Chapter Forty-eight

“Try harder.”

I glared back at Jace. “I am trying.”

“Not good enough.”

“Do you want to help me or not, because right now you are just annoying me.” I crossed my arms.

Jace sighed and began to pace the large empty hall we were in. It was one of the many empty rooms of the large house dad and Jace lived in. They had offered for me to move in but we all agreed, in order for me to keep up my ‘not knowing,’ I should be living at home.

As much as it sucked, mom just cared about what the pack thought of her. Why else would she agree to let them do this to me?

“It’s been weeks, and you still haven’t changed.” Jace frowned. “Maybe your wolf is too damaged.”

I sat down in the middle of the room, bringing my knees to my head. “Wish it was dead around Zane. He still manages to bring the wolf out of me.”

“Is it a pulling?”

“More like a need.” I looked up. “If I could still feel that surely my wolf mustn’t be that dead.”

“We just need to reign that in and….” He sat next to me. “Then maybe we have a chance here.”

“I just need to get really pissed off.” I smirked and nudged his shoulder. “Sorry for yelling at you.”

“You had something to yell about so don’t be sorry. By the way, I like the hair.”

Here I was thinking he wasn’t going to say anything. “Thanks.”

“Got a reason for changing your appearance?”

“Felt like it.” I looked at him sideways. “Just didn’t want to be the same girl they took advantage of…well, I didn’t want to look like her anymore anyway.”

“Makes sense.”

Someone that understood it. At least with Jace, I could be honest, he knew the real me.

“Ok, let’s try again.” I got up. “Maybe I can focus on hating Zane to influence a change.”

Jace cracked a grin and stood up shaking his head. “If only it were that easy.”

I knew it wouldn’t be, but the least we could do was try.

 

***

I was dreading next period while getting my books out of my locker when Chase appeared at my side.

“So, are you and Blake fighting again?”

I looked at him oddly. “No.”

“So why won’t he speak to you?”

“News to me.” I closed my locker. “He is most likely pissed off I embarrassed him in front of his girlfriend the other day which I totally don’t get. One minute he is all about her, the next he wants nothing to do with her. Explain to me how that is healthy.”

We walked down the hallway.

“You’re talking about Ebony.”

“Who else.”

“That is complicated.” His words wavered. “Blake will work it out.”

“Well, I don’t have to stand by and watch the cow wiggle her way into his life.”

“They’ll sort it out, and maybe once you get to know her, you might actually get on with her.”

“More chance of me hooking back up with Blake than that.”

“Look I’ve got to go. See you at lunch?” I paused at the classroom door, and he nodded his head.

Then I took a sharp breath and stepped into the class I had with Zane.

Then there he was, sitting at the back, leaning back on his chair with his piercing eyes locked on me. It was as if he had been waiting for me to walk through.

He pulled the toothpick out from his teeth and leaned forward. “Hey, Allie.” He waved his hand for me to come to him.

Was he drunk?

Still?

I slowly made my way there. “Zane.” I tilted my head. “What’s up?”

“Thought you might want to sit with me this period?”

Ever get that feeling like every pair of eyes in the class are on you? Well, I wasn’t imagining it. It was really happening.

“Instead of sitting by yourself?” he added.

This wasn’t part of the plan, but my wolf was stirring, and she was waking being near him. I guess I could just try and make up a plan as I go.

I dropped my textbooks down next to him. “So, this is different.”

“So is your hair and your clothes. In fact, it is like I’m meeting a completely different Allie.” He put the toothpick back in his mouth. “Wanna explain why?”

“A change is always good.”

“Yeah and usually there is a reason why behind it.”

“Guess it will just have to be a mystery to you.”

“Babe, you are a mystery to me.”

Babe.

One word and it stirred so many emotions inside me.

Not fair.

I flipped my hair back. “I’m not that much of a mystery if you really knew me.”

“You know smoking kills you.” He turned side on, facing me. “Shortens your life.”

“And why would you care if my life is shortened?” I arched my eyebrows. “It’s not like we are friends.”

“I think of you as a friend.”

“Then I would hate to be your enemy if this is how you treat friends.”

“Fair enough. Guess I have some ground to make up with you.”

“And what has you thinking I want that ground to be made up?” I looked him squarely in the eye. “You aren’t as smooth as you think, Zane Harris, and you don’t have me on my knees.”

“Now, babe, if you were on your knees I think we skipped friendship altogether.” He smirked.

I leaned closer to him, hearing his heartbeat increase. “You don’t know what you are messing with, I’m not just any girl.”

“No.” He pulled the toothpick out, and the smirk dropped. “You’re the girl that drives me crazy. So, no, you aren’t just any girl, you’re my girl.”

“And how did I become that unlucky?”

“You tipped orange juice down the front of my shirt.” He cracked a grin. “Been cursed since then, babe.”

“Whatever. You’re likely to take all this back by next period anyway.” I turned back and looked at the front of the class. “That’s the game you play. Hot and cold. You enjoy the chase.”

“I haven’t played games with you.”

“Really.” I snapped, “Then what do you call talking to me one minute, and the next minute you are not? You were meant to be my forever, and all I got was pain.” My words just tumbled out, and I snapped my mouth shut once I said it. “Can we just focus on the class?”

He didn’t say one word.

And my God I was sweating because I nearly, if not have already, broken my secret.