Chapter 24

24

“ I ’m seriously going to throw up,” Katy deadpanned, throwing an arm across my chest to stop us as we walked into the cafeteria the next morning.

“What?” I asked, throwing my arms up in exasperation.

“We’re barely in the doors, and you two are already making eyes at each other,” she griped, nose wrinkled in disgust.

I wanted to tell her she was wrong, but the second I crossed the threshold, my eyes found Remy’s. If my smile matched the energy in his, we definitely looked like a couple of idiots.

He was already seated at our normal table with Rhodes, Dante, Tate, Maren, and Ryder. He stopped mid-conversation with Dante when I came in, his full attention shifting to me.

The grin he gave me almost had me pushing Katy aside so I could run to him.

“Stop,” Katy begged, tugging on my arm and pulling my attention back to her. “It’s too early for this.”

I rolled my eyes and glanced back at Larkin, who stood a step behind us. I sighed quietly at her obvious reluctance to enter.

“If you want, we can skip breakfast,” I told her. “We can go back to the room.”

It was early enough in the morning after the dance that the cafeteria wasn’t at full capacity. Trace and his crew were nowhere to be seen yet, but I knew Larkin was afraid of running into him.

I was personally kind of hoping I would run into the asshole.

My wolf rumbled in approval.

“I can’t avoid the cafeteria forever,” Larkin said with a grimace.

“But it’s totally okay if you want to avoid it today,” Katy assured her, resting a hand on her arm. “I can grab food and meet you guys back in your room. It’s Sunday, so we can spend the day watching TV and eating chocolate.”

“Or we can hang out at the cabin,” I said without thinking.

Katy snorted. “Down girl.”

I made a face. “Sorry. I swear, this bond also removed the filter between my human brain and wolf brain.”

“I’m going to need you to keep all of your brains in check while talking to me about my brother,” Katy grumbled, shaking her head.

“I know I know. But seriously, Lark. We’ll do whatever you want. We can go back to the room.”

Larkin chewed on her lower lip, considering the offer. With a dejected sigh, she nodded and took a step back. Unfortunately, she didn’t notice the two girls coming up behind her and she stepped back into them, her heel coming down on the foot of one.

With a gasp, she turned to apologize, but the other girl was already glaring at her.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going,” Sierra snarled, glaring at Larkin. Her blue eyes were twin chips of ice, hard and glittering. She exchanged a glance with Ainsley who was walking with her.

With a scoff, Sierra looked at Larkin again and leaned in closer, dropping her tone. “And stay the hell away from my boyfriend, skank.”

Larkin’s face went ashen as she stumbled back into me.

I stepped around Larkin, making Sierra back up a step when I growled. “What did you just say?”

Ainsley flipped her long brown hair over a shoulder, shrugging a bony shoulder. “Trace told us how she basically threw herself at him at the dance. Larkin seems to like spreading problems like she likes spreading her legs.”

A low moan came from Larkin. I looked back to see she was white as a sheet and looked ready to throw up.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I spat, fury washing over me. I glared at Ainsley and then Sierra. “Your boyfriend is an abusive asshole who should be locked up.”

Sierra’s cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, new girl.”

“Get out of here, Sierra,” Katy ordered, stepping up beside me. We formed a barrier between the two girls and Larkin.

Sierra snorted derisively, her lip curling in scorn. “I don’t take orders from dykes. Go order your bitch around.”

Katy’s hand shot out, cracking against Sierra’s face, stunning all five of us. Larkin cried out, and a hush fell over the cafeteria. I heard chairs scraping against the tiles and it didn’t take a genius to figure out it was likely Remy and Rhodes coming over.

Sierra’s face turned bright red as she whirled around with a growl, her gaze locked on Katy. I caught her around the waist as she lunged at the redhead.

Sierra was about my height, but she had a lot of rage on her side as she tried to fight me off her. My arms were still around her waist as I tried to pull her away from Katy and Larkin. Ainsley was screaming something I couldn’t make out behind me, and I briefly wondered if Katy would hit her, too.

Sierra’s hands curled around one of my wrists, her nails digging in hard enough that I smelled the scent of my own blood. I shoved her away from me on instinct. She hit the wall across from me and glared, murder in her eyes.

I growled in response, my wolf and I ready for the fight.

Remy was in front of me before Sierra could turn her attack on me.

“What the fuck is going on?” he thundered, his voice hard and furious as he leveled a stare at Sierra that had her studying the floor and all but sliding to the floor to submit to his gaze.

“Apparently Sierra and Ainsley are under the completely fucked up delusion that Larkin came onto Trace last night,” Katy explained, her voice full of venom.

Remy’s dark gaze swung to Ainsley, who also cowered. “Seriously?”

“She hit me!” Sierra shrieked. “As our alpha on campus, I demand she be punished for striking another pack mate.”

“Are you kidding me?” Katy yelled, hands balling into fists. “After what you said? You’re lucky I only slapped you, bitch!”

“Be quiet,” Remy ordered his sister.

I could sense his frustration mounting, and I almost reached out to touch his back, wanting to offer comfort.

Sierra pointed a finger at me. “And she attacked me when I tried to defend myself!”

Remy breathed hard, his chest heaving as he looked at all of us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rhodes had pulled a shaking Larkin away from the center of the chaos, but we still had every eye in the room on us.

“Cabin, all of you. Now.” Remy ordered, his tone clipped.

Sierra and Ainsley glared at Katy and Larkin as they walked by. When Sierra intentionally shoulder checked me, I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to reach out and yank her bleached roots.

“Sierra!” Remy snapped. “That’s fucking enough.”

Head ducked in contrition, Sierra scurried down the hall with Ainsley.

Rhodes cleared his throat. “I’m going to take Larkin back to the dorm, okay?”

Remy nodded, watching them leave.

“Rem—” Katy started softly.

He whirled on her, eyes blazing. “Not here, Katherine.”

Katy swallowed and looked at her feet, hands clasped in front of her. I had never seen her look so small or contrite.

Remy stalked down the hall, Katy and I followed behind quietly. I could hear the sudden buzz of chatter swarm as we all walked away from the cafeteria.

So much for laying low.

Pissed off Remy wasn’t something I had seen before. I had seen him put some pack members in check before, but nothing like this.

Then again, I had never seen a physical fight break out in the pack like this.

He shoved the door open, holding it for us. He waited until we were out to shut the door and look at his sister.

“Meet me at the cabin. I need to talk to Skye,” he said.

Katy nodded wordlessly and headed down the path to the cabin.

“What the hell happened?” he asked me, turning with confusion in his eyes. He raked a hand through his hair.

“What Katy said,” I replied. “Sierra and Ainsley started in on Larkin about Trace. Apparently, he told them that she came on to him at the dance.”

“Fucking asshole,” Remy muttered darkly, eyes flashing. He rubbed the back of his neck with a growl. “I should’ve made my point a little harder.”

“What?” I gaped at him. “You talked to Trace? When?”

He nodded grimly. “After I walked you back. I went looking for him. I told him to stay the hell away from Larkin and any other Blackwater pack member.”

Dread pooled in my stomach. “And he just said okay?”

A snort escaped from Remy. “No. He swung at me and missed. I landed a few solid punches. He probably needed a cover story to sell the bruises to Sierra.”

“You hit him?” I blinked, wishing I had been there to see it.

Remy smirked, reaching up to toy with the ends of my hair. “Only a couple times.”

“And then he ran to Sierra and told her Larkin came on to him,” I finished grimly. “I really hate this guy.”

He sighed and nodded stiffly, letting my hair slide through his fingers. “Me, too. What made Katy hit Sierra?”

“Katy and I were defending Larkin and Sierra... said something pretty offensive to Katy.” I frowned, remembering the slur that flew easily from the blonde’s lips. “Katy reacted. I grabbed Sierra when she went to hit Katy back.”

“Sierra and Katy hate each other,” he replied, shaking his head. “They always have, but I can’t believe Katy hit her.”

“But what Sierra said was really cruel,” I said quickly, defending my friend.

Remy gave me a hard look. “I don’t care what Sierra said . What matters is Katy escalated it to a physical level.”

My back went stiff. “What does that mean?”

“It means Katy will have to have some sort of consequence,” he answered, frustration lacing his tone. “I can’t let it slide because Sierra’s a bitch or because Katy’s my sister. I mean, I’m sure Sierra deserved it, but we don’t settle things with fists around here.”

“If she deserved it, then what’s the issue?” I demanded, not seeing the problem. Hell, if Katy hadn’t slapped her, I probably would have.

“I represent the pack here,” he told me, his tone final and resigned. “I have to maintain pack integrity and cohesion above all else. Even when I really don’t want to.”

I nodded and watched him exhale deeply before starting down the path to the cabin. He only made it a few steps when I stopped him.

“Remy?”

He turned and I licked my lips, suddenly nervous. Taking a deep breath and not giving myself time to think it through, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his waist to hug him.

His arms closed around me instantly, his head dropping to my neck and inhaling deeply. I felt his muscles relax as I smoothed a hand up and down his back.

“Thanks,” he murmured in my hair, nuzzling his nose against my throat. His lips ghosted across the skin there and a shiver tripped down my spine. “I needed that.”

His warm eyes were clearer when he pulled back. His hand slid off my back and down to grab my hand in his. I gave him a weak smile and let him lead me down the path to the cabin.

Students were starting to emerge after the late night, and I caught several double takes at watching Remy and I walk by hand-in-hand, but I was too preoccupied wondering what kind of consequences Katy would face.

In Long Mesa, pack punishments were typically a public spectacle. I had seen everything from someone being held in a cage in the center of town without food and water for days to whipping. My grandfather wasn’t exactly known for his mercy, and as my uncle took more control of the pack, punishments became more frequent and more cruel.

I glanced up at Remy. Somehow I couldn’t see him making Katy sit in a cage for days without food or water. Or tying her to a post to whip her.

My stomach cramped, remembering a particular punishment from my uncle. A female shifter was found having an affair with another male. Linden had happily told her that since she clearly needed more than her mate could provide, he would oblige her cry for help. My uncle had forced her to strip and walk through the compound naked, before chaining her to a bed at the omega house for anyone to visit.

After several days, she was unchained to shower. She was in the bathroom for all of ninety seconds when she punched the mirror above the sink and used a shard of glass to slit her wrists.

The sounds of her screams gave me nightmares for months.

My steps slowed as the cabin came into view and Remy, noticing I had slowed, stopped and waited for me.

I couldn’t meet his gaze. I was too trapped in the past, remembering the way the woman’s body was discarded carelessly, like trash, outside the compound. She wasn’t even worthy of a burial.

Fiona , I remembered suddenly. Her name had been Fiona.

Tears blurred my vision.

“Whoa, hey.” Remy’s hands framed my face, lifting so he could see me. His eyes went wide. “What’s wrong?”

I sniffed and blinked, twin tears falling. “I’m worried about Katy.”

Remy gave me a confused look even as his thumbs swept away my tears. “I don’t get it.”

“I know you said you have to do something,” I stammered, unable to meet his gaze, “ but I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

His eyes narrowed. “I can’t let what she did slide, Skye. You know that.”

I nodded miserably. “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

“Hurt?” he repeated, incredulous. Suddenly clarity dawned on his face. “You think I’m going to hurt Katy?”

“I get it’s what you have to do,” I whispered. I was trying, and failing, to bury the overwhelming reality that the guy fate had linked to me for the rest of my life wasn’t much better than the monsters I had run away from.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered. He let my face go and took me by the shoulders. “Skye, look at me.”

I couldn’t.

I couldn’t watch Remy tell me he had to punish Katy. He had to hurt my friend. Not this guy who I was starting to fall for.

“Skye, babe, look at me,” he begged, giving me a small shake that snapped me out of my relentless thoughts.

I finally lifted my eyes. My jaw dropped when I saw the pain, the horror, on his face.

“Katy will be fine,” he swore, his hands cupping my cheeks. “I don’t know what happened before, but what Katy did? I’ll put her on janitorial duty in the girls’ dorm for a week. That is the standard consequence for striking a pack mate. No one is hurting Katy.”

I gulped down a swallow. Relief washed through me, my knees going weak. Remy caught me and held me against his chest.

He swore under his breath, arms going tight around me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered against his chest. My hands went around him, clutching to his back.

“Promise me something?”

I nodded.

“We both know your last pack was seriously fucked up. Can you promise to come to me with questions or anything you’re worried about before assuming the worst?”

“Yeah. I can do that,” I promised, letting my eyes close as I relaxed against him.