Page 20 of Bite Me

“Yes?”

“What do we have to do to get new students into the culinary club this year? Emma wants to join. Can we vote on it?”

Stars above, I can’t avoid Emma at any hour of the day.

“It’s not a democracy,” I say, fighting the annoyance that’s already brimming.

“Oh, well, shouldn’t it be? Isn’t that what we’re elected to do?”

I fight an eye roll. But this is what Darien wanted when he decided it was a good idea to nominate him for the spot last semester. Someone with good intentions on the council is a rarity. I have to admit that it’s nice not being bogged down with the other Weres, who don’t care about anything other than their pack politics. It’s always about gathering territory for them. Getting their leaders into clubs and then using that leverage in the real world.

Parker is the only one who is completely untethered, unlike the rest of us, because he doesn’t have a parent on the board. Lucky fucker. Darien probably thought that he would be easy to manipulate. Anyone with a good heart is.

People like Darien and I are cut from the same cloth because his dad and my grandfather both sit on the board of directors of Doxlothia, which means we are the kings of bullshitting. We learned from the best.

“You still feeling okay? Sure you don’t need any more time off to recover from that gunshot wound?” I push, hopeful.

Parker is now doodling on his paper, even as he seems to listen enthusiastically. “I’m golden.”

Of course.

“You’ll have to make a deal with Dacre for that. His grandfather owns that club,” Darien says next to me. He fiddles with a silver ring on his finger that’s embossed with his family crest. Silver is their color. Their whole family has silver hair, so they put it on everything from their stationery to their houses.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Everything.”

Parker grumbles, whispering to Zant.

“We still have two open spots we need to fill on the council,” Aria Hillard, one of the humans, says, listening across the table. She always keeps our morning meetings on track. “We’re looking for candidates. We’ll hold another election in the next few weeks.”

“Joy,” I grumble, watching the Weres on the other end of the table whisper and plan.

I never wanted to be on the council because why would I want to spend what little time I have outside the culinary world dealing with more politics and posturing? But my grandfather hates free time with a passion, so I have none. The meetings I attend every week for the company, on top of running the culinary club and attending classes, still aren’t enough.

“Owens, we’ll need to get you caught up,” Darien says. “I’ve got some people I want you to meet today.”

Parker’s meeting the board of directors, which is one reason my grandfather is stopping in today.

“Got it. I’ll do it.” He looks behind him, back at the Osborne sisters, all gathered at their table. He’s been protecting them since the day they arrived, and I’ve never been able to figure out whether it was because of the mate bond with Olivia or he’s just that nice of a guy.

“Maybe you’re too distracted for this,” I say.

“No. I’m ready. Let’s make some good changes. Go, team?” He pumps his fist.

“I like him. He’ll do well,” Aria says.

Everyone likes Parker. He’s the Rage team captain and probably has a loving family and all those good ingredients that make up a golden boy.

I start gathering my things after taking a bite of the croissant on my plate. Eh, a tiny bit undercooked.

A vivid rush of heat vibrates through every cell of my body at Emma’s proximity. I feel her before I see her, and dig the tip of my pen into my thumb. A good distraction.

“I need to talk to you.”

The table turns to look at me. Parker grins proudly, giving her a thumbs up.

I was able to keep her out of the culinary club for one semester. It wasn’t easy, either. There was a lot of talking and dealmaking I had to do, not to mention the money I had to pay. But it was all worth it because this exact feeling between us is what’s messing with my head.