Chapter 4: Close Calls and Tensions

Jake's hands were chilled and he wrapped the edge of his desk with them, breathing shallow gasping breaths of air. His dorm room stretched out to never-before-seen sizes, walls slowly drawing in with every second. A rough knock at the door startled him and he sprang to his feet.

"Jake! Open the door," Lisa's voice cut through the silence, her normal stern tone tinged with something else—uncertainty.

Panic gripped him. He turned to Zane, who was already in motion. Wordlessly, the silver-haired werewolf made for the small en-suite bathroom and ducked inside, just as Jake turned the handle.

Jake breathed deeply and he pushed open the door, making himself be nonchalant. "Mom. What are you doing here?"

She jostled him aside without so much as a "hold on," her toughened green eyes scanning the room. She snuffled briefly, imperceptibly but with intent. "Mia said something." She braced her arms in front of him. "She said you're having an affair with Max's son."

Jake paled, but fought to keep all expression out of his face. "What? Ridiculous. I don't even know the man."

Lisa's eyes turned black. "Mia told her she'd been with both of you. Laughing. Hooking up off-campus."

Jake produced a reluctant laugh, attempting to be as cheerful as possible.

"Mom, I have class. Lab class. I just see Zane because we double-major in the same thing. It doesn't mean that I'm 'sneaking around' with him."

Lisa's mouth drew into a line, her fingers drumming restlessly on her arm. "You know the punishment, Jake. Max's pack is garbage. If I ever find out you're even speaking to that boy—"

Jake tilted his chin. "You won't, because there's nothing to say."

Lisa glared at him for a long, taut moment before releasing a harsh breath. "Good."

On the counter in the bathroom, his phone vibrated. Lisa's gaze snapped towards it. Jake reached it first, grabbed it and turned it over. His heart skipped a beat as he read the name: Zane.

Shit.

Lisa's eyes darkened. "Who's texting you?"

Jake shrugged nonchalantly, phone clutched in his hand. "Tom. Needed bio class notes."

Lisa glared at him for another minute before storming off down towards the door. "Fine. But just you wait, Jake. I will not tolerate any shame to this pack."

She spun on her heel and stamped away, slamming the door.

Jake bounced off of the desk in relief. Another second, the bathroom door creaked open, and Zane stuck his head through the gap, looking amused.

"Damn," Zane breathed, stepping out into the night. "I enjoy the thrill of sneaking. You should've seen your expression. Priceless."

Jake frowned, but his heart was still racing. "She almost got us. You're not in earnest."

Zane smiled, hunching over himself. "Oh, yeah. I was. I was gonna get you in the shower with me. Then, if she went in to see the bathroom and make sure it was okay, we'd be both wet, and I could claim I was just helping you with—"

Jake slapped his hand over Zane's mouth, his face on fire with embarrassment. "Shut. Up."

Zane's shoulders shook with laughter as he fought to shove Jake's hand aside. "Hey, biology boy, relax. We're fine. No harm is done."

Jake wasn't so sure.

Jake set his tray of spaghetti aside untouched at lunch, anxiety roiling in his gut. Across the cafeteria, Mia was sitting with some of the other members of Lisa's pack, but she was looking directly at him. Waiting and staring.

"You're looking pretty fishy," Tom said, nudging him on the side with his elbow. "Something on your mind?"

Jake swallowed again. "Just tired."

Tom wasn't having it, but before he could press the issue, Zane dropped down beside Jake on the seat, setting his tray down on the table. "Hey, boys."

Tom's eyebrow rose. "Since when do you ride with us?"

"Because I have a group project with Jake," Zane answered icily, forcing a forkful of food into his mouth. He kicked Jake's leg under the table. "Right, partner?"

Jake stood up straight but nodded. "Yeah."

Tom scowled, but he did not mention it. Mia, who had just so happened to be present to see the entire exchange go down, stood up immediately and spoke to the people at her table before heading straight for the dining hall.

Jake got ill. That was not a smart thing to do.

It wasn't the only pair of eyes that watched Jake's every move in the corner of the hallway, however. There was Lena.

She stood against the wall, her blonde hair cascading down her back, her lips curled into a nasty grin. When Jake caught her eye, she feigned scratching a claw down her neck, then winked.

Jake's blood chilled.

Zane observed with his eyes, his grin twisting. His muscles hardened. "Don't give her notice," he muttered to himself. "She's going to play head games."

Jake wasn't so sure that he could hold out.

Jake and Zane accompanied their group to the dorms, through the busier streets. It was the wiser option.

"Mia is going to report," Jake whispered. "I knew by her face."

Zane pulled in a lungful of air, brushing away silver hairs. "She could. But I don't believe she's as hard-hearted as your mother."

"Perhaps not, but she stands up for them." Jake chewed at his lip. "And there's Lena. She'll lash out one day or another. I just sense it."

Zane took another step closer and for an instant his face was grim and uncompromising. "She won't hurt you."

Jake wanted to believe in him, but Lena was not a quitter.

It was when they approached the dorm building that someone yelled behind them.

"Hey, look at the lovebirds on their lovey-dovey walk. Cuteness. Look how close they are."

Jake's fists clenched at his sides. Zane stepped forward of him, readying himself.

"Lena, for Pete's sake, just leave," Zane snarled, his low tone menacing.

She laughed instead, tilting her head. "Oh, I will. But I have some enjoyment to get out of the way first."

She whirled on her heel and disappeared into the night, but her farewell shot a chill through Jake.

"Enjoy the peace while you may. It won't be long."

Jake swallowed hard as he watched her disappear into the darkness. Zane slammed his shoulder.

"She's intimidating you," Zane whispered. "But she's underestimating us."

Jake hoped so. But when they entered the dorm building, he could feel his gut telling him that things were going only one direction.

A lot downhill.