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“Oh, yes you are,” she murmurs, waving a hand at me, dismissive.

“There won’t even be anyone to hang out with! They’ll beguardingus!”

“Only two at night,” Shayne says, pointing at my packet with a wide grin. “Which leavesfourfor…free time. Me time! It’s Shay o’clock, baby! We’re going to go find someboys!”

She whoops, excited, but I just glare at her, tightening my arms over my chest, refusing to go.

“Fine,” Shayne says, shrugging and unscrewing the tequila’s cap, taking a long swig that makes her shudder, grimace, and then laugh. My mouth drops open at her gall. “I’ll go alone then – to hang out with a bunch of ravenous wolves who haven’t seen a girl inmonths–“

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Shayne,” I snarl, standing up and snatching the bottle out of her hand. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yes,” she says, beaming at me, accepting the frankly accurate description with ease. “Come be ridiculous with me! Because ifyoudon’t go and flirt with Cole Kincaid, thenIwill.”

My mouth drops open at my friend.

She grins at me and I snap my jaw shut, glaring at her even as my mind whirs, torn about what to say or do.

“Actually,” Grace says, surprising us both by striding forward and snagging the bottle out of my hand. “I’m in.”

“What?” I shriek.

She shrugs, taking a swig. Shayne squeals, clapping her hands and jumping up and down, thrilled. “General Amir said we have to have empathy for these people,” Grace says, shrugging and wiping at her mouth. “And how can Idothat if I’ve never really evenmeta wolf, let alone an Alpha?”

My mouth drops open. How…how can she be betraying me? My most docile friend!

“This is very wise, Grace,” Shayne says, nodding sagely to her. “I really appreciate your empathy at this moment. Your true professionalism.”

“How can she be professional!” I bite out. “She’s drinking tequila!” I gesture vehemently at the bottle as Grace takes another sip.

“It’s liquid courage, Nadi,” Grace says, grinning at me. “Wolves are scary.”

“Wolves are –“

But my words are drowned out as Shayne laughs, putting her arm around Grace and turning her away from me, asking her what she’s going to wear.

“What to wear?” I blurt out. “What’s – what’s wrong with what you’re wearing?”

But both of them ignore me, starting to sort through their backpacks – the only luggage we were allowed to bring – for somethingcute,of all damn things.

I scowl, crossing my arms, hating both of them because we’reallaware that I’m not going to let them leave me here all alone.

“Oh, I hate you,” I snarl, storming forward and grabbing the tequila from Grace, taking a long slug from the bottle.

“We have converted her,” Shayne whispers, her voice mock-awed and reverent. “She is one of us now.”

“A wicked, willful woman,” Grace intones, playing along. “A rule breaker. Independent. Free.”

I scowl at both of them, wiping at my mouth even as I glare. “If you two get me kicked out on the first day, I’m never forgiving you.”

Shayne laughs, reaching for me and tugging me closer. “Don’t worry, Nadi-baby,” she says, “I’m very sneaky. Come on, let’s pick you out something cute!” I sigh, shaking my head and turning my attention to our outfit choices as Shayne and Grace start to pool their clothing together, picking something out.

I shake my head at Shayne as she bounds ahead through the woods, a little canvas bag full of tequila bottles banging against her hip. “I can’t believe she wore that.”

Grace laughs at me, throwing out a hand towards the tank top and booty shorts that hug Shay’s generous curves. “She looks cute!”

“She’ll freeze!” I bite out, glaring at Grace now that Shayne’s too far ahead to bear my wrath.

“Nah, she won’t,” Grace says, bumping her shoulder against mine. “She’ll find a nice furry wolf to cuddle up with.”