He missed.
I felt the sword slice above my head and I flinched, ducking away seconds before his blade would hit the top of my head. Anger burned in my chest. He almost chopped my hair off!
I glared at him and he smirked back. How could I love and hate someone so much at the same time?
His demeanor quickly changed as his eyes snagged on something behind me.
“He’s here.” I heard Brandon growl and I followed his wrathful gaze behind me. I turned and saw the one person I never thought would be here of all places.
“Brandon!” Albert roared and came sprinting towards me, shoving everyone in his path. He had the face of death. Leslie, Hunk and all of our strongest wolves were behind him, baring their ferocious canines at Brandon’s pack.
“Attack!” Brandon commanded and all of his wolves started phasing immediately to fight.
I caught a glimpse of Albert punching Jason in the face and Jason falling backwards. I saw pure hatred in both of their eyes. Why couldn’t we all get along?
Brandon grabbed my arm and dragged me like a captive into the castle. His hand shocked my skin as soon as he touched me. He must’ve felt it too because he met my eyes.
As soon as we were inside, I almost blew up at him.
“You called my brother?” I hissed in irritation.
“I told him ‘you either give up some of our prisoners or we kill your sister’ and he never responded. But I knew he’d come. And boy was he pissed.” Brandon scratched his neck.
“You gambled my life.”
“At least he came in time. Otherwise, I would’ve had to kill you for real.” Brandon crossed his arms. He just didn’t get it!
“What if he didn’t come? Would you really have killed me?” I asked quietly, my voice faltering. He looked away and stared at the wall.
“Maybe.”
At least he was honest.
“Fine.” I huffed and remembered him for who he really was. A murderer, a merciless killing machine whose reign would inspire darkness. I was stupid to think he had a heart.
“Amelia!” I whipped my head around, my eyes widening to the size of saucers as I saw my brother fighting his way over to me. Blood was all over his face and his eyes flashed amber.
“This is where we go our own ways,” Brandon murmured, “Goodbye, Amy. Have a nice life.” He turned his back on me swiftly and never looked back once.
This was it? This was how we ended?
My wolf howled objectively.
Albert engulfed me into his big arms and smushed my head to his rock-hard chest. My arms went limp by my side.
“Thank God you’re safe.” He said in my ear and I secretly blamed him for making Brandon leave me. If it weren’t for Albert, I would still be with him right now.
But I can’t exactly say tell him that.
*****
“Excited to go back?” Keith asked me as Scarlett drove the both of us back to the school. I almost refused to get out of bed because I really, really didn’t want to go.
But Scarlett forced me to. She was furious when she found out I was missing and scolded me but I didn’t care. And Keith would be mad at me if I weren’t in class.
“Not really.”
“Why so down? The Amy I know would be excited.” Keith frowned and asked the one question I didn’t want to answer. “Something wrong?”
I forced a smile, “Nope, I’m just tired, like usual,” I faked an excuse but the look on his face said he didn’t believe me.
“Amy, I’m your best friend. You can tell me,” Keith said and I looked in the rearview mirror, locking gazes.
“I’m fine. I just wanted to stay longer.” I used that excuse so many times I wondered why anyone would still believe me.
I decided to change the subject.
“How do you know so much about us anyway?” I asked, turning around to meet his eyes.
“By ‘us’, I guess you mean-”
“Werewolves.” I nodded yes. Would he tell me this time? Was it a secret?
“My brother was a werewolf.” He finally answered but refused to look at me.
“Was?”
“He’s dead.”
“I never knew, you never told me about-” I cut myself off. I knew I was only making it worse.
“It’s okay,” Keith shrugged, “I’m over it.”
“We’re here,” Scarlett announced as she drove us to the front door and I groaned, my thoughts changing. I was so not feeling this. “And come straight here after school’s dismissed,” She said sternly.
“Okay, okay,” I mumbled and shut the car door, walking side by side with Keith. At least he was here with me.
Keith and I split ways since we had lockers in different hallways. I opened my locker and took out my binders. I missed a lot of school hours and I knew I would have to make it up eventually.
I shut my locker, holding my binders close to my chest, when my heart almost stopped.
There, in the dead center of the hallway, was Brandon. It was hard to miss him since he was taller than most boys at my school and his glimmering golden hair stood out. And he was making new friends with the meanest girl in school.
Brandon freaking Jackson was in my school and he was chatting it up with the girl I hated most. I wanted to kill them both.
I pinched myself, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming the whole thing up. I had a very vivid imagination. But my hopes vanished when I didn’t wake up and still stood, staring at my mate. Brandon was really here.
I walked right up to him, clearing my throat to get Sofia to leave. She didn’t even acknowledge me. Just flipping her hair over her shoulder and blinking her long eyelashes like she had something in her eye, until Brandon told her he had to get to class.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Sofia winked at Brandon and gave me a deadly glare, pivoting on her heel.
“What. Are. You. Doing. Here.” I said through gritted teeth. He shot me a devilish grin.
“Going to school.”
“Why did you enroll in the same school as me? Are you some kind of stalker?” I whispered-yelled.
“I didn’t enroll to be with you. I did it to recruit more wolves.” Brandon sneered, his mood shifting.
Like I’d believe that.
“Why do you do this?” He rejected me so many times but still he continued to show up everywhere I went. Did he want me to be reminded of his rejection?
He left me two times now. Was he planning a third?
“Do what? I don’t feel anything for you and I’ll never mark you, get that through your small head,” Brandon said lowly and stalked away impatiently.
He was so frustrating!
“Wow. It didn’t take long to hate Sofia again.” Keith grinned, walking next to me once more.
“I’ll get back at her soon.” I said darkly, wanting to phase so I could bite her. Werewolf bites were extremely painful for humans but Sofia so deserved it. She made my life miserable.
“Glue in the shampoo bottle?”
“Glue in the shampoo bottle.” I approved.