Chapter 116

Jack met me at our usual spot after school, leaning against the light post with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

“Ready?” he snapped.

I was right on time, but I didn’t bother saying so. Anyway, he was the one who kept forgetting or being late.

“You know you don’t need to walk me,” I mumbled. “I can get home on my own.” Now that I’d met our father, I didn’t see what the big threat was. He clearly wasn’t going to try to abduct me again. Still, Jack insisted on walking me to and from school.

“Yes, I do,” he grumbled.

I rolled my eyes when he wasn’t looking.

The more time that went by, the more annoyed I became with him. He refused to talk about our family and his past, no matter when or how I brought it up. I didn’t think I deserved to be left in the dark. Didn’t he think it was dangerous for me? I didn’t see how my ignorance could help anything, but apparently, he thought it better if I knew nothing.

“Jack, can we please talk?” I tried again. “You can’t keep lying to me.”

“I’m not,” he replied. “I’m just not telling you everything.”

“That’s the same thing.”

His scowl deepened. “Hardly.”

I opened my mouth to say something else, but the look on his face stopped me. Even though I was starting to push back a little, I still didn’t want to anger him. He was my only family, the person who raised me. I wasn’t ready to turn my back on him.

“Don’t forget you have things to do at home,” he said as we approached the front door of our house. “You don’t have time to spend hours texting with Matt.”

I had a feeling my punishment for the other night also served to keep me away from Matt. I wasn’t allowed to go out at night, even with Fiona.

“I know.”

He stopped me before I could go inside, his brows pulled together. “My friends are coming over tonight. We’ll need dinner.”

I nodded.

“If I find you slacking off, I will not be pleased.”

I nodded again. “I get it Jack.”

He frowned, but opened the door, gesturing for me to go inside. I went straight up to my room to drop off my bags. Then I got started on cleaning the house. He wanted me to clean out the garage, which would take me hours.

“Oh, Celeste,” Jack said, coming around the corner. I paused with my hand on the door to the garage, a bucket of cleaning supplies hanging off my arm.

“Yes?” I answered, half turning toward him.

A mean smile crossed his face. “I know you were seen with Matt today at school.”

I braced myself, not knowing where he was going with this.

“Tell him that if I ever catch him with his hands on you again, I’ll beat the shit out of him. I never want to see you kissing him like that again. It was disgusting.”

I wasn’t sure if Jack even could beat Matt up, considering the whole werewolf thing, but I could tell by the look on his face that he meant it.

“You should hear what people at school are saying about you two,” he continued before I could respond. “No one can figure out what the hell Matt’s thinking. I guess he just has a thing for fat girls.”

I didn’t answer.

He shrugged nonchalantly. “I guess some people like dating down…” He seemed to notice my hand on the door. “Well, I’ll let you get to work. Don’t forget about dinner.”

“Okay,” I said meekly.

He frowned at me, then gestured for me to go into the garage. I immediately slipped inside the dim room, closing the heavy door behind me. Tears threatened to fall, but I swallowed against the lump in my throat. I knew Jack was just trying to make me feel bad because he didn’t like the idea of me with Matt, but his comments still stung.

I busied myself cleaning, trying to push his words out of my head. Matt wanted me and I wanted him. It shouldn’t matter what anyone else said.

Still, my tears eventually mingled with the sweat on my cheeks.

Matt

I waited until I saw Celeste walk away with Jack before I went back into the school. She tried to play it off earlier, but I knew being accosted by Alyx upset her. Luckily, Enzo was there to help her escape.

I stalked through the halls, ignoring the curious looks of my classmates. The anger was definitely showing on my face, but I couldn’t contain it anymore.

Alyx was leaning against the far wall, talking to a pretty girl with black braids. I stopped at his shoulder and gave the girl a hard stare. “Excuse me,” I said. “I need a moment with Alyx.”

I practically spit the words and she quickly scurried off, throwing me a wide-eyed look over her shoulder. If I didn’t get my emotions under control soon, I was bound to shift. I forced myself to talk a few deep breaths as Alyx slowly turned to face me.

He wore a similar look of hostility on his face.

“Can I help you with something?” he snarled.

“You need to stay away from Celeste. She doesn't want to talk to you. If I find out you’ve tried to approach her again, we’re going to have a problem.”

He gave me a taunting smile. “Are you so sure of that? She was into me not that long ago. My charms are hard to resist.”

I had to resist the urge to slam my fist into his face. I knew it would be satisfying, but people were watching us, and I didn’t want to make any more of a scene that I already had.

“Leave her alone,” I snapped. “After what you did, she never wants to see you again.”

“We’ll see.”

I took a step closer to him. He was tall, but I was still taller. I glared down at him, letting my eyes shift a little. He just bared his teeth at me.

“I won’t ask you again.”

He gave me a light shove. I almost lost it right then, but a broad hand on my shoulder stopped me.

I whirled around and Enzo let his hand fall back to his side. Nina stood a few paces behind him, a pensive look on her face.

“You heard him,” Enzo said, his voice low and menacing. “Bother Celeste again and he’s not the only one you’ll have a problem with. Now fuck off.”

Alyx just shook his head and sauntered off, throwing me a glare over his shoulder. He didn’t look nearly as worried as he should have.

“You need to calm down,” Enzo said under his breath. “You were about to shift in a room full of students.”

I glanced around. People were staring at me with wide eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “He just makes me so mad.”

“He deserves to have the shit beat out of him for what he did,” Nina said, stepping closer to us. “But this isn’t the time or place.”

“You’re right,” I agreed, submitting to her.

“We’ll make sure he doesn’t bother Celeste again.”

I gave her a small smile. “Thanks.”

She grinned. “My pleasure. I’ve been wanting to meet her, anyway. I think we’re going to be great friends.”

I chuckled. I had a feeling they were going to hit it off. “I don’t doubt it.”