Regent of this school. What are they gonna do, kick me out?”
“That may be the case, but I’d appreciate a little consideration,” I said. “For all I knew, the Keepers had given you to a wraith for breakfast.”
He frowned. “What’s a wraith?”
A chill ran down my spine. “Never mind. Just call next time, okay?”
“Are you giving me your phone number?” He flashed a teasing grin.
I couldn’t stop my own smile. “I guess I am.”
He pulled out his phone, punching in my number as I rattled it off.
“Want mine?” He raised his eyebrows and watched me, his face hopeful.
“Sure.” I drew out my own phone and entered the number he recited for me.
“Your sweetheart isn’t too happy about this,” Shay said, still smiling.
I looked toward the back of the room. Ren watched us as he leaned casually against the table, holding a pair of scissors. I’d never seen a classroom tool look so dangerous.
“Enjoy your lab,” I murmured, and headed for my usual seat, wanting to kick myself for being so openly friendly with Shay.
By the time I reached our table, Ren had busied himself setting up for the day’s experiment.
“Hey Ren.” I could barely hear myself over my racing pulse. When I looked at him, all I saw was my bed. All I felt was the heat of his body next to mine. All
I heard was my shallow breath while his hands moved beneath my dress.
When I tried to fight those memories off, images of Shay took their place. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d betrayed Ren in some unforgivable way.
But that very thought provoked my temper, conjuring up images of all the girls who’d happily accepted Ren’s kisses and more. Both impulses converged violently inside me, making it impossible for me to look at him.
But Ren didn’t seem inclined to look at me either.
“Calla.” He greeted me coldly. For the first time I could remember, I missed my much-hated nickname.
Is this what he means by no pressure? Or is he mad I was talking to Shay? God, I’m messing up everything.
I muted the sigh that welled in my chest and began digging for my lab workbook.
“So I see you’ve taken Logan’s orders to heart.” Ren’s growl sounded much closer than I’d expected. When I turned to face him, I almost jumped. He hovered over me, his body only inches from mine.
I shrugged. “Orders are orders.”
“Well, that should make him happy.” He placed one hand on the lab station, shifting his weight uneasily, standing so close my body could have nestled in the curve of his own if I only took another step forward.
I tried to focus on the conversation. “Logan? Yes, I’d imagine he’ll be pleased.”
“I meant Shay.” Ren glared at the front of the room.
My head was suddenly filled with lovely sacred virgins thrown into open graves, screaming as dirt was shoveled onto their still-living bodies. I have to fix this.
I placed my hand on his wrist. His gaze flitted back to me, softer now and curious.
“About the other night—” I am an alpha female. He is my mate. Why is this so hard?
He straightened, stepping away. My stomach knotted as I watched his retreat.
“Ms. Foris said this lab will take up the entire period,” he said. “We need to get started.”
“Ren—” I began, but his obsidian glare stopped me in my tracks.
“Just drop it.”
I strode forward, grasped his elbow, and turned him to face me.
“Listen to me, Ren. Everything is a mess right now and it’s been hard on all of us. Like you’ve said.”
He tried to turn away, but I growled, holding him still. A thin smile broke his stony expression.
“You need to know . . .” My courage faltered for a moment, but I drew a quick breath and plunged on, “That I don’t want you to leave me alone.”
The alpha tensed, eyes wary, as if he was waiting for my next qualifying statement. When none came, he carefully extricated his arm from my fingers. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
We carried out our assigned lab work in uncomfortable silence. By the end of the class I was miserable. Ren left the room without so much as a wave.
When I entered the cafeteria, I found the Haldis pack gathered around our two tables yet again, chattering contentedly. Dax, Fey, and Cosette sat in a group. The large senior gesticulated wildly while the two girls beamed at him. Bryn and Ansel sat close together in quiet conversation, but I was relieved to see that they had managed to curb their love-struck gazes at least a little.
I tripped over my own feet when I caught site of Sabine—smiling. She had taken a seat next to Mason and Neville. Mason was demonstrating some questionable uses for a banana, and all three of them burst into fits of laughter.
“Hey Cal,” Ansel said when I sat beside him. “Wanna trade an apple for an orange? You took the last one before I packed my lunch.”
“Sure.”
He immediately began digging in my lunch bag.
“You feeling better, Cal?” Bryn asked. “You seemed really out of it in first period.”
“Uh-huh.” I snatched my oatmeal cookie back from Ansel. “I just didn’t sleep well. I’m fine.”
When Ren approached our tables, I angrily pulled my sandwich from the paper bag, trying to remember what my appetite was. I’d taken a single bite of roast beef when I heard a familiar voice.
“Hey guys.” It sounded like Shay was right behind me. “I wondered if I might join you.”
The bite of sandwich caught in my throat. My eyes watered as I coughed. Ansel slammed me on the back until I could breathe again.