Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(62)

Katherine turned to run towards the make-shift touchdown area. She didn’t get five yards, however, before a colossal weight slammed into her. She immediately fell to the ground, whatever – or rather, whoever – had crashed into her landing on top of her back. Oxygen was forced from her lungs and for one terrifying second she couldn’t breathe.

Then a familiar voice whispered into her ear. “You’d better get used to this position, little girl. If you survive the change, you’ll learn to love being under me.”

It was Rip.

And Katherine was disgusted.

Before she could draw a breath and respond, the weight was yanked off her. “This is flag football, you imbecile! What are you doing tackling her? She’s not even a full-fledged werewolf! You could have crushed her!” Markus was furious.

“I tripped. It was an accident,” Rip insisted.

“Get your ass back in the school and wash up. I don’t want to see your face for the rest of the afternoon.” Markus ended his tirade, turning his attention to Katherine. “Are you alright?” he demanded, his eyes still bright with obvious anger.

“I’m fine,” Katherine assured, allowing Mack to help her off the ground. He and her other classmates had gathered around as soon as Markus had begun wailing at Rip.

“You sure?” Markus asked doubtfully.

“Yeah. I’m just a little winded.”

“Whatever then,” he sighed, running a tired hand over his face. “Why don’t you sit on the sidelines for the rest of the game, just in case?”

“I’ll sit with her,” Mack immediately volunteered, surprising Katherine.

Markus grunted in acknowledgement. Katherine and Mack both took it to mean that he approved of Mack’s suggestion.

Minutes later, the football match had resumed. The two friends watched from the shade of a nearby pine tree. Katherine had to fight the urge to roll her eyes when Priscilla started shooting her dirty looks from the field.

“Don’t let them get to you,” Mack advised from his spot to her right.

Katherine furrowed her brows, turning to meet his so-light-blue-that-they-were-almost-gray eyes.

“Those popular jerkoffs, I mean,” he clarified. “You can’t let them get under your skin. Believe me, you’re not the only new kid they’ve tortured.”

Katherine frowned. “You?” she guessed.

“Yeah. I was dropped off here when I was fifteen. Don’t remember my life before I was bitten. Have no idea who bit me. It was… hard when I first got here. People like Rip only made it worse for me. Don’t let them make it worse for you too.”

Katherine had no idea how she was supposed to accomplish that. But Mack’s words had affected her – made her chest swell with compassion for the boy – and she shifted her body so she could sit just that little bit closer to him.

Looking back on that particular day of P.E. class, Katherine was still a little surprised that Markus had reacted so violently to Rip tackling her.

He had actually seemed genuinely concerned for her. He’d even asked her if she was okay.

Perhaps Katherine wasn’t really all that surprised though.

After all, she knew that Markus had it in his head that Bastian would be upset if she got hurt.

And she was beginning to suspect that he was right. Bastian’s behavior over the past two weeks had been odd to say the least. Half the time, he blatantly ignored her – acted like she didn’t even exist – and the other half of the time, the man was completely overbearing.

He was at his worst during meal times when the pack gathered around the dining table to share Caleb’s delicious food. He always inquired about her day at school. Whenever it had been bad, Katherine had simply lied to him about it. She certainly hadn’t told him about Priscilla threatening her on her first day or Rip tackling her the week after. Bastian didn’t seem like he knew she was lying so she could only assumed that Markus hadn’t told him about the difficulties she was experiencing either. Not that the other man knew anything beyond what happened in P.E.

Anyway, after grilling her about her classes, Bastian would proceed to make sure she stuffed herself – practically demanding that she eat twice her weight in food. No matter how much she ate, however, he was never satisfied. He was constantly adding more food – and in particular, meat – to her plate when he thought she wasn’t looking.

She was a little insulted that the man truly thought she was that unobservant. The reality was that Katherine just knew how to pick her battles.

His erratic behavior only worsened as the date of the next full moon grew nearer.

And then, before Katherine knew it, that date – October 29, 2012 – had come.

After spending the morning getting barked at by Bastian to eat her eggs, she’d had to endure Caleb, Sophie, and Zane explaining to her what to expect that night when the full moon rose. Zane had wanted to transform in front of her so she could see exactly what it was that would be happening to her, but Bastian had adamantly refused.

Apparently, he thought it’d freak her out too much.

Which, of course, only served to freak her out.

Funny how that worked.

It wasn’t until late that afternoon that Bastian informed Katherine they’d be hiking to a remote location in the forest for her to experience her first transformation.