Twice Bitten (New Moon #1)

by Belle Harper

By the time I found my class, I had three tall guys following behind me.

The packs needed to back off, even though they were obviously affected by her scent. She didn’t understand this, so having these huge grown ass men—because most were eighteen but had bodies that no eighteen-year-old human would normally have—chasing and stalking her around the school was not going to work. I had been told she was a runner, and this was going to have her running. I wanted her to stay here. I wanted to help her and protect her. I could hear Ranger grumble about me being an asshole and to go fuck myself, but I just smiled and started class.

“I’ve never had a sister before. Do you like Teen Titans?” I smiled. No one had called me their sister before. I’d never cared about staying around long enough to make friendships or relationships with foster siblings. But right now, with Joshua, I wanted that with him. I would be that big sister he never had. I decided that for the next few months, I would be here for him. He needed all the love and support he could get. That was something I had never had, even when my parents were alive.

I realized she would have run off again. I didn’t want her to run. I wanted to keep her safe. My wolf wanted to keep her.

She’d made it this morning before I got a chance to roll in it. Fuck. I rubbed my cheek and neck over her clothes, especially the hoodie, which seemed to be the only one she had. I stood back then took a deep breath. Mine. That was what I could now smell. I marked her clothes, now maybe the assholes at school would back off from her.

The wind picked up and blew the cool air toward me, and I could smell our mixed scent. That made me smile a little, something I hadn’t done in forever.

jerked the door open, but his voice caused me to freeze. “I might look young…but I’m an old soul, Alexis.”

I was a little…volatile at times. My wolf was easily provoked, whereas Maverick was very much in charge of when he shifted.

She was here because Galen was a Kiba Vampire. He worked for us, and his vampire connection in Seattle gave Alexis to Jack and Grayson. So for that one reason only, I liked having Galen around. But also, because taunting him was fun. That was why I took world history. You didn’t ever see another shifter in his class. Vampires had a smell that was not pleasant to a shifter, and the same went for him. He told me that I stunk like wet dog after I told him he smelled like the ass of a two-dollar hooker.

“Were you dropped on your head as a baby?” I heard the guy I had shoved make a snorting sound. Alexis tilted her head and raised her brows. Holy shit, she was a smartass and sexy. I think I’ve found the one.

“Excuse me, we might be fosters, or scum to your eyes, but that is not how you treat someone. He’s not a dog, and he’s not going to just sit like a good boy.”

I saw him smile. And holy fuck, that just made him go from sexy teacher to sex god in three seconds flat. “Well, that’s disappointing, but the boys will be happy to know that.” Fuck!

I didn’t want to listen to him. She could have taken me, she should have. Instead, she left me. “Who’s in the shower?” Jack turned and walked toward the bathroom door. “She went in there…” I heard Jack curse as he tried to unlock the door. About five minutes later, I heard Grayson and him outside, trying to get in through the window. I realized that I didn’t even hear or see her slip outside. I was so lost in my head that my wolf didn’t even sense her leave. She was right there, and⁠— She didn’t want me.

“I won’t let them send you back.” Her words were barely above a whisper. I looked down at her, her eyes filled with tears and I didn’t know what to say. No one had ever done something like that for me. I vowed then that I would always protect her, no matter the cost. I’ll keep you safe, Lexi.

Yes, Lexi got his head turning those first few days, but now…he hasn’t so much as looked at her without a scowl on his face. He hated her, and I could clearly see that. So when he looked at me then, his eyes full of unshed tears, I froze. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “Maverick…” He just shook his head and left my room, leaving me standing there, confused and sad. I’d never seen him that way, and I didn’t know if I should go after him or not.

“Go find Rafferty. He needs to mark you before the other packs find you, smelling like theirs…mine.” The last word was barely a whisper, as if I wasn’t supposed to hear it. It sent a shiver down my spine as he inhaled my hair and left me there. I was a little disoriented. Did that just happen?

“Are you bi?” I was a little taken aback by that, as I wasn’t expecting it. Shit. I’d only told one person that. Years ago, I’d told Galen that I liked boys, but that I also liked girls the same way. He told me that was natural, especially with shifters, but I never spoke about it again. Fuck. I hung my head. I could understand why he was upset. I didn’t tell him, and my own twin found out from Galen.

There was a long silence. I debated whether to tell him about my feeling toward Lexi or not. I held him tighter, worried he would pull away. “Lexi, she smells like mine. She’s mine.”

“Ranger, apart from the fact that you said ‘you’ one too many times in that sentence, yes, I am me. Why would a girl like Lexi want to date me? I’m three-hundred and twelve. She’s seventeen. I’ve lived eighteen times longer than she has.”

Well, of course no one needed makeup, but everyone needed a mask, something to hide behind at times. Mine was eyeliner and mascara.

The boy is doing everything he can to show you how much you mean to him. He requested Rafferty be moved in here for you. And he’s tried hard to forge a friendship with him. Because that is something a mate would want from her men—unity and support.

“I want to… Is there any way you can forgive me, for everything I’ve done? I want to make this work, us work as friends and show Lex that I would make a good mate. Fuck, I’m in love with her. I can’t stop myself. I want her, to share her with you, and I swear on my life, I’ll protect her. She’ll have the backing of the whole pack, even if she doesn’t want me like that. “You’re one of us, even though it’s not official yet, but you are. And I wanted to tell you that you can trust me. I’ll have your back always.”

I still had a little time before my eighteenth to get a couple more, and I wanted to get Lexi’s name tattooed to me. I knew she was it for me.

“Yes, I did. I’m stuck at the age of twenty-one, but I’ve just celebrated my three hundred and twelfth birthday. So I am old, but not the oldest… There are vampires that are older than me. But to be honest, when you’re around…I don’t feel old or like a vampire.”

“I don’t like the thought of you sucking blood from someone…” I could see his face harden slightly, but before he could speak, I quickly added, “I want to be the one you take blood from.”

“I love you, Galen,” she whispered. “How did I taste?” Galen chuckled and took her hand in his. “Lexi, you tasted just like…heaven.”