Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“You’re right. The truth is, I lost control, and then I was embarrassed, and my failure to take responsibility for my actions made it all worse. I’m sorry.”
“I’m guessing Eric Damonella found your panties somewhere on campus?”
My face flames hotter. Is it possible to die of humiliation? It’s not, right? Because it really seems like I might die right here, right now.
I clear my throat. “Uh, yeah, that’s my guess, too.”
“I understand he claimed to other students that he had sex with you.”
Gross. As if I’d have sex with a student.
Having a kid telling everyone he screwed me was the kind of pervy shit I expected from the situation. What I didn’t expect was having Asher Martin defend me.
What was that about?
The guy literally hates me. He sits in the back of my class and mutters backtalk the entire period. I’ve already given him detention twice for his behavior in my class, and I’ve only been teaching at Wolf Ridge for two weeks.
Asher never does any of the work I assign. I predict he will be benched soon from playing football because he’s failing my class. Which will be a problem, since I understand he’s one of the school’s star players.
I don’t relish delivering that punishment, though. It will just give him another reason to believe I ruined his life.
“I’m sure you know that’s not true. That would be highly unethical.”
“Yes. I questioned him. He lied about spreading rumors about you, but he told the truth when I asked point-blank if he’d had sexual relations of any kind with you.”
I nod.
“I don’t want rumors spread about my teachers sleeping with their students in this school. I don’t want teacher’s panties being handed around by students. If you can’t get control of your wolf around the full moon, stay away from this school after hours. I gave you keys and permission to use the art studio on your own time as a favor. Don’t make me regret it. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Perfectly.”
I hesitate. Before he dismisses me, I have to ask about Asher.
“Given that it was my folly that caused the fight in my classroom, I hope you, um, didn’t go too hard on Asher. He was just…acting gentlemanly, to be honest.”
I don’t know why that idea makes a knot tighten under my ribs.
Because it shows he cares? No, he clearly doesn’t. It just shows there’s a decent guy under all that assholery.
“I suspended him for the rest of the week, but allowed him to play in this weekend’s game. We have college scouts attending, and he’s one of our best.”
Relief pours through me. “Good. That’s important.”
“I will have to notify Alpha Green and the council, though. He broke pack rules showing his nature in front of the humans in your class. Plus, the violence was excessive.”
Fuck.
My mom is on that council. She won’t be kind to Asher because of her bias against his dad.
My stomach twists. He may be a pain in my ass right now, but I happen to know how much he’s been through. If he gets himself banished from the pack, I will be sick over it.
“Are you sure that’s necessary?”
I still have this ever-present need to protect Asher. But he’s not thirteen anymore. He’s eighteen–an adult now. And my past attempt to protect him only messed up his life even more. But somehow, I can’t seem to stop myself.
“Are you questioning my judgment?”
“No, sir. Sorry.” I stand. “Thank you for your understanding. I won’t let it happen again, I assure you.”
“See that you don’t.”
I walk out, trying not to think about Asher’s fate. It’s his problem, not mine.
It was just my panties that started it. Gah!
Chapter Five
Asher
I wrap my arms around my mom and squeeze her tight. Her thin body trembles against mine, telling me that my fears of being banished from this pack like my dad are founded.
“It’s going to be okay,” I murmur, not sure if it’s true.
We’re standing outside the door to Alpha Green’s office, where I was summoned by a phone call during dinner.
I’ve already answered to Principal Olsen, who suspended me from school for the rest of the week.
“If I was being kicked out, this would probably be a council meeting,” I whisper.
At least, that’s how I think it worked when my dad was banished.
Shame fills my entire being, as it always does when I think of my dad. It was my loose lips that got him banished. I stupidly trusted Lotta James. I confided in her, and she betrayed me.
What a gruesome twist of fate it would be if I was now banished over defending her reputation.
I release my mom and knock lightly on the door.
“Enter.”
I step in, and Alpha Green glances at my mom. “Wait outside, Lisa.”
She bows her head. “Yes, Alpha.”
Alpha Green remains sitting but doesn’t indicate that I should sit opposite him, so I remain standing.