“It’s just me today,” Rory answers.
I heave a slow sigh. “Just Rory” means that the lot of them are likely skipping classes today.
“We’re going to be missing school this week,” he says as I sit down in the car, confirming my suspicions.
I glance over at him and mock surprise. “Wow, you’re actually warning me ahead of time for once?”
Rory growls. “Don’t push your luck,” he says, his voice deep—but a slight smile pulls at the corner of his mouth as I settle in and kick my feet up on the dash.
“The whole week?” I ask.
I hate when they’re not at school. I end up not being able to concentrate on anything because I’m constantly thinking about what the boys are doing when I’m stuck in another stupid class.
I wouldn’t even have to bother going anymore either if they’d just agree to turn me.
His response is too short.
“Yeah.”
Rory knows I hate it. I can tell by his voice and the way that he stares at the road ahead instead of me. For once, however, at least he does me the decency of offering an explanation.
It’s not much, but at least it’s something.
“There’s a big pack meeting planned in a couple of days and we have some things we need to do.”
He suddenly turns to look at me, his gaze severe. “Sabrina, I need you to promise me that you’ll stay away when everyone comes up to the house. There will be rogue packs travelling now that we’re getting so close to the eclipse … and some of the guest we’ll be hosting over the next couple days …” He trails off with a shake of his head. “It just wouldn’t be safe for you there.”
I feel my proverbial hackles raise.
“You mean like the ones that’ve been passing through for the last six months?” I say, an unmistakable edge in my voice. At this point, Rory’s constant warnings about these shifters sounds like an empty excuse to push me to the side yet again. Even Kaleb, who I thought better of, tried to warn me away this weekend with half-threats of something he hadn’t even done yet.
Rory doesn’t budge, however. My tone just makes his brow darken and his hands grip the steering wheel even tighter than before.
“They’re more dangerous than the other packs in our alliance. They’re not from here. They’re wild.”
I press my hand to my forehead and close my eyes, trying to force my breath to steady. I thought that after this weekend we’d finally be on the same page, at least somewhat. I thought it was some kind of apology, some way to remember that we can be together.
But here Rory is, acting exactly the same as he was before. Exactly the same as he always does. Stubborn. Patronizing.
I snap.
“Why is it that the three of you keep acting like I’m some sort of glass doll to be stored away out of reach, like I’m going to break at the slightest touch? I’ve been through a lot in my life, or maybe you don’t remember my father trying to shove me in a trunk and kidnap me after knocking me over the head? Or surviving my first wolf attack? Because I don’t remember you stopp
ing that from happening. And I wasn’t anywhere near your land.”
I huff, arms crossed tightly over my torso.
“I really think you need to stop overreacting so much about keeping me safe. It’s starting to get a bit stifling.”
“I’m not overreacting, Sabrina. Have you forgotten about what happened during that attack? How you almost lost your arm?”
How could I?
I look down at my forearm, at the lines of silver scars running there from her bite.
“Of course not,” I say, quieter this time. “But …”
He cuts me off.