My Girlfriend Bites (Young Adult Paranormal Werewolf Romance)

Chapter 27

Bree

Dad takes me down the hallway as if I'm a light dishrag. There's no way I could get away from the tight hold he has on me. I haven't been carried like this since I was a little girl and burned down a house. That's a long story.

Dad almost tosses me into the bathroom. "Take off your clothes. Get into that shower." He's in full Alpha mode, and I comply without hesitation. He shuts the door, and I disrobe and put myself under a steady stream of freezing-cold water. The burning drains away from my skin and my body as I shiver. The human part seizes control while my brain replays every awful thing I did to Aiden, my guilt pressing the rewind button over and over again.

If Dad hadn't pulled me away...

Poor Aiden.

He wanted me. And I wanted him. But instead of that sweet girl he kissed on the bed or the girl in the forest who curled up under his warm coat as the snow came down, he got some werewolf slut who nearly...I can't even think about it. Did I try to force Aiden into...?

No. No. No, I could never do that to him. I love him. If Aiden would have said no, I would have...kept going.

I hate myself. I want to claw my insides out and bash my head against a brick wall. I treated my best friend in the whole world like an object instead of a person. I feel so sick. The first time I shifted in front of Aiden I swore to him that I wasn't dangerous, that I was always under full control of the wolf.

Am I fooling myself? Can I have a normal relationship with a human boy without hurting him or doing something against his will, simply because I can?

The chill from the icy water sharpens my mind and brings this clarity to it.

No, this was different. This was all caused by mating season. That uncontrollable fire. That's why I couldn't stop myself. Normally I would never let things get that far out of hand. I would never have pushed Aiden like that. Yes, that's it. I'll have to be more careful in the future, that's all. When mating season returns next year, I will lock myself up in a concrete bunker if I have to. This will never happen again.

I dry off, and the fire has been purged from my body. I wrap myself in a towel and pad my way down the hall to my room. I'll have to apologize to Aiden.

What if he doesn't forgive me? Have I killed our friendship?

I go in and brace myself for the consequences.

Aiden is gone.

Dad waits on my bed. His face is reserved, and I bet, pissed. "Boy's in the car. I'll take him home."

"The feelings are gone now," I say. "I can throw on some clothes and—"

"You're not leaving this room for a while."

"Daddy, I'm fine now."

"You could have hurt that boy."

My heart sinks because Dad's right.

"Why did you disobey me? Did I not tell you to stay away from Aiden? Particularly during this month?"

I nod.

Dad pats the comforter next to him, and I sit. "This is why I wasn't thrilled with you having a human friend." Dad rubs his face and eases out a long, drawn-out breath to calm himself.

"Does he know?"

I know what Dad is asking, and if I answer with the truth, he might get super angry.

"Bree?"

What will Dad do? Will he hurt Aiden? Threaten him? Kill him?

Dad wouldn't do that. Would he?

I can't take that chance.

Dad sighs, "Aiden knows, doesn't he?"

Lie. Tell him anything. Tell him you fit in so well at school that Aiden and everyone at school is clueless.

"He doesn't know." I sound like the worst actress ever.

"Final answer?" he asks.

I make the mistake of raising my eyes. Dad's face pinches together like a prosecutor grilling a suspect on the stand, throwing that last ounce of contempt before throwing her to the mercy of the jury. I can't do it. He's sees right through my words as if they're crystal.

"No," I waver.

"You told him, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't tell him." I hesitate and see Rocky and Bullwinkle watching me like they were sending me all their love and support. "I showed him."

"Bree." His voice sounds so disappointed.

The secret is out now. Might as well give it all up.

"Aiden's friend Issy knows too, but that's all. Only the two boys, but they've been really cooperative. Much more than I thought they would be."

"Child, Humans can be just as great of an enemy as the Demon Skins."

"But these humans are good. I trust them. They're my friends."

"Can I trust them?" Dad asks. "How do I know they won't say something on accident to the wrong person? That could jeopardize more than just our family's safety. With all these random Demon Skin attacks, our people are vulnerable now. This is the one time when we can not afford to ignite another human crusade against our kind."

"You can trust them, Daddy."

"Be easier if I killed them."

"No!" I scream. The intensity of my voice shocks my dad. "I won't let you! I won't let you touch him!"

"Bree..."

"I will hate you. If you ever harmed Aiden, I would hate you forever."

Dad's large arms swallow me up in the familiar bear hug that would always calm me down when I was a child. "Shhh. Don't jump to conclusions now."

I surrender and bury my face, soaking his shirt with tears. "I love him. Don't hurt him, please. I love him." Everything hits me at once, and I lose it. I sob and pour out everything to Dad. How Aiden and I met and became friends, and how wonderful he treats me, and how wonderful I feel around him, and how he's the most important thing in my life.

Dad lifts me from his chest. "Don't suppose I could talk you into taking a break from Aiden, could I?"

How can Dad still ask me that after pouring out my soul to him?

Dad squirms because he knows I'm glaring at him. "Fine. You love him, and that's that."

"Yes, Daddy. And that's that."