My Wolf’s Bane(76)

Zack nudged me as we walked away from the Mustang. Sluggishly, I followed, hitting the clicker to lock up.

“Hey,” he said. “It’s not like we could’ve been together anyway.”

That didn’t help. At all.

I whirled around to face Zack, yanking his arm and forcing him to halt mid-step. “I don’t know why you’re so cold about this, Zack. I know you like me. Why do you have to hide it?”

He stared at me so long, doubt for my theory crept up on me like a bedbug. Was it smoldering passion I saw in his eyes, because he wanted me so badly? Or annoyance because my assumption was horribly wrong?

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” I bolted ahead of him in a huff, a part of me wanting to lose him. But, to his credit, he kept up while still maintaining his distance.

In my cloud of temper, I hadn’t noticed Daniel step in front of me. I bounced into his chest, my forehead clipping his chin.

Daniel’s big hands clamped onto my elbows. “Come back to me,” he said so quietly, I doubted Zack could hear. “I can’t be without you. Please, Autumn. Give us another chance.”

Sure, he was begging now, but in a moment, when he didn’t get his way, he’d turn nasty again. “No means no, Daniel.”

Zack’s familiar scent surrounded me and his arm circled my waist. His hand slid over my hip, palm flattening over my stomach possessively as he pressed my back to his chest. Delicious. I naturally melted against his chest, my insides alive with little butterflies.

I looked into Daniel’s eyes, but he’d zeroed in on Zack behind me. All softness and pleading had vanished, replaced by fire. I gazed into his soul and saw destruction and mayhem. It hadn’t hit me until that moment that exposing Zack to Daniel put Zack’s life in jeopardy. Because of me. If I went back to Daniel, Zack would be safe.

“She’s with me,” Zack rumbled, his warm breath caressing my cheek.

“You sure, Autumn?” Daniel growled. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“We’re both very sure,” Zack answered for me.

“She’s not yours to keep. You’ll see. And you’ll regret this.” Daniel released me and strolled off.

Zack spun me and cupped his hands around my face. I couldn’t tell if he was angry at me or disturbed by Daniel.

“From now on, you don’t walk ahead of me, no matter how pissed off you are. Got it?”

Angry. Definitely angry.

He left me at my first class and stormed away, making me feel guilty for racing off without him. As expected, he waited for me after every one of my classes. At lunchtime, we walked into the cafeteria and I spotted Daniel right away. Zack tensed.

Trevor appeared in front of us. “You think you can tear yourself away from your girlfriend for a minute? I need to talk to you.”

Girlfriend. I liked the sound of that. Too much.

“If you want to hang out with Maya,” Zack nodded toward our table where she sat, “I’ll be right here.”

I scoped out a spot with John and Maya where I could see Daniel. My friends took a break from their animated conversation to say hello. I returned their greeting, but it was half hearted. I didn’t feel much like talking, not with the new knowledge about Zack and the future of our relationship. Or lack of future relationship.

A few minutes later, Zack returned and sat next to me.

He called me your girlfriend and you didn’t correct him, I said silently.

He took a bite of a hamburger that smelled heavenly. Yeah? So?

But I’m not your girlfriend.

Right.

I’d hoped for a more encouraging answer, but wasn’t surprised. So why let him think we’re together?

He glanced at me as he chewed, one brow elevated. I’m spending every night at your house, shadowing you at school, double dating with you and defending you against Daniel. What do you think the chances are of anyone believing we’re not together? If we deny it, we look like liars.

I’d wanted him to say, “Wishful thinking, Autumn. I know we can’t be together forever, but can’t we live in the moment?” I wasn’t going to get an answer like that from him.

“Bathroom?” Maya nodded toward the cafeteria exit.

I nodded numbly and got up, not even glancing at Zack.

In the bathroom, she waited until the door closed before questioning me. “What’s up with you two? You guys haven’t spoken one word all through lunch.”

Actually, we had, but she couldn’t know that. I didn’t sense Zack outside, but would’ve bet anything he was close by, still looking out for me but not near enough to listen in. I knew Maya meant well, but I had nothing encouraging to offer and didn’t want to be interrogated. I stalled, going to the sink to wash my hands. “Nothing’s going on. That’s the problem.”