One

I rush down the stairs and into the kitchen to grab something quick to eat. Jay is sitting at the kitchen island in front of the fridge. He's reading the paper. My little stunt has brought a lot of attention to the once-great pack. I didn't think it was worthy of front-page news but there we are. The title reads "Warhead Deactivation". I take a bagel, cream cheese, and strawberries from the fridge to prepare my breakfast. 

"Are you going to school?" he asks putting the paper down. I look over at him and see his entire demeanor fall apart. Whatever attitude he was going to hit me is forgotten when he sees the thing on my face.

"What do you think?" I ask. 

I know exactly what he's looking at. The bruising around my eye where he had slapped me got a lot worse overnight. My eye is nearly shut with swelling. A couple of blood vessels popped. Half the sclera of my eyes is red instead of its usual white. The claw marks aren't any better. I'm not staying home because of this. If people want to talk about what happened I'd rather be there to hear. 

"You should stay home," he sighs. I put the butter knife down glaring at him. 

"Why? Because of the swelling?" I ask. "This wouldn't be the first time I go to school after a beating. Besides, I have finals," 

"Fuck," Miles interrupts us. His eyes darken as he struggles to keep his wolf at bay. Ghost barks at him from her bed sensing the threat.  

"Get out of here. You're upsetting my dog," I dismiss him. He walks away without saying anything.

"Ghost," Jay growls to settle her down. I give her half my bagel in ripped bits. She'd choke if I gave it to her the whole thing. Greedy bitch.

"You want to go outside?" I ask her.  Her floppy ears lift before she jumps up excitedly. "I can't stay here with you looking at me like that all day," 

"I have work," he says. 

"I'm going," I insist, pulling my hoodie over my head. I open the back door and let Ghost out. She rushes out scaring the birds by her water bowl. I smile when she catches one.  

"Micca is staying. Miles and I have some things to do tonight. Stay here,"  

"No, Jaykob. I'm not staying," I slide the door shut. He sighs handing me a pair of keys. 

"Fine. Don't lean your face on anything and don't put your head down. It'll get worse. Ice it when you get back," he's mad. Miles storms out after my brother after giving me one last glance. 

"Try not to hurt anyone, today Killer," Micca calls from the living room. A smirk crosses his features as I leave for the day.  

If the pretty bruise on my face isn't enough to make the entire school look at me, this car is. Miles never lets anyone use his prized Hellcat. Except for me. He knows I'd kick some ass if anyone touched his car. I reach for the black Ray-Bans in the glove compartment. These things are going to be my best friend for the rest of the day.

I park and try to make my way inside before anyone tries to start up a conversation. I get to my locker and take what I need. I make it into my first class. The bell rings and the professor passes out the exams after collecting the homework. Jay was right. Leaning forward makes my face ache. I sit up straight as I begin my test. I stand up and try to leave as soon as the class is over. I turn in my test and stop right before I almost make it to my next class. There she is again. Danica. 

"What do you want?" I ask rudely trying to avoid eye contact.

"She didn't do that to you," she says looking my face over. She extends a closed fist like she's trying to offer me something. I hold out my hand and she drops two small white tablets into it. "It should help with the pain and a bit of the swelling. Although, it's going to take a fucking miracle for that," 

 "Why are you here?" I ask. 

"Like I said. It's a good idea to be friends with a Tyler. My parents taught me to survive," she shrugs and walks into the class.

I dry-swallow the two pills and walk in after her. Everyone is now talking about what happened and I hate how everyone is looking at me. Rogues usually stay under the radar here and I've done a really good job these past four years. This is annoying. 

"Ms. Tyler. Hood off," Mr. G demands. "Now," 

I push the hood off my head. The murmurs start immediately. I roll my eyes which isn't a good idea. Mr. G just smiles like seeing me like this is something he's very familiar with. He doesn't say anything about the glasses as he passes out the tests and collects our homework. I make it through the day without saying a single word.

I'm about to head home when I spot Danica storm out of the main building. Her strawberry-blonde hair is a mess. I can see the tears in her eyes as she wipes her mouth.

"Hey," I call after her. She turns to face me. She has a busted lip and a cut under her left eye. "What happened to you?" 

"Nothing," she growls, going over to the bus stop. I sit down next to her. 

"Want a ride home?" I offer because even if she denies it I know it's my fault.

"Why do they hate you?" she asks. "You should be running this shit," 

"That's why. They know I could have taken it from them whenever I wanted," I shrug. "Come on. I'll take you home," 

"I don't have one," she sighs. "I was kicked out last night," 

"Let's go home then," I say grabbing her backpack. "Don't do that. I don't like crying," 

She gets up and follows me to the car. Gwen is standing in front of it with three others. My heart starts beating fast knowingly. If she so much as puts her claws on the car I'm going to end her. I don't give a fuck what Jay says.

"Touch it and you're all dead," I warn her. The feeling from yesterday returns. 

"You think I'm stupid enough to touch Miles Rider's car, bitch?" she laughs. "I'm just here to deliver a message. The alpha of Greenwood wants to arrange a meeting with your brother," 

"Tell your Alpha that I'm not a fucking messenger. If he wants something from Jay he should come in person. We don't do well with demands," 

"You want to fucking die?" she asks reaching out to grab my arm. I dodge her and take her arm pulling it to me, spinning her around locking her arm behind her back.

"Do you? This is the second time you put your hands on me. There is no one stopping me from killing you now," 

"Arthur isn't like other alphas. He doesn't play well with those who don't follow the pack laws," she groans.

"We aren't part of his pack. Fuck him and you. If he wants something from Jay, tell him to come get it himself," I shove her into the other girls. 

"You don't get it. Arthur isn't the kind of person to ask nicely," 

"Jaykob isn't the kind of person you ask," I scoff, getting in the car. 

"I thought you were going to kill her," Danica says when we get out of there. 

"It would be stupid of me to trigger this over someone like her," I quote my brother. 

"You were ready yesterday," 

"I was having a shitty day," I shrug. It was the anniversary of my mother's death and Mrs. Katie's burger shop was her favorite place to eat. "Are you hungry?" 

"A little," she nods.

We stop at Mrs. Katie's and order takeout. I even get something for Micca. He's asleep when we arrive. I hand her the bag of food and take the straw from the foam cup. I pull it out letting the drops fall on his face. At first, he waves his hand in the air but then bolts up when I spill a few more. 

"Have you been asleep all day?" I ask. I glance over at Ghost who is lying on the floor next to him. She stretches her long legs before she lets them flop on the floor again. 

"I had no sleep last night," he clears his throat before sitting up. I know. These walls aren't exactly soundproof. There are a few claw marks on his chest. 

"I brought you food," I say taking a bag from Danica. "This is Danica. She belongs to us now," 

"Hi," he awkwardly greets, looking over at her. She waves at him when I take the cup holder from her. "You don't care my ass," 

"What was that?" I ask turning to face him. 

"Get something to eat, D. I'm going to need your help," he says taking a drink. "Get out of here, Ghost," he growls. I look back to see her wide awake looking at the bag in his hand. "Call her," 

"Ghost," I call her and she runs over to me. She knows better than to stare at my food. She knows I always get her, her own. I grab her tray and cut her burger into bite-sized pieces scattering them around the tray. 

"Why don't you just give her the whole thing?" Danica asks. 

"Greedy bitch will choke. Never give her anything that's cooked whole she'll try to swallow it. This way she'll take her time and I don't have to stick my hand in her mouth," I instruct. "Raw meat is fine. The bloodier the better,"

"Spoiled," she laughs, looking down at Ghost. Ghost nudges her before she licks her hand. Weird. She doesn't really like other women. The only other woman she accepts is Leelie.