The Rich and The Wolf

34

-- Author's Note: Mild violence, so if you don't wish to read it, message me and I'll give you a short summary of what happened without the violence! Enjoy and send me some feedback! --

ELLE

It was night three of having the wolves guarding my house. Rhett has stayed with me every night, but we both wake up every few hours to watch the shift change. Rhett doesn't know I wake up, but as soon as feel the sheets rustling and the mattress move, I'm awake. I roll towards the window and watch him as he stands there, watching the wolves exchange their positions. He nods at his pack members and when he turns around, I shut my eyes and pretend I'm asleep. A few moments later, I feel Rhett's strong, warm arms wrap around my waist and he pulls me against his chest. Often, he will sigh into my hair or nestle his chin into the crook of my neck. It is so comforting, yet I still feel on edge. Maybe it's because Rhett is never fully relaxed or maybe because the rouge is still after me. Either way, I'm ready for all of this to be over.

I sat in my seat in biology and pulled out my books. I knew Rhett was with Chase, discussing some new guarding shifts that they were trying to work out. I didn't want to listen to them bicker about it, so I headed to class early. Of course, the one day I'm early and have free time, Jessica is at home sick. Instead, I pulled my phone out of my bag and started scrolling through Instagram.
       A moment later, a strong, pungent cologne stung my nose and I looked up to see Connor, lounging on the stool in front of me. His hair was perfectly styled, combed neatly and parted perfectly. It was almost too perfect. He had a smug smile on his face and his eyes looked different, almost mean. I swallowed and suddenly felt a little uneasy about him being in class and me without Rhett to help me out. As if he somehow he sensed my uneasiness, Connor leaned forward and rested one elbow on my desk, his grin growing wider.
"Hey beautiful," he said to me and leaned down to me, eye-level. His brown eyes were murky and clouded over, not how I once saw them, bright and full of life.
"Hi," I mumbled and uncrossed my legs and then crossed them again.
"Nervous?" Connor asked cocked an eyebrow.
"No," I said and faked a laugh. I flipped my hair over my shoulder, faking some confidence. I looked at the clock on the wall and prayed Rhett would come soon.
"I can see it Elle," he said and reached to touch my hand. I recoiled before his slimy hands could touch mine, "I know you and I know when you're uncomfortable."
"I've changed Connor," I told him matter-of-factly. I ignored my stomach as it flipped uneasily, "I'm not the same, naïve girl you dated last year." A choppy laugh escaped his mouth and he threw his head back in a twisted laugh.
"Oh Elle," he said and clapped his hands together loudly, "You see, you haven't though. You aren't any different. You're still a sappy, desperate girl who is seeking attention from anyone who will give it to you. And that poor guy just happens to be an Indian," he said and laughed again.
"Don't say that," I said sharply.
"What part? The part about you being an attention seeking slut or the part about your stupid Indian boyfriend?" he asked and began to laugh.
"You are such an ass," I told him angrily.
"Me?" he cried and stood up, "Me?! An ass? You broke my heart! You left me out to dry and didn't even think of my feelings!" he said almost shouting. He grabbed my arm and yanked me out of my seat. He grabbed my arm tightly, his hand gripping around my forearm, bending it at an odd angle.
"Let go!" I yelled at him. I tried to tug my arm away, but he only pulled harder and grabbed at my other arm.
       Anger burned in his eyes, it was like he wasn't seeing me. A lock of his brown hair fell into his eyes and he didn't brush it away. His face turned red and a small vein bulged in his forehead. His eyes turned cloudy and he wasn't even focusing on me. He hands started to shake on mine, almost as if he was vibrating. I gasped in shock, gasped as to what I was seeing. It looked as though Connor was trying to control himself, it was like he was trying to stop himself from shifting...
"Ow! Connor!" I yelled again.

       Suddenly the pressure was relieved from my arm and I whirled around to see Connor pushed up against the wall with Rhett pressing his hand against Connor's throat. Connor had his eyes wide open and I could see Rhett's body visibly shaking.
"Don't ever touch her again," Rhett told him sternly and angrily.
"Who's going to stop me?" Connor chided.
       Rhett lifted his hand from Connor's throat and instead gripped his collar with both hands lifted him off the ground and shoved him hard against the cement wall behind him. I heard Connor's head audibly smack against the cement and Connor just laughed at Rhett's attempt. Rhett's fist left Connor's collar and punched him in the nose. Blood started to seep out of his nose. The bell sounded just as Rhett was lifting his arm again.
"Rhett!" I yelled at him and grabbed at his arm holding Connor's collar. "Stop!" I demanded.
"What is going on?!" Mr. Locksley cried from the front of the class and ran to the back of the room.
       I turned to see Chase striding towards us as well as some of Connor's friends. Apparently we hadn't stirred up too much of a fuss before the bell. Everyone was now realizing what was going on and turning in their seats or getting up to circle around us.
"Let him go," Chase told Rhett and placed a hand on Rhett's trembling shoulder. Rhett was shaking still and I pulled on his hand to make him let go of Connor. He dropped Connor and he sagged to the ground before he heaved himself up. Mr. Locksley stepped in between the two boys and placed one hand on each of their chests. Rhett was breathing heavily and Connor was smirking at both of us.
"If you don't wipe that smirk off your face I'll do it for you," Rhett snarled between gritted teeth.
"Rhett," I murmured and touched his forearm where he was curling and uncurling his fist. His whole body was still shaking and he was breathing heavily. I could see his jaw clenched and I knew inside that he was gritting his teeth.
"All three of you go to the administrative office now!" Mr. Locksley instructed us. Mr. Locksley grabbed Connor by the upper arm and dragged him to the front of the classroom. He grabbed some tissues for him to wipe his bleeding nose.
       I pushed past the throng of people and grabbed my purse, before heading into the hallway. I didn't wait for Chase or Rhett or Connor, I just walked down the long hallway and blinked rapidly to stop my eyes from tearing up.
"Elle!" Rhett yelled from down the hall. I turned to see that Mr. Locksley was escorting Connor to the office, the opposite direction from us. Chase ran after Rhett, who was supposed to be escorting him.
"Leave me alone Rhett," I half-heartedly muttered to him.
       I heard him catching up to me and picked up my pace. I wiped under my eyes and hiked my bag up onto my shoulder. Rhett reached me and touched my shoulder. I whipped around to face him. He still looked angry, yet his eyes were honest and he looked a bit devastated.
"God Rhett! What was that?!" I yelled at him.
"I was trying to help you," he explained and looked a little dumbfounded.
"I was just fine on my own! Sometimes I don't need you to rescue me!" I yelled loudly. I looked past Rhett and Chase was standing there, awkwardly behind Rhett with him hands in his pockets.
"He was hurting you," Rhett stated.
"I didn't need you to hold him up against the wall with your hand on his throat Rhett!"
"He had his hands on you Elle," Rhett said, "I didn't like that."
"There are a lot of things I don't like okay?" I said, "That doesn't mean I get to beat people up for it!"
"I don't understand Elle," he said, "He was hurting you and you're getting mad at me?" he asked, now getting angry. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and his mouth was in a hard line.
"What happens when you both get suspended? I can guarantee that you will be suspended for longer than he will be. Then what am I going to do when I have to come to school without you and he's here?" I asked, "Huh? What then tough guy?!" I yelled the last part at him.
       I stepped forward and placed both hands on his chest and shoved him, he barely stumbled, and so I pushed him again, using more force. Rhett was still unfazed, so I smacked his chest hard with both of my hands. Rhett grabbed onto my hands and pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms around my back.
"I won't let him hurt you ever again," Rhett promised me.
"How are you going to do that when you aren't here and he is?" I asked him bluntly.
"I-I don't know yet," he answered.
"I hate to break this up," Chase said from behind us, "But the principle is expecting you in the office," he told us. I nodded and broke away from Rhett's arms.
       I turned and walked down the hallway, and after a few steps, Rhett joined in stride next to me and Chase behind us. I felt Rhett brush his fingers against mine, I ignored him and crossed my arms my arms over my chest.