Page 13 of Come Out & Prey

The shrill shriek of her question causes the professor to dart his eyes towards us, and I crouch behind the Heathers, trying to stay hidden. I’d love to pop Pink right in her fat mouth, but I don’t want to start a war—I just want to keep out of sight.

“No, I wasn’t. I was in the library, then I walked to the arts building. It took a little time to find the English professors, and I talked to them for a bit. They’re literally ancient. After that, I took the long way around the lake to the gym to meet you guys. That’s it—no secret hot preds.”

I’m a big lying liar, and I’m going to Hades for it. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to encourage them to lust after the staff before we even matriculate to this place. Apparently, that’s my job, and I’m not feeling generous today.

They all look at me for a moment. Heather E. shrugs, and I guess that ends the discussion. I peep over their shoulders, trying to see if the public spanking is going to end soon. It feels like it’s been going on forever, but since I’m so fucking nervous, it’s probably only been three minutes.

Gold catches me looking and smirks. “You’ve got Todd, DD. Let the rest of us flirt with the buff gym kitty. We’re DTF and you’re not.”

I frown at her. “None of us are DTF. We haven’t had our animals emerge, and we all know what happens when you screw around with older guys for your first time. That whole imprinting thing sounds like a nightmare. I’d hate to be stuck pining after a guy that was only looking for a one-night stand.”

Pink looks at her nails, sighing to herself. “I suppose.”

“If you say so,” Purple chimes in.

Silver nods, her eyes darting to Gold as if trying to figure out what to say. “That sounds like a shitty deal.”

Is she kidding me? A shitty deal? It’s awful.

“Well, I think it’s worse than we even know, and that’s why I’m glad we’ve all waited for the right time to cross that line. Our parents thought they could push us, but we held firm, despite their threats, and now we’ll all be able to share that moment with someone special.”

A giggle escapes Gold as she continues to drool over the teacher. “Uh-huh. Well, at least you’ve got yours all planned out, DD. You and Todd, after prom? Bow-chicka-wow-wow…”

My eyes widen as the professor turns his head towards our group again, and I hiss, “E! I do not need random gym teachers to know about my sex life. Come on, all of you. I have to get back to the admissions building in time to meet Bruiser or I’ll get busted. Let’s go!”

I grab Silver’s hand, tugging her along until the rest of them follow me out into the spring heat. When we get outside, I drop her wrist, letting her make a big fuss about how delicate her skin is and how much she’ll bruise from my manhandling. She’s such a drama queen—I didn’t even grab her that hard. I don’t knowif it’s an off day, or if we’re growing apart, but my friends are making me feel more like a tag-a-long than a part of the clique.

As I follow them past the library and lake, I tune out their babble about rock stars and celebs, instead considering a part of what Gold said. Todd and I plan to take the next step after prom, and I’ve been itching to go dress shopping for weeks. Maybe when I get home, I’ll ask if Matilda can take me to the Cambridge Mall to get everything sorted. I’m certain I made a good enough impression at Apex Academy—at least, while I was on the official tour—and Bruno should receive a glowing report.

That’ll buy me some goodwill, right?

My thoughts stray from my sweet, safe boyfriend to the professors I’ve met or seen today. From the smoke show teacher to the knitting cutie to the enormous roaring gargoyle and the dominating tiger in the training ring, I’m not sure I could decide if someone asked me to. That’s ridiculous, of course, because everyone knows shifters have one fated mate...you can’t just steal the whole dessert cart because you’re feeling greedy.

Can you?

Holding onto my folder, I smile a little at my feet at the thought of sharing and being shared. I could get behind that… or they could get behind me…

Oh, my Goddess, what is in theairhere?

“Delores!”

My eyes widen as a pair of fingers snap in front of them. The angry expressions of Gold and the rest of our group tell me I’ve missed something important while I was off in sexy dreamland. “Y-yes?”

“Isaid,are you ready to go? The guys caught up to us five minutes ago, and you’ve been off in La-La-Land,” Gold snarks.

“Um, yes. I am. I have everything I need. I’ll just…” I walk over to Todd, kissing his lips lightly before I pull back. He arches his brow at me, and I have no idea what his expression means. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distant, everyone. I’m just worried about what Bruno and Lucille will do when I get home.”

Pink rolls her eyes. “Grow a pair, DD, and tell them to fuck off. You’re like a scared little prey animal when it comes to them.”

“I’ll consider it,” I grit out, pretending not to want to smack her again. Looking out over the parking lot, I see Bruiser pulling up to the front of the admissions office in the Escalade. “Oh, look, there’s my three hundred pound shadow. I gotta go, but I’ll text you guys later!”

My friends all mutter less enthusiastically than I would have preferred, but I let it go as I run for the car. Bruiser won’t hesitate to leave me behind and tell my dad some bullshit like I refused to come home. The Komodo-domo is a sadist, and like the rest of the staff who are loyal to my parents, he relishes when I get in trouble.

Hopping into the chilly SUV, I take one last look at the group of teens waiting for their drivers. They’re all huddled close together as if sharing some secret. I have got to stop letting Lucille and Bruno make me paranoid. My friends are amazing, if not the most empathetic preds, and my boyfriend is perfect, unless he’s with his friends.

I close my eyes and let my mind wander to the dreamy professors I saw today. I can’t wait until I’m at Apex next year so I can get to know them better—in a totally professional, student-teacher way, of course. Because by then, I’ll be mated with Todd, and I doubt these older men would have an interest in me anyway... not that I should worry about whether they’d have an interest in me.

Goddess, how terrible would it be if those professors all had girlfriends…

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