Page 9 of Shadow Wolf
“But I should get your number, so I can keep you updated on him. And so we can visit you.”
He was serious about the visits? I couldn’t pull my phone out fast enough.I handed it over to him, but instead of taking it, he cupped my hand in his warm one. My body became aware of him more than before. It was as if there was a pulse running between our hands as he entered his digits.
“There, I just text myself so I have yours too.” I heard his phone chime as I took my hand back, the electric feeling I got from him leaving just as fast as it began. We stood there, just staring into each other’s eyes. Did he feel it too? Was this normal?
My heart was beating so loud I thought he would hear it. My fingers twitched, wanting to reach out and see if it would happen again. But his phone rang. It snapped us out of whatever that was. It was intense.Powerful.He looked down at the screen and I noticed his features changed, from the smile he had for me only moments ago to something darker.
“Sorry, Clare, I have to take this. I’ll call you soon.” And with that, he left.
I made my feet move so I wasn’t standing outside anymore like some lovesick puppy. I rushed to my room and barreled in. I almost wanted to squeal at the thought of having his number. Then I did. I squealed. Did that just happen? It wasn’t a dream, was it?
I looked down at my phone and saw where he had left his number. It said Frankie, and he had texted himself an emoji heart. Wow, what did that mean? Or was it just the first one he picked?
Vicki burst into the room an hour later, huffing and dropping her bag on the floor. Her blonde hair was in a messy bun, and she wore her tight jeans with her pink sweater.
“Fucking hate learning.” I laughed at her comment as she looked over to me and cocked her head.
She saw me grinning like the cat who got the cream… and for the first time, I had someone to tell what had happened. I had opened myself up to her this past week and realized I was really missing out on a great friend by not opening to her before. Also, she was the perfect person to ask about the emoji. She was a little obsessed with guys and parties.
“Isthat really the smile of someone who found her dream boy?” I nodded and couldn't hold in the excitement as a burst of giggles escaped from me.
“No way… really?”
She rushed over to me, and I burst into more giggles. I showed her my phone. Her brows rose at the sight of the text. She whistled, rocking back in her feet. She put her hands on her hips and winked.
“I think Frankie likes you.” She jumped on my bed and wrapped me in a huge hug before she moved back over to pick up her discarded bag.
“I think I like him too.”
“Someone else in this room is finally gonna get some action around here.” My mouth dropped open at her comment. She winked over at me then wiggled her brows.
Oh god, he was this hot college frat guy who probably had been with heaps of girls before. He might think I was like Vicki, looking for a hookup only. I wasn’t.
I still hadn’t had my first kiss. I wasn’t going to waste it on some one-night stand.
Chapter6
Frankie
Mondays were always fun with Alex.
“I don’t wanna go.”
I rolled my eyes, again. “Alley Cat. You can’t miss school unless you’re sick. You’re not sick. You’re going.”
He groaned and rolled over, taking his sheets with him and hiding under them. I shook him a few times before I jumped on his bed and tickled him.
“Get off, it doesn’t tickle.” I heard his muffled voice and a burst of giggles. I just tickled him harder. It was getting harder and harder to shield him from Mom and the rest of the outcast shifters he saw every day. He knew what was going on, he wasn’t a toddler anymore. His first panther shift would be coming any day now with his recent growth spurt. Puberty was one thing for a human and a whole other thing for shifters.
Nothing like sprouting hair in places it never grew before, but then sprouting hair all over your body as you shifted into a giant cat. That was a whole other ball game. But I would be here for him when that happened. I didn’t have anyone to help me through, but I would never let that happen to Alex.
“Stop, fine, I’ll go. It’s bullshit though. We don’t ever get sick, so can’t I just fake sick one time? Like a normal kid?”
The one upside to being a shifter—never being sick, healing fast and all the other cool shit that came with it, like how I could scent emotions in others. I could hear better than any human ever would, and when in panther form, the way the wind ruffled my fur was unmatched by any other feeling. But I guess to a twelve-year-old that wasn’t cool.Yet.
“How about I pick you up and get ice cream with you after school?”
He rolled his eyes but pushed me to move away from him as he got out of bed.
