Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (51 page)

Cat’s eyes filled with tears as she tried to suppress the laughter wanting to come out.

Sam came home three days later. He practiced his smile on the drive home. The meeting with the Varulv Council had been rocky. Most members were supportive and backed Aldon’s reassurance that Cat was no danger to their existence. A small faction, though, wasn’t happy with the results and had made their voices heard. The verdict was that as long as Aldon and Sam kept control of the situation in Astoria, no intervention would be necessary. During the flight back, Aldon finally broke his positive demeanor and revealed his true feelings to Sam. “I lied, Sam. I lied to the council,” Aldon said softly with a sigh.

“I know, we both did Aldon,” Sam replied.

“We have to get a handle on things. Thankfully, no one has told the council of what has transpired in Astoria. And they can never find out. Our future depends on it.”

“What should we do?” Sam’s worried eyes met Aldon’s.

“I don’t know. For the first time, I just don’t know.”

Opening the front door Sam was met with a welcoming party. His family acted like he had been away for years instead of days.
It’s good to be home,
he thought embracing them all in a hug.

 “Leif, what are you doing behind the bleachers?” Cat asked, peering underneath them.

“Cat, you’ve got to help me. I’m being hounded by a thousand girls all bearing presents for Valentine’s Day! It’s all a bit too much. I just can’t handle it.” Leif whispered urgently, relieved it was only Cat who had found his hiding spot. His voice was shaky, but his British accent was still delightful to Cat’s ears. She would’ve laughed if Leif hadn’t looked so stricken.

“You can’t hide in there all day, you know. Come on, I’ll protect you from those vicious vixens,” Cat joked, reaching her hand out for his.

“No, thank you. I don’t feel like being punched in the face by the school’s famous running back today,” he stated.

“Come on, lover boy,” she said as she grabbed his arm, and pulled him out in the open. “We’re just two friends taking a stroll down the hallway to your next class.  Nobody will dare mess with you, I promise.”

Opening the door to the gym, Cat and Leif made their way down the hallway without incident.

“See you after class, Leif,” Cat said loudly as she walked away. Turning around she found Ryan in front of her with an eyebrow raised.

“Did I just see what I think I saw?” Ryan asked.

“No, you didn’t. You saw one friend helping another friend who’s being harassed by half the female population at this school.”

“I was just teasing. I actually kind of feel sorry for him. That was cool of you to help, though. And that, Red Hot, is why I love you.” Ryan kissed her and then jogged off toward the gym.

“You what?” Cat called after him, but her voice was drowned out by the bell ringing. “Crap! I’m late!”

After class Cat was still mulling over Ryan’s remark as she made her way to her locker.
Did he really say that he loves me?
Pulling open her locker, she blinked. A bundle of black roses greeted her.

“Hey, Cat, what’s up?” Matt’s voice came from over her shoulder. “Cool, black flowers. Who left you those?”

“I don’t know,” Cat replied blankly, thinking they could have possibly been from the three girls. 

“Is that a new trend or something? If so, I wonder if Hannah would like them. Uh, I don’t know. If it’s a cool trend she might, though. But-”

“Matt, please be quiet. It’s neither a trend nor cool. Not cool at all.”

“Are those black roses? Why would anyone give someone black roses?” Elle’s voice came up from her right side.

“I was just wondering the same thing,” Cat replied, still distracted by the sight of them.

“Hey, what’s with the flowers?” Ryan asked, coming up behind her.

“If this is someone’s idea of a joke, it’s not funny,” Cat said, picking them up.

“Are they from
them
?” Ryan whispered to Cat, out of Elle and Matt’s earshot.

“I don’t know, maybe.” Her wobbly tone worried him.

“Here, let me have those. They belong in the trash!” Ryan stated, noticing the bewildered look on Cat’s face. Grabbing the roses, Ryan dumped them into the nearby garbage can.

“Well, that was a perfect way to end the day,” Cat said sarcastically.

“Yeah, well if I find the creeps who sent them, they’ll wish they hadn’t,” Ryan stated, putting his arm around her and trying not to act suspicious.

“Even if it’s your buddy Isaac?” Elle asked.

“No, he’s too cheap. Just ask Amelia,” Ryan answered with a chuckle.

“I guess I won’t be buying Hannah any. I get the feeling it’s not cool,” Matt said to himself, and then realized the others had moved down the hallway while he was still looking through his locker. “Hey, guys, wait for me!”

“Mr. Thomas!” A teacher shouted from down the hall.

“I know, I know,” Matt said, seeing the teacher giving him a stern look. “No running in the halls. Got it.”