Head Down

Chapter 11

NATE'S POV

At my Alpha tone Penelope turns around and sits back down at her own table, with defiance and trace amount of fear in her eyes. It's new to see anything other than lust, and I know I have Katie to thank for that.

Katie.

What have I done?

She was fine, we were fine until Penelope went and made that comment about me coming back for more. That's when I sensed Katie go down hill. I knew it was because she realized that I slept with someone, and Penelope no less, therefore proving that there must be others too. Just the thought of Katie being with someone that way hurts me and makes me jealous, so I can only imagine her pain at hearing what I've done.

She froze, like earlier in the hallway, at the words, and I'm beginning to understand that's her reaction to something she knows she can't get away from. Something she can't run from. I could sense the pain and emotion rolling off her in waves, and I had to resist the urge to take her away from here -and to rip Penelope's throat out- constantly.

Despite my telling her to back off, the bottled blonde continued until I had no choice but to force her with my Alpha tone. She taunted Katie like a cat with a mouse, until Katie turned around, that is. I could tell just by the way she moved that she was hurt emotionally, that she was forcing herself rather than giving in to something. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest, mostly for her pain but also because I was the source. Again.

Words cannot begin to describe that failure.

Just because of the way Katie shot daggers at Penelope, she cowered as if my little mate would hurt her. I know she never would, she's been unjustly beaten too many times, but Penelope certainly didn't.

Katie's words had scared everyone else into silence. While the obvious lack of fear in her voice and the pain portrayed in it frightened the others, it only made my heart palpitate in hurt for my mate.

"Jesus, that was worse than usual. I think she's jealous of you Katie," says Chris, mirroring my thoughts on Penelope's attack to an extent.

"Good job in staring her down. I thought the bitch was going to pee her pants," says James.

I realize Katie isn't giving any responses, and must still be frozen.

"I thought you were going to pee your pants," quips Tom beside me.

"I owe you one, I don't think I've ever seen my sister that scared," Caitlyn says to Katie, who still doesn't respond.

"Oh my god that was amazing! One look and she was all like, 'Oh no!' and then when you talked she just cowered away from you like you were going to shoot laser beams out of your eyes! I'm actually surprised you didn't. I mean after seeing your game face I'm glad I'm on your good side. Geez that was just epic! Oh, the pizza is here," says Claire excitedly.

Half our usual order comes, the people here knowing that there would only be room on the table once we finished the first two pizzas, and that we need to pace ourselves. Werewolves have big appetites because we burn calories so fast, and the people here -while human- are used to the teenagers being unusually hungry.

"Epic," Everett says, and everyone looks at him. For the second time today I'm in his debt for taking attention from Katie.

He's done more for her than I have.

The two share a short moment of silent communication when Katie forces her head up from the table. I know he recognizes the terrible hurt in her eyes because his expression turns sad, and then he nods to her. I don't know what was passed between them, only that it helped Katie because she says quietly, "Thanks," to the whole table.