you don’t have to worry about me taking advantage of you.”
Scarlett giggled. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t worry about that.”
“Come on, Decker, move it,” Marshall said, giving Trey a nudge as he started to pass.
She froze as she watched Trey throw Marshall off him then charge on ahead. Scarlett kept running, watching as Marshall and Trey were competing for first place.
When the teacher blew the whistle, Scarlett started walking heading toward the group. The whole day of school had been exhausting, and finishing on gym didn’t help. Her legs were like Jell-O.
Trey punched Marshall in the arm before he ran back up to her.
“Sorry about that. It’s inbuilt to accept a challenge.”
“No problem.” She rubbed her palms down the shorts she wore. The shirt she wore was three times too big, but she was starting to wish she’d gone for a different shirt as it kept slipping off her shoulder. “You’re, erm, you’re friends?”
Trey nodded.
It was good he was making friends. They started walking toward the gym.
“Here is the man,” Marshall said, grabbing Trey around the head, and rubbing his hair.
Scarlett kept walking.
“Get off me. Can’t you see I’m talking here?”
She tapped her thighs as they entered the gym. At the start of gym class they’d been split into two groups. Once they entered the room, Cheryl squealed bouncing over toward them. Scarlett kept moving, going toward the bleachers to take a seat. She was sweaty, and when she got home she was going to take a long shower.
“What’s happening?” Trey asked.
“Dodgeball,” Cheryl said.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Cheryl run her hands up Marshall’s chest. The teacher shouted Cheryl’s name as the game started up. Mr. Bridges took a seat on the bleachers with his group of students.
Trey sat beside her, and she couldn’t help but feel Marshall sit directly behind her. Something touched her back, and she jerked around to see what it was only to find nothing there but Marshall’s hands.
“What’s up?” Trey asked.
“Nothing.” She was losing her mind. There was no way Marshall would try to touch her. Glancing back to the game, she watched as the teams started throwing balls to either side of the room. Some of the balls hitting flesh made her wince.
“Right, team, you’re up,” Mr. Bridges said. “Our team against yours.”
Trey grabbed her hand, leading her onto their space of the court. She didn’t like this. Grabbing a ball from the floor, Scarlett blew out a breath as she faced the other team. She hated dodgeball.
“Are you okay?” Trey asked.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
It wouldn’t be long before she was out anyway.
The whistle blew, and she was shocked as Marshall moved a little in front of her. She dodged balls that were firing her way, throwing the ball across the room. She picked up one of the balls off the floor and handed it to Marshall.
Trey grunted as a ball hit his thigh.
Moving around, she aimed one of the balls across the court, but it missed. She noticed how close Marshall was to her.
For a split second her attention was distracted, and in the next moment pain exploded across her face as a ball caught her. Going to the floor, Scarlett cupped her face at the intense pain that slammed into her.
The sound of a whistle going off in the distance halted the game.
“Ouch,” Scarlett said.
Mr. Bridges leaned over her. “Scarlett, can you hear me?”
“I don’t suppose a ball to the face means I’m still in the game?”
He chuckled. “No, it doesn’t, however, it does call for the team to lose a member.” He looked toward the other team. Marshall appeared above her.
“How are you feeling?” Marshall asked.
“My face feels like it just got hit by a ball.” She removed her hand and saw all three men wince. Jack appeared above her. “Do I even want to know?”
“Help her up and bring her to my office,” Mr. Bridges said.
Someone wrapped their arms around her, lifting her to her feet. Marshall was helping her. His arm slid across her back, and he pulled her arm across his neck.
“Come on, I’ll help you.”
Trey walked over to them. “Do you want me to take over?”
“Nah, I’ve got her from here. You take my place.”
Mr. Bridges led the way, grabbing out a cold compress from the freezer. “I’m going to have to call your parents.”
Before she got a chance to warn him that they would be out, he was gone, leaving her alone with Marshall.
Sitting on the sofa in the office, she placed the compress over her face. It hurt like hell, and it felt like her cheek was starting to swell. “Does it look bad?”
She didn’t like the way he sat looking at her.
He’d been crouching in front of her but stood to grab a mirror. Pulling the cold compress from her cheek, she saw the damage. Half her face was red from the ball.
“Who hit me?”
“Cheryl. She threw the ball.” He growled out the words.
Biting her lip, she nodded. It made sense for Cheryl to go for a blow that would seriously hurt her.
Mr. Bridges came in seconds later. “I can’t get either of your parents.”
“They’re doctors. Don’t worry.”
“No, I don’t want you driving home like that. I need to make sure—”
“I can take her home,” Marshall said.
“What?”
“Yeah, I’ve got my car. I’ll take her home, and Jack can follow with her car.”
“Are you sure?” Mr. Bridges asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
She didn’t want Marshall anywhere near her home or her car.
“Excellent. I’ve left a message at the hospital.”
Mr. Bridges left the room once again.
“You really don’t need to take me home. I can find some way there myself.”
“You’re going to be able to drive?”
“Of course.” She only had a ball to the face.
“Look, if you don’t let me take you home, Bridges is going to make you stay until your folks get home. Do you want to stay behind until they’re here?” Marshall asked.
“I don’t want you to drive me home.” He may be friends with Trey, but he wasn’t her friend. She didn’t trust him and wouldn’t start doing so anytime soon.
He blew out a breath. They were two days into the new year of school, and suddenly he was driving her home, being nice. She shouldn’t trust him. Scarlett didn’t trust.
“Look, when it came to you, I fucked up. I know that. I’m offering you an olive branch here. I’m not messing with you. I want to be your friend.”
“Why?”
“I want to be.”
“You’re not going to say any more than that?”
“No.”
“I don’t like this.”
“I’m not asking you to like it. Let me take you home.”
She nibbled her bottom lip, wishing she could find any excuse not to be alone with him.
“Okay.” She whispered the word but wanted to take it back the moment she did.
“Good.”
He helped her to her feet, and she placed the cold compress on the desk. Jack was waiting by the door.
“I need to grab my stuff,” Scarlett said.
Marshall didn’t let her go. He followed her to the girls’ room, helping her grab her bag with her clothes. She stuffed them inside so that he wouldn’t see any of the sizes. Scarlett was waiting for the next stage of the joke, but nothing was happening. Once outside, she saw Trey waiting for her.
“Shit, Scarlett, are you okay?” He reached out to touch her cheek. She winced, and she was sure she heard a growl come from Marshall.
“I’m fine. Bridges asked Marshall to take me home.”
“Do you want me to take you?”
“I’ve already arranged it. I’ll see you later, Trey,” Marshall said, leading her out of the gym. They hit the warm air of the afternoon. Jack stood on one side of her while Marshall continued to hold her.
“I can walk.”
“I know. I’m happier holding you.”
Jack chuckled.
Scarlett couldn’t help the unease that worked its way up. Jack stopped chuckling, and she saw him stare at Marshall. “Fuck, you were right.”
“What?” Scarlett asked.
“Nothing is going to happen to you, baby. We’re not going to hurt you. We’re only going to help get you home,” Marshall said.
Jack went on ahead.
Her mouth went dry. What was going on?
Marshall stopped her and placed his palm against her cheek. “I need you to stop being afraid. We’re not going to hurt you, and we’re not going to bully you. It’s over, and we’re not going to do it again.”
She really wanted to trust him, but she couldn’t. For so long he’d made her life a misery. How could she even trust him now?
“Jack needs your keys.”
Scarlett searched her bag, pulling out her keys and handing them to Marshall. He threw the keys toward Jack and then helped her toward his car. She was surprised by his attention. He opened the door, helping her up into her seat. She slid inside, wanting him to stop touching her. Scarlett didn’t trust his touch.
He closed the door, rounding the car to get behind the wheel. His masculine scent filled the small space, and she didn’t like how comforting his smell was.
Mate!
“Hey, are you with me?” he asked.
She nodded as she kept her eyes closed. Scarlett didn’t want to look at him.
“That was some defense with the ball.”
Opening her eyes, she looked at him. His black hair was slick with sweat that hadn’t dried yet. His gaze was straight ahead on the road. His jaw looked firm as if he was gritting his teeth. She wondered what he was thinking.
“You really think I was trying to get the ball that landed in my face?”
“Um, no, but it was pretty damn good for what you did.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. He chuckled along with her, and for the first time in his company, she started to relax.
Resting her head along the back of the chair, she groaned at the ache that had started to build.
“How are you holding up?” He touched her cheek.
“I’ve got a really bad headache. Seriously, it hurts.” She pressed a hand to her head.
“We’ll have you home in no time.”
“Why are you caring?” she asked. The words were out of her mouth before she could even stop them.
He didn’t say anything. “Why wouldn’t I care?”
She snorted. “You’ve done nothing but bully me. Why are you being nice?”
He glanced down at her before going back to looking at the road. “I turned over a new leaf. I’m no longer going to be an ass to you.”
Scarlett kept her gaze on him, not believing it. There’s no way a guy like Marshall changed.
“You don’t believe me?”
“No, sorry, I don’t.”
“I guess I deserve that. I’ve got a lot to make up for.”
She decided not to say anything. There was no need for words. He pulled up outside of her home several minutes later.
Opening the door, she grabbed her bag, sliding out of the car. He was there in front of her, quicker than she thought possible.
“You’re fast.”
“I’ve got great reflexes.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and led the way toward her house. Jack arrived within minutes of Marshall pulling up outside her home, and he handed her the keys.
She slid the key into the lock as Marshall led her into her home. “I’ve got it from here.”
“I want to make sure you’re safe.”
“No. I’m fine.”
He didn’t listen and helped her into her home. Marshall closed the door behind them, leaving them alone.
“Don’t you think that’s rude?” she asked.
“Do you really want Jack in here?”
She shook her head. She didn’t want him in here, but he’d invited himself in anyway.
Marshall helped her through to the kitchen. She took a seat and watched as he opened drawers and cupboards.
“What are you looking for?”
“Some aspirin that will help with your headache.”
Pressing a hand to her temple, she shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ll deal with it.”
She heard him cheer and then the water running. In no time at all he stood in front of her with a glass in his hand.
“Drink up.”
Taking the two white pills from his hand, she swallowed them down.
“You should have checked they were aspirin.”
Her stomach twisted as she looked up at him. Marshall was smiling.
“I’m joking, Scarlett. They were aspirin.” He shook his head, taking the water from her. “Come on, I’ll help you upstairs.”
“I don’t think so.” She was calling a stop to this.
“Don’t you want help?”
“I’m going to shower and go to bed. I don’t want you upstairs.” She placed a hand on his chest, stalling him.
“I’m good at washing backs.”
“I don’t care. You can wash other girls’ backs.” She started to guide him back to the door.
“You’re being completely unfair.”
“I appreciate your help, Marshall. Thank you.”
She opened the front door, ushering him out. He didn’t fight her. Scarlett was oddly touched by his attention.
“Call me if you need anything.”
Shaking her head, Scarlett shut the door. She wouldn’t be calling Marshall for anything.
Mate.