Alpha Bully (Wolf Ridge High 1)

“I think you have more power with Cole Muchmore than you think.”

My gut clenches, nerves still raw. “What do you mean, more power?”

She looks thoughtfully out the window in the direction the boys disappeared. “It’s true he can’t stand you. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to get you horizontal.”

I wish my reaction to that news was revulsion, but instead, lightning zings through my core and a shiver runs through me. Eric tightens his grip on my hand to keep me from screwing up the tattoo, then shoots a look at Rayne that for some reason reads as a warning.

He’s warning her not to distract me? Or not to encourage me to tangle with Cole?

It’s not like I plan to.

But if Rayne’s right? If Cole Muchmore wants me? That changes everything. If it’s true, I do hold a shred of power. And I can use it as a weapon…

Cole

Bailey and the defective little runt Rayne.

That’s a combination I wouldn’t have ever put together. I nearly made Rayne pee herself over breaking my school-wide edict of not befriending the human, but the truth is, I don’t give a shit. If Pink wants to be friends with the lowest kid in the pack, that’s fine. She probably needs someone to talk to.

Something about it irritates me, though. Rayne’s not good enough for Pink. She’s like two or three years younger and a friendless nobody. Pack dynamic demands it be that way. If Pink were at a human school, she’d be in a strata close to the top, considering she’s librarian-hot. She wouldn’t be hanging out with a kid like Rayne.

I kind of loved the way Pink protected the runt, though. It’s funny to see humans display the same alpha protection of friends that packs rely on. They probably don’t even understand the biology beneath it. But Pink has backbone, I’ll give her that.

I run back to the field, mulling over Pink’s new ink. Turns out there’s more depth to the hot nerd than I noticed. She lost someone, too. She has a wound.

Some might think it would make me want to pour salt and lemon juice all over, but it doesn’t.

She’s already broken.

She already knows pain.

Somehow that satisfies the angriest part of me. Like it levels the field between us.

Doesn’t mean I don’t still want to take her down a few notches. Get her under me. Begging me. Calling my name. Eager to give me anything, everything, I want.

I give my head a shake. Just the thought makes my step lighter.

I think that may be all I need. To fuck the human.

Once I’ve conquered Bailey—once I’ve broken her myself—then I can let this go.

Bailey

I wasn’t planning on going to the homecoming game. I don’t even know why I’m here.

Because Rayne talked me into it, I guess.

We sit way in the back, where we still have to squeeze to get seats.

I swear, the entire town showed up for this game. People are all dressed in blue and white, waving signs and pom-pons.

“Welcome Wolf Ridge!” Austin, student council president and one of the football alpha-holes, stands in the middle of the field with a microphone. “Before the game, we’ll be announcing the homecoming royalty.”

“Dammit, I wanted to steal you that crown,” I mutter to Rayne, who laughs. She’s been giving me the inside scoop on everyone around us—the who’s who of Wolf Ridge.

“From the junior class, the prince is Alex Shank.” The crowd cheers as one of the football players jogs up to get his crown. “And junior class princess… Chiara Deane!” More whoops and cheers. “And our senior class king is…” His dramatic pause goes on too long and the crowd starts stomping and cheering. “Cole Muchmore!”

“Ugh,” I groan. “Like he needs the boost to his ego.”

“Actually, he might,” Rayne says, reminding me of his dad’s unemployment which sends a stab of guilt through me.

“And the queen is… Adriana Drake!”

I have no opinion about Adriana Drake, the blonde cheerleader who dashes out to the field to get her crown. That is until she throws her arms around Cole’s neck like they’re announcing their engagement. Then I decide she’s a conceited bitch without brains who probably doesn’t even know how to tie her own shoes.

“Oh that’s cute,” Rayne says dryly. “They dated last year. Looks like the student body wants to see them together again.”

My stomach cramps, a hot ball of something that’s not jealousy lodging in my chest.

I’m not jealous.

Definitely not jealous.

Why would I be jealous of someone dating Cole? I should welcome his distraction from making my life a living hell.

Reasoning with myself doesn’t help, though. I can’t stand the cheerleader I already decided is a bitch. She gets her crown but stays glued to Cole, one arm wrapped around his waist.

It’s hard to tell from where we’re sitting, but his posture looks bored and impatient, though maybe that’s what I want to see.