After stopping to grab what I hoped was a decent cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice, I joined Makayla at an empty table.
Before I even got my first bite, someone sat down next to me. Startled, I dropped my fork.
“Hey, new girl.” The newcomer was a tall guy with a buzz cut and a dark five o’clock shadow. He wasn’t bad looking, but the sleazy grin on his face made me shudder at his closeness. Something about him didn’t quite sit well with me.
I scooted over to the next seat, dragging my tray with me. “Personal space.”
He scooted over to the seat I just left. “We’re all family here, aren’t we? I heard you joined the shifters. That makes you pack.”
“Not your pack, Remi. She’s under wolf protection.” Makayla bared her teeth.
“I don’t see how you get to judge that,” he said. “Let the little mortal decide for herself.”
“I’m a mage.” As much as I’d been internally fighting the idea of magic and joining this world, I’d picked up on the fact that I had to act the part.
“You smell human, baby,” he said.
“I’m not your baby,” I said.
He leaned in closer to me, sniffing me. I leaned back and pushed myself away from him, knocking my tray to the ground in the process. Eggs and fruit landed all over my lap.
Remi laughed, clutching his gut.
I jumped up from my seat and brushed the food off of me while glaring at the obnoxious man who caused me to lose my breakfast.
He stood, and in a movement so fast I didn’t see it coming, he grabbed hold of both of my wrists and pulled me against him so we were flush. I could feel his hard on through his pants. Gross.
I tugged my arms away from him, trying to break his grasp but he held me there, against him.
“Let me go, asshole,” I said.
He grinned but didn’t release his grip.
Gritting my teeth, I lifted my knee, making fast contact with his crotch. Remi let go of my wrists as he cried out in a shocked gasp. “You bitch!”
I scrambled away but Remi followed me. He shoved me to the ground, and I landed with a thud.
“The mages didn’t want you but you’re no shifter. We will make your life hell,” he growled, still protecting his injured manhood with one hand.
“You don’t scare me, asshole,” I shouted.
“Just you wait until gym class, bitch,” he said.
Suddenly, a massive form lunged into Remi, knocking him down. It took a moment for me to realize it was Ben, the shifter I’d met last night.
“Get out of the way,” Makayla screamed at me.
I jumped to my feet and moved away from the fight. Remi and Ben rolled around on the ground for a moment before Ben pinned him. He pulled back his fist, then punched Remi in the jaw, the contact making a sickening crack.
Blood ran down Remi’s mouth but he wasn’t giving in. He kicked up his feet, pushing Ben off of him. The two of them were both on their feet now, circling like animals.
Remi charged Ben, landing a punch in Ben’s stomach. Ben grunted but quickly regained control. He grabbed hold of Remi and threw him to the ground again. This time, Ben remained standing. He set his foot on Remi’s throat.
“Stay away from her,” Ben said.
“She doesn’t belong to you,” Remi said, straining against the foot on his vocal chords.
“Stay away from her or I’ll fucking kill you,” Ben said.