Page 34 of The Wolf's Secret Twins

Francine stood up a little taller. “I won’t tolerate any gossip in my classroom, Celia. And I won’t tolerate your daughter beating up another student. I don’t care what you think of Virginia and her children—you’re not going to get away with bullying them.”

Warm wings wound around my shoulders. That was comfort. That waslove. A woman like Francine had plenty of reasons to resist defending us. She had an entire classroom of students of various ages who she took pride in teaching. Defending Adhara and Anthony, and defending me in the process, would cause turmoil.

Yet she was doing it anyway.

I calmly stepped toward them, hearing that their argument was growing louder, noticing the tension thickening in the air as they clamored to be heard over one another. I stepped between them and held up my hands toward Celia, giving her a motherly frown that shocked her into taking a few steps back.

“Well, if it isn’t the deceiver herself,” Celia scoffed while recovering her stance. She didn’t seem as confident now with me here. “I hope your daughter is suffering.”

“Why?” I asked in a low voice. “Did she do something to hurt you? Your daughter?”

She gaped at me. Then she looked me up and down like I was a leper offering her one of my fingers. “The Duffs told meexactlywhat kind of woman you are and what your drunk grandfather did to them.”

“And what was that?”

“Well, you know—”

I stepped toward her. “I knowwhat, Celia?”

“Your grandfather screwed them out of cash. That’s what!”

“And how does that involve you and your daughter?”

She stammered over an explanation. Because she didn’thavean explanation. People like her just wanted to be at the center of the drama for the power and the thrill of control. None of this involved her, yet she insisted on sticking her gigantic nose in it.

I pointed a finger at her. “Celia, I’ve met your type before. And I don’t mean that we’ve run into each other at meetings, no. I’ve seen every variation of you in town.”

She frowned and propped her hands on her hips. “I don’t see how that—”

“People like you and your daughter just want to kick the underdog because it makes you feel good. And why not? It’s nice to feel powerful.” I wagged my finger at her. “But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to do, and youknowthat.”

“I don’t have to listen to you.”

I shrugged, continuing my slow advancement, backing her into a corner of her own making. “You don’t. That’s true. It’s also true that I don’t have to take abuse from you or this pack just because of a few sour opinions.” I paused for effect and glowered at her. “Only low-life scumbags bully people based onrumors.”

“Francine,” Celia said with a shaky tone, “are you really going to allow this?”

Francine stepped up beside me. “You brought this on yourself, Celia.”

“Listen to me, Celia,” I stated firmly. “You can say whatever you want about me. I don’t give a damn if you talk crap about me. But my daughter?” I gestured behind her. “You better leave her alone. You tell your daughter to leave her alone. Because if you don’t”—I shifted the nails on my right hand to claws—“I’ll be coming for you. Is that clear?”

Celia stared blankly at me while I walked around, changed my hand back to normal, and collected my kids. Archie ran up to hand us Adhara’s things, the sweetheart. My heart lurched at the thought of these children having seen that stupid argument and lecture. They didn’t need to worry their little heads about this sort of stuff.

But that was just our reality now. The masses were more committed to turning us away than to making sure that shifters in their own pack were safe and welcome. It would feel good to blow this miniature town with my head held high.

Adhara looked horrified as she took my hand. “Mama, I’m sorry.”

I bent to hug her. “Baby, it’s not your fault. Don’t you dare think this is your fault.” My throat tightened with sorrow. “It’s actually mine.”

When I stood up, Francine walked us to the hallway. I glanced back at Celia who was standing frozen in the classroom clutching her pearls.Realpearls, no doubt. Sheesh, the woman couldn’t possibly act more like a victim.

“Fran,” I whispered, “I’m going to take the twins out of your classroom.”

It was early, but better now than later.

Francine frowned sympathetically. “No, don’t you dare. I’m sending Shannon home for the week so your kids can feel safe.”

I shook my head. “It’s just going to make things worse for you and your family. We can’t tell you how much we appreciate your support, but—” Anthony took my hand and squeezed it. Bless his kind heart. “I just don’t want to risk anything else, okay?”

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