Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(89)

Really? That was where her friend’s mind went?

…Katherine supposed she couldn’t blame her.

“Uh, no,” she said, “I meant I’m in as in I want to go out with you guys tonight… well, if the offer still stands anyway.”

Melanie squealed, seeming to forget about her hunt for her book – or whatever it was she was looking for – as she pulled Katherine into a tight hug. “Of course it does! This is going to be so fun. I really can’t wait for school to be over now.”

Katherine forced a smile, hoping it looked sincere. And ignoring the smidgen of guilt threatening to turn it into a frown, she agreed. “Yeah, me either.”

Just as Melanie had hoped for, classes flew by quickly. At lunch, Katherine announced to the rest of the gang that she’d changed her mind about going out with them and they reacted in similarly excited manners. Especially Jon, who apparently subscribed to the theory that the more attractive girls a guy went out with, the more attractive girls he could pick up.

Yeah.

Before Katherine knew it, her last class of the day – gym – had come to an end.

“Hey princess,” Markus called, stopping her before she could disappear into the locker room.

Princess. Ugh. So much for their deal.

“Yeah?”

“Bastian can’t pick you up this afternoon so just hang out by my truck for a few while I put this crap away, alright?” he said, gesturing toward the two goals and pile of sticks that they’d been using to play indoor hockey.

“Okay, sure,” Katherine agreed, not quite believing her luck. She’d had no idea how she was going to sneak away undetected after school, especially since Bastian had been dropping her off and picking her up lately. But with Bastian out of the picture and Markus preoccupied, it would be laughably easy.

Still, Katherine wondered why Bastian had bailed. She figured he probably didn’t want to sit through another car ride of hostile silence. She’d made it a wee bit obvious that morning that she was still mad at him.

Katherine hurried out of her gym uniform and into the baggy sweatpants and t-shirt she’d worn to school. She rushed Melanie and Agnes through their routines as well. If her friends thought anything of her odd behavior, they kept it to themselves.

Sparing a glance at Markus as she exited the locker room and gym with her friends, Katherine made her way to the parking lot, where she, Melanie, and Agnes met up with Penelope and the boys.

It was quickly decided that the girls would hop in with Melanie in her tiny two door car, while the guys would ride with Mack in his slightly larger – but indefinitely rustier – four door vehicle.

Katherine loaded her satchel, which was stuffed not only with her school books but with the black dress she’d thrown in there last night, into Melanie’s car before squeezing in the back seat with Penelope.

She couldn’t resist peering out the rear view window as Melanie pulled out of the lot, wondering how Markus would feel when he realized that she wasn’t where she was supposed to be. That she wasn’t at the school at all.

He’d probably be angry. Maybe even worried.

No.

Katherine forced that thought away.

Who cared how he – or more importantly, how Bastian – would feel? If he couldn’t respect her enough to allow her to make her own decisions – well, she’d make them anyway. And not feel the need to inform him. Why should she? He may have been her alpha, but he wasn’t her mother.

She didn’t have one. Not anymore.

Thankfully, Melanie forced Katherine out of her spiraling thoughts when she began to talk, explaining to Katherine where it was she resided as she navigated through Haven Fall’s narrow streets. “I only live a few miles west of the school. Well, not just me – Mack and Jon too. You probably didn’t know this, Katherine, but Mack, Jon and I all live together in the same house. They’re two other boys that stay with us as well, but they aren’t in our grade. We’re all changed werewolves, but we haven’t been claimed by a pack. Not like you have been.”

For the first time since she’d been introduced to her, Katherine detected a hint of envy in the other girl’s voice.

“Anyway,” she continued, “a man named Luther – he’s an alpha, but a lone wolf – takes care of us. He’s in charge of us until we’re old enough to be recruited. If he’s around, I’ll make sure to introduce you before we take off.”

“I’ve met him a few times. Don’t worry, he’s really nice,” Agnes assured from where she sat in the passenger seat.

“Yeah,” Penelope agreed noncommittally.

Not a moment later, they’d arrived. Katherine couldn’t help but be relieved that Melanie’s house was on the opposite side of Haven Falls as where Bastian lived.

Melanie parked her little car and the girls unloaded, the boys not far behind them.

Like most of the residential buildings in Haven Falls, the house was two stories tall and made mostly of brick. Melanie skipped to the front door, pulling it open and ushering her friends in.

“Come on Katherine, I’ll give you the abridged tour before us girls head upstairs to get ready.”

She preceded to show her the kitchen, living room, and downstairs toilet before grabbing the other girls and heading up the stairs. After quickly pointing out the upstairs bathroom to Katherine, Melanie led them all to her room.