Page 66 of Burning Embers

Emery matches my scowl with one of his own. “You can’t even be the girl’s friend, Reid? Ourmate’sfriend?”

Something in my chest coils at his words.

“She seems to have enough damn friends,” I bark.

And she doesn’t need me.

She appears to be sweet and kind and beautiful. I’m the antithesis of everything she is. It would be best for both of us if I maintain my distance.

So why does the thought of staying away from her bring about a hurt that seems to chisel itself onto my heart?

Emery looks as if he wants to protest but instead clamps his lips together and turns away, almost as if it pains him to stare at me.

Ashton simply watches me with unnerving, soul-clenching intensity.

Fuck this.

I push off the lockers and begin to move down the hall.

“Where are you going?” Ethan calls to my retreating back.

“Away.”

“Reid, she’s our mate! You can’t seriously?—”

The rest of his words are cut off by the door to the school slamming shut behind me.

The sun immediately heats my skin, and I squeeze my eyelids shut and tilt my head towards the blistering rays. I used to love being outside…but that was before five seconds in the heat had sweat coating my pits and balls.

Reason number five hundred why I shouldn’t involve myself with Isabella.

I move towards my motorcycle—a silver Ducati that I spent years saving up for—and grab the helmet I left on the seat. For a moment, I simply stare at my reflection in the visor and think about how fucked up my life has become.

Maybe the world would be a better place without me in it.

You’re ugly.

Hideous.

Worthless.

Useless.

Disgusting.

A beast.

My wolf releases a soft, melancholic howl, but the noise barely reaches me, as if it’s coming from miles away.

With a snarl, I throw the helmet as far as I can and watch it sail through the air before it lands on the hood of some poor fuck’s car. Then, I straddle the bike and start the ignition.

A dark, rictus grin twitches the edges of my lips.

Without a backwards glance, I peel away from the parking lot, cranking the speed of my bike higher, higher, higher, higher…

And if I crash my bike, then so fucking what? No one will care if I die. Hell, I doubt anyone will even notice I’m gone.

At least when I’m staring the Grim Reaper down and giving him the middle finger, I feel free.

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