“I know you can, but you shouldn’t have to.” I could feel Nix coming closer to the surface. My anger was already rising.
“You aren’t here enough.” Her whisper had me pulling her to a stop. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad, but you aren’t here enough to start something with them for me. Because it will only get worse once you leave again.” She looked back at me with sad eyes. “So, can we just drop it?”
I nodded my head but swore to myself that I would figure out this situation. “Let’s go have some fun. Parade me all you want. I’m here all summer.” I smiled and pushed the Amanda bullshit to the back of my mind. I would handle her as soon as I could.
Chapter Seven
W
hen we got to the mall, we walked into the clothing store. “I need a new dress.” Cassie pulled me to the back and started to go through the racks.
“Why do you need a new dress?” I pulled a dress off the rack and held it to my body. The form fitting dress flared out at the bottom. It was a beautiful mermaid formal dress, but white wasn’t my color.
“Your homecoming ball.” Cassie grabbed a short pink number that would look horrible with her skin tone.
“Put that down and what do you mean homecoming ball?” Cassie froze and then slowly turned back to me.
“Don’t tell your dad I told you.” She rushed back to me and grabbed my hands. “Frick, I knew I was going to mess this up. You are my best friend and I knew I would mess this up.”
“Calm down.” I laughed. “I would never tell my dad you messed up.” I wrapped my hands around her shoulders and shook. “Cassie, calm down and just tell me.”
She smiled and nodded. “I was supposed to take you dress shopping for a surprise homecoming party tonight. You know your dad.”
“I do. Which is why I shouldn’t be surprised.” I smiled and then forced the pink dress out of her hands. “But this, this needs to go back and you have to promise me you will never touch it again.” I put it back on the rack. I started to go through the dresses and pulled a pale golden sheath dress that would look absolutely amazing on her. “Here try this on.”
“I don’t know Amy.”
“Listen to your best friend.” I pushed her back toward the change rooms and then I looked through the rack for myself. I was blissfully window shopping when I heard a voice that made my hackles rise.
“Take it off now.” I could feel the thread of power in the tone and then I heard Cassie’s sweet voice waiver.
“You aren’t supposed to command another wolf. You aren’t in a position to demand anything from weaker wolves.” Cassie’s voice sounded pained.
“Well then, take off the fucking dress and I wouldn’t.” Nix was in a full rage as I rounded the wall and saw Cassie being held face first into a wall by a snarling red headed she-wolf with her cronies behind her.
“And why would she do that?” I pushed my hand outward and checked my nails as fear scented the air.
Slowly the she-wolves all turned and then finally Amanda turned with a sweet smile. “Amy, welcome back.” I lifted my lip at her.
“Why are you touching Cassie?” I smiled at her slowly. “Specifically, why are you trying to take a dress I picked out for her?”
“You picked this dress? It’s amazing.” Amanda started to smile as I nodded.
“I know. That’s why I picked it out. It matches Cassie perfectly.” I walked over and pulled Cassie away from the crowd of women. “Let me look at you.” I saw the fear in her eyes, and Nix snarled. No one touched our friend. Cassie’s wolf, Nora, was a timid brown wolf that Nix took a liking to. “You’re stunning. This is the dress.”
“Wait.” Amanda walked over next to us. “I saw this dress on Cassie and thought that it clashed with her usual style.”
“And you thought it would look better on you?” I smirked as Amanda tried to stare me in the eye and failed. I felt her aura punch up a notch, and Cassie whimpered. “Well, too bad. We had it first.” I tried to handle this without the pissing contest, but Amanda punched up her aura again.
Cassie whimpered and looked at me. “I can pick a different dress. It’s okay.” She turned to take the dress off, and I saw a flash of triumph on Amanda’s face.
“No. If you don’t want it, I’ll buy it for myself. I picked it up first. So it’s mine. Amanda, you understand, don’t you?” I smiled down at the other she-wolf and could scent her frustration.
“Okay Amy. It’s yours.” Cassie smiled at me before hustling back to the change room and taking off the dress before handing it to me. “Did you have anything you wanted to try on?”
“No, I am just going to buy these two dresses and we can go look at jewelry.” I smiled over at the huddled group of women. “I hope you guys find a dress for tonight.” Then we left.
Once we were out of earshot, I let out the snarl I was holding. The air rumbled between my lips and Cassie ducked her head. A little bit of my aura leaked, and I felt guilty, but I was livid.
