Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den Read Online Free

hotter and hotter until he almost couldn’t bear it, but he didn’t move. Anything he said would only make it worse.
    â€œOh, look, he drew you a bunch of hearts and flowers, too. How sweet.” Bryan grinned down at him, and Simon clenched his fists. “Upset, Psycho? Gonna show us your teeth?”
    â€œWould you jerks shut up and go back to whatever hole you crawled out of?” snapped an irritated voice. Winter set down her book and glared at Bryan.
    He shoved the note into Simon’s book and tossed it to Colin. “What do we have here? Cheating on your boyfriend with another freak, Psycho?”
    â€œLeave her alone,” said Simon.
    Bryan poked him hard in the ribs. “Or what? You’ll go home crying to your mother? Oh, wait. You don’t have one.”
    There it was: Bryan’s favorite taunt. Simon refused to react. He concentrated on his breathing instead—in and out, in and out, until the burning knot in his chest started to cool. “Colin, can I have my book back?” he said.
    Colin glanced back and forth between him and Bryan. “Sorry, Simon,” he mumbled.
    Bryan snorted with laughter, and Simon’s vision narrowed. Colin didn’t matter. Bryan didn’t matter. None of this mattered. Someday he would be Darryl’s size, and no one would bother him again. Someday he would be far away from here, and—
    â€œAre you going to give it back or not?” said Winter. When Colin didn’t move, she stood and snatched the book from him. “Jerk. And you—” She rounded on Bryan. “Is that the best you can do? Coward.”
    Bryan turned pink. “You want to see what I’ve got?”
    Winter stepped closer. “Go ahead and show me, Ape Face. I dare you.”
    Bryan’s mouth contorted with anger, and to Simon’s horror, he shoved her backward. Winter hit the chair hard, and the crack of elbow against metal echoed through the cafeteria.
    Simon didn’t stop to think. By the time he realized what he was doing, he had already tackled Bryan to the ground and socked him in the soft spot below his ribs. Bryan cried out, and Simon pulled away, dumbfounded. Where had that come from?
    The lunchroom went silent. Simon scrambled to his feet. The other boys closed ranks around them, forming a tight circle and chanting “
Fight! Fight! Fight!
” But Simon didn’t want to fight. It had been an accident.
    â€œYou—are a dead man,” gasped Bryan.
    Simon’s head buzzed, and he couldn’t think of anything to say. Instead, he stupidly offered Bryan his hand. “I’m sorry.”
    Bryan grabbed his wrist and yanked him to the ground. Using his knees, he pinned Simon’s legs to the cold floor, still panting. “You think—you can hit me—in front of everyone—and get away with it?”
    The burning knot in Simon’s chest was back, trying to claw its way out of him, but it had nowhere to go. “Maybe you shouldn’t attack girls, Ape Face,” he blurted.
    â€œDon’t worry. You’re a much better punching bag,
Psycho.
”
    Bryan shoved his arm against Simon’s throat. His fist connected with Simon’s abdomen, and Simon curled into a ball.
    Bryan laughed and pulled back for another punch. On the other side of the room, the vice principal shouted for them to break it up, but Bryan still had time to get in a few more good hits before he reached them. Worse, Simon knew Bryan would never leave him alone after this, and no doubt he would also set his sights on Winter, whose only crime was sticking up for Simon.
    Show them your teeth.
    That burning knot in his chest exploded, and Simon roared. His hand shot out, his fingers curled into claws, and he swiped his nails against Bryan’s face. Bright red lines sprouted across Bryan’s cheek, and he faltered, his mouth open in shock.
    Simon didn’t give him a chance to fight back. He bit down hard