The Alpha and the Mistake

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the door and saw him standing there. "Harry didn't throw you out?" Traitor.

"Why would he do that?" A lazy, yet smug smirk spread across his lips.

I did my best to ignore the way it made the butterflies in my stomach flutter. I leaned against the door, barely holding in the sigh. "You're not leaving, are you?"

He shook his head side to side. "Nope."

I left the door open as I sat on my bed cross-legged. Harry and I would talk about this. "I'd ask you why — why go through all this trouble? Yet, one of the first things I learned about your kind is you don't make any sense."

I expected him to get angry, but instead, his smirk turned into a smile. "Hey, there is a method to our chaos I have you know." He walked around the room. Dean paused at every picture, every decoration, every stuffed animal I still clung too. It was unnerving, almost as bad as if he had opened my underwear drawer and went through it.

He stopped at a picture of Dad and me and picked it up. I stiffened. "Don't you dare," I warned him. "Say what you want about me, but don't you dare say anything about my dad." I didn't care how much I would regret it later, but I wouldn't let them talk crap about Dad.

Dean set down the picture, looking sad and something like hurt. "I get you don't believe me, but I'm not like Mike. I don't enjoy making a stupid show of how badass I am by picking on those weaker than me. I only hang around Mike because I have to. In truth, I'd love nothing more than to break his stupid face, but that'd cause too much trouble for the people I care about."

Oh? Something about Dean made me believe him. Crazy, right? "If what you're saying is true then why are you here? If Mike found out you've been here, talking to me, he'd have kittens."

Dean laughed and shrugged. "Some things are worth the risk."

that is saying a lot." I shook my head. "Whatever game you're playing keep my mom out. Dad's

"She'd want you to be happy and

stung deep inside me. Guilt swirled in my stomach. I knew Mom wouldn't like it, but what choice did I have. Besides, it was almost over. One more year and I'd be eighteen. I could go anywhere I wanted, away from werewolves and Mike. A little bit of

appreciated Dean's whole side with the underdog thing. His concern was kind of sweet, but I didn't need it. "This is none of your business. You're here a week maybe

it is. You're — " Dean frowned, ran

good deed for the month. I do not need your help nor do I want your

his hair before walking to the door. At the doorway, he turned. "What's happening to you is wrong, Brook. I promise I

stared at the empty doorway in horror. I would've been less scared if he told me he planned to dine on my liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Damn it.

and gentleman; Hell hath frozen over. I am doing homework but not because I have to but because I needed the distraction.

###

morning I looked at the school and groaned. Even though I was running late, I stood there. I didn't want to deal with the Superman-wannabe. Despite all last night and this morning, I had no clue how to stop him from ruining my life. Then there was Mike.

I told her I was quite sick. In fact, only a negligent parent would send me to school. So what did Mom do? Sent me

to even be called nurses. It didn't matter if someone was vomiting their lungs

to keep me home, saving the others from this super-contagious virus. Mom pushed me out the door, like an unwanted guest. I should go to child services; this has

system told me what Mom repeated several times today — I was late. F.M.L. I stepped toward the school when Mike

clumsy sort of

me wince. Also, the boy stank of alcohol. My nose wrinkled. I tried to put some distance between us, but his arm wrapped around my shoulders like a snake