Rise of the Moon (Moonlit Series Book 1) (17 page)

“You know I can’t, but I’ll try my hardest to ensure it doesn’t get to that point,” Carlos said.

I clenched my fist under the table, out of view. “What happens if they attack her?”

“If her life is on the line, I know I can’t hold you back. But nothing short of that will budge me, Blake. I’m going for a run. Anyone care to join?”

“I’ll join you,” Dante said, wiping his mouth before he got up. He cleared his plate, taking it to the sink before following our Alpha out of the room. Kaya, Jason and I sat there, waiting to hear the back door close behind them.

“I’ll watch over her where you can’t, Blake,” Jason promised me.

“If he lays a hand on her –”

“If
you
lay a hand on him, you’ll be going against Carlos,” Kaya interrupted me. “Carlos moving out here meant that he was hoping you would change, Blake. He was hoping that finding your mate would put you in the right direction. Let’s not look directly past the fact that Evelyn doesn’t know that supernaturals exist.”

“But werewolves are her favourite supernatural.”

“
But
what if we’re not all she expects us to be? What if knowing that you’re a werewolf throws everything for a loop, whether you’re her mate or not?” Kaya asked.

Everyone seemed set on trying to piss me off. I shoved myself away from the table, nearly knocking the chair over, gathered my things and tossed them in the sink with a force that should have broken something. I almost did it again just so that something
did
break.

“It’s a valid question, Blake,” Kaya stood her ground as she, too, got up from the table. She left her plate there, strolling to the cupboard to get a glass down. She went to the sink and filled it up with water. As she waited for my reply, she took a long sip.

“It’s not even a possibility. There is not a single part of me that believes that being a werewolf would turn Evelyn against me.”

“But if there
was
–”

“Then I’d take my chances regardless. But there isn’t.”

She sighed, rubbing her neck in a way that signaled that she was just as done with this conversation as I was. She set her nearly empty glass on the counter and began rummaging through the cupboards. We’d eaten a lot, but it wasn’t rare for us to still be hungry.

For a moment, I debated going to my room, but the frustrations boiling in my core left me aching for an outlet. At the same time, I didn’t want to be out running with my father, either. What I wanted was Evelyn, safe and sound. I wanted her by my side twenty-four seven. I wanted her lips to be pressed as awkwardly against mine as they had been in the Ferris wheel.

“So… Carlos said no attacking the foxes, but he didn’t say a word about spying on them,” Kaya said slowly.

“Think we’ll see anything?” I asked.

She laughed, giving a small shrug. “I doubt it –but it’ll let them know that the pressure’s there.”

“I’m in,” Jason cleaned up both his and Kaya’s place, scolding her with a stern look.

“Well, it’s a sure-fire way to make sure they’re not harassing Evelyn,” I muttered. “I’ll grab my keys.”

Kaya patted me on the shoulder as I walked by; “And I’ll grab the stress ball.”

Chapter 23: Evelyn

My heart tightened when I saw Blake at school the morning after the fair –though I would never admit it out loud. Not even to Maddie. But, really, I suspected she heard the slight intake of breath as we got off the bus together.

He spotted me just as quickly as I spotted him. A slow smile grew across his face, and he lifted his hand in greeting. Jason looked over too, also waving to me, then leaned slightly closer to Blake as he said something. I lifted my hand –and just about hit Marissa in the face as she walked by.

“Watch it, Evelyn,” she snapped.

“It was an accident,” I told her. Though, given the chance, I wouldn’t hesitate to slug her. “Sorry.”

She just glared at me as she continued on.

“Well, that’s a good start to the day,” Maddie stretched, her arms going above her head. I heard a small pop in her spine, and she shivered. “Finally. That kink’s been in my back since yesterday evening. Anyway, I’d watch for misdirected volleyballs in class today.”

“I’ll be fine. We’re doing circuit training,” I responded. “What’s she going to do? Throw a medicine ball at me?”

She laughed, watching as Blake and Jason approached us. All of a sudden a wave of panic washed over me. What did you say to someone you kissed casually the night before? Was it casual? What were we now? I mean, we had met up with the Kaya and Jason right after the Ferris wheel, not leaving the two of us alone for the rest of the evening. He had, however, won me a blue rabbit at the ring toss. Did that mean anything? Or maybe he was just being nice?

“Hi,” he greeted.

“Hi,” I responded dumbly. The four of us headed for the doors.

“I saw you almost hit Marissa,” Jason glanced at Blake, who chuckled quietly.

“Regretting not actually having done it,” I shrugged, feeling my shoulders relax a little. Thank god for Jason.

“If you should hit anyone, it should be Cole,” Maddie said, coming to a stop where the hallways intersected, her back to the stairwell. “Right in the dick, you know?”

“Having more troubles with him?” Blake asked.

“He was just talking shit yesterday at the fair,” she sent a glance my way. I hadn’t heard anything, but the look made me think that whatever he had said had been about me.

It occurred to me that I didn’t want to hear what he’d spouted off about, even if only a month ago I would have asked. Maddie would lead up to it like this, and I’d fall into the trap of gossip. Even if it was about me. Not that hearing any of it had sent me into a swirling bout of depression. But it hurt. Some of the things he said hurt
a lot
. Mostly, though, what hurt was when people believed him. I think there were still a small number of people that think I let Cole touch me inappropriately back in the 10
th
grade at one of those awkward teenage parties. He didn’t. Cole had tried to talk me into it. And by ‘talk’ I mean he groped me without any sort of permission. No worries though… I kindly rejected him by spilling my drink on him. Not my best moment, but probably the reason why he spread the rumors in the first place. But people believed it because that was around the time Maddie and I started to hate him with a passion. Marissa started being a huge menial bitch shortly after that, too.

“Well, screw Cole,” I said, not taking the bait. “I don’t have a single doubt that one day he will get what’s coming to him.”

“You’re right,” Jason agreed. The bell rang, but he finished his thought. “What goes around, comes around. Now, let’s get to class. I’d hate to miss a single minute of circuit training.”

“I’ll see you at lunch,” I said to Maddie, then shifted my gaze to Blake. “And I’ll see you in English.”

“I look forward to it,” Blake replied, his hand coming out to graze my fingers as he passed me. The warmth spread through me instantly, sending a small shiver down my spine.

“See you later,” Maddie told me, giving me a small hug before turning and heading up the stairs.

Jason put his arm around my shoulders, leading me down the hall towards our lockers. He really was like a brother. Even in the way that he teased me. “I heard Blake kissed you yesterday.”

“Is he bragging?” I joked back, but felt the heat in my cheeks just the same.

“Be honest. You like him.”

“I’m warming up to the idea of him. I’m still wary of you guys. You do, let’s not forget, stick out like sore thumbs.” Slipping away, I headed to my locker to grab my change of clothes. Gym was a bit more lenient than other classes –especially when you had it first period. You had an extra five minute leeway that the vast majority of my class seemed to enjoy taking.

“Point taken,” he said. “And your friends don’t like us.”

“Ugh, I know, right?” I shut my locker. “They saw the signs that said ‘quit while you’re ahead.’ I missed them, and now I have the unfortunate task of pretending I can tolerate your presence.”

“Since we’re putting everything on the table, can I just say that –”

“Nope,” I cut him off.

“You’re a pain in the ass,” he finished.

“Well, duh.” The second bell rang, and while I knew we could get away with idling a little longer, I was too much of a goody two-shoes to actually do so. “I’ll see you in the gym.”

He nodded, putting his books in his locker and grabbing his gym clothes as I walked away. His chuckle drifted after me as he laughed quietly to himself and, just before the change-room door closed behind me, I overheard him mock my “Well, duh.”

*              *              *

Blake walked silently with me as we headed down the hall after English. It wasn’t unusual, but then again the silence wasn’t often strained as it was, with unanswered questions and, perhaps, the slight itch to reach out and touch him. There shouldn’t have been a doubt in my mind that any sort of physical contact would be well received, but the inkling that
was
there held me back. After all, nothing was scarier than rejection.

My fears were momentarily pushed aside as Marissa turned the corner and headed in our direction. She barely glanced at us, but, as she walked by, Marissa purposefully pushed Blake into me. His hand flew to his neck as if something pricked him, and he glanced after her, his lips forming a solid line.

“Bitch,” I muttered, though I was slightly grateful for the excuse to touch him, even if it was to push him gently away to a comfortable distance. Chest to chest wasn’t very good conversation wise in the middle of a school hallway. Nor was it really appropriate.

“Sorry,” he said, letting his hand rest on my elbow for a moment before raising it back up to his neck.

“What’s wrong?” I was a little disappointed in the lack of contact, but it was clear that something was up.

“I’m not sure,” he replied, glancing down the hall where Marissa had disappeared. He shook it off though. “I’m fine.”

I nodded, not sure of what else to say. I didn’t quite feel like it was my place to pry.

“Careful,” Blake moved me out of the way as two kids ran by, neither paying much attention. A teacher called out half-heartedly after them, and they slowed down with a precautious glance over their shoulders.

“Thanks,” I said. His touch was warmer than I’d come to expect. His face was growing impassive –the way it did when the hall was full of people. But other than the two kids –who, like Marissa, had disappeared down the hall –and the teacher who nodded at me as we passed, it was empty. I decided it was time for conversation. “So what should we do today? Wait –let me take a guess… I’m betting you want to go outside.”

“How’d you guess?” he looked mildly amused. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Your face slowly gets harder the longer we stay inside –I have the slight feeling that you don’t like being stuck indoors.”

He grinned, that hardness in his face breaking just like that. “I don’t mind being stuck indoors. So long as I have the right company, that is.”

“Hmm,” was all I replied with, turning my face and blushing with the implications. Still, I ventured. “And how would you describe good company?”

“In a word? You.”

I almost burst out laughing, having completely expected him to beat around the bush, teasing me. But I like that he didn’t. It felt less teenage-boy flirting and more…

More what?

I shook my head. No. I was taking chances this time.

“Let’s go outside,” I told him, turning into the stairwell and quickly descending to the next landing. Blake followed at a slower pace. He never appeared to be going anywhere fast. Not lazy, but not in a rush. With purpose.

We reached the first floor, which triggered the question: “Should… should we drop off our books?”

“I don’t mind holding them,” I answered. “I might have to fend you off with them later.”

“Good call,” he chuckled, pushing on the door and holding it open for me.

I slipped past him, nearly tripping over the threshold. He reached out to catch me, his arm wrapping around my waist, the heat of his skin scorching me through the thin layers of clothing I wore. Blake, who was always sturdy on his feet, stumbled with my slightly.

Something was wrong, I realized, straightening and looking at him carefully.

His touch really was warmer than usual. The sweat on his forehead dripped down the side of his face, past his flushed cheeks and dry lips. While he had been fine five minutes ago, it was clear that he wasn’t holding himself together so well.

“Blake?”

“Yeah?” he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, setting his books on the brick edge of the flower garden that lined the wall of the school. I put my books down, too, before I lifted my hands to his face, but he brushed me off. “Sorry. Just… give me a moment.”

“Did you want some water?” I dug through my bag when he nodded, unscrewing it and passing it to him. He tipped it vertically in the air, into his mouth and down his front, then passed me back the hard plastic container. “Blake?”

“Text Jason,” he rushed the words out, turning to the blue metal trash bin by the door and vomiting up his lunch. The stench was acidic, and I had to set my jaw to not throw up too. But instead of moving away, I took my phone out of my bag, using one hand to message Jason while the other gently rubbed Blake’s back. The shirt was damp with sweat, and anxiety was beginning to roll over me.

He breathed hard, his back shuddering with every exhale. All I could do was continue to comfort him, the way my mother used to when I was a child, wishing I could do more. As he heaved again, I soothed, “That’s it. Get it all out of your system.”

His right hand reached across underneath him, and I grasped his fingers. He squeezed my hand, as if thanking me.

The door was thrown open, and Jason was there, panting slightly. “How is he?”

“Sick,” I responded, my own grip tightening on Blake’s hand.

“Hey,” Jason touched Blake’s shoulder. “Let’s get you home.”

“I’m coming, too,” I said.

“No, I got this,” Jason assured me. “You have to work tonight, right?”

“I do, but –”

“Blake doesn’t want you to miss work, do you, Blake?” Jason talked to his friend in the same way that a parent cooed to a child.

“Missing a day of work won’t kill me or Harry,” I told him.

“I’ll be fine,” Blake said, straightening. He spit into the trash can. Pulled his hand away from mine, about to use it to wipe his mouth.

“Wait,” I said, digging into my bag for tissues. “Here.”

“Thanks,” Blake accepted them with a feeble smile, putting them to use immediately.

“At least let me walk you to the truck,” I told Jason.

He nodded, and I picked up our books as he helped Blake across the school yard to the parking lot. We had to stop once along the way, for him to throw up what little remained in his stomach into another garbage can. I could see and smell that it was more or less just liquid –probably mostly saliva. He’d probably be on the cracker and ginger ale diet for a day or two.

“Is it food poisoning?” I rubbed his back again as Jason watched concerned.

“No. I’ve basically eaten everything he has today,” Jason replied. “Probably just… I don’t know. A twenty-four hour bug.”

I really hoped that was the case as I let them drive away without me, holding onto my own books, having set his on the back seat. Not that any Shakespearean drama would be much of a priority at this point.