Page 3 of Forbidden Mischief
I just shrug and head toward the house.
“Tough crowd,” I hear him mutter from behind me.
Well shit, he must think I’m an asshole. I don’t mean to come off as rude, it’s just I am not much of a talker. I don’t often have a lot to say, and when I do, I don’t bother. I grew up being told that what I had to say didn’t matter if it didn’t match with what my father wanted, so I just got used to keeping quiet.
Dexter tells us to leave the bags by the door and come eat supper. As we sit down to eat, I feel out of place.
Zayne and Dexter fall into this easy flow of conversation while Mom and I sit and listen. She asks a few questions here and there, but I only speak when someone asks me something directly.
“Tell Ruth her food was amazing as always,” Zayne says as he finishes his food. “I’m gonna head out now.” He stands, but Dexter grabs his arm, keeping him from leaving.
“Why don’t you take Asher with you? Introduce him to your friends. Help him make some of his own.”
Zayne looks over to me, raising a brow. “Ahh…” He runs his hand through his brown locks, not sure how to answer his dad.
“I don’t know,” I say under my breath, finding my mom looking at me with pleading eyes. I know this means a lot to her, for me to get along with Zayne. This is our new family, after all, and it sure as hell beats the old one.
“I mean, if he wants,” Zayne answers his dad.
“Sure,” I sigh, standing up, having already finished my food a while ago.
“Wonderful. Be back before two.”
“Follow me,” Zayne says, not giving me time to react as he heads out of the dining room.
As I jog to keep up with him, I wonder what the hell I’m getting myself into? I’m not a very social person. Maybe people won’t talk to me and I can easily blend into the background.I can only hope.
CHAPTER 2
ZAYNE
The ride to the bonfire is awkwardly quiet with my new step-brother. I always thought wolves were loud, obnoxious, and growly, but he’s quiet, shy, and standoffish. Constantly checking his surroundings, his head swivels like he’s waiting for someone to jump out and scare him.
We pull into the field where we’re parking tonight, and I throw my car in park. “We walk from here. It’s not far, though.” I look at him, taking in his dark shaggy hair and the five o’clock shadow to match. He looks like he’d be rugged and kinda assholey, but so far I’ve only seen the total opposite.
He gets out of the car after me, and I lead the way deeper into the woods. The closer we get to the clearing where we have our bonfires, the louder the music and my classmates’ voices get. Sugar River is full of supernaturals and humans who know we exist; we get along well enough. The few wolves we have are lone wolves, with no pack, which is odd in itself given what I know about them typically being in packs. But at least he won’t be theonly one of his kind here, maybe he can make friends with them easier than he is me.
“Hey, Zayne, you’re late!” Duke calls, and I give him the finger as I head toward him. “Here, man.” He hands me a cup of beer from the keg, and I take it before holding it out to Asher.
“You want one?”
“No, thank you,” Asher says softly, eyes wide as he takes in all the kids here dancing and drinking.
“It’s a bit warm, but I can fix that no problem.” I call my magic forward and feel my hand tingle as I frost the cup.The benefits of being a warlock.
“You keep it. I don’t feel like drinking tonight,” Asher murmurs.
“Whatever floats your boat, dude. It’s here and free if you want one. Our parents all know we drink when we hang out and party. As long as we’re safe about it, they don’t mind. It also doesn’t hurt that we don’t get drunk as easily as humans, huh? Jenn over there will be two sheets to the wind and humping a tree after three beers.” I laugh.
“Fuck you, Zayne, I will not!” She curses and flips me the bird as I laugh.
Cup of beer in hand, I head toward my group of teammates from football. “Zayne! Dude, you’re here. I thought you wouldn’t come since your new mom is moving in tonight,” Warren snarks as he wraps an arm around my shoulder.
“Stepmom. She did move in, and she’s cool. This is her son, Asher. He’ll be going to school with us, same grade and everything,” I introduce Asher to the group. “Asher, these are my boys. Duke, Warren, Levi, Mario, and Roshun. They’re dickheads, but they’remygroup of dickheads.”
“Hey.” That’s all Asher says, not anything else. The guys fist bump, clap him on the back, or shake his hand, but he just smiles softly while not saying anything.
As the night goes on, Asher doesn’t lighten up or try to buddy up with anyone. Lena and Molly both hang on him as they bat their lashes and put their tits in his face. They’ve even tried to drag him out to dance. But he still just smiles and gives them the brush-off in the nicest way possible. Dude is way too shy, but I plan to help him with that.
