The Alpha and the Mistake

Chapter 5

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the door and saw him standing there. "Harry didn't throw you

out?" Traitor.

"Why would he do that?" A lazy, yet smug smirk spread across his lips.

I did my best to ignore the way it made the butterflies in my stomach flutter. I leaned against the door,

barely holding in the sigh. "You're not leaving, are you?"

He shook his head side to side. "Nope."

I left the door open as I sat on my bed cross-legged. Harry and I would talk about this. "I'd ask you why

— why go through all this trouble? Yet, one of the first things I learned about your kind is you don't

make any sense."

I expected him to get angry, but instead, his smirk turned into a smile. "Hey, there is a method to our

chaos I have you know." He walked around the room. Dean paused at every picture, every decoration,

every stuffed animal I still clung too. It was unnerving, almost as bad as if he had opened my

underwear drawer and went through it.

He stopped at a picture of Dad and me and picked it up. I stiffened. "Don't you dare," I warned him.

"Say what you want about me, but don't you dare say anything about my dad." I didn't care how much I

would regret it later, but I wouldn't let them talk crap about Dad.

Dean set down the picture, looking sad and something like hurt. "I get you don't believe me, but I'm not

like Mike. I don't enjoy making a stupid show of how badass I am by picking on those weaker than me.

I only hang around Mike because I have to. In truth, I'd love nothing more than to break his stupid face,

but that'd cause too much trouble for the people I care about."

Oh? Something about Dean made me believe him. Crazy, right? "If what you're saying is true then why

are you here? If Mike found out you've been here, talking to me, he'd have kittens."

Dean laughed and shrugged. "Some things are worth the risk." Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

I stared at him, debating if mental illness was possible among werewolves. There was no way Dean's

mental health was in good standing. "You are the most confusing person I've met, and that is saying a

lot." I shook my head. "Whatever game you're playing keep my mom out. Dad's death broke her. Harry

changed that, made her happy. I won't have you ruining that."

"What about you?" His smile soured into a frown. "She'd want you to be happy and safe? Do you think

she'd be happy knowing what her happiness is costing you?"

His words stung deep inside me. Guilt swirled in my stomach. I knew Mom wouldn't like it, but what

choice did I have. Besides, it was almost over. One more year and I'd be eighteen. I could go anywhere

I wanted, away from werewolves and Mike. A little bit of patience and I would be free. "Exactly why I

don't tell her."

I appreciated Dean's whole side with the underdog thing. His concern was kind of sweet, but I didn't

need it. "This is none of your business. You're here a week maybe two? Do what you have to do. Don't

worry about me or my life. It's not your problem."

"Yes, it is. You're — " Dean frowned, ran a hand through his hair. "What about yourself, Brook?"

Ugh, why couldn't he let it go? "Okay, I tried to be nice, now I'll be blunt. I'm not your friend or your

good deed for the month. I do not need your help nor do I want your help. What I want is for you to

leave. I do have homework and I'm tired."

Frustration was obvious on his face. I cringed, waiting for the oncoming argument. Instead, he sighed,

ran his hands through his hair before walking to the door. At the doorway, he turned. "What's

happening to you is wrong, Brook. I promise I will make this better for you."

Dean left, and I stared at the empty doorway in horror. I would've been less scared if he told me he

planned to dine on my liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Damn it. Figures, I'd run into the

one werewolf with a hero complex. He would ruin everything. I had to stop him, I wasn't sure how, but I

couldn't let Dean interfere.

Not knowing what else to do, I started my homework. That's right ladies and gentleman; Hell hath

frozen over. I am doing homework but not because I have to but because I needed the distraction.

What is the world coming to?

###

The next morning I looked at the school and groaned. Even though I was running late, I stood there. I

didn't want to deal with the Superman-wannabe. Despite all last night and this morning, I had no clue

how to stop him from ruining my life. Then there was Mike. Ugh. I so didn't want to deal with him either.

Why didn't Mom let me stay home? She was callous when I told her I was quite sick. In fact, only a

negligent parent would send me to school. So what did Mom do? Sent me to school. She even went so

far as to claim if I felt bad I could go to the nurse.

Right. The nurse. It should be illegal for them to even be called nurses. It didn't matter if someone was

vomiting their lungs out if a student didn't have a fever the nurse couldn't care less. She'd send them

right back to class.

Again, I tried to tell Mom about the school nurses, but all I got was a paltry "you'll be late." So I

explained her moral duty to keep me home, saving the others from this super-contagious virus. Mom

pushed me out the door, like an unwanted guest. I should go to child services; this has to be child

abuse and unusual cruelty to a minor.

The shrill clanging of the school's bell system told me what Mom repeated several times today — I was

late. F.M.L. I stepped toward the school when Mike slammed into me.

He gave me a clumsy sort of hug. "Missy! Hey ya, Missy."

Mike all but yelled it in my ear, making me wince. Also, the boy stank of alcohol. My nose wrinkled. I

tried to put some distance between us, but his arm wrapped around my shoulders like a snake around

its lunch. "Where you've been, Missy? I didn't see you at all yesterday."

"Um, around." I tried to take a step towards school, but he refused to let me go. "We're late."

Mike snorted, giving me a disgusted glare. "So? It's not like it will matter if you get good grades or even

graduate, Missy Mistake." He laughed, reminding me of those cartoon hyenas.

"I care."

Mike continued to cackle and snicker. I glared at him, noticing he had a nasty black eye. It piqued my

curiosity, but I'd never ask. I knew it was none of my business. I tried again to go inside, but he stopped

me again. "Mike, seriously!" I grimaced, realizing I used his name.

Instead of hitting me, Mike dragged me away from the school. "Screw School! Come on, let's go."

For the first few clumsy steps, I tried to worm my way out from under his arm. I tried to tell him to let me

go but he ignored me, as usual. Mike was too strong so I gave up until I realized he was heading to the

woods.

The woods was their playground. Fear slammed into me, and I dug my heels into the grass. "Wait.

Mike, where are you going?"

"Quit being such a whiny bitch," Mike said and slapped me hard across the face.

On the ground, white bursts flooded my vision as the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. I touched

my lip and winced. He busted my lip which was against the rules. How would I explain this to Mom?

Mike scowled and grabbed my wrist. He jerked me to my feet so hard I thought he might pull my arm

off. "Come on."

I swallowed, fear welling in my gut as he forced me into the woods with him. This wasn't typical Mike.

Something was very wrong. I glanced behind us, at school. A moment ago it seemed like hell, now the

school was my salvation. A Salvation beyond my reach.