Chapter 2
“You have exactly two seconds to explain why I shouldn’t leave,” I said firmly. I considered that very fair.
The boy stumbled over his words for a second while I crossed my arms, daring him to continue.
“She just um… I may have a bit of a reputation for inviting girls back here to uh…”
I held up my hand. “Enough said. She thought I was another girl you were shagging.”
He turned a bright shade of red and mumbled. “Something like that.”
“Right. Well. I just came for a glass of water. How’d you get the key to the kitchens anyway?” I asked.
“Oh, my dad’s the Alpha so I stole it from him,” he admitted, rather easily.
“Ah, so you’re Grey’s kid,” I said. His face lit up with pride.
“That’s right… who are you? I haven’t seen you around here before.”
Now I had a choice here. Tell him the truth, that I was a wolfless little girl, sent here to hide and wait for the war to be over. Or, lie, and tell him whatever I wanted. I considered my options for a moment. Surely if I lied, the truth would get back to him. His father knew me, after all. But tonight, lying would be a welcome distraction.
I settled on a half-truth.
“I’m visiting for a couple days,” I said. “Your dad is friends with my mum or something so I’m visiting.”
He seemed to accept that story, nodding and offering his hand for me to shake.
“I’m Ziron.”
“Ivy,” I replied, taking his hand. His skin was warm, warmer than I expected. It was a sign he had his wolf. Of course he did.
“What?” He asked, questioning the change of expression on my face.
“Nothing,” I almost snapped, pulling my hand back. “Just tired. Big day.”
Ziron nodded and grabbed a glass from the cupboard.
“I’ll get you some water and walk you back to your room.”
I scoffed. “You think I want anyone to see me with you? That girl is probably already telling the whole pack I’m your latest catch.”
He huffed, filling up the glass with cold water.
“Fine I won’t. I was just trying to be nice.”
Maybe he was. He seemed genuine enough. But I was at my limit of interaction and conversation for the night. I took the glass from his hand and turned toward the door.
“I can find my own way back, thank you.”
“W-wait will… will I see you at breakfast tomorrow?” He asked, almost shyly.
“Sure. Maybe. We’ll see I guess,” I said, and stepped back out into the cold night air. The minute I did, I second-guessed myself. I hadn’t meant to sound snippy or mean. But at the same time, I was tired, I was overwhelmed, and I had just got slapped across the face.
I walked back to my room without waiting to see Ziron come out of the kitchen. Serves him right. I thought. For breaking into the kitchen just to kiss some girl. He could’ve done that back in his dorm room.
I wasn’t truly angry or even annoyed at Ziron. I was worried about my parents; I was ashamed that I didn’t have my wolf. I felt useless and worthless and needed someone to direct those feelings towards. I wouldn’t blame the girl, of course, if someone walked in on me kissing someone, I’d probably slap them too. So that left Ziron.
I shut the door to my bedroom, setting the glass on the bedside table. After all that, I didn’t even drink the water. I just laid back in bed and stared at it.
He had been kind to me. Rather understanding about getting interrupted. And technically I shouldn’t have been there either…
Maybe I wasn’t too mad at him.
Maybe I was kind of excited to see him at breakfast the next morning.