The Reluctant Cougar (Rise of the Alpha King's Heir)

The Beast Within (part 1)

Lunch was an awkward standoff.

Ben stood staring with the other students at the new round red table that sat at the far side of the cafeteria.

Eileen was sitting at it. Alone

"Maybe she wants another taste," Dustin elbowed him with a smirk.

Ben felt his body stir in response but tried to ignore it.

"Nah, she's just there so the Vamp kids will know what to do."

He hoped. He might actually go feral if another male tried to feed her.

"I guess...I'm supposed to sit there?" Ginny whispered from under Dustin's arm.

Dustin's eyebrows furrowed, "You're not feeding from some random guy."

Ben understood the possessiveness in Dustin's tone all too well.

Ginny looked sad, "But.. I'll go into frenzy again if I don't..."

"I didn't mean you wouldn't feed. I told you this morning I'd never let you go hungry again. I just meant you'd be feeding from me from now on," Dustin said decisively.

"But... what if I make you anemic?"

"Do you need a lot every day?" he wondered.

She shook her head, "I don't think so...?"

He looked at her quizzically, "You don't know?"

She shook her head, "I only started needing blood a little over a year ago."

"How have you been feeding?" Ben wondered.

"Um...my uncle, my mom, our cows...but I always try to take only a little at a time."

"We need to figure out how much you need," Dustin mused. "And how often. I want to provide for you, and I don't want you having to stalk barnyard animals."

"Says the wolf," Ben teased.

Dustin shrugged, "I enjoy a rare steak, I'll give you that."

"Who doesn't?" Ben wondered, mouth watering at the thought. Or maybe it was watering because he was still watching Eileen.

"Me, for one," Robbie said from beside them. He looked at Ginny, "Aren't you going to the feeding table?"

"I'm afraid," she admitted.

"You're not going alone," Dustin said, pulling her forward.

"I'm going that way too," Edward intoned, appearing behind them.

Ginny jumped, and a giggle escaped her mouth, "I didn't even know you were there!"

Edward shrugged, "It's a gift."

Ben walked with his friends to the table, feeling dozens of eyes boring into them. There was only one set of eyes he cared about, though, and that was the set of emerald green eyes that lit up as soon as she noticed him walking her way.

He lifted his left hand in greeting, "'Sup, Ms. Grau?"

Her eyes focused intently on his before flashing away, "Hello, Mr. Cougar, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Grau, Mr. Chen, Ms. Marshall, and Ms. Grau."

Ben glanced over to see a girl with hard eyes and a bored expression give a half-hearted wave. "Hey, Ms. Grau. So, we're here. Now what?"

"Oh," Edward said with a quickly restrained smile, "you're here too, Malikah?"

"Nope," she rolled her eyes; Edward didn't restrain his grin that time.

"Now we wait for those willing to donate," Eileen said with a cheerful, confident tone. But Ben noticed she was fidgeting with her fingers under the table. She was nervous.