Nerd's Badboy Alpha novel Chapter 10

"What's with all the windows boarded up? Are you guys replacing them with special glass or something? I noticed it on other houses, too."

My uncle had left me to be alone with Alex, my "admirer." I honestly don't know what Alex's deal is. He and I never had any interactions before yesterday, but now he's here, sitting on my uncle's sofa, as a visitor inquiring about my welfare.

"Oh, uh... Our Luna is exploring ways to make our homes eco-friendlier and energy-efficient," I mumble, refusing to meet his gaze. "She's all about the green initiative."

"She'd get along with my stepmom, then," he tells me with a grin. "She's trying to talk my dad and our Luna into installing solar panels on the roofs of the homes of our compounds."

"Your father isn't married to your Luna, either?"

His face darkens as if I'd broached a touchy subject he'd rather not discuss, and he was quiet for a moment, but then he shakes his head, and says, "No. My mother was the previous Luna. But she died from pregnancy complications due to having me and my twin. My dad met my step-mom two years later."

Without meaning to, I reach out and squeeze his arm. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. You have a twin?"

He shakes his head again. "He died along with my mother." He cocks his head to the side. "I'm sorry if I'm bumming you out. I came over to cheer you up."

Surprised, I laugh with discomfort. "Why? Did you lose a bet? Are you part of the school's new nerd outreach program?"

He chuckles and his green eyes glitter even in the limited light of the den. "No. What are you talking about? I just figured since I saved you from those hyenas, I'm the reason you're alive, so I should look in on you from time to time to make sure you haven't been eaten by a bear or swallowed by an alligator."

"There are no alligators in California."

He squints at me and pokes my side. "That you know of."

I gasp. Did he really just poke me? He just reached out with his index finger and poked the side of my stomach like he and I have known each other for years. This is too weird. "Do you do this for everyone you save?"

He throws his head back and laughs. "I'm not in the business of saving damsels in distress, either. That was a new one for me. I'd lend a hand to a pack member, but that's it."

I chew on my bottom lip, unable to think of a thing to say. People have been ignoring me all my life. In the past twenty-four hours, I've experienced more social activity than I ever have in ten years. "Well, thanks for saving my bacon, anyway. That was really decent of you. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone at school or try to talk to you like I know you when I see you in the halls."

"What are you talking about?"

I scrunch up my nose and stare at him. "You and I are on completely different social strata. You're a shark and I'm feeder fish."

"You're a wolf, too," he says slowly as if speaking to a child.

"Speaking of fish, I killed mine." For some reason, this makes me burst into tears and hide myself under my blanket.

"Melvin?" Alex said warily. "Did you do it on purpose?"

I wipe my tears on the blanket. "No. I must have... I don't know, bumped the fish bowl off my desk while I was having a nightmare last night."

"Can you come out of the blanket, please? Tell me about your nightmare."

Feeling like an idiot, I yank off the blanket from my head. "It was just... bad. Just really bad. And dark."

"Well, it was just a dream, all right? You're a tough old wolf." He playfully punches me on the shoulder.

My lower lip trembles. My cousin Stephanie thinks I'm completely useless and should be labeled omega. "Do you guys have omegas in your pack?"

He gives me a weird look. "Most packs do."

His hand is on the cushion between us. Without thinking, I pat it in comfort. When his surprised eyes meet mine, I snatch it back and hide it under the blanket.

"I should get going. Dad hates it when people are late for supper." He stands up, towering over me. "I hope you're well enough to go to school tomorrow." He bends down and kisses my forehead.

The look on his face afterward said it all. He was just as puzzled about why he did that as I was.

I walk to school because Stephanie and Bethany head out much earlier than I do for cheerleading practice and Roger carpools with his friends. I don't mind it. It's only about three-quarters of a mile away and the weather is usually nice in the morning.

There is a shortcut through our compound's game reserve that cuts into the woods behind our school but I don't really like that route because frankly, I'm scared to go by myself and get lost. Who knows what kind of creatures lurk in the woods?

I was already more than halfway to school when I hear a honk behind me right before a familiar shiny black truck pulls up next to me. The door opens.

"Get in," says Alex Royce with a grin as bright as the sunshine.

I toss my backpack in and put on my seatbelt just as he says, "Seatbelt."

Rolling my eyes, I close the door and off we go.

I like the smell of Alex's truck. It's woodsy, with a little hint of citrus, and mmmmanly. I appreciate Alex's human form very much. He's quite attractive. I'm not going to say I have the hots for him or anything because I might as well aim for the moon, but I like looking at him.

His blond hair that has hints of red in the sun, green eyes, the way he laughs at me, and to-die-for shoulders make me feel gooey inside.

But the guy calls me "pal," "bud," or "Melvin." I don't think he sees me as an object of sexual desire. At all.