Fate Fixed (8 page)

them was a strikingly attractive guy with longish red hair, grinning as he captivated their attention.

Theo was practical y vibrating with excitement, “That’s Cian’s friend Teagan – watch out for him, he can talk girls
out of their clothes without even moving his lips.”

A ragged table was covered with every snack option a

person could want – pizza, soda, chips, veggies and more.

Lexie added her cookies and pretzels to the smorgasbord.

An overdressed platinum blonde with shoulder length hair strutted up beside them, “Who are your new friends Theo?”

“Keep your claws off Courtney.” Theo forbid, putting up his hand.

Always the gentleman, her brother offered, “I’m Alik Serov and this is my sister Lexie Anderson.”

Without a second’s hesitation, she draped her arms around him and pressed her body into his. “Wel , at least some people have manners,” she bit on her lower lip.

Theo plucked Lexie away before she even had a chance to detach her brother from the blonde’s talons. She wasn’t one quick to judge, but the girl was irritating. She hoped Alik could find them once his charity ran out.

“I can’t stand that…thing,” Theo spat. “She makes my life hel .”

“How old is she?” Lexie couldn’t tel with Courtney’s

pancake makeup.

“She’s our age and either harassing me because I’m gay or because I’m Asian. It gets old fast. Of course, there hasn’t been anyone new for her to sink her teeth in since I moved here five years ago.” Theo’s eyes darted back at Alik as he talked to a vigorous Courtney. “Looks like your brother can be her new obsession for a while – it’s usual y Cian’s cousins that have to fend her off.”

Lexie noticed that Courtney’s focus on Alik was intense, like a shopaholic at a shoe sale. He seemed to enjoy it.

Maybe she was a potential girlfriend, claws or not. Lexie hoped Alik would survive her anyway – at least she could have a little space from him.

Theo introduced Lexie to everyone on his way to where

Cian and Brooke sat with Teagan. As soon as Brooke saw them, she tugged frantical y on Cian’s arm with enthusiasm, “This is her! Lexie, this is my boyfriend and his cousin Teagan.”

Cian was even better looking up close with his intense dark green eyes and russet brown hair. Teagan was much fairer in color, but had an open expression that exuded his

confidence.

He’s attractive and he knows it.

“Hey there,” Teagan offered with a charming grin.

“Didn’t Alik come with you?” Brooke sang with eagerness.

Before Lexie could answer, Theo jumped in, “Don’t even get me started – Courtney’s already sucking him dry.”

Teagan laughed, “That poor fool.”

Cian smirked, “I can recal you being sucked dry a few times by that one.”

“Yeah, I’ve pul ed her off me a few times,” he winked at Lexie. “Usual y she has it in for Torin – she scares the dickens out of him.”

A muscular blonde hopped up on the tailgate next to Cian, “Who scares Torin?” His bright eyes danced when he

spoke. His gaze met Lexie’s, offering her an open smile.

“Let me guess, you are talking about Courtney,” a velvety voice resonated from just behind her.

It was at that moment that Lexie felt the strangest sensation wash through her – her skin tingled like the air suddenly became magnetized. As if in slow motion, she turned to
see the most powerful blue eyes she had ever seen.

Like my dream, but real.

Standing right behind her, he was about six feet tal and dressed in nothing but jeans and a black button up shirt. His chestnut hair swept to one side and fel across his

forehead. As his friends mocked back and forth about

Courtney’s crush on him, he watched them in silence,

hands stuffed in his pockets.

Lexie tried to open her mouth and say hel o, but was unsure if she could. Her heart pulsed like she just went for a good run.
I am losing my mind.

As soon as she thought it, his bottomless eyes connected with hers. If words could describe the silent connection she felt when he gazed down at her, she wouldn’t have been able to keep herself from blurting them out loud.

At first his expression showed bewilderment – but with a subtle shake of his head, he gained a mixture of

composure and understanding. His face softened as he

smiled and the effect left her feeling a warm flush spread across her cheeks.

“I’m Torin,” he introduced. “What’s your name?”

Lexie knew everyone else carried on with their laughter, oblivious to what was happening between them, and she

was thankful. She didn’t understand it either, but she wanted to see where it led. “Lexie Anderson,” she

responded with a smile.

There was a familiarity about him that mystified her – she couldn’t deny the sense of connection that appeared to pulsate between them. “I know we don’t know each other, but you seem so familiar to me,” she tried explaining.
I’m
babbling.

Torin edged a little closer, but she didn’t mind his nearness.

He hung his head and whispered, “Can we go talk for a little while?”

She knew she should be cautious, even Ted Bundy looked like a normal guy, but she couldn’t resist the offer. She glanced over at Theo and Brooke, but they were joking and having fun with the others.

He slipped his hand into hers, “Don’t worry.”

She looked back into his eyes and felt a pul inside her, beckoning her to go with him.

The air had a pleasant smel of wood smoke and Lexie

noticed the grass was cool on her sandaled feet. The music was stil loud, but she could at least hear herself think. Torin didn’t lead her far, just over to a black sports car parked on the edge of the clearing. She had seen cars like his before at the McDonald’s in Torrington when it hosted hotrod

shows on summer nights. It was in beautiful shape.

“Is this yours?” she asked as she slid her hand across the polished hood. She was fond of older cars and her father had loved Chevy muscle cars. “Is it an ‘?”

He beamed, making her insides flutter. “It’s a customized ’. I have been working on it for a while with Braden.” He opened the door and motioned for her to hop in.

Watching him fil ed her with pleasure. She wanted to just climb in the car with him and see where they ended up

without fear of consequences, but she forced herself to be logical. He looked amazingly sweet, but she could not run off

with someone she didn‘t know. “I would love to, but I can’t just climb into a car with a complete stranger,” she laughed.

So rational my whole life, why should now be different?

His genuine expression made his eyes dance as he

countered, “I’m not a stranger and I promise you’re not in any danger from me.” He took a slow step towards her,

placing his hand against the side of her face and ran his thumb across her cheek. Torin’s expression became

pensive as he studied Lexie for a moment, as if he wanted to say something.

Instead he leaned forward and pressed his forehead to

hers. Lexie could smel his enthral ing scent and it again reminded her of her dream. She gave into the moment and felt his warmth wrap around her.

He was letting her make the choice to kiss him, not pushing her if she wasn’t wil ing. She looked into his serious eyes and felt her heart beating against her ribs with anxious excitement. Lexie touched her lips against his and kissed him slowly. His arms encircled her waist and pul ed her closer to him as they tasted each other for the first time.

She liked how he wasn’t like most boys – no rushing the moment and grabbing at her, she felt safe because he

didn’t try to devour her. The moment was as meaningful to him as it was to her.

She adored the satisfied groan that escaped his lips after she tilted her face away – ending the kiss. Stil close, they steadied their breathing. She could have stood there with him al night, but she needed to make sense of her

reaction. Did he real y feel what she was feeling or was she confused – only fairytales were that good.
Or maybe
dreams…

Abruptly the music stopped and Torin’s head shot up.

She could hear a booming male voice giving someone hel .

Her mind couldn’t comprehend what she was hearing but

she could feel Torin’s arms tense around her. Looking past him, her skin turned cold when she saw Maxim clutching the front of Alik’s shirt, his face scarlet red. His immense posture was domineering as he towered over his brother.

Lexie felt sick to her stomach watching Alik’s humiliation.

He was trying to turn away from his giant brother, but Maxim held him tight, glaring pure rage. Alik attempted to brush off his hands, but Maxim shoved him towards Dragos’s Jeep

at the entrance of the driveway.

Lexie felt like her legs were two lead pipes unwil ing to move. Somehow she had to calm Max down. She didn’t

even get a chance to talk to Torin yet, but she couldn’t let Alik take the heat for a decision that was made by both of
them. She peered up at Torin – concern outlined his face.

“Please stay. You don’t have to go,” he breathed. His blue eyes studied her careful y.

“I want to stay, but I can’t. My brothers are fighting and it’s partial y my fault.” She touched his shoulder, stil stunned he was standing before her. She tried to give him an encouraging smile but knew it wasn’t convincing. “Bye.”

She pul ed from his embrace and rushed over to where

Maxim continued to yel at Alik next to the truck.

Not knowing what to say, she took her stance beside Alik and mustered up her most shaming look to fix upon Maxim.

“Enough is enough, why don’t we talk about this at home.

You’re causing a scene.”

With an enraged scowl, Maxim spun on her. “You have no say in this Lexie. Neither of you belong here – I can’t believe Alik would be stupid enough to bring you to this place. You’re both going home, now get in the car.”

Lexie turned to Alik – his face was red and his lips

trembled, he wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she

whispered to him. Without a word, he climbed in the back of the Jeep.

She straightened her spine and gave Maxim a rigid glare, “You may be used to pushing around your brothers, but you better learn right now that you don’t ever tel me what to do. I wil never back down to you. I’l come home, but only so I can make sure you don’t give Alik a hard time.”

Maxim’s fury met its limit. He reached around and threw open the front passenger side door of the truck. “So help me Lexie, if you don’t get in right now, I wil not be responsible for my actions. You think I’m a monster now, you have no idea…”

Lexie took her sweet time as she strode to the front of the Cherokee and clambered in. Maybe her pride was setting her up for a smack down, but she would rather fight than let him govern her.

How did he know we were here?

As she glided into the seat, Max slammed the Jeep’s door.

Lexie held her breath trying to control her uneven

respirations as she watched him in the review mirror stomp
around the rear of the truck. Alik’s subdued voice uttered, “Do as he says Lexie. It’s safer for us both that way.”

The earth was damp and ful of stimulating smel s. It was dark now and he was ready to go. They looked at him as they paced anxiously, waiting for him to join the hunt. The alpha’s tale was straight out with hackles bristled. He wanted them to fol ow his lead. They were al eager for bloodshed and the moon wasn’t even ful .

As he skulked forward, he was stil seething with fury.

He should bite the throats of the others to show his rage.

He looked up at her window. Even now he could stil hear her bawling. What was wrong with her? Why did she insist on rebel ing? She wasn’t like that before she came here – she knew her place and kept low.

He knew everything about her – he fol owed her over the last month when she wasn’t even aware he was near. He knew her favorite foods and her friends. He knew her smel enough to track her across the state.

At night, he would slip in and watch her as she slept.

They al were interested in her habits, but none of them with as much fascination as him. Only he had the pleasure of watching her face flush when her dreams were arousing.

He even slid her covers down to reveal the soft exposed area of her thighs.

She was lean and strong and he knew she would be

perfect, unless she rejected him. Not once had she ever shown interest in anyone else. And what was that freak anyway? Not quite human, but not pricolici.

In single file, he fol owed the others as they entered into the forest. His rage made his blood boil. She would submit eventul y, time would see to that.

Lexie stil felt sick to her stomach. Her entire body clenched in reaction to the emotional pain she was in. She hadn’t
been able to sleep and the sun would be rising soon. For hours, she stared at the wal and listened to her Seconds to Mars playlist through her ear buds, trying to obstruct her thoughts and the sound of her sobs.

The idea of everyone at school knowing what happened

last night slayed her. Lexie wanted to make a good first impression and start her new life off right. It wasn’t even the first day of school and everyone would think poorly of her and her ridiculous family.

Lexie felt bad for Alik, but she was angry he didn’t stand up for her last night once they returned home. Maxim herded them into the house before Dragos and Ruby like they were

captured criminals. Maxim informed their parents that he located them partying with an unsavory crowd. Lexie tried explaining that it wasn’t anything like that. It was just the local youth having a get together before school starts on Tuesday.

Alik didn’t say one word. He didn’t back her up and he didn’t defend their new friends. Instead he kept his head down and waited for his father to dismiss him.