Free Willow (Blood Vine Series) by Amy Richie

but it had to be done.
                  “You okay?” Jed asked quietly.
                  “Willow?” Rueben was quickly by my side.
                  “I’m fine,” I assured them with a determined smile, “just fine.”

 
    Chapter Eight
    Accidents Happen
     
                  I flung my backpack on one of the long couches on my way to the kitchen. I hadn’t been given the chance yesterday to check out our supplies but I hoped they had gotten orange juice.
                  “You’re home,” a gruff voice greeted me.
                  I turned slowly. I hadn’t exactly forgotten about Gage, but I could more easily picture him as the huge black wolf. His grey eyes watched me through the mess of hair on his face. He really needed to shave. “I am home,” I finally responded after I realized he was waiting for me to say something.
                  “How did today go?”
                  “You know, usual high school stuff.” I continued my trek to find orange juice.
                  “I never went to high school.”
                  “Never?”
                  “I was young when I changed. Not as young as you and your sister, but young enough. Besides, when I was a boy we didn’t have high school.”
                  I was afraid to ask him when he was a boy. Then it would be even more weird to talk to him. “Ah.” I bit my bottom lip and quickly turned to the fridge. I was happy to see that they did get orange juice.
                  “Did the boys behave?”
                  I reached for a glass but they were too high. I clicked my tongue. Inconsiderate jerks. Suddenly, Gage was way too close to me. He reached above my head and brought a glass down for me. I tucked my hair behind my ears. “Thanks,” I mumbled. Once he was a safe distance away I was able to answer his question. “Well, Jed locked me in a supply closet and forced me to be his girlfriend,” I gushed. “But, other than that, they behaved very well. They have a lot of self-control for being so young.”
                  “So you’ve chosen a mate?”
                  “No! What?” I blushed furiously, so flustered that I almost spilled my orange juice. “It’s not … I mean it wasn’t … ” I cleared my throat nervously. “No.”
                  “I would have thought Rueben would be your first choice.”
                  “Rueben has a girlfriend,” I said quickly. “Besides, it’s just some stupid … high school thing.”
                  He nodded and turned away. “If you say so.” I rolled my eyes. If Gage hadn’t run with the dinosaurs, maybe he would understand the hierarchy of high school. It was worse than the pack.
                  I puffed my cheeks out and let my breath out quickly. “Um … I was thinking I’d go by Bella’s today. Ivy wasn’t at school. Maybe she’s sick or something.”
                  “Bella’s gone.”
                  “Gone where?” I felt like it was my worst fear realized. I knew it was a possibility when Ivy said they were leaving, but didn’t want to accept it.
                  “Females are fickle creatures,” he mused.
                  “Gone where?” I repeated.
                  “She only came here to deliver you to Blake.”
                  “She enrolled us at school. Ivy, too.”
                  “She was told to. I have not heard much about Bella. She tends to fly under the radar, being careful to not bring much attention to herself.”
                  “That’s a good thing, though.”
                  “Yes.” It didn’t sound much like an affirmation though, not with his eyes narrowed like that.