A Bit of Wolf in Her

4. Dying in the world's smallest forest

Miles hadn't responded to her text.

By Monday, whatever angst or fear had settled into Winnie's chest after the party dissolved into pure chaotic anger.

Coupled with another sleepless night, she sat in AP English, her last period of the day, chipping away at the clear nail polish on her thumb.

"Hey," Noah started as L. Bowers gave the class permission to discuss their assignments with their partners. "What happened to calling me back?" His joking demeanor shifted as she glared at him. "Hey, are you okay?"

Winnie didn't answer him, but a hunch told her it wouldn't deter him so easily. It seemed like that was the Delaney shtick. The bell rang and Winnie flew out of her seat. Noah would catch up with her eventually, but she hoped a head start would help her. Lunch time rolled around though and he was standing next to her locker with a confused expression on his face.

"Winnie, if I did something wrong, please tell me." For a second, she felt bad as she heard the sincerity in his voice. "Jesus Winnie, I'm not a fucking mind reader."

He was getting impatient, and it only added to her own growing frustration.

People passing were noticing the two of them weren't just exchanging small talk.

It drew enough attention that Miles showed up and placed himself between her and Noah protectively.

"You need something, Delaney?" he asked, and Noah broke eye contact with her only so he could shoot daggers at Miles.

"Fuck off Noah," she said over Miles's, slamming her locker door so hard she thought it might break off its hinges. "Tell me why I should stand here and take your bullshit attitude after what your cousin pulled this weekend." His expression told Winnie everything. He didn't know that Elijah showed up on her front lawn and given her the third degree. "If he comes anywhere near me again, I'm calling the cops."

The other kids who stopped to watch the interaction between them reacted as she pushed past them and down the hall, staring after her.

Outside, a cool breeze swept over the grounds and Winnie took a few deep breaths, trying to recover from the wave after wave of emotion that erupted from her. Noah had been the unfortunate collateral damage, if he indeed was clueless about his cousin's interrogation. Not that he was innocent, Winnie argued back at herself. She didn't owe him anything.

"Winnie." Miles sat down next to her on the grass by the parking lot, offering her a cigarette. "What the hell happened?"

She took a few drags of the cigarette before answering. "Oh, so now you want to talk? Because I've been texting you the entire weekend and you completely ignored me."

"I'm sorry Win. I know I've been a dick."

Winnie turned her eyes on him slowly. "Elijah showed up at the house this weekend. He wanted to know what I knew." Miles frowned. "About them," Winnie finished, and his frown deepened. 

He shook his head in disbelief. "Miles, what did you mean when you said they were Wolves?"

Winnie knew the best way to get any answers was just to rip the band aid off.

"What?" he asked, even though Winnie had a hunch he heard her.

"Saturday. You said that the Delaney's were Wolves. What. Does It. Mean?"

Winnie felt quite surprised that her voice didn't sound as desperate as she was. Miles stared at her, his eyes searching for something in her expression. Maybe mercy. But she couldn't afford mercy–not if it meant Elijah would show up at her house every weekend, trying to interrogate her to find out about information she didn't have. Miles took a drag of the cigarette. Winnie hated the silence.