Page 104 of Tainted Romance

The new Allie hadn’t met him, so the new Allie just put her head down. “Sorry.” I went to go around him, only to have him side step blocking my path.

“Allie, right? I’m Ryder.” He put out a hand.

It would be rude not to take it, and the new Allie would take it.

“Yeah,” I shook his hand, “How do you know me?”

“I’m Zane’s brother, the man doesn’t shut up about you.”

“Really? Because the Zane I know would rather swallow a glass of pins then speak to me.” I looked up into Ryder’s crystal blue eyes. He had let them do it too. He hadn’t stopped them. So much for a friend.

“My brother really knows how to make an impression.”

“A lasting impression. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a class to get to.” I pasted on a fake smile and went to walk around him, only again I was blocked.

This was getting old quickly.

“You know you shouldn’t give up on him. Sure, he has a hard exterior, but once you break it, well, it’s worth it.”

“I’ll pass. Zane is about as friendly as a tiger and I’m the meat. Anyway, why should I bother?”

Yeah, Ryder, why should I bother?! He had let them do this to me. My mate hadn’t stopped them. My mate hadn’t protected me.

My wolf was still only dull, but even by remembering this, she came to with a snarl.

“Excuse me.” I walked around him and headed for Chemistry.I needed to get out of here.

“I’ll see you around,” Ryder said over his shoulder as I successfully passed him this time. I gave him a half wave and picked up my pace. I knew this was going to be hard. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy facing all the people close to me that had just let me become nothing.

I could hardly bring myself to look at mom this morning.

How could I keep this act up when all of themlied?

I walked into Chemistry, and because my mind was elsewhere, I just took the first spare seat.

At least I was in the back as my lack of attention would go unnoticed by the teacher. Then his scent hit me. My body stiffened, my grip on my pencil tightened, and my eyes glared down.

Ebony and Taylor followed in after him, their scents didn’t cause my body to boil though.

While I was gritting my teeth, they came to the back of the room and took up three seats just down from me. Of course, they would want to sit in the back.

“Can’t believe you just ignored him.” Taylor dropped his books on the table. “The man took a risk, Ebony. You could have at least said something back.”

“Does a glare count as something back?” Ebony’s words were tight and clipped. “It wasn’t like I asked him to speak to me.”

“He’s your mate, at least he is trying.” Zane’s voice was like velvet to my ears and a knife to my heart. “Wouldn’t have killed you to have just said hi back. Doubt the man will ever bother again, as I know I wouldn’t.”

“I don’t want him, and the sooner he knows that, the better.” She threw a dirty look at Zane and caught my glance. “And what are you looking at?”

I could say something nasty back, or I could just ignore her or… “If you’re friends with someone, why would you ignore them?”

“Excuse me?” Her eyes narrowed at me, and I was well aware of Taylor and Zane’s eyes on me now.

“You said he was your mate. Mates don’t ignore one another. You know what you should do, you should just get whatever it is off your chest and tell him, and then you won’t feel the need to be a complete bitch to him because clearly there are reasons behind why you want to ignore him.”

Her mouth hung open for a moment before she snapped out of her shock and just glared at me. “No-one asked for your opinion.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Just being helpful.”

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