William
After beating up Josh, I can barely walk without wanting to attack the students in the corridor.
Stephanie, a female student, looks me up and down. "Mr. Rossi, are you okay?"
I snap at her. "I'm fine!"
Her face pales. "Okay!"
My lips turn into a thin stretch. I hadn't meant to bite off Stephanie's head when she was only being polite.
Sadly, I was taught never to show weakness when I grew up. Men aren't supposed to feel emotions. We are breathing, living walls: don't feel emotions and just do what is necessary.
I lived by those rules, and that's how I became the white wolf alpha of the Eternal pack. Back then, my pack members respected me, but not anymore. I'm now called the freak alpha, and everyone fears me.
It makes sense. I'm barely keeping it together, and my days are filled with darkness.
"Fuck... It's happening again..."
Tiny wings form and grow out of my back. I grab one, rip it off before it turns larger, and dash into the nearest toilet not to get seen.
I realize too late for ladies, but this is an emergency; I lock the door behind me and grab the sink.
"Ughhh!"
I barf into the sink and experience every limb ache and burn like I've been set on fire. Every bone is cracking, trying to grow and rebuild, but I try to push it away—force away from the change—reject the monster I am.
It doesn't always work. I can't easily find my happy place these days, but... What if I think of her?
In my head, the image of Riley is forming. She gives me the finger and sticks out her tongue, and I smile.
Tiny spitfire.
My mate is hot and got some attitude to boost it up. I like her style: leather jackets, dark makeup, dark brown hair, and she is short—it would be so fun to pick her up and do dirty things to her.
The transformation stops, and I stare down at my hands. The thirst for human meat is gone, and I open my mouth at my reflection: it seems all my teeth are back to normal. No longer pointy.
"Okay..." I speak to myself in the mirror. There are dark circles underneath my eyes. I haven't slept in days. "You can do this."
My shaky hands open the door, and I step out, almost crashing directly into Riley. She slowly lifts her eyes to mine, and it breaks me. That usual courage is gone, replaced with fear, the same I see mirrored in my pack member's eyes.
Riley wet her lips. "Hi..."
Since I already know this won't lead anywhere, I give Riley an empty "Hello," and walk past her.
"William?"
I freeze. Riley is supposed to call me Mr. Rossi at school. I turn around with a scowl, but it dissolves on the spot. Riley is standing far away in the corridor, and her smile is warm enough to melt marshmallows.
"Thank you for today," she says, blushing. "I appreciate it."
I blink, shocked at her ability to show gratitude. Riley smiled; just like that, this is now the highlight of my week.
"You're welcome."
Riley's lips curl up. "Don't kill anyone."
"I make no such promises." I'm feeling playful, so I add. "Josh might not get to live another day. He sleeps in my class, bullies my new favorite student... I don't really like him."
She laughs. "Josh is an asshole, but he doesn't deserve to die."
I shrug. "If you say so..."
"Don't hurt him."
My mate's order is my law. "Okay."
Riley smiles, but then her eyes widen as if she wants to say something. She sucks on her bottom lip. "Hey, by the way... No... I can't ask you this... It would be too much..."
I keep studying her sad expression from far away, wanting to bring back that smile to her lips. "Ask me anyway."
"I can't... I'm afraid."
"Why?" I question. "I'm only a scary monster. The least I will do is bite your head off, so ask away."
She laughs at my joke. It's an achievement. "You know... You can be pretty funny when you're not being a total arrogant bastard."
"I know." I wink at Riley and smile when her blush spreads between her ears. She is so innocent. Younger than me. Sexy and ripe for the taking. Shit. I need to get a grip. I clear my throat. "What did you want to ask me? Don't be shy."
Riley wets her lips. "Right... The question..."
I hand her a crooked smile, drawling. "Yeeeees?"
Riley snorts at me in amusement, but she quickly regains her serious demeanor. "You're an alpha, right?"
"That's right..." I say, eyeing Riley intently.
I'm fighting the urge to walk over and hug her. She is so tiny I could throw her over my shoulder and kidnap her. No one would find out.
"So you decide who gets to join your pack?" Riley asks.
"That would also be right." I have no clue where this is going. "I'm the alpha, so I accept or reject new recruits. But the Eternal pack isn't looking for new members at the moment."
"I see." Riley appears nervous. She lifts her hand into the air, motioning with them as she speaks. "I was just wondering... It's no big deal or anything! I mean nothing by it!"
I blink. "You're happy in your pack, right? I haven't read your file, but I'm assuming your entire family is in the Crescent pack. You would have to leave them if you joined mine. And you don't want that, right?"
"Right... Family... Can't live with or without them," Riley smiles, but it seems forced. I hope I'm wrong. "Anyway, it was nice talking to you... Mr. Rossi, but I have to go..."
"We are the only two in this corridor." I wrinkle my nose, smiling. "You can call me William when we are alone; I shall allow it."
Riley nods, smiling shyly. "Okay... Well... William, I have to go, so... Bye?"
I return her smile. "Take care, and don't get into more fights with your beta—I mean it."
"I will try!"
She turns on her heel, and I'm left staring after her.
Beautiful girl.
I'm too dangerous to have a mate, but Riley would be dead wrong if she thinks I don't want her.
There hasn't been a moment since the first time I saw Riley's beautiful, angelic face that I didn't think of her. Whether it's while I'm showering or reading, she always comes to mind.
Now, I want to be as near her as I can. Riley isn't only precious to my wolf—the fairy monster wants her too. And that makes me dangerous. Riley is turning into my obsession. I would do anything to protect her, including killing those who harm her.
Because there is no injury I could suffer that would kill me faster than seeing my mate in pain.