Instant Enemies. by Emily Zimmerman. (affordable ebook reader .txt) 📕

home from detention. He took advantage of me. Derik caught me limping home, and I made him promise not to tell a soul. Not even Trevor.
And now everyone knows. Even Damian.
Derik and Damian had “bumped into each other” at McDonalds. I don’t know how Damian got it out of him, but Derik promised, and he broke his promise. A knock at the bathroom door brought me back to the present. “What?” I called, my voice thick.
“Cat, sweetheart, can I come in?” It was my mom.
I groaned inwardly, I’m in big trouble. “Yeah.”
Mom walked in and sat down beside me, where I’d slid down the wall. “So…the principle called…he said you caused…quite a scene.” She said softly.
A sob bubbled up to my lips and I broke down. “I was so scared! I-I didn’t want to tell anyone…I didn’t know what to do!” I sobbed.
Mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me into her side. “Sweetheart, no one’s blaming you for anything! That bastard is sick and twisted and doesn’t deserve to live!” she growled.
I laughed wetly. “Mom, you have that murderous look in your eye that you got when Mr. Lanyard accidentally mowed over your lilies.” I said.
She smiled. “Sorry. I just don’t like it when someone hurts my baby.” She said.
“Can we just go home? I don’t want to be here when Mrs. Vineyards catches wind of this. She’ll be asking for his address and putting bullets in her Glock.” I said.
Mrs. Vineyards is my Spanish teacher, she likes me, treats me like family. She carries a Glock in her giant purse and she knows how to use it.
“Sure, sweetheart, let’s go home.” Mom murmured.
I wiped my eyes as we stepped out of the bathroom, a crowd of people stood silently, staring at me with sympathy. I looked at Trevor, who stared at me with disbelieving eyes. I knew he felt betrayed, how could I not tell my own best friend? The truth was, I thought he’d be ashamed of me, that he’d walk away from me, calling me weak. Mom kept an arm around me as we walked silently down the halls, it held me together, kept me strong.
“Do you want to ride with me, or do you want to drive home?” she asked me.
“I’ll drive. I need to think.” I said.
With the windows tinted dark, I couldn’t see anything through them as I unlocked the car. I got in and yelped in surprise as I realized Damian sat in the passenger seat. He stared at me, his bright blue eyes dark and dangerous. I sighed. “I take it you saw.”
“The whole pack saw. Every mind in the pack, except for the elders, was focused on you. And how many times do I have to convince you that I don’t hate you?” He asked in a frustrated tone.
I put the key in the ignition and started the car. “If you’d stop walking away from me and actually talk to me I might believe you.” I said, backing out of my parking spot.
Damian sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me, or anyone, for that matter?”
I slammed on my breaks in frustration and turned to Damian. “I was eleven years old! How the hell was I supposed to know what to do? The only reason Derik knew was because he found me walking home! I was completely alone in this! How the hell was I supposed to tell someone when I didn’t even know what was going on?” I asked him, my voice raising an octave.
Damian’s eyes hardened. “You had your family! Your family when you’re a half blood is your pack! You’re supposed to go to them in times of trouble! What were you thinking?” he asked incredulously.
“I was thinking I was scared! I was thinking that if I told someone he’d come looking for me! And I was thinking that people would yell at me like you are now!” I said.
“Whatever. I need to think.” He said, getting out of the car.
I sat staring at the door in disbelief, he did it again.
I put the car in drive and sped off, anger and hurt having a fighting for dominance in the pit of my stomach. I came into the driveway and sat in the car for a full minute, trying to calm myself. I got out of the car and didn’t slam my door, so I took that as a good sign that I wasn’t about to go insane.
I walked inside and found Dad pacing, and Riley leaning against the wall, a storm of rage brewing in his mind. They both looked up when I entered. Riley got to me first, I expected him to demand who it was, to yell at me, but instead, he pulled me into his arms and held me tightly against him.
I was finally able to receive the comfort I so desperately needed. It was a long time ago, but it was still fresh in my mind as if it were preserved on ice. I broke down and clutched Riley’s shirt, burying my face in his chest. He scooped me up and walked over to the couch, sitting down with me in his lap.
I cried into his chest while dad sat beside us, rubbing my back comfortingly. “It’ll be alright, Cat. We all love you, this doesn’t change that.” Riley said softly.
I cried until the comforting darkness of sleep enveloped me.
Damian is a lying bastard!

I awoke the next day to my alarm. I slammed my hand down on the clock to stop it and rolled over, only to come face to face with Riley. He still slept. He was a heavy sleeper when he wanted to be. He must have stayed in my bed last night to comfort me.
I smiled; I could always count on my big brother.
I shook him awake. “Hey, Riley, wake up yah big lug.” I said.
He groaned and opened one eye, but that one eye stared grumpily at me. “Can’t you see I’m soaking up some rays of Vitamin S?” he asked me.
I smiled and sat up. “What the hell is Vitamin S?” I asked.
“Vitamin Sleep, of course.” He said.
I rolled my eyes. “Well go soak up some rays of Vitamin S in your room. I have to get ready for school.” I said.
He sighed and rolled out of bed, literally. I don’t think he noticed how close to the edge he was. I laughed. “So much for wolf senses, huh?” I said as he groaned.
He stood up and waved a hand at me in dismissal, trudging out of my room. I rolled my eyes and looked over at my closet, yelping as I realized Damian stood leaning against the door with his arms crossed. “Damian! What are you doing in here?” I hissed.
“I came to see you. Obviously.” He said.
I got up and grabbed my hair tie, pulling my hair back into a messy ponytail. “Well you couldn’t have, I don’t know, knocked on the front door?” I glared at him.
“I wanted to see you last night, and I don’t think your parents would appreciate me visiting you at four in the morning.” He said.
I stared at him for a beat before saying a word. “Why would you do that?” I asked.
He pushed off of the door and walked over to me, pulling me into him pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Because I love you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to comfort you. I just get angry, not at you, of course, but I take it out on you. I don’t want to take my anger out on you anymore; I promise I’ll never hurt you again.” He said softly.
I reached up on instinct and brushed my fingers through his soft, raven black hair, getting it out of his eyes. His eyes never wavered from mine as he stared down at me. “You love me?” I asked softly.
The corners of his lips turned up in a small smile. “Isn’t it weird? I wolf that loves his mate! It’s unheard of!” he teased, picking me up against his chest and nuzzling my neck.
I smiled a placed a soft kiss on his neck without realizing what I was doing. He let out a low growl of approval and trailed kisses down my neck, pulling my shirt down to reveal my shoulder. I was now thinking that a mate could be a very good thing. A knock came to the door, breaking us both apart. “uh y-yeah?” I called, taking a step away from Damian.
“Sweetheart, it’s your mother, you’re going to be late for school!” Oh God, school! I’m going to be the laughing stock of the year!
I sighed. “Yeah, don’t remind me.” I said.
Foregoing the shower, I ran into my closet and shut the door, not wanting Damian to see me undressing more than he already has. I slipped into some skinny jeans and a green tank top and ran out of the closet, grabbing my backpack.
“I’ll see you at school; please don’t just appear in my car again.” I said to Damian as I slipped on my green flats.
“No problem. My bike is around the corner.” He said.
I grabbed my phone and ran out of the room, and down the stairs, grabbing an apple to eat on the way. I threw my backpack in the front seat and jumped into the car, speeding away from the curb. I only had fifteen minutes to get there.

Ten minutes later I pulled into the parking lot. I took a deep breath and sighed. “I have to do this.” I whispered.
I got out of the car and grabbed my bag from the back seat. I didn’t see Trevor, which was a bad sign. I walked through the halls, ignoring the stares and whispers about me. I used the combination on my locker and put my books away, keeping the books that I needed. I closed the door and ignored Derik, who stood beside the locker.
“Cat. Please listen to me. I understand that you’re angry at me, but I couldn’t help it! Damian said that he knew you better than anyone, even Trevor! I thought I could trust him!” I stopped short at that.
That lying bastard! “He said what?” I whispered.
“He told me he knew you better than anyone.”
I turned to an empty locker and slammed my fist into it, leaving a dent. “I feel better now.” I said.
“Jeez. I’m glad I’m not that locker.” Derik said.
“Damian is a lying bastard. I can’t believe…he doesn’t know me at all!” I growled.
The warning bell rang and I walked in silence to science. I sat down at my desk and stared darkly at the desk. I sat with my forehead in my hand, drawing whatever came to mind on my notebook to keep me calm. Damian walked in just as Mrs. Laurence did, and sat down beside me.
“Hi, Cat.” He greeted.
I