Alpha Bully (15 page)

“No, I’m not. This is what I do for my girl.”

“You’ve never done this for any other girl,” she said.

“Exactly, no one has ever been mine.” He dropped
another kiss to her lips. “I’ll pick you up here.”

Trey had gone off to his class, and Jack stood,
waiting for him.

“So, it was a good weekend?”

“The best.”

“You’re sleeping in her bed at night?”

He glanced over at his friend as they made their way
to math. “I never told you I was sneaking into her room.”

“Does she know you’re spending the night?”

“Yes, but how do you know?”

“She smells like you. In fact, no, she doesn’t smell
like you. There’s a combined scent like our parents. They’ve got the same
smell. Well, you and Scarlett are starting to have a similar smell.” Jack took
his seat first, and Marshall sat beside him. “They’re all wondering what the
joke is going to be.”

“The joke is going to be on them.” Marshall sat back,
listening to the teacher. He wasn’t paying much attention. All he could think
about was his girl. He couldn’t rely on the mating to keep her by his side. It
was already Christmas, and it wouldn’t be long until they were all graduating.
Scarlett was intelligent and would want to go away to college. Marshall hadn’t
thought about college. He’d always figured he would stay home, work, and stick
around the pack. If Scarlett left for college then he would have to follow her.
There was no way his wolf would ever accept being parted from her for long
periods of time. College would be a nightmare. There was no way he’d give her
up.

He started to panic as he thought about graduating.

“Calm down, Marshall. Your wolf is close,” Jack said,
whispering the warning against him.

Taking several deep breaths, Marshall pulled his cell
phone out to send a quick text to his dad. He needed to think about the future
with his mate. The end of the lesson couldn’t come soon enough for him.

****

Being escorted from one class to another was an
entirely new experience for Scarlett. She wasn’t used to having anyone care
enough that she got from one part of school to another. What she hated was the
astonished looks from their peers. There was no way she could call them her
friends. Not one person was convinced about her and Marshall being together. In
truth, she didn’t really believe it herself.

Cheryl stopped behind her when the bell for the lunch
break went off. “You don’t think he’s really dating you, do you?”

She ignored Cheryl as she gathered up her books.
Packing them away in her bag, she waited until the last possible moment before
she had to look at Cheryl.

“You do? That is so fucking sad. You’re fat and ugly.
Marshall would never fall for anyone like you.”

Putting her bag on her shoulder, she started toward
the door.

“I’m talking to you, bitch.”

Cheryl gripped her arm and shoved her forcefully.
Hitting the table, Scarlett crashed to the floor.

Pain slammed through her and shock as Marshall stepped
into the room. “You better get the fuck away from my girlfriend.”

“Come on, Marshall. This has gone on long enough. No
one believes she’s really your girlfriend. It’s getting a little boring now.”

Scarlett got to her feet, but before she did, Marshall
helped her up. He held her hand, stroking her cheek. “Did she hurt you?”

“I’m fine.” She didn’t dare look at him as she lied.
Cheryl had hurt her.

“You touch her again and you’ll regret it,” Marshall
said, looking at Cheryl. “I will make sure your life is so damn hard you won’t
know what fucking hit you.”

Cheryl laughed. “Please.”

“I’ve got a lot more sway in this school than you. I
put the word out that no one is to go near you, you’ll lose everything. Think
about that the next time you touch what’s mine.”

Scarlett held onto Marshall’s hand as he led the way
out of the room.

“The only thing Cheryl cares about is her popularity.
I take it away, she suffers. If you want me to
do that
then say the word and I’ll have her life over in a heartbeat.”

“No, we’re in the last part of high school.”

“You’re too damn nice for your own good.”

She was shaken by Marshall standing up for her. It
took her several minutes to realize they were heading toward the cafeteria and
not outside. Jack was with them, and she noticed Trey was nowhere to be seen.
She didn’t mind. Scarlett had liked him as a friend but not as anything more. He’d
been a different kind of guy when Marshall and Jack accepted him into the fold,
not one she liked in a special way. The feelings building inside her were directed
at Marshall, no one else.

“I don’t eat in there. I’ve got my lunch.”

“You don’t eat in there because of all the bullying. I
promise you, Scarlett. You’re with me, and no one is going to bully you ever
again. You’ve got me, and you’ve got no reason to fear anyone again.” He cupped
her cheek. “I want to hurt Cheryl. I want to make her suffer the way she made
you suffer.”

Cupping his cheek, Scarlett smiled. “She’s not worth
you being suspended. I like being around you, Marshall.”

“Please, I’m going to vomit,” Jack said. “Let’s go and
eat before it’s the end of the day. God, I need to get myself a girl just so
you two know what it’s like to be around you.”

Chuckling, Scarlett held onto Marshall’s hand as they
entered the cafeteria.

She made sure she didn’t look at anyone else.

Marshall picked up the tray, loading it up as they
made their way down the aisle. He paid for their food even though she offered.
Scarlett sat down in the seat he pulled out for her.

“Everyone is looking, waiting to see if we’re going to
trip her up,” Jack said.

Glancing around the room, she saw the anticipation in
all of their faces. It was horrible to see.

“Not going to happen.” Marshall grabbed the back of
her head, slamming his lips over hers.

Everything faded away as she melted against his kiss.
Marshall knew what he was doing. Each kiss was far more passionate than the
last.

He placed a plate filled with burgers and fries in
front of her. “See, I went hunting for you.”

Shaking her head with laughter, she started to eat as
Jack and Marshall talked. This was nice, and she watched Marshall. He hadn’t
moved his hand from the back of her neck and stroked his fingers over her
pulse.

She could gladly get used to his touch.

Trey joined them ten minutes into lunch. “Cheryl’s
pissed.”

“Good. She touches my girl again and I’ll hurt her.”

“You don’t need to threaten everyone you meet.”

“With you, I do.”

He held her close throughout lunch. At the end of
lunch, he tossed their empty cartons into the trash, putting their empty plates
onto a tray. They walked toward English. Trey made his own way around school
barely saying a word to her.

By the time track came, Scarlett was used to people
staring at her. Marshall was waiting outside of the girls’ changing room when
she appeared. “Hey,” she said.

“Hey. Are you ready to run?”

“This is all a little strange.” Trey was nowhere to be
seen.

“Trey’s dating Tiffany now. He moves through them
quickly.”

Nodding, Scarlett stared down at her hands. “I wasn’t
really looking for him. I never had a crush on him. We were just friends, but
I’m starting to wonder if he was using the whole neighbor thing with me. It was
okay.”

“What was happening between the two of you?”

“He was the first person who was nice to me.”

Marshall winced. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be.” They walked toward the track. It was
cold, freezing actually. She hated running at the best of times, but now she
started running even before she got to the track. Running beside Marshall, she
couldn’t help but take sneak peeks at him. He was a handsome guy and would be
an even more handsome man when he got older.

“What are your plans for after school?” Marshall
asked.

“I don’t know. Go away to college. I’ve sent out my
applications. I should be hearing back soon. My parents are both doctors, but I
don’t know if I want to be a doctor.” The idea of spending all day at work
bothered her. She knew her parents loved their job, but there were times they
hated it as well. They didn’t have any time to do anything else.

“I want to know where you sent your applications out.
I’ll go away with you to college.”

“Erm, I don’t know if that’s even possible. I mean
,
to get to some really great places you need to apply in
advance. It’s really competitive.”

He stroked her neck. “I’ll do what I can to be with
you.”

Biting her lip, Scarlett smiled.

Marshall leaned closer, and everything else faded
away. The only people in the world were her and him. Closing her eyes, she
responded to his kiss, melting against him. Fisting her hand in his shirt, she
groaned as he slid his tongue over her lips. She opened up to his invasion.

Her body warmed at his exploration. She didn’t want it
to end.

“Get a room,” Jack said.

Her life had changed, and it was all because of the
guy who had bullied her. Pulling away, she stared into his eyes, knowing she’d
gladly lose herself in their depths.

“You’re totally beautiful.” He stroked her cheek,
smiling.

Heat filled her cheeks at his endearment. She really
didn’t want this life to end.

Chapter Eleven

Christmas passed without much commotion. Marshall
found it incredibly hard to stay away from her for the entire day. He spent as
much time with her as possible, but there was no way for him to invade her
family on the big day.
His own
pack had a special
gathering, taking a run before all of them sat down to a large meal that they
shared within the street. The only people who lived on the street near the
forest were pack. No one stopped by to talk to any of them.

When night fell he spent the night in her bed. Since
Scarlett had fallen ill, he’d not slept in his own bed. The only bed he wanted
to be inside was Scarlett’s. His wolf couldn’t handle not having her in his
arms. His parents had to guard him when he did turn as his wolf wanted to go
hunting. He wanted to claim Scarlett. That need to have, to possess was only
getting stronger as the time passed. They spent New Year at his folks’ home as
hers were working. He didn’t mind them working. Marshall got to spend a lot
more time with her.

The best moments of his life were listening to her
laugh, when she snuggled up against him, and waking up beside her. She was
amazing.

His father wanted to talk to her parents about their
kind. It would only be a matter of time before Scarlett was exposed to his
wolf. So far Marshall had shown great restraint. He wasn’t under any illusion
that it was down to his own power. Whenever his wolf was close to the surface,
threatening to spill out, he either stopped kissing her or Jack intervened.
Scarlett only allowed some heavy petting, so he’d not crossed any line that
would threaten his wolf into the claiming.

Wolves were primal beings. They demanded touch, taste,
love, lust, and Marshall knew his time was running out. Scarlett had already
turned eighteen, but she still wasn’t ready to take him or his wolf as her
mate.

He’d spoken to his father about applying for colleges
but they’d both agreed that his going to college right now was not good. There
was no way he’d be able to control his wolf living close to the city without
any way to vent out his needs.

“You’re quiet,” Scarlett said.

They were down by the river. It was late May, and it
was particularly warm for the time of year. His own body was itching, and his
wolf was begging to get out. In three days it was going to be the full moon,
and it didn’t help in trying to control his wolf. It also didn’t help that
Scarlett’s wolf dreams were getting more and more frequent. Even when she
drifted off for a few moments, she’d have them. Their bodies were demanding
that they tell each other the truth.

“Just thinking.”

“What about?”
she asked.

“I’m just thinking about the future.” He took hold of
her hands, locking their fingers together. If he couldn’t handle a night
without her how the hell was he going to handle weeks or months? He couldn’t
ask her not to go to college, but it was hard.

“How are your college applications going?” she asked.

“They’re not.” Reaching out, he spun her to face him,
holding her hands as she walked back. She laughed, looking up into his eyes.

“You’re not going away to college.” She trusted him as
he walked her back, pressing her against the nearest tree. Pressing his nose
against her neck, Marshall inhaled her sweet, innocent scent. Scarlett was
driving him crazy. He was totally in love with her. She moaned as he licked
over her pulse.