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At least she was responding now. Pan threw his arms behind his head and smirked. Smudged eyeliner left black rings around his eyes. He had been drinking yesterday, and I would bet moneyhe was nursing a wicked hangover today. Yet my chest ached at the sight of him, so effortlessly alluring.

“I can be nicer. Spin around and sit on my lap.” Pan’s lips twitched as he accepted the cup of coffee Ajax offered him.

Tully pushed out of Pan’s loose hold. “Are you trying to irritate me?”

“Is it working? Better annoyed than crying.”

“We were worried when you didn’t come out of your room yesterday.” Ajax put a glass of juice on a coaster for her.

Your room.

The label sent a wave of warm shivers down my spine. I wanted it. Tully in her room, on Pan’s lap. Their scents painted on my skin. I swallowed a groan. These thoughts weren’t helpful right now.

Lloyd ran his hand through his tangled golden locks. “You didn’t reply to my messages.”

Tully grimaced and dropped her head, the levity wiped off in an instant. She picked at her fingernails.

“I know you did something. She was fine until you spoke to her,” he snapped, jabbing his finger in Pan’s direction.

Pan’s eyes widened, and Lloyd scoffed. “You think we wouldn’t find out? Her scent and yours were mingled and both bitter as anything.”

“Are you done?” Pan crossed his arms over his chest. “She came to me upset, so don’t pin her discomfort on me. Maybe she’s realized this pack is an utter mess, and she doesn’t want to be involved with any of us.”

“It’s not that,” Tully muttered, shaking her head.

“What happened?” Ajax cradled a mug.

“I’ve been trying to organize a place to stay and my friend blew me off.” Tully shrugged. “I-I don’t have anywhere to go.”

Panic flared through my nerve endings.

“I think we should talk.” Ajax’s eyebrows jammed together, and he nudged a chair out with his foot.

13

Pan

I wonder if Tully knew she moved like prey.

Her head twitched in jerky, mistrustful movements. Those doe eyes begged for mercy and I didn’t want to give it to her.

There was something about her. Not her name. Fame didn’t impress me, not after my ill-fated dip into it.

The attraction itched at the edges of my mind like a torn corner of wallpaper, desperate to be ripped off. Would the adrenaline rush subside now? Would my interest in her fade away, like it normally did?

Lloyd moved his chair closer to Tully’s, and she leaned in his direction, unconsciously.

My ribs tightened, wanting her to lean on me. Her heat lingered on my palm. The memory of her fluttered pulse andpaper-thin veins and how I wanted to pull her closer still. A peculiar warmth wound its way around my heart.

I might have caged Tully in between my legs, but she’d trapped me just the same.

“You’re in trouble,” Walden rumbled.

My lover didn’t ask questions, he commanded answers. Bitterness filled my mouth at the way his gaze rolled up and down her. She was a puzzle to him as well. One he wanted to swaddle and stuff full of snacks. He tried to give me that when we first started our relationship, and I pushed him away. I bristled under his micromanagement. It reminded me of piano lessons where I could feel the burn of my parents' gazes on the back of my neck. Knowing they noted every mistake I made and saved them up to whip on my sweating back later.

“It’s more complicated than that.” Tully took the seeking hand Lloyd offered, interlacing her fingers so tightly Lloyd’s face twisted in aching pleasure.

Too familiar for strangers, but I didn’t know how they’d met. I hadn’t had a proper conversation with my packmates for months. Too busy wallowing.