Page 42 of Bite Me

“I can do that.”

We don’t talk for the remainder of the walk to Luxxia. I even let him walk me to my door because the thought of arguing on the stairs is exhausting, and I don’t want to be alone.

I savor the comfort of not worrying about someone messing with me. When he leaves, I fall into bed, barely moving as I strip off the stupid costume. Like many times before, Dacre stays on my mind, but this time, it’s different. I replay his thumb rubbing over my thigh over and over. That’s the only reason I didn’t lose my composure.

Maybe I should shower. I still smell llike wine, but mostly like his cologne. And that’s embarrassing, right? I grab the ends of my hair and sniff. I wonder what Weres and vampires smell because all I smell is Dacre’s cologne lingering like fresh linens in my hair.

No, I’ll do it in the morning.

“Thank you,” I say in my head, knowing the potion has probably already run its course.

“Good night, thief.”

Chapter Thirteen

Dacre

Nothing says “good morning” like Parker Owens barreling toward me in what can only end in violence. I’d know that tower of tousled brown hair anywhere—I was his number one hater, after all. He’s a blur among the blue staining every surface, and he’s coming at me fast.

Parker must have been waiting in the Luxxia House common room for me to emerge from the stairs because he doesn’t hesitate to grab me by the blazer collar and shove me against the wall.

“Listen, you little shithead. Tell me what you know right now.”

“Shithead?” I cough the air back into my lungs.

He growls, and it’s a little intimidating, sure. But alphas smell fear, and I know exactly what this is about.

“I need to know everything that happened at Solexxa last night. Emma was seen walking back to Luxxia with you, crying.”

“No good morning? Or even a ‘thank you’ for looking after her while you left her defenseless at a party?”

The big, bad alpha doesn’t appear to be in a joking mood, with dark circles lining his eyes. “I will happily rearrange your teeth today if you prefer to do this the hard way.”

Zant scuttles in, a few seconds behind Parker. “Hey, man.”

“Come to make sure I don’t get mauled?” I ask.

“Mostly I’m here to make sure Parker doesn’t go to prison.”

Parker’s packmates appear out of nowhere, funneling in till we’re looking like a group of friends. Or we would if Parker weren’t tacking me up on the wall.

Is it annoying? Yes, but everything with Parker is annoying. Plus, I saw this one coming. He’s got eyes everywhere, and if I had to bet, his best friend Zant is one of those because his house is Solexxa. If he didn’t see us, I’m sure someone he knows did.

I smile, directing my attention back to Parker. “I hope you’re paying these people to keep you in line.”

He slams my back into the marble, and I’m suddenly feeling less sarcastic.

“Talk. I know you have issues with Emma, and I know you were there with her last night.”

“I didn’t do anything. I helped her.”

He releases me. I dust off my jacket while I tell them about initiation and the barbaric tradition that started long before I showed up. I’ve voted to get rid of it every year, but I never seem to have the votes because everyone else that sits on the club board wants to see those under them suffer and beg like they had to. I wouldn’t even show up if I thought they would keep it remotely civil.

I won’t pretend to be blameless. For fuck’s sake, I made Luther eat out of a dog bowl for his. But Luther has a mean streak. His dad is one angry son of a bitch, and that manifests in his son when he’s under stress and especially when he drinks. He tried making Verity throw up by having her eat a bunch of random food combinations, and I had to call it. Surprisingly, they became friends shortly after.

There’s a beat where Parker’s brows soften. His nose twitches as if he senses something.

“What?”