GRAVE DESIRES: FATED MATES

“Move, mouse!”

His booming voice echoed through the halls and, of course, everyone shuddered around him, knowing damn well that he was talking to one person and one person only:

Roxie Reynolds...the timid little mouse who’d shown up at the school three years earlier. She was a nobody, a nuance, a little weed pushing up through a crack in the sidewalk, and Walker Wells had his eye on her since she arrived.

But not because he was interested.

Because he was a cad and a wretch and everyone knew it.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, as if it was her fault that she needed her books from her locker, “I’m,-”

“Zip it, rodent,” Walker jostled his lock as Roxie waited patiently for her turn, “Put that mouth of yours to good use some day, mouse—if you ever find your mate, I MIGHT leave you alone."

“Well, you haven’t found yours,” Roxie mumbled, immediately regretting it. Walker pulled her into him by her shirt collar as a hush fell over the hallway.

“Did I ask you anything, mouse?”

“N-no...” Roxie shook her head, her auburn hair cascading over her shoulders and her nose practically touching Walker’s.

Walker studied her big green eyes, full of fear and curiosity.

She stared back at him, his brown orbs oozing with hate and loathing for the runt who was shuddering beneath him, his dark brown hair slicked back and making him appear more stoic and sinister.

His breath hitched as her slender body came in contact with his muscled stature. The little mouse wasn't too hard on the eyes, but Walker didn't want her to know that.

“You’re not even worthy of my time, mouse.”

And with that, Walker ambled away, his posse from his coven following his every step.

“Watch yourself around him,” a voice came from behind, “You can’t be too careful. He's been known to do some insane things to people he doesn't like."

Turning around, Roxie’s classmate, Felicity, stood there—clutching her books to her chest.

“He’s hot, but he’s crazy as hell.”

Roxie sighed, "I've lived with his bullying for three years now. I think I know what he's capable of."

As if Roxie needed anymore bullshit to come her way, she slammed her locker shut and hid behind Felicity for a moment, contemplating her next move.

“Oh, don’t you dare!” Felicity smiled, “You’re not going after him--why? He's so mean to you. He's got it out for you and then he'll take it out on me. Jesse already wants to see him fall of the Cliffs of Midnight. Don't go after him..

“I will,” Roxie said, her speech stammered, “He’s got to know I am not fucking around.”

“Rox, you’re going to get into more trouble and your coven is already on the watch list,” Felicity chided, "The Weeper's are really not going to like you fraternizing with Walker."

“I am aware,” Roxie told her, “I just want to see where they’re going.”

Felicity looked amused and then her face paled and she took a step away from her friend.

“No..I am not coming with you,” she shook her head, clutching her books even tighter, "You must be glutton for punishment or have a death wish."

“Come on,” Roxie said as she shoved the last of her books into her locker and slammed it shut, “I won’t bother you about them for at least a week.”

“Lies...”

“Maybe,” Roxie smirked, “Don’t tell me you’re not interested in figuring out their secrets.”

"But Walker is your boogeyman, Rox...Why are you so interested in him?"

Roxie smiled, but deep down, the young woman was terrified of the path she was about to take--a path that would either end in pain or pleasure.

Or both.

She was also very interested in Walker because she was taught to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.