Page 29 of Moon Kissed

I glanced up as Nyx dropped his hands but not his snarl—so shocked I could only stare at him.

As a rule, wolves weren’t that precious about nudity. Shifting forced us to rip through our clothes on a daily basis. A few hanging bits in the wind was something we got over quickly.

Still, that didn’t mean I enjoyed being buck naked in front of a hostile audience. Of all the things for Nyx to do after I wounded him, protecting my modesty should’ve been low on the list.

“Nyx!” A girl broke through the watchers and plastered herself against him. “Oh my goodness, are you okay? That psycho could’ve killed you. It’s rule number one not to shift indoors. You damn sure don’t shift on top of someone else!”

Nyx didn’t seem to have heard her. He locked on to me as the bell rang—signaling the end of homeroom. “You don’t play nicely,” he hissed, swiping the blood off his back like it was nothing. “I’ll remember that.”

Nyx turned his back on me, leading everyone out except for Badr, Paxton, Mr. Hall, and me. I made to go around Badr but he moved into my path, staring me down.

“Don’t bother using your power on me,” I said when his lips parted. “You know I’ll shake it right off.”

Inexplicably, he smiled. “I don’t need to use my power on you. I know what the note said. It was more lies, bullshit, and manipulation to get into Paxton’s head, but it’s not going to work,” he whispered, circling me. “Because even though my boy can take care of himself, he doesn’t have to. I’ve got his back. I’llmake sure today is the last fucking time you sink your claws into either one of us.”

“You didn’t hear me the first time, sun wolf.” I met his eyes steadily. “There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

His grin widened. “No, there’s nothing you can do to stop the many and daily accidents that are going to fall on your head until you give up that girl on the other end of the phone, and then yourself. When I’m done with you, you’re going to kneel at my feet—begging me to bite your fucking head off.”

Hall could hear every single word from Badr’s lips, but still he said nothing. Didnothing.

Badr’s lips brushed my ear. “Thank you so much for forcing your way onto the alpha track,” he whispered.

My stupid, traitorous wolf purred like a housecat.

“You’ve made killing you so much easier.”

Badr blew out the door. Paxton followed behind without a spare glance or word to me.

Out in the hall, I heard the rumors and gossip already spreading about what happened in Mr. Hall’s classroom.Psychoandfreakwere ringing loud and clear.

I crossed to get my stuff.

“That’s detention, Miss Daciana,” Hall said calmly. “And another demerit.”

“What?” I cried.Two demerits in the first half an hour?!“Why? I didn’t do anything.”

“Incorrect. You did three things. You shifted indoors—an act that is expressly forbidden as it says in the rulebook. You injured a student. And you were passing notes in my class like a twelve-year-old instead of paying attention like the adult you’re supposed to be. Inattention and causing a disruption are both against the rules, and again, that’s in the rulebook you were supposed to read.

“So don’t go around claiming I’m abusing my power.” The douchebag smiled right in my face. “You are being held to the same standards as everyone else, mother wolf. Likely for the first time in your pampered princess life.”

Crying out, I doubled over—clutching my shoulder.

“Cease your dramatics,” Hall barked, “and get out of my classroom.”

I didn’t argue. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed my stuff and ran out into the hall. I ignored the flow of students rushing about, and yelling at me for getting in their way, and strained my neck to see.

There were three, bloodless gashes raked across my shoulder blade.

“What the hell—?” Suddenly, it came back to me. “I swear on Luame that I will not kill, maim, or harm my chosen fates.”

I bit off a curse. This! This was why people didn’t go around making promises in the goddess’s name! I didn’t even mean to hurt Nyx. He was the asshole playing keep-away with my note.

I stormed off, ignoring the sniggering at my new, unfashionable forest dress. I wasn’t mad at Nyx. I wasn’t even mad at Badr or that douchebag Hall. What was really pissing me off was that my play didn’t work.

I went over-the-top protecting the note because I didn’t want Badr seeing what Paxton wrote about his brother. That would get the lone omega thrown out of their little brotherhood, and then Paxton would resent me.

No, what I wanted was for Paxton to see me fight to protect their little fivesome. I wanted him to keep thinking I was justified in killing Castor. I wanted him to believe I was misunderstood, and he was the only one who saw the true, kind, sweet me. I wanted him to trust that I had a good reason for everything I do. A reason he didn’t need to know. He just had to trust.

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