Clay

Thankfully, the first day of school passed without anyone messing with Eve, except that annoying bastard Gray, who was getting on my nerves. Eve told me that his father had ordered him to keep an eye on her and to keep her out of trouble… I can't stand how he flaunts himself like a peacock because his dad is the Headmaster, and his Grandfather is one of our Great Elders. The guy apparently thanks that he shits rainbows out of his ass.

But I could care less who his father was; if he didn't back off, he and I would have a fist-to-face conversation.

That evening, Eve and I decided to go for a run to get some much-needed alone time. After stripping out of our clothes, we shifted into our wolves and then took off into the trees.

After finding a secluded enough spot, I shifted. When Eve was done with her transformation, I pulled her in for a deep kiss, then lifted her into my arms to pin her against a tree.

A little while later, we shifted back into our wolves, then curled up together for some snuggling. I hated that we had to sleep in separate rooms.

"So, what do you think about Asher and Waverly?" asked Eve.

"I'm happy that Asher has found his other half," I replied, "It's going to be easier for Guardians to find their mates now that we are all together. I believe this school was a good idea."

"I, too, think bringing us all together was a good idea. I also believe that it's nice that we don't have to hide who we are and can get to know other species besides wolves."

I rose to my feet when I heard a rustling noise coming from the bushes.

After a few steps closer, I pounced with a growl to find it was an unfamiliar gray and black wolf with amber-colored eyes. When I spotted the gold hoops in his ears, I realized it was freaken Gray.

Since there wasn't a pack bond between us, I had to shift to be able to talk to him.

"Shift now, mother fucker!" I growled.

When Gray finished shifting, I pinned him to the ground.

"How long have you been there?" I asked Gray through clenched teeth.

"Umm, since you two started dancing the boot-scootin'-boogie, it was hot…" Was Gray's reply with a shrug.

That was when my tether snapped; I pulled my arm back and then punched the asshole in the face.

"Fuck!" Gray yelled, holding his nose as the blood started gushing out, "What did you do that for!"

"Do you really not know?"

"Clay?"

I pushed away from Gray, then rose to my feet to find Eve standing behind me, and she was entirely naked….Damnit!

"Stay behind me, Little Bird; this fucktard has seen enough for the day."

"What do you mean?" She asked, peering around me to look at Gray, "Why is Gray here? Has he been here the whole time!"

"Yes, he was here from the beginning," I answered through clenched teeth.

I was amazed when my cute little mate's face turned red with anger, then watched as she stalked over to Gray and punched him as hard as she could.

That's my girl.

"Hey! What the hell!" Complained Gray.

I tried not to find it sexy as hell as my mate yelled at Gray while still in her birthday suit, but damn, it was hot!

"I understand that your dad asked you to watch me during classes, but when I'm out here with Clay, I expect some privacy," Eve said to Gray, "I don't need you to be a babysitter when Clay is right next to me."

Gray scoffed, then said, "From what I heard, he was there the day you were taken by that Father Lucas…

He didn't get to finish because Eve launched herself at Gray with a growl, making a half-shift as she pinned him to the ground, then leaned in to bare her teeth in his face.

"Finish that sentence, Gray, and you will regret it. What happened that day WAS NOT Clay's fault." She growled, dripping saliva onto his face.

By the Great Spirits, she was the best mate I could ever ask for.

"I suggest you skedaddle, Gray before she rips you apart," I suggested with a smile.

"You two have serious anger issues," Gray said, then shifted into his wolf before taking off into the trees.

"I can't believe he was watching us the whole time!" Eve yelled as she shifted back into a human.

I couldn't help but chuckle at how cute she was when she got mad.

With a smile, I pulled her to me and then leaned in for a deep kiss.

"I love you, my mate," I said, caressing her cheeks with my thumbs, "Seeing your half-shift was sexy as hell."

Eve rolled her eyes with a sigh, then said, "I love you too, and I have never half-shifted before. That was pretty cool."

"That is our true Guardian form and also where the legend of werewolves came from," I explained, "But, I think it's time we head back to the school. It's getting late."

With one more quick kiss, Eve and I shifted, then headed back toward the school when a loud scream pierced the air.

Eve and I froze midstep, tumbling to the ground as we knocked into each other.

"What the hell was that?" asked Eve as she got to her feet.

"Sounded like a scream; let's go check it out," I replied.

Eve nodded, then took off in the direction we heard the scream.

The closer we got, the more I smelled the scent of copper pennies; I had a bad feeling about what we were about to see.

"I smell blood, Little Bird. Let me go first."

Eve stopped so I could be in front of her; when I stepped through the trees, I froze when I saw a naked girl lying on her back with an arrow through her skull.

"Eve baby, please stay…" but it was too late.

"Oh holy hell, biscuits, is that Harmony?" asked Eve as she shifted.

I shifted, then hurried over to find that it was Harmony.

Eve moved to touch her, but I grabbed her arm before she could get any closer.

"Little Bird, don't get any closer; we can't contaminate the crime scene; we do not need your fingerprints anywhere near her body," I told her.

"Why?"

I pulled her closer to me, then cupped her beautiful face in my hands, "Because you two have a bad history," I explained, "The first person that is going to interrogate will be you, Little Bird."

"But I didn't do it," she whispered as tears trickled down her cheeks, "I may not have liked Harmony, but I would never wish her harm."

"By the Great Spirits, what happened?" asked a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around to find Asher and Waverly approaching.

"Is that Harmony?" asked Asher.

With a nod, I said, "Yes, she has been shot. We need someone to go get the Headmaster. Will you go?"

Asher nodded, then took off into the trees.

"What happened?" asked Waverly as she stepped up to stand beside Eve.

"We don't know." I said, "We heard her scream, but it was too late when we arrived."

"Why are her lips purple?" Asked Eve, "Is that normal?"

I stepped a little closer and then sniffed. Damn, the arrow was poisoned.

"I think the arrow was poisoned; I smell traces of Wolfsbane," I explained.

"What is Wolfsbane?" asked Waverly.

"Wolfsbane is a highly poisonous flower, especially to Guardians. It's our version of Kryptonite." I explained, "Whoever shot Harmony wanted to ensure she was dead."

A few minutes later, the Headmaster and Headmistress ran in behind Asher. Mr. Okhmhaka scowled when he saw Eve and me.

"Should have known you would be close by when something bad goes down," Mr. Okhmhaka stated, "Where the hell is Grayson?"

"I'm over here!" Yelled Gray as he stepped out of the trees. Looks like the fucker never left.