Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,182

put them front and center, so the popular kids won't like it. They'll tease and torment them."

"Shouldn't bother the wolves," Pax said.

All I could do was sigh. "Shouldn't? Except that no one likes to be constantly harassed. Eventually, it will wear on them. When Gabby starts to crack, Elena will worry. Roman, Olivia, and Xander will try to stand up for her, which will make them targets too - or vice versa. It's impossible to tell which angle will work best with teenagers, but someone will get picked on, and it will be relentless."

"Think they can handle it?" Ian asked.

I nodded. "I also think that we'll need to make a point of telling them that we're proud of them, and let the pack know what they're suffering for the good of the whole. That, more than anything else, will help. If they feel like this is a trial or sacrifice for a bigger good? It will remind them that they aren't losers, ugly, lame, stupid, or whatever else they'll get called."

Lane just leaned over the back of the couch, but the crease in his brow made it clear he didn't like what I was saying. "How do we protect them?"

"Home school them," I said. "Although that won't really help, because Samantha would then be alone. And that boy who's crushing on Roman."

"Can we please admit that's cute?" Pax asked.

"Think he's into it?" Ian asked.

Pax shrugged. "Don't know, don't really care. I just think that guy crushing on Roman is adorable. The fact that Roman's not being a dick about it makes me pretty proud of him."

"Yeah," Ian breathed. "Just worried that it might upset the balance Gabby has going with her betas right now. Roman and Olivia are a good match. I have a feeling that she and Xander will butt heads soon, and probably more violently than Elena will expect. If Seth's right, and bullying becomes a problem..."

"Then Xander might win," Trent finished for him. "Which means Gabby wouldn't be the dominant alpha of their generation."

"Or the logical heir," Lane added.

Ian just sighed. "And this isn't something I can fix."

"I can," I told him. "In case all of you forgot, I used to be a teenager in public school."

"Do it," Ian said. "And Lane? If Elena changes her mind, let her, but do not try to talk her out of it?"

"Wouldn't dream of it," he promised. "I want her to be a wolf more than you can imagine."

"Me too," I said softly.

Ian just chuckled. "So, you decide you're ok with the older woman now?"

"He's in love," Trent said.

"Fuck off," I grumbled.

"Are you?" Ian asked.

Which was the moment of no return. The guys were all looking at me, clearly waiting for my response. I wanted to say no. It was the easy way to answer. It would prevent them from picking on me, and make the heat rushing to my face vanish. It would also be a lie.

"And if I am?" I asked instead.

"Then I'd be happy for you," Ian said. "Just let me know when you tell her so I don't screw it up for you?"

"Yeah," I agreed, feeling like a complete idiot. "But not until all of this is done. I..." From the grin on Trent's face, I realized that I'd all but admitted it, so I just kept going. "I want it to be something special, because I've never been in love before, ok? I don't want to fuck this up."

"You're not," Trent promised. "I was just thinking that you're almost as cute as Theo."

So I lifted my middle finger, turned around, and went back to finishing the dishes. I was also smiling, but I would deny that until the day I died.

CHAPTER 53

Samantha's interview on the news meant that the calls on Friday weren't too bad. Sure, there were still some freaks asking about werewolves. There were also a few actual wolves saying this wasn't over. I ignored them all, thinking about nothing but the fact that I was going to turn. When I told Ashley, she was thrilled, promising that she'd tell the Sisterhood so they could be at my side.

So that night I let Gabby know what I was planning. Proving that she was a true teen terror, Gabby simply said something about how it was about time, and then wanted to know if she could go over to Olivia's. I gave in, because she was right. It really was about time, and while she hadn't reacted the way I wanted, she also hadn't