Tam’s Parents
Matt POV
As I walked into class, I could feel all eyes on me instantly. Girls started whispering, speaking my name in hushed tones. Did they think I couldn’t hear what they were saying? They made such lewd comments on me that included words like, bedding, presenting, biting, marking–Veles! Some girls stared, some blushed and then talked about my recent shift, about Torben. They swooned over me, calling me the perfect Alpha heir. So many compliments poured in, about my strength, my appearance, and my bear. It was all flattering, but why was it that I missed compliments from one person that mattered the least to me?
“Come sweetie!” Tulip guided us to our seats as he flicked her hair over her shoulder. She gave a withering stare to every girl who dared to look at me, but that didn’t stop them from commenting.
“She’s acting like she is his mate!” one of the girls scoffed.
Others laughed. “Lol. She is so boring. What does Matt see in her?”
“How embarrassing,” said one of them. “She had told everyone that once Matt shifts, he will recognize her as his mate.”
“But he didn’t!” said the other and they all started laughing again.
Tulip gritted her teeth, ignored them all, and sat with me majestically.
Tulip stuck to me like glue all day, her hand always on my arm, her eyes constantly scanning the room. She was possessive, and almost clingy. When she wasn’t around, other girls immediately started flocking to me, eager to talk about my bear and compliment me on my shift. Their eyes would linger. It made me feel–like I was some prize to be won.
Tulip’s jealousy was obvious, and she didn’t even try to hide it. My frustration grew with every passing minute. I didn’t want the attention, yet I was expected to handle it, to play the part. It was exhausting. Veles, show me a way. I was desperate to get out of it all. Desperate to go back home. My instincts were screaming, like something really bad was going to happen, like things were going to change forever. For good or for worse. I didn’t know.
I was barely able to focus on the classes. As soon as it was lunch, I rushed to the dining room of the school, where I scanned the entire place to look for the little menace. But she wasn’t there. My stomach twisted with more anger. Did she not have her food? Was she planning on staying hungry? What was more important than eating food? And why the fuck it bothered me so much? It didn’t bother me so much before I shifted. Even Torben was restless inside me.
Her absence gnawed at me. I clenched my jaw and pushed the feeling away to focus on the conversation between my friends. But the irritation built with every passing minute.
“Matt!” Tulip’s voice snapped me from my thoughts. She was holding a piece of steak in front of my mouth. When my eyes focused on her, I found her frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I muttered and ate the steak she offered. Shit. This was what I should look forward to. Tulip. She was my future. As the school day came to an end, I found myself waiting at the parking lot as I leaned against the car and chatted with my friends. My eyes kept darting to the entrance. At last, she appeared, and I huffed a sigh of relief. I waited for her to come to the car impatiently, but instead, she walked with her friend, her head down, straight for her friend, Aiden’s car.
A sharp surge of anger flooded through me. I strode to her without thinking. “Where do you think you’re going?” I growled. Tam looked up at me with her stormy gray eyes. “I’m going with Aiden,” she replied. “We have to do our homework together.” “You are coming with me!” I snapped. I grabbed her by her upper arm. “You just can’t go with anyone without informing me!” She looked at me with hatred in her eyes. “Matt!” she shouted. “The teacher wants me to help Aiden. I will go with him!” Her gaze darted to Tulip, who was looking at us with wide eyes full of shock. “You can go with her.”
The sting of her words burned hotter than I wanted to admit. I glared at Aiden, who recoiled and stepped back. Then I pulled her with me to the car even as she squealed her protests, and hit me with her small fists. “Leave me, matt!” she shouted. But I opened the car door for her, shoved her in, and before she could get out, I sat in the driver’s seat and zipped off home. How dare she defy me? Anger inside me was like hot molten lava, ready to pour out even at the slightest provocation. I didn’t bother how Tulip and Seth looked at me, completely stunned. All that mattered was Tam inside my car. She had avoided me the whole day. The girl who ran after me, now avoided me? The gall!
The drive home was silent, suffocating, but I felt better. The silence between us was oppressive, and neither of us seemed willing to break. Tam didn’t speak as she fixed her gaze out the window. Even though I wanted to talk to her, I was still seething, unable to shake off the anger that had built inside me since morning. I wondered if I should apologize to her. But why? She was the one at fault. She should be apologizing. Moreover, my pride kept me silent. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out what to say to her anymore. She could distance herself for all she wanted to.
By the time we pulled into the driveway, though my anger hadn’t faded, unease settled in my gut. I could sense it before I even stepped out of the car. Strong smell invaded my nostrils. Of wolves.
I stepped out, gripping Tam’s hand in mine, and walked toward the house. Outside, a group of wolves stood. As soon as
1/3
Tarris Parents
they looked at Tam, their eyes glinted with excitement, and murmurs started.
My stomach tightened and shoved Tam behind my back. My bear tried to push forward, and I let out a growl of warning. They all stopped but their excitement didn’t die down.
I reached inside the house, keeping Tam close to me. And there I saw a couple. Wolves. Their eyes instantly landed on me, and then on Tam. My gut twisted. Because the she–wolf looked exactly like an older version of Tam.
“Matt!” my father said with excitement in his demeanor. “These are Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren from the Shadowfang pack. Tam’s parents.”
My stomach dipped.
