Obsessions Read online

  London continued to stare at Penny. If Penny made a wrong move she was going to go straight for her, and commence to whipping her ass. Her hands fisted at her side as their eyes held. The air seemed heavier and colder when she started taking deep breaths. Must be my imagination.

  Penny’s eyebrows rose and she glanced down at London’s clenched hands smiling. Suddenly the gym doors opened and the baseball team and coaches started filtering in. It had to be her imagination, but Penny’s eyes looked funny. It’s probably just her crazy showing through, London thought.

  “I’ll see you around, Runt.” Penny suddenly turned slinging her hair around like a whip and walked away as the other girls followed suit. She didn’t know if Penny knew that London was prepared to fight, or that she just didn’t want to tangle with her. It didn’t matter. London had learned from an early age that you may be scared of someone, but you never showed it.

  Waiting until the door finally closed, she turned around to find Zoey staring at the floor. She could see how beat down her friend was. It was written on her face. London reached out and tried to comfort her.

  “Hey. They’re gone now.” Zoey shrugged away from her, but London could see her tears as they dropped to the floor. She knew she could help Zoey, but first she needed confidence and that would take time to build. She needed for Zoey to start today.

  Zoey ranted, “I wish I were you. All you do is look at them and they walk away. I have never done anything to them, but they can’t seem to leave me alone. They make it their mission to make my life a living hell.” Zoey pushed the tears off her face.

  “We need to change that, Zo,” London said softly, “I’m going to teach you how to fight. You may be little but you’re fast, and you can do a lot of damage if you get to them before they know what hit them.” London prayed that Zoey would stop letting them bully her. It was time to stand up and fight or Penny and her gang would continue to push her around whenever they wanted.

  Zoey’s expression was aggravated as she spoke. “There are five of them. How can I beat five of them?”

  “Yep, there are five of them, but they always look to Penny to tell them what to do. You need to get to Penny first.” London could tell Zoey was listening, but she didn’t believe in herself enough to think she could actually defend herself.

  Zoey’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy? Did you freaking see her? She outweighs me, and she’s nine inches taller than I am. She’s waiting for me to do something, so she can rip my head off without even breaking a sweat. That girl comes from a crazy pack.”

  London watched her, but Zoey suddenly stopped talking as if she had told secrets about Penny’s family. Arching her brow, London asked, “What do you mean a crazy pack?”

  Zoey’s face turned pale and she dropped her head. She appeared to be mentally chastising herself as she looked around the gym to see if anyone was listening.

  “Actually, you know I was thinking that too, that they act like a pack of wolves. I’ve been watching them since freshman year and they act as if Penny is the leader and the bitches are her pack. They wait for her to tell them what to do. It’s weird, and I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that,” London said, but Zoey just shook her head. Reaching out, she grabbed London’s hand, and pulled her toward the door.

  “Hey, what…where are we going?” London yelled as Zoey pulled her out the gym door. She noticed that Zoey had some strength in her hand as she pulled her to the dorm. She stayed quiet knowing that Zoey would tell her when they finally got back home. London waited patiently as they entered their dorm room. Immediately, Zoey began pacing back and forth. Struggling with herself, Zoey looked like she was going to tell her something big the way she was acting. The anticipation was killing London. She had never seen Zoey so worked up before.

  “What’s wrong?” London finally asked, but Zoey didn’t answer. “Zoey what is wrong? Just tell me already?”

  A few minutes passed before Zoey explained. “Look. What I’m going to tell you is…well let’s just say, you’ll think I’m crazy, and probably never be my friend again. I’m not supposed to tell anyone. Not even you, but…I have to tell you. Before Penny does something…I…” Zoey continued to pace as she tried to explain. Her hands were jumping all over the place. Running her fingers through her hair, and then placing them on her hips, then she covered her mouth trying to stop herself from speaking. “I can’t believe that I’m even thinking of telling you this. I’m breaking all our rules.”

  “What rules? Damn it Zoey, you’re not making any sense. Just tell me already,” London bellowed.

  “I’m a werewolf,” Zoey’s voice choked out. “Well I’m really a shifter.”

  Zoey put her hand to her mouth as though trying to keep from saying another word. Her eyes had narrowed and tears formed in them. She looked like she was in pain.

  Did she just say what I think she said? London sat there staring at her best friend. She didn’t know how to respond. Her grandmother, Me-Len, told her that she was a witch and that there were werewolves and vampires in the world, but her grandmother was crazy. Everyone in town thought she was crazy. They said she was a crazy witch. Now Zoey believed that she was a werewolf. London couldn’t believe she was even considering this without busting out laughing.

  Zoey frowned as she waited for London to respond. “Say something, London,” she whispered, her hands shaking.

  “Well, if you are a werewolf then why don’t you just kick their ass? I mean, werewolves are supposed to have more strength than humans. So, why don’t you pound them into next week? That’s what all the movies say anyway.”

  Zoey cringed and looked toward her bed.

  “I’m not as strong as they are. She-Penny-is an Alpha female and I’m just a plain Jane who is scared of her own shadow.” Tears fell as Zoey rested her head in her hands. “I can’t even be a good shifter. I don’t know how to fight. Even my wolf gets mad at me.”

  Getting up and walking over to Zoey, London placed her hands on her shoulders to comfort her. It broke her heart to see her friend cry. “Hey…hey…you look at me Zoey Malone. You are not a plain Jane. You are the strongest sweetest person I know. You have strength that nobody knows about, including you apparently, and I promise when I’m done, you will be the strongest Alpha there is, whatever an Alpha is. Do you hear me?” Zoey kept her head in her hands as she nodded.

  “Not fucking good enough! I said, do you hear me?” she yelled at her. London watched as Zoey shuddered from her yell, but she still didn’t move and London knew she would have to get rough if she were going to get her to react. Reaching down, she grabbed Zoey up then slammed her against the wall. Pictures fell on the ground as Zoey’s body hit the wall hard.

  “What…damn it, London, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

  Getting in her face, London snarled her words, “Did you hear me when I said that I would make you the best fucking Alpha there is? I’m not fucking playing with you and if you want my help then the pity party you’re having has to stop now and that means you stop the crying and get off your ass, so together we can start training.” Zoey nodded but she still didn’t look London in the eye.

  “Lesson number one,” Zoey looked up at London, “You always look them in the eye. Always! You never look away first. It bothers them when they can’t get you to look away first.”

  Zoey nodded and stared back at her in stunned fascination. “Are you sure you’re not a werewolf because you sure act like one.”

  “No. I’m a bitch, but everyone should do that. Now we’re going back to the gym.”

  “Umm…London, it’s past ten now.”

  “So what? We can start with lesson number two.”

  London didn’t want to start this off with a lie. Zoey was making up stuff and that would have to stop, but first she needed to get her started and then she would address the werewolf shit.

  Chapter 3

  Ryder Malone sat at the Council table trying to listen to Frankie Weeber talk about expanding hi
s business. He needed a construction permit to enlarge his bakery and the Council needed to agree to it. Anything built or anyone wanting to move to Alpha City had to be agreed on by the Council, and Ryder was one of them. That’s what made their city full of shifters so successful. They controlled it well, and the people who lived there appreciated it.

  Requests came in everyday asking to be members of one of their packs or to simply move their pack to town. It was hard to allow that when you have Alphas involved. They usually talked them out of it and explained how they ran Alpha City and suggested that they set up camp somewhere else.

  One of Ryder’s businesses was real estate and finding land for those packs was what he loved. Starting a new community for packs made him appreciate his great-great grandfather even more. The struggles he had to go through to build this city and make it successful was why Ryder continued to help the others. Plus, it was a great way to stay connected to each other.

  Frankie Weeber was one of those people. He brought his family to Alpha City thirty years ago, and his bakery made the best bread Ryder had ever had. His bread making skills had made a name for him all over the country. You could say that Frankie was famous for it and hence the need for expansion. His company was sending out his baked goods all over the United States. His donuts gave Krispy Kreme donuts a run for their money, and it didn’t hurt that he was a member of his pack.

  He didn’t mind that Frankie wanted to expand his business. In fact he was all for it. The expansion would bring in more business for the pack, and since Ryder owned a Construction Company it would benefit him as well. Many of the new members of the pack didn’t have a job when they moved to the city, but with the addition of the bakery and the construction, his pack members would have new job opportunities. The lead architect on the project was a member of the Walsh Jaguar Community, and the designer was a member of the King Bears, so the work was spread out among the community of shifters.

  Ryder pulled out a folder while Frankie spoke of the changes he was going to make. Opening it, Ryder stared down at the picture inside. He tried not to look at it constantly, but he couldn’t stop himself. His wolf went wild as he studied her beautiful face. He’d had his sister’s roommate investigated to make sure that no harm would come to Zoey, but little did he know the pull he would feel after seeing her picture.

  London Grey was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She had long curly hair and big gray eyes. The picture had been taken as she got out of her car; she was turning around to check out her surroundings when the investigator snapped it. He’d never seen gray eyes on a woman before, but her eyes reminded him of a tiger. She looked untamed and wild, and he secretly wanted to be the one who would try to tame the beauty.

  Zoey talked about London all the time when she called him, and he couldn’t find anything wrong with her. Her background came back clean. He knew she was orphaned and sent to live with her grandmother when her parents were killed in a car accident.

  The investigator showed Ryder the police report involving her parent’s death. More like murder with all the holes in it. A witness watched as her parent’s car was pushed off the edge of the cliff by a dark SUV. The witness pulled over to render aid, but before he could get out of his car, her parent’s vehicle exploded.

  The report added that they were heading to the school to check London out. The house had been packed up and ready to move when the accident occurred. When they questioned London, she had no idea they were moving again.

  Ryder didn’t like the term “again.” She used it because the Grey’s had moved twenty times since London was born. She was practically home schooled because they moved so much. London was a straight A student when she was able to attend school. Every report from all the schools stated that her IQ was at genius level, but she was shy and an introvert when it came to socializing.

  At first, Ryder was worried at the type of woman his sister was living with but Zoey loved and trusted her. That was all well and good, but he would always keep a watch on her.

  He had the investigator go further in his search and find out about London’s grandmother. Lenny McGregor’s aka Me-Len’s life was a little more colorful. It was through Me-Len’s background that he found out London came from a long line of witches. His advisor, Meryl Pierson, explained that Me-Len’s family could be traced back to ancient times and Me-Len was one of the strongest witch’s he had ever heard of. He advised Ryder that London had been kept away from her heritage, and she probably didn’t even know she was a witch.

  Meryl explained that Lenny’s daughter hid London away from her mother so she would never have to worry about the supernatural and the problems that came with them. She married another witch, and London’s dad felt the same way, so they dedicated their life to raising London as a normal human.

  “Ryder? Are you going to vote?” Nolan Banks asked. Looking up, Ryder realized that the room was silent and everyone was staring at him.

  He paused trying to remember why they were here today, before nodding. “Yes. My vote is yes.” Mr. Weeber smiled since the vote was unanimous. He would get to add on to his bakery, which would put people to work. Mr. Weeber bowed to the Alphas thanking them then walked out of the room.

  “So who’s the hottie?” Nolan asked as everyone but the Alpha’s filed out of the room.

  He was smiling as he stared over Ryder’s arm at the picture, but Ryder jerked the folder closed. He didn’t want anyone, including his best friend, looking at London. He didn’t know why since they would probably never meet, but he didn’t like the look he was giving her. What the hell is wrong with me? She’s nothing to me.

  “Nobody.” Ryder shrugged, trying to act like it was nobody in the folder, but Nolan Banks was a Tiger shifter and he could watch his prey all day long until he pounced on it. Nothing got past Nolan, including London’s picture in the folder.

  “She doesn’t look like nobody to me. She’s freaking hot, dude.”

  Before Ryder could stop himself, his wolf started to surface, and he felt his eyes start to glow.

  Nolan snorted. “So you still want to tell me that the hottie is nobody? Your eyes are glowing.” Ryder closed his eyes trying to stop the possessiveness he was feeling for a complete stranger. He shook his head, trying to gain control.

  Ryder tried to stop but Nolan is like a dog with a bone. “Stop it, Nolan. She is nobody, really. She is just…”

  “Just who?” Nolan asked, with questions in his eyes.

  Ryder knew Nolan wasn’t going to drop it. He had to tell him something to shut him up before the others found out. “It’s just Zoey’s roommate.”

  “Who’s Zoey’s roommate?”

  Ryder dropped his head knowing now they would all want to see her picture as Brody, Judd, and Kayden stalked over to where Ryder was sitting.

  “Ryder keeps looking at her picture. I think he has the hot’s for her,” Nolan teased.

  “I don’t have the hot’s for her,” Ryder sputtered, as he jerked the folder to his chest. He’d messed up by looking at the picture during the meeting. Now they would smell blood and demand to know who the girl was.

  “Let’s see what the hottie looks like then.” Judd Walsh walked toward Ryder as he backed away from the group. His friends looked around at each other smiling. They had never seen Ryder act like this toward any female. Hell he couldn’t believe it himself. Why was he acting so protective of a complete stranger?

  “Now I have to see her if you don’t want to share her with us.” Kayden Lynn pounced on Ryder grabbing his arms and pulling them around to his back so Brody could grab the folder. Ryder was struggling, but the papers fell out of the folder as he tried to jerk away. London’s picture fell to the ground allowing his friends to look down at her face. All the Alphas leaned forward to see what had Ryder’s attention.

  Brody whistled aloud then picked up the paper with her picture on it. “Hot damn! I can see now why you want her all for yourself.”

  Ryder jerked the picture out o
f his hand, bent down, and put all the papers back into the folder. “She’s just Zoey’s roommate. I ran a check on her when the Sanders girl threw Zoey out of her room.” Ryder straightened up trying to look calm, but he was anything but calm. His wolf wanted to hunt and London Grey was his prey.

  “I told you not to pair her with that bitch. Zoey needs someone who understands her.” griped Kayden, “That woman is crazy and you were crazy listening to her brother who was only looking for a way in. He wants to be part of the Council. Why don’t these fools realize they can’t be part of it? Unless they’re family, and he isn’t family…thank God. You should never trust him Ryder especially with someone like Zoey.”

  “I know, but Zoey moved in with London and—” Ryder couldn’t finish before Nolan smelled fresh meat and began to torture him.

  “Now we know her name. London. I like the ring of it.” Nolan pronounced her name real slow letting it slip off his tongue.

  “It’s Zoey’s roommate! Tell me you haven’t investigated her?” Nolan said with a groan.

  Ignoring him, Ryder turned around saying over his shoulder. “Let’s get out of here. I’m hungry.”

  With the folder tucked firmly under his arm, Ryder walked out of the Council room. These were his best friends, but any chance they got he knew they would bring up the girl in the folder. Ryder needed to hide the folder away, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it and that was a problem for him. He didn’t want a mate and especially not a human one.