Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(68)

Markus’s reaction had surprised her. After he’d gotten over the shock of being hit in the face, he’d laughed. Apparently, she didn’t pack quite as much of a punch as she’d thought.

Sophie, at least, had been impressed. She’d thumped Katherine on the back, congratulating the small brunette for finally giving Markus what he deserved.

Whether the man had deserved to be hit or not, however, Katherine couldn’t bring herself to look at Bastian after she’d done it. She’d avoided him for the rest of the day, afraid she’d see a disappointed frown aimed her way if she allowed her eyes to meet his.

Not that she cared what the dark-haired man thought.

Really.

She didn’t.

And anyway, punching Markus had been nothing compared to what’d happened at the school three days later. Bastian had finally allowed her to go back on Monday – a full five days after she’d survived the full moon on Tuesday night – and Katherine was equal parts proud and ashamed to admit that she’d gotten into a no holds barred girl fight with none other than Priscilla Wright.

Katherine scanned the books lining the shelves of the school library. She was looking for something – anything – that might pertain to the immunity system or healing process of werewolves. It was Free Study and for once, she was planning on doing exactly that – study.

When the scratches she’d obtained from running through the woods on Tuesday had disappeared by the next morning, she’d been reminded of how quickly her head injury had healed when she’d first been brought to Haven Falls. Her curiosity had been piqued to say the least.

After a few minutes of searching, Katherine finally found something she thought may be useful – Anatomy of a Werewolf by Harold Spalding.

She grabbed the book, brushing the dust from its spine, before turning around.

And coming face to face with Priscilla.

The blonde had her arms folded across her chest. Her eyes were bright with anger and her pink mouth was set in an unattractive scowl. One of the girl’s friends – Katherine didn’t know her name – stood beside her with a similar expression on her face.

Katherine was understandably confused – and more than a little annoyed.

She hadn’t been to the school in nearly a week and within hours of coming back, she’d already managed to do something that ruffled Priscilla’s feathers? Really?

“Can I help you?” Katherine asked tersely, irritation lacing her voice.

Priscilla stepped forward into Katherine’s space, forcing her to take a step back in turn. Unfortunately, in the confined space of the library, that meant backing up into a shelf.

“Yes,” Priscilla hissed. “You can help me – and yourself for that matter – by staying away from Rip.”

Hadn’t they already had this conversation weeks ago?

“You tell Rip to stay away from me,” Katherine retorted, in no mood to squabble with the other girl.

She could already guess what had brought about this particular outburst, but it was hardly her fault that Mr. Sinclair had put Katherine and Rip in the same small group in Werewolf History that morning. And she certainly hadn’t asked for Rip to start whispering lewd comments in her ear once he’d sat next to her.

The boy was repulsive.

And Katherine was seriously beginning to doubt that even Priscilla deserved to be shackled with someone like him.

“Please. Like Rip would ever truly be interested in a scrawny thing like you,” the blonde snapped. “You could never handle a real man like him.”

Priscilla thought Rip was a real man? Seriously? Maybe they did deserve each other.

The blonde took another step into Katherine’s space. If the brunette was a half foot taller, they’d be nose to nose. “No one even knows how you even survived the change on Tuesday. I mean, you have to know how pathetic you are. You’re just like that Melanie girl – an absolute disgrace. I don’t know how Bastian can stand carrying the shame of having turned someone like you. No doubt he wishes he’d have just left you to die.”

Tightly clutching the book she’d picked out with one hand, Katherine shoved Priscilla away from her with the other. “You can leave me alone too,” she spat, turning to leave.

Before she could take more than two steps, however, the other girl had her long fingers wrapped around her elbow in an unyielding grip. “Did you just push me?”

She actually had the nerve to sound affronted.

“That depends,” Katherine replied, somehow prying her arm out of Priscilla’s clutches. She dropped her book to the floor and this time used both her hands to shove the blonde away. “Do you consider that a push?”

“You vile, little bi-”

Priscilla didn’t even bother to finish the insult before vaulting at Katherine, yanking hard on the brunette’s hair – almost like she was trying to rip it from her scalp.

Katherine immediately had a hand wrapped around one of the girl’s wrists, her fingernails digging into the blonde’s skin as she attempted to stop her from pulling out her brown locks. She closed her other hand into a fist, hitting Priscilla hard in the stomach.

The blonde let go of her hair for only a second, but that was all the time Katherine needed and she pounced. The two girls were reduced to an undignified pile on the floor, limbs flailing as each tried their hardest to hurt the other.