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It still sucked balls to think about our argument. It burned at the back of my throat when I thought any part of him thought so little of me just because I had sex with someone.

I may regret what I’d done with Phillip, but not because I gave my virginity to him. I regretted the fact that I thought it would clarify anything. It hadn’t. It made everything a hundred times more complicated. But part of being young was making mistakes.

Nigel looked over to where I stood, clearly ashamed because his eyes quickly fled when I stared back. “We’re here to see this to the end.”

The pack nodded in unison, and then they were gone.

Nigel’s parting statement was aimed at me for a reason, but I couldn’t forgive him so easily. Still, I was thankful he came after our argument like I asked. If not for the pack, conquering so many goblins may have taken a lot longer and required a little more out of the four of us.

Sloan and Kris walked over to the pair of us, both sets of eyes on me. The two Hunters shared a look, and it was evident by their expressions they felt bad for me.

I was covered in thick-as-tar liquid, already drying on my skin. I looked quite the sight. It was beyond embarrassing to be the only one out of the four, but I was used to having the shitty end of the stick these days.

Sloan dug into his pocket for something, but Phillip was suddenly in front of me with his shirt off. I offered the half-naked Hunter a confused glance, but he ignored it. Using the shirt he’d only just removed, Phillip wiped my face and neck. Like we were alone. Like it wasn’t the weirdest thing he could do in front of two other Hunters. He gently caressed my skin clean, taking special care around my neck and collarbone.

I opened my mouth to lay into him, but nothing came out. It was awfully out of character for the other Hunter, and I couldn’t deal. I just stood there and let Phillip do whatever he wanted because my brain had all but shut off the minute his naked chest appeared in front of me and the memories of our night—and morning—together came rushing back.

Phillip continued to remove what he could from my skin with his shirt. “You okay? Anything hurt?”

“Say what?”

“Pain, do you have any?”

I clicked my tongue. “I got that part. But you know I don’t.”

“Don’t know about that. You strike me as the type to pretend you aren’t hurt. It’s okay to tell me. I won’t judge you.”

Now I was pissed off.

“Don’t patronize me, old man. I’m literally indestructible.”

His smile was gentle and by far the most annoying of the night. “Sure you are, V.”

“What are you trying to say right now?” I swatted his hand away from my chest. “Stop wiping me. I can wipe my own damn self.”

“Oh, right, because you’re an adult now.”

I nearly swallowed my tongue, eyes dodging off to the other two Hunters, who looked very close to laughing. “Shut the fuck up.” I evaded his reach and put space between us, heat flooding my cheeks.

“Wow,” Kris whispered to Sloan, eyes on me. “That’s new.”

“Guess I get it now,” Sloan said dubiously, smiling at me when I came to stand next to him. “But we really should leave before more come.” The Brit held out another handkerchief he’d recovered from his pocket, and I used it to wipe what was left on my face. “Stay any longer and we’ll have another fifty to battle, no doubt.”

Phillip stared overtly at me, then at Sloan and Kris as if finally noticing them. “Good idea. I’ll give you a ring later and we’ll come back tomorrow, daytime, to look for the entrance.” He motioned to the area around us. “It’s probably very close to here, so we’ll have the advantage during the day.”

“Let’s hope they don’t relocate beforehand.”

“A nest this size, I doubt it,” Phillip responded, wiping down his blade with his shirt.

I couldn’t help but stare at his chest again.

“But getting the jump on them will be necessary now. I’ll see what we can get in terms of Hunters. If we find the entrance, we can watch it and snipe any that try to escape until reinforcements get here.” The Austrian’s eyes flicked over to me. “No school for a few days while we clean house. This takes priority.”

Licking my lips and instantly regretting it, I nodded. “Got it.”