Page 59 of Vampire Pack

"Probably."

"If she doesn't come back in the next hour, we can go looking for her," I said. "But she'll come back. She's used to moving past the bullshit people say about ballet."

"Yeah." Mallory sighed. "I feel bad. I should've been part of the conversation. Jude lured me into another fucking argument. He just doesn't give up."

"What did he say?" I asked.

"His usual bullshit. Tried to seduce me into letting him bite me again."

"How did that go?"

"I eventually asked him if he was proposing we seal a mate bond, because that was the only way he was biting me again. He looked like a deer in the headlights. I almost laughed. The conversation was over after that, but Paige was already on her way out when I caught up to her. The hundred puck bunnies we had to weave through didn't help anything."

"There are a hundred puck bunnies on the vampire pack's lawn?" I demanded.

Technically, that was now the lawn of the house I lived in part time. Assuming King and I stuck with our 50/50 plan.

"Yeah. I'm sure they'll still be there when you get there. Take a picture of Jude sucking face with one of them for me so I can throw darts at it, please."

King grunted. "I'll get rid of them. And talk to Jude."

"Jude isn't your problem, and the puck bunnies aren't doing anything wrong. I'm sure someone invited them. I'll let you know when Paige is back, so you can call her," Mallory said.

"Thanks, Mal."

"Mmhm. Don't let us ruin your night. Surviving your second day as a mated pair is a big deal." She was teasing us, but the words still sounded genuine.

"We'll try. Love you," I said.

"Love you too. See you tomorrow." She hung up, and I set the phone down.

King pulled into his neighborhood. "I'm sorry. I'll talk to the guys about keeping the peace. I thought they'd at least try to stay civil."

"Jude? Civil?" I joked.

He gave me a reluctant grin.

"Some people aren't made to be friends," I said.

"Don't tell Jude that. He'll take it as a challenge."

"I think he already has."

King chuckled.

We turned onto our street. The place was utter chaos.

The circular driveway was blocked by vehicles, and there were a bunch of men just standing around.

When King stuck his head out the window, the drunk guys around us cheered, lifting bottles of beer and red plastic cups with questionable contents.

"Move the cars," King ordered.

The guys exchanged grins and taunts, but started moving them.

Some effort must've been made to keep the space clear for us at the beginning of the party, because they only had to push a few vehicles out of the way to make a path for us.

"Who the hell did they invite?" King finally asked me. Our team's parties were never chill, but this was something else altogether.