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Nigel’s entire face shifted, expressing intense frustration. “It’s never just sex, V. That’s why I—” His jaw snapped shut and he palmed his head roughly, the fury manifesting in the many ticks Nigel was prone to when anxious. “I thought you wanted your first time to be special. You never struck me as the type to give it away to just anyone.”

“What...?”

Nigel shook his head, jaw working. “The girl I knew wouldn’t whore herself out to some guy who was just going to toss her aside later. That Hunter doesn’t care about you. He’ll use you and throw you out the minute he’s bored. V, you’re better than this.”

Did he just call me a whore?

Nigel pulled a full dick move, and I couldn’t even deal. And just like that, I no longer felt guilty. Anger didn’t encompass how upset his words made me.

I was seeing red when I looked at the guy who never said a single mean thing to me over the course of three years. The self-righteous speech was riddled with misogyny and chauvinistic bullshit, and it wasn’t like him. Nigel was a bit protective and definitely struck me as the strong alpha type, but not this. Not all this toxic masculinity horseshit.

Maybe that was why it took me so long to open my mouth. I didn’t know who this guy was. My body shook all over, responding as if I was under attack. And in a way I was. I wanted to scream at him and demand he explain himself.

But I didn’t get the chance.

Phillip was in front of me, his entire body projecting an intense wrath. “I’d rethink some of the things you say to my partner,dog. She may be willing to forgive you later for what you say, but I have a tendency to hold a grudge.”

Nigel turned furious eyes on the Austrian, postured for a fight. “Don’t act like you’re not the problem here. Before you came, she would’ve never done this.”

“That’s rich coming from you. What could you possibly mean bythis? Live? Have a bit of fun? Show interest in someone other than you?”

“You’re a fucking bastard,” Nigel barked and took a warning step towards my partner. “You think you’re clever, but she’ll see right through you.”

“Unlike you, I don’t hide what I am,” the Austrian clapped back, also taking a step.

“Stop,” I interrupted angrily, touching Phillip’s arm gently. “That’s enough. I think I’ve got a good idea what Nigel’s trying to say.”

In an instant, both men paused.

Nigel tried to take a step my direction, but I put my hand up and sneered at him. It took a minute to get my emotions calmed down enough to say anything, but I did it.

“I should’ve known the nice guy you pretended to be was all an act,” I started, verbal venom aimed at the Shifter. “You pretend to be good, but only assholes tell a girl she’s a whore for having sex.”

“That’s not—” he tried to cut in, but I put myself between the two men.

“Like you haven’t slept with anyone. Like you’re a virgin. You dated someone else foryears, but what, it’s okay for you? You can have sex all you want if it lives up to your standards?”

Nigel stiffened, clearly not ready for me to lay into him. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“If I’m a whore, what does that make you?” I questioned, voice calm but stare white-hot. “What gives you the right to tell me what I can and can’t do? And what gives you a right to call me a whore?”

“V—”

“I’d be really careful what you say to me from now on,” I hissed, hands fisted and face on fire. “You’d be lucky to call me a friend after this.” Shutting my eyes, I battled the burning sensation in my throat. “Go cool off.”

Nigel’s eyes flicked over to Phillip before meeting mine again. “I’ll go. But...” His shoulders slackened, and the way he slouched spoke of complete defeat. “I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve any of that.”

Phillip leaned in closer to me, his hand touching my lower back. “We should go before anyone else shows up.”

I nodded, eyes directed at Nigel. “I expect you to be there tonight. We still have a job to do. If I can be big enough to put what happened here aside, the least you could do is show up.”

Nigel nodded slightly and walked off through the grass, getting as far from us as possible. Finally, I noticed the crowd which had developed over the course of our exchange and sighed, ready to be the subject of gossip once more.

Graduation couldn’t come quickly enough.

“Are you okay?” Phillip asked as we got to the car.

My nose burned, the hot sensation of anger melting to deep, impenetrable sadness. “Let’s just go home.”