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“And after I’m done with you, I’ll take my time with him.” I point the broken bottle toward Dean on the ground. “What was it he said? Oh yeah…I’ll make it so he’ll have to crawl back when I’m done with him...that's if he’s still breathing, I guess.” I shrug, twisting the bottle round playfully. “And unlike you scumbags, I’m in no rush. There’ll be no quickie here.”
“Now I’m going to return all the pleasantries I’ve gotten the last couple of years.” I grip the bottle in my hand, veering it toward the three of them. “Fucking bitch–” Leon slurs, as he tries to head toward me. Except Cole kicks a leg out toward him, pushing him back and sending him stumbling again. “Not now,” Cole calls. “Not ever again,” I call, my voice low and emotionless. “If you, or they, come at me like this again, Cole…I promise you, crawling away won’t even be an option.”
His light golden hair sways with the breeze and brushes across his shoulders while the muscles in his arms pull and stretch at the fabric of his cream shirt. He narrows his deep green eyes toward me as I approach. I continue to walk, picking up my pace as his lips pinch into a slight frown and I realise who it is that I’m staring at. I guess those rumours about the new Defence teacher were true after all.
I may not be the fastest or strongest, but my mentality was no longer the same. I know my worth now and that I deserve more from this life than what I’ve always been shown by those around me. This second chance, this new life…I won’t waste any more of it on them.
“Then just imagine how much shittier it is for me to have to be beside you.” Kane freezes, his eyes slightly widening as his mouth opens before it hastily closes again.
“I don't know what crawled up your ass or what broke your little shifter brain into thinking I’d want to be paired with you, but let's be clear...I would rather be alone than spend one minute longer in your presence.” A humourless chuckle leaves my lips. “I think it's been made crystal clear what you all think of me, and any affection we shared is long burned out with all your shit.”
“Manipulative?” I scoff, looking him dead in his eyes. “Who have I got around me to manipulate, Kane? You all left me, remember?” I shake my head. “Probably the best thing you all ever did, though. Showing me who you really were. All fake lying assholes.”
When night falls, I’ll slip back into the forest's shadows and train. I’ll go over what we learnt today and add my own variations.
“Right, the crazy chick from English.” My eyes widen slightly. Who was he to be calling me crazy? I wasn’t the one whipping a blade out over seating arrangements. Also, it was World History, not English.
He bends in closer, his smoky scent hitting me. “Don’t like sharing, Red?” His words tug me out of whatever trance I’m in, as I shake my head. “Not my food.” “So, crazy and possessive. Not qualities most normies want in their partners, Red.” He shakes his head, leaning in toward me. “Personally, though, I think a little crazy every now and then is healthy. And being possessive…” His eyes gloss over a little as he bites down on his bottom lip, “It’s sexy as fuck having a woman stake her claim on shit, especially if it gets bloody.”
“Somebody starve you or somethin’, Red?” He chuckles, licking the fry crumbs from his fingers. A beat of silence drums between us as his chuckling abruptly stops. A cold chill runs up my back as I watch his playful eyes slowly turn into something darker. And I now recognise that what he’s shown me so far has been a contained version of himself. That something darker readily lurks beneath the surface, just waiting to pounce.
“It's a pity that you grew into such a cold dick who only knows how to growl or bark.” I thrust my shoulder into his side, forcing him out of my way, and head out of the building, ignoring the voices behind me. I’ll leave those emotions and memories where they belong. In the past.
There were just too many unanswered questions. I didn’t even know how or why I was brought back here and to ten years in the past. Why now? I’m grateful and all, second chances or miracles like this don't happen, ever. But why me? Is this just another thing I should be thankful for and not question?
I’d have to tackle one thing at a time. Time. It was something I now had a lot of, my only ally here. And with it, I would collect every puzzle piece and place everything together until the picture was whole again. I’ll deal with whatever comes, one day at a time.
“You’re really not scared, are you?” His gaze flickers back and forth, searching my eyes for something. “I can’t see even a lick of fear in you, Red. Not a drop. Why is that?” My brows pinch together. Why would I be scared of him? He pulls back slightly, his eyes never leaving mine as he continues his perusal of my face.
“Petty gossip?” He scoffs. “I couldn’t give two fucks. The only thing that interests me is blood, blades, and my brothers.”
“Sometimes freedom means being the bad guy. Sometimes, you gotta embrace the darkness they create in you and make it your own. Don’t be consumed by the shit they throw at you or inflict. Instead, let the dark little soul in you break free and make ‘em all bleed.”
“Words can hurt, wounds can fester, but even the most broken of bones can heal again, Red.”
Something pushed him beyond his limits, broke him. And he pieced himself back together, cracks and all. He accepts it, welcomes it, and allows it to create a new him. Someone who doesn’t break, who won’t fall easily, and who will continue to get back up, grinning even when bloodied and beaten beyond repair.
My breath catches in my throat with the realisation that Annex reminds me of myself.
“Just live the way you want, Red. Whether you're the good guy or the bad guy in someone else's story, everyone becomes a villain at some point. It's only a difference in perspective.”
“Always give more than you get, Red. If they knock you down once, get back up and bury them.” He gives me a wicked smirk, pulling himself up and brushing against me as he passes. “I might even lend a hand. I enjoy a good bloodbath from time to time.” He passes Mr. Finch, whose eyes widen as his body shakes. “I hear it's good for the skin,” he calls over his shoulder, chuckling as he exits the room.
Annex. A small grin stretches my lips. It still sounded like some kind of curse word to me. But I guess it suited him.
There are a lot of things I’m sure they have that I don’t. Such as a lack of brain cells, a few genital diseases, and a sadistic tendency that's probably created more than just a few victims, but power and strength…I have my own.
“Who taught you how to fight?” he asks as we make our way through the training grounds. My brows synch together as I gaze into his curious green eyes. “No one. I taught myself.” It’s not a lie. In The Facility, I had to keep moving to survive.
I roll my eyes. These girls knew nothing about real connections. Just because there was a higher ratio of men to women in the supernatural world, didn’t mean that you should treat them as a number or commodity. I would take that one true connection over a horde of men.
These boys were like my brothers. If blood was thicker than water, then these boys were my bones. And nobody could match or rival their skills or power. If they say this person was able to get past them, then they must be on a whole different level.
Doesn’t matter to me if you’ve got a dick and balls, or pussy. Torture is my playtime, and I’m all for equality.
I look at prick number two's hands, the ones he used to grab Red. Well, they're gonna have to be broken. Who the fuck did he think he was to be touching her in the first place?
He pulls his bottom lip into his mouth, his eyes curving into soft crescents as he watches me. “But I guess you're here now.” He was right, only in a different way than he intended. I was back and experiencing all new things with each passing day. This second chance wasn’t just about revenge anymore, but about living the life I should’ve always had.
“If by hitting on you, you mean actually wanting to hit you, then yeah, I’ve got it baaad for you.”
Someone in this life and my last had planned this. They wanted to hurt Morgan or, even worse, kill her. But why? And who? Who was capable of bringing a beast onto academy grounds? Who had that kind of ability or connections?
“When have I ever had any influence over your actions? When we were kids? ‘Cause I don’t remember you ever being the type to do something you didn’t want to.” His eyes flicker back to me, a strange look forming in them the longer I stare. “Or are you talking about when you and your other friends like to mess with me?” He flinches slightly, his hard look falling. “Tripping me up, calling me names, destroying my stuff, knocking me into lockers...did you feel manipulated by me then, Kane?” Kane’s
“Don’t ever let them see you stumble. There's strength in a smile. Even if it's forced.” His gaze meets mine, and whatever he sees has his expression softening. “You seem like a fighter anyway, little sea star.”
“How do you know this crazy asshole?” Ezra slaps Annex on the shoulder, a broad grin on his face. “I knew you had a fighter's spirit, little sea star, but I didn’t know you ran toward the trouble.”
“So let me get this straight. You think I want you? That any girl sitting at this table couldn’t possibly just want to eat? They must be up to something and want your attention?” I raise a brow, shaking my head as I quickly continue. “And you want girls to fuck, to use, and to then throw away when you please, but they should have no expectations or needs themselves?” I lean a little closer toward him. “What? They should be grateful to get your dick?”
“What's so good about you?” I ask, “I mean, yeah, you're pretty. And maybe you’ve got some sort of power or high status…you may even have a huge dick,” Ezra chokes on the drink he just took a sip of as I continue. “But you're a complete asshole. Any girl having to put up with your shit and insecurities deserves a fucking trophy the size of your ego. Or maybe they don’t make them that big. I don't know.”
I look at Creed, a wicked cold sneer spreading across his lips as he opens them, but I cut the dick off after swallowing. “If that's how your relationships really are, then that's pretty sad. But shit attracts flies, what do you expect?”
“Thanks for the suggestion. Noted. But let me make one of my own.” I pull myself up straighter, my gaze meeting his dark glare. “You either learn to share or get a new space ‘cause this is mine. I’ll be here tomorrow, the next day, and every day this week. My presence is permanent.” “Do you have a death wish–” “Death?” A chuckle falls from my lips, surprising even me with its dark tone. “It doesn’t scare me.” I
My only true haven and home in this world was him. The only person I could trust, the only one I could truly be at ease with… My world, my ally, my strength…my mate.
A small laugh leaves my lips as I watch her make light work of the door lock and head inside. I couldn’t wait to see what else this small one could do.
“My ears would bleed with all the trash I have to listen to these days. More and more morons thinking I’m easy, that they can say and do what they want, and I’ll just allow it.” I tighten my grip further on her face. “Well, not anymore.”
I roll my eyes. Special treatment? We haven’t even spent much time together. Anyone with eyes could see that Creed hates me, Hoody Boy ignores me, Ezra tolerates me, and Annex… just enjoys annoying me. But if that’s special, then yeah, they give me the good stuff.
“So, basically, you believe me because it's obvious I would choose the rib-eye over ground beef?” He chuckles, “Ground beef? More like dog scraps. Trust me, even with Annex’s craziness, Creed’s alphaholeness, or Mallyn’s gloomy silence; we would still beat every other guy in every way: strength, looks, and loyalty.”
“You look so small and frail on the outside, and yet you handle yourself like you're bigger than me, Micai.”
A fight night. With Annex. Sounds like it would be a bloody mess if he’s involved.
They call us ‘The Infernal Four’, and with good reason. Even Hell wouldn’t be able to stop us if we wanted something. Chaos and pain were our pleasure, our only sanity, and the demons that drove us to keep moving forward.
“You’re bringing an unknown into our group and around our family–” Annex pulls himself straighter, his eyes narrowed as his face darkens. “So, it’s okay for you to bring who you want around, but I can’t bring who I want because she’s not a plaything or quick fuck?” Ezra tries to place a hand on Annex, but he shrugs it off. “What, ‘cause you fucked them a couple of times before so they became ‘known’ and are okay?” He takes a step closer to Creed. “Who are you kidding? You're pissed because she's not like your little whores who want your money or power. She's different. You can’t control her.
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“She's different, and one day soon, Brother, you’ll regret saying that.”
“I love it when you flirt with me, Red.” Annex winks and I almost choke. I’ve never seen that bastard wink. “If sarcasm is flirting, I better be careful with my insults.” Ezra’s brows cinch together as he stares at her. “Why?” She points to Annex. “He’d probably think it's foreplay.”
