Alpha Bully (7 page)

It wouldn’t be long before she was out anyway.

The whistle blew, and she was shocked as Marshall
moved a little in front of her. She dodged balls that were firing her way,
throwing the ball across the room. She picked up one of the balls off the floor
and handed it to Marshall.

Trey grunted as a ball hit his thigh.

Moving around, she aimed one of the balls across the
court, but it missed. She noticed how close Marshall was to her.

For a split second her attention was distracted, and
in the next moment pain exploded across her face as a ball caught her. Going to
the floor, Scarlett cupped her face at the intense pain that slammed into her.

The sound of a whistle going off in the distance
halted the game.

“Ouch,” Scarlett said.

Mr. Bridges leaned over her. “Scarlett, can you hear
me?”

“I don’t suppose a ball to the face means I’m still in
the game?”

He chuckled. “No, it doesn’t, however, it does call
for the team to lose a member.” He looked toward the other team. Marshall
appeared above her.

“How are you feeling?” Marshall asked.

“My face feels like it just got hit by a ball.” She
removed her hand and saw all three men wince. Jack appeared above her. “Do I
even want to know?”

“Help her up and bring her to my office,” Mr. Bridges
said.

Someone wrapped their arms around her, lifting her to
her feet. Marshall was helping her. His arm slid across her back, and he pulled
her arm across his neck.

“Come on, I’ll help you.”

Trey walked over to them. “Do you want me to take
over?”

“Nah, I’ve got her from here. You take my place.”

Mr. Bridges led the way, grabbing out a cold compress
from the freezer. “I’m going to have to call your parents.”

Before she got a chance to warn him that they would be
out, he was gone, leaving her alone with Marshall.

Sitting on the sofa in the office, she placed the compress
over her face. It hurt like hell, and it felt like her cheek was starting to
swell. “Does it look bad?”

She didn’t like the way he sat looking at her.

He’d been crouching in front of her but stood to grab
a mirror. Pulling the cold compress from her cheek, she saw the damage. Half
her face was red from the ball.

“Who hit me?”

“Cheryl. She threw the ball.” He growled out the
words.

Biting her lip, she nodded. It made sense for Cheryl
to go for a blow that would seriously hurt her.

Mr. Bridges came in seconds later. “I can’t get either
of your parents.”

“They’re doctors. Don’t worry.”

“No, I don’t want you driving home like that. I need
to make sure—”

“I can take her home,” Marshall said.

“What?”

“Yeah, I’ve got my car. I’ll take her home, and Jack
can follow with her car.”

“Are you sure?” Mr. Bridges asked.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

She didn’t want Marshall anywhere near her home or her
car.

“Excellent. I’ve left a message at the hospital.”

Mr. Bridges left the room once again.

“You really don’t need to take me home. I can find
some way there myself.”

“You’re going to be able to drive?”

“Of course.”
She only had a ball to the face.

“Look, if you don’t let me take you home, Bridges is
going to make you stay until your folks get home. Do you want to stay behind
until they’re here?” Marshall asked.

“I don’t want you to drive me home.” He may be friends
with Trey, but he wasn’t her friend. She didn’t trust him and wouldn’t start
doing so anytime soon.

He blew out a breath. They were two days into the new
year of school, and suddenly he was driving her home, being nice. She shouldn’t
trust him. Scarlett didn’t trust.

“Look, when it came to you, I fucked up. I know that.
I’m offering you an olive branch here. I’m not messing with you. I want to be
your friend.”

“Why?”

“I want to be.”

“You’re not going to say any more than that?”

“No.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I’m not asking you to like it. Let me take you home.”

She nibbled her bottom lip, wishing she could find any
excuse not to be alone with him.

“Okay.” She whispered the word but wanted to take it
back the moment she did.

“Good.”

He helped her to her feet, and she placed the cold
compress on the desk. Jack was waiting by the door.

“I need to grab my stuff,” Scarlett said.

Marshall didn’t let her go. He followed her to the
girls’ room, helping her grab her bag with her clothes. She stuffed them inside
so that he wouldn’t see any of the sizes. Scarlett was waiting for the next
stage of the joke, but nothing was happening. Once outside, she saw Trey
waiting for her.

“Shit, Scarlett,
are
you
okay?” He reached out to touch her cheek. She winced, and she was sure she
heard a growl come from Marshall.

“I’m fine. Bridges asked Marshall to take me home.”

“Do you want me to take you?”

“I’ve already arranged it. I’ll see you later, Trey,”
Marshall said, leading her out of the gym. They hit the warm air of the
afternoon. Jack stood on one side of her while Marshall continued to hold her.

“I can walk.”

“I know. I’m happier holding you.”

Jack chuckled.

Scarlett couldn’t help the unease that worked its way
up. Jack stopped chuckling, and she saw him stare at Marshall. “Fuck, you were
right.”

“What?” Scarlett asked.

“Nothing is going to happen to you, baby. We’re not going
to hurt you. We’re only going to help get you home,” Marshall said.

Jack went on ahead.

Her mouth went dry. What was going on?

Marshall stopped her and placed his palm against her
cheek. “I need you to stop being afraid. We’re not going to hurt you, and we’re
not going to bully you. It’s over, and we’re not going to do it again.”

She really wanted to trust him, but she couldn’t. For
so long he’d made her life a misery. How could she even trust him now?

“Jack needs your keys.”

Scarlett searched her bag, pulling out her keys and
handing them to Marshall. He threw the keys toward Jack and then helped her
toward his car. She was surprised by his attention. He opened the door, helping
her up into her seat. She slid inside, wanting him to stop touching her.
Scarlett didn’t trust his touch.

He closed the door, rounding the car to get behind the
wheel. His masculine scent filled the small space, and she didn’t like how
comforting his smell was.

Mate!

“Hey, are you with me?” he asked.

She nodded as she kept her eyes closed. Scarlett
didn’t want to look at him.

“That was some defense with the ball.”

Opening her eyes, she looked at him. His black hair
was slick with sweat that hadn’t dried yet. His gaze was straight ahead on the
road. His jaw looked firm as if he was gritting his teeth. She wondered what he
was thinking.

“You really think I was trying to get the ball that landed
in my face?”

“Um, no, but it was pretty damn good for what you
did.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. He chuckled along with
her, and for the first time in his company, she started to relax.

Resting her head along the back of the chair, she
groaned at the ache that had started to build.

“How are you holding up?” He touched her cheek.

“I’ve got a really bad headache. Seriously, it hurts.”
She pressed a hand to her head.

“We’ll have you home in no time.”

“Why are you caring?” she asked. The words were out of
her mouth before she could even stop them.

He didn’t say anything. “Why wouldn’t I care?”

She snorted. “You’ve done nothing but bully me. Why
are you being nice?”

He glanced down at her before going back to looking at
the road. “I turned over a new leaf. I’m no longer going to be an ass to you.”

Scarlett kept her gaze on him, not believing it.
There’s no way a guy like Marshall changed.

“You don’t believe me?”

“No, sorry, I don’t.”

“I guess I deserve that. I’ve got a lot to make up
for.”

She decided not to say anything. There was no need for
words. He pulled up outside of her home several minutes later.

Opening the door, she grabbed her bag, sliding out of
the car. He was there in front of her, quicker than she thought possible.

“You’re fast.”

“I’ve got great reflexes.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and led the way
toward her house. Jack arrived within minutes of Marshall pulling up outside
her home, and he handed her the keys.

She slid the key into the lock as Marshall led her
into her home. “I’ve got it from here.”

“I want to make sure you’re safe.”

“No. I’m fine.”

He didn’t listen and helped her into her home.
Marshall closed the door behind them, leaving them alone.

“Don’t you think that’s rude?” she asked.

“Do you really want Jack in here?”

She shook her head. She didn’t want
him
in here, but he’d invited himself in
anyway.

Marshall helped her through to the kitchen. She took a
seat and watched as he opened drawers and cupboards.

“What are you looking for?”

“Some aspirin
that will help with your headache.”

Pressing a hand to her temple, she shook her head.
“I’m fine. I’ll deal with it.”

She heard him cheer and then the water running. In no
time at all he stood in front of her with a glass in his hand.

“Drink up.”

Taking the two white pills from his hand, she
swallowed them down.

“You should have checked they were aspirin.”

Her stomach twisted as she looked up at him. Marshall
was smiling.

“I’m joking, Scarlett. They were aspirin.” He shook
his head, taking the water from her. “Come on, I’ll help you upstairs.”

“I don’t think so.” She was calling a stop to this.

“Don’t you want help?”

“I’m going to shower and go to bed. I don’t want you
upstairs.” She placed a hand on his chest, stalling him.

“I’m good at washing backs.”

“I don’t care. You can wash other girls’ backs.” She
started to guide him back to the door.

“You’re being completely unfair.”

“I appreciate your help, Marshall. Thank you.”

She opened the front door, ushering him out. He didn’t
fight her. Scarlett was oddly touched by his attention.

“Call me if you need anything.”

Shaking her head, Scarlett shut the door. She wouldn’t
be calling Marshall for anything.

Mate.

Chapter Six

Marshall whistled as he made his way back to his car.

“What has got you so cheery?” Jack asked.

“I’ve got an idea.”

He climbed behind his wheel and turned the ignition
over.

“Are you going to tell me about that bright idea?”

“Trey’s not a problem. I can get rid of him easily.”
He headed back toward his home. Gym was the last lesson of the day, and he
didn’t need to go back for anything.

“She’s really your mate, isn’t she?”

Marshall gripped the steering wheel tighter. Being
close to her and knowing she didn’t trust him made his wolf crazy. His wolf
wasn’t happy with him for treating her so appallingly. He would gladly go back
and change the shit he’d done to her, but he couldn’t. The only thing he could
do was make sure he never hurt her again. He wouldn’t. Scarlett calmed his
beast, and having her in his arms today made him realize how important she was.
When they were on the track, running behind her and Trey, it had taken every
ounce of control not to run the bastard down, and claim her in the middle of
the track. He’d kept his eye on her body, watching her run around the track.
She was in good shape regardless of her weight. He’d been surprised by how well
she’d kept up with Trey. Marshall had listened to her pulse racing as she made
her way around the track.

When they got to the dodgeball he’d been unable to let
her take a hit. He tried to guard her as best he could. The moment the ball hit
her, his wolf had wanted to exact revenge for his woman. Scarlett was his in
every way, and the more time he spent with her, the more he saw how amazing she
was. He couldn’t wait until he had her trusting him.