Chapter 5

Riley

Josh grabs the collar of my shirt. His eyes are crazed, and cold, slick sweat runs down my back. My shouts for help would be for deaf ears—there is no use crying here.

"You're dead, shrimp!"

My lips quiver and I shriek when I'm lifted off the ground. Josh pounds my back into the brick wall of the building. My inner wolf is growling, but I can't turn here—I would be shunned and turned into a rogue.

"Aw, are you close to tears?" Josh teases. "Let's cut into your skin and bring out those tears!"

His nails turn into claws, and he rips my cheek without remorse, making me choke on a whimper.

"You're so screwed," Josh huffs out a laugh. "So frail and weak."

"Any last words?" Teagan asks, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. Her smile is toxic. "Any pleads for us to stop?"

The others snicker; there are three others: Alex, Roger, and Damian. They are all on the football team and fellow pack members of the Crescent pack.

My lips part, and through my teary eyes, I whisper. "Fuck you."

"You little shit!" Josh lifts his clenched fist, about to punch me.

I close my eyes on instinct, but the hit never comes. My eyes open, and I blink in confusion when I slip back to the ground. Before me, all my pack members are suspended in the air, floating above the ground.

"Pack matters shouldn't be solved on the school grounds," William says in a dark voice, stepping out of the shadows with pouting lips. "How many are you, anyway? Five against one?"

Josh narrows his eyes, groaning as if it's painful to speak. "You have no business getting into our pack matters, even if you're an alpha."

Teagan gasps. "The new teacher is an alpha?"

"Yeah, can't you feel it?" Josh growls. "The aura surrounding him is crazy—some people call him the freak alpha. He has fairy blood in his veins."

Fairy blood?

I shudder. I've heard the tales of creatures that can open portals and open doors into our world to get their hands on their favorite food—human flesh and blood.

Fairies aren't tiny and beautiful; they are frightening and can change their size and throw humans into their mouths.

My eyes travel to William. He cracks his shoulders and lets his eyes discreetly travel to mine. Once he notices the blood trickling down my chin, that calm demeanor shatters like glass.

"You hurt her..." William mumbles.

Josh glares at William. "Like I said, this is none of your business. It's against the pack laws to butt into other's business—"

"You hurt her; you think I give a fuck about pack laws?" William asks with a creepy smile taking over his lips. His eyes look deranged, glowing in blue as he continues speaking. "Give me one good reason not to kill you, mutt boy."

Josh opens his mouth, but William rushes forward like lightning before he can speak his mind. The other werewolves topple to the ground and hiss at William, but it doesn't stop him from turning his nails into claws.

"How about I give you the same treatment you gave my mate, big shot?" William's voice is low and dark. "I would love to rearrange your entire face—you don't need those eyes, do you?"

Josh whimpers, and William laughs.

"Aw, did you wet yourself? And here I thought you were a brave guy, bullying a girl not even half your size."

". Y-you're crazy, man!" Josh is crying. "I-I didn't know she was your mate! Please, don't hurt me!"

"You broke my mate's ribs," William says without looking at me. "I won't forgive you for hurting her. What do those wise humans say again? An eye for an eye? Was that it?"

"P-please!"

I blink when William slashes at Josh's face, sending blood splattering in every direction. The other werewolves get ready to attack, but William glares at them.

"Attack me, and I will end you all. Don't underestimate me—the other packs call me the freak alpha for a reason. Do you want to know why? Then go ahead, attack me."

Josh is crying. "Run, Teagan... This dude is crazy..."

Teagan whimpers and runs away. The other werewolves follow her without a second thought. I'm not sure what I should do, but I find my eyes travel back to William.

He tilts his head at Josh. Those eyes appear ready to kill Josh, but the quarterback doesn't deserve to die, no matter what I think of him. I push myself up on my shaky legs.

This is probably a dumb idea. William is furious and more muscular than me, yet I place my hand on his arm. He peers down at me, widening his eyes when I hug him.

"Don't kill him," I speak into his clothes. "Violence isn't always the answer. You should know that better than anyone."

William's tense muscles relax under my touch. I lean my cheek into his warm chest, and Josh seizes the opportunity to get on his feet. He runs away with a wet patch between his legs while I stay behind with William.

"Thank you," William says lowly. "I sometimes... Lose my temper..."

He steps away from my embrace, peering down at me with his eyes waging wars. His expression makes me shudder. His friendly demeanor is gone, replaced by everlasting darkness.

"It's okay..." I say, despite knowing if that is the truth. Honestly, I think I'm afraid of William. If he is part fairy, I'm part of his menu.

"I haven't read your mind, yet I already know what you're thinking..."

I gulp. "Is that so?"

He smirks down at me. There is sadness in his eyes. "You're wondering if I have ever eaten someone, right?"

"I guess..."

"No," William says. "That would be the answer, and that's also why I keep losing my control..." he sighs. "Whatever. I have to go, and you should stay far away from me."

I furrow my eyebrows. "But you said—"

"Oh?" William laughs. "The sex? Ah, I still want that, but I don't do relationships—I'm too unreliable."

I study his face. "Then why don't you reject me?"

His eyes meet mine. "Because a tiny voice inside my head still hopes there is a chance that I'm not entirely lost. Isn't that sad?"

My heart cries for him, and I reach out my hand, but William is already walking for the doors.

"Tell me if they pick on you again..." William laughs; it's a dark and wicked sound. "Then again, maybe that's not a good idea—I still want to kill Josh after what he did to you. Not gonna lie."

I force a smile. "Don't kill anyone."

"I will try."

William leaves me alone and more confused than ever. What the hell just happened?