I reached over Amethyst and handed the second drink to Beth. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” she said as she scanned me. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I would be. I needed to get him out of my mind, though. It didn’t help that the creepy, funny feeling remained. It was obvious it had to do with Aidan. Why was he watching me so damn much? For someone who’d made a point to avoid me, he sure had picked up some creepy hobbies.
“She’s lying.” Amethyst crossed her legs. “There is so much negative energy coming off her.”
“Yeah, I know. Did you run into you know who?” Beth asked.
She and I had gotten so close that I couldn’t lie to her again. “Yeah, but it’s fine.”
“Oh… is it a boy?” Amethyst’s eyes glowed.
“Of course it is.” Coral giggled. “And I’m assuming it’s not the boyfriend, seeing as he’s trying to get her attention right now on the field.”
Are you okay? Jacob’s voice in my mind almost startled me.
I looked down to find him standing in front of me.
The platform was five feet off the ground, but with him being over six feet, he could reach me. He raised his arms and placed his hands around my ankles.
“Yeah, I’m fine. The line was crazy, and for a second, I didn’t think I’d get down here before the game started.” That wasn’t a lie. The line had taken ten minutes to go through, but I’d conveniently left out the Aidan part.
“No worries. You made it.” He looked at the others. “Those your new friends?”
“Yeah. I figured you’d meet them after the game.”
“Sounds perfect.” He smiled.
“Rogers, get your ass over here. It’s time for us to go in,” the coach yelled at him.
I nodded at him. “You better go.”
“Yeah.” He pouted. “Kiss for good luck?”
“You know I can’t do that.” I batted his hand away.
“Rain check then.” He winked at me.
“The coach is watching.” I forced a giggle. “Now go on.”
“Fine.” He fake pouted again for a second before he ran off to join the rest of the team.
Beth shook her head. “Between the jersey and the kiss, that was him peeing all over you.”
“I love it when shifters make dog jokes.” Samuel lifted a fist in the air. “It makes my day.”
“Yeah, but you’re not allowed to.” Beth narrowed her eyes at him. “Only we can do it.”
“See, where’s the fun in that?” He sighed as if she’d just ruined his day.
“Oh, stop it.” Coral smacked him on the arm.
“Aw.” He grabbed his arm, pretending she’d hurt him. “Wait until I tell the Priestess what you did.”
“Yeah, let me be there when you tell her.” Coral snickered. “I don’t want to miss her reaction.”
“Are you all from the same coven?” I hadn’t even considered that they would be. I’d figured they’d met each other by chance.
“Yeah.” Amethyst pointed to the other three. “We are. We all grew up together.”
“That’s neat.” Libby and Grace had always known they’d stay home and close to the pack. I’d always known I’d be going to school alone. Or at least, I’d thought I would be.
“You guys aren’t from the same pack?” Finn glanced at me and then to Beth. “You two seem awfully close.”
“Yeah, we get along.” Beth grinned at me. “Back home, I never really felt like I fit in, so it’s refreshing to have found a good friend.”
She’d never told me that before. She never really talked about anyone back home, except for her parents and older brother. And even then, I’d needed to connect the dots.
“Hey, I kinda feel the same way.” I was the orphan. Even though my parents treated me like their blood, I’d always felt like an outsider. Something felt different inside me. That was one reason why it had hurt so damn hard when Aidan had ghosted me. He was the only one who’d really seen me. All of me. It was nice now to have the same feeling with Beth.
The crowd cheered as the football team ran onto the field.
I’d been so caught up in the conversation that I hadn’t even noticed it was time. I jumped to my feet and cheered. After all, that was what he wanted me to do.
Aidan
Of course, the gorgeous, stubborn-ass wouldn’t listen to me. Not only was she hanging out with the very people who could get her killed, but she was cheering for her asshole football boyfriend.
I’d never felt jealous of anything in my entire life, but she brought it out in me. Even my older brother, as the alpha heir, didn’t faze me.
My legs propelled me forward, and I didn’t even try to stop. I was making a huge mistake, but I didn’t give a fuck. Protecting her was more important than anything else.
Emma
Soon the game began. Right when I was about to sit down again, the buzzing of my skin picked up, and I heard an all too familiar voice. “I’m with them.”
“She didn’t say you were.” The usher stood tall, but his hands shook.
Aidan was a strong wolf, and even humans could feel the power.
“He’s not.” What the hell was he trying to pull?
“Oh, who’s that?” Amethyst’s focused on Aidan.
“Either let me in or I’ll make you.” Aidan shrugged. “Up to you.”
“Fine, but only this one time.” The usher’s bottom lip quivered.
“What? No.” I stood and stalked over to the douchebag. “Go away. You’re not wanted.”
“Aw, I think someone is protesting a little too much.” He slid past the usher, and then his eyes turned dark, nearly brown, as he took in the four witches. “What do we have here?”
Finn stood and stared Aidan down. “You have a problem?” He pulled out a knife from his pocket, moving so no one but us could see.
“Yeah, you shouldn’t be hanging around her.” Aidan seemed unfazed and pointed at me.
“Dammit, Finn. Put that away.” Coral lifted an eyebrow as she took in the shifter. “Who are you?”
“It’s none of your damn business, shrew.” Aidan’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “Shouldn’t you be sticking to your own kind?”
Samuel stood, refusing to be looked down upon. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Holy shit. This wouldn’t end well.
What is going on, Emma? Jacob’s voice was low and angry.
I… I don’t know. Not only was Aidan causing problems with my new friends, but he was causing problems with Jacob, too. Great. I made my way back to my seat to put distance between Aidan and me.
“Emma said you weren’t welcome, mutt.” Finn sneered as he put the knife back in his pocket, but his hand stayed there. “So why are you still here?”
“Emma doesn’t know what she wants,” Aidan warned. “It’s best if you stay out of our business.”