Page 7 of Coco and the Misfits (The Candyverse #4)

COCO

I feel shaken.

What’s happening tonight? It started with that edgy, handsome alpha who chatted me up, followed by Atticus ready to fight him for me, and then Zach... Zach grinning at me, then getting dragged away by his friends and vanishing in the crowd.

Suddenly I don’t know why I wanted to go out and get drunk.

My body and mind are torn in three different directions. My pussy throbs, wet and hot. My breasts ache. My heart pounds. I swear I can smell their scents, the scent of all three of them, an imprint against my senses so strong I’d bet you I could find them in the crowd by smell alone.

What’s going on with me?

Maybe I’m finally going into heat, I think. Maybe this is my omega awakening. How would I know? I need to ask Bee. And Sawyer. Does heat manifest differently in male omegas? Who else could I ask?

“Coco! You’re not drinking,” Ruby whines. Good Lord, she really is wasted. She’s slumped against the bar, giggling. “Drink with us!”

“Sure,” I mutter, still seeking Zach with my eyes in the dancing, jumping throng. “Let’s drink.”

“Is it Zach?” June asks. “Is that why you’re so blue?”

“I’m not blue. Pink to the core, baby.” I resolutely turn my back to the bar at large and plaster on a smile. “What are we having?”

“Seriously, girl... You’re falling for him, aren’t you? Did something happen between you two?”

“Nothing at all. I swear to God.”

“Funny.” June scrunches up her cute nose. “He looks like he’s heartbroken whenever he looks at you.”

“Excuse you. The only way a guy has any right to look at me is with thirst.”

“Can’t he be thirsty and heartbroken?”

“Mm... Possibly.” I order an Omega-tail (that’s a cocktail, by the way) and try to sort through my feelings. I glance around, hoping to see the juicy bartender who would be a good distraction, but he’s not here.

“Isn’t Damien working tonight?” I ask the girl behind the bar who’s mixing cocktails at the speed of light. “I haven’t seen him around.”

“No, I haven’t seen him in ages! He may have found work at another bar, I don’t know.”

“Damn. And I came here for him. And the cocktails. And the abundance of hunks.”

She laughs.

Yeah, so funny. Why am I feeling so down?

Nothing happened, Coco, I tell myself. You’re just in a strange mood. Hormones. That time of the moon cycle and all that.

Or an omega awakening.

No matter what it is, it’s in your body and your head. The fact that you saw three gorgeous alphas being growly and sexy means nothing.

They aren’t here now. You’re out with the girls. Drink tonight, think tomorrow.

Besides, apart from Ryder, the other two gave no sign of wanting to meet again for drinks or more.

Except Atticus offered to punch Ryder for me.

And Zach said he’d be waiting for me in his class.

Was that his way of flirting? Am I so out of the loop I don’t know a come-on line when I hear one anymore?

“Come on, Coco, tell us what happened,” Gigi says, bumping her shoulder against mine. “Is Zach in the picture? I have to know so I can tease Zayne.”

“No.” Panic sets in. “Don’t tell Zayne.”

“So there is something between you two!”

“Dammit, girl.” Thankfully, my cocktail arrives and I take a healthy gulp, nodding my thanks to a handsome beta bartender I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. “I already told you, there’s nothing.”

“Then you’re hoping for something?”

“Just... stop.” I lift my hand, hoping my magic powers will kick in and stop time so I can take a breath. “I don’t want to talk about Zach or any other alpha right now.”

“But aren’t guys what we came here for?” June points out. “And girls, for those into girls.” She gives a discreet cough. “Right?”

Who is she talking about? Is she into girls? I frown. My brain is too busy to compute right now. I mean, how did I miss it? She’s my bestie.

I raise my glass. “To us girls. To being the best friends and the craziest bitches in town.”

“To us!” Gigi lifts her glass and nudges Ruby who giggles some more.

“Dear God,” June sighs, “we’ll have to carry her home. And in these heels!”

Indeed. I hadn’t counted on carrying a drunk girl home when I chose my strappy sandals. Thoughtfully, I drink and twirl my long necklace. Tonight isn’t shaping up the way I had expected, although...

Well, I met alphas. And they appeared kind of interested. So I’ll take that as a win, and now...

“Come on, girls,” I say. “Let’s dance!”

* * *

“Wasn’t there a bartender you used to like working here?” June yells in my ear as we gyrate on the small dance floor.

“Not really!” I yell back, lying because I’m determined to get this evening back on track. “See anything pretty?”

“I’m seeing plenty!”

Fair enough. The place is packed tonight and soon enough, June is dancing with a tall, blond beta. He reminds me of Zach and that won’t do, so after scanning the dancing crowd one last time, I head back toward the bar and the other two girls.

But before I take five steps, a hand grabs my arm and swings me around until I come face-to-face with two bulky guys in too-tight tops and pants. Is ugly-grinning a thing? Because those grins are definitely ugly.

“Hey, let go.” I try to pry his hand off but he’s much stronger than me. Dammit, I should have gone to Zach’s martial arts classes for real.

“Heard you talking to your friends earlier. I think you’re looking for a good time,” the guy still gripping me says, “and we’re going to give it to you.”

“Get off me, you ass!” As it sinks in that the guys start pulling me away from the bar, I start to struggle in earnest. “Let me go!”

I’m yelling, but the din of the bar covers any noise I’m making. The jostling of the crowd masks my struggles. The reality of my situation is becoming apparent.

As they drag me toward the bar’s rear exit, I start kicking and scratching and grabbing at the people around me.

The guy holding me curses. “Grab her!”

The other guy slaps a hand over my mouth, and I gag at his scent. It’s putrid. He grabs my other side, too, and together they lift me off the floor, carrying me between them.

I struggle. My long necklace breaks, beads spilling. Twisting, I bite at the guy’s stinky hand and the moment his grip relaxes, I scream again.

This time, a girl turns around, eyes widening. She hesitates, though, maybe thinking it’s a spat between lovers, or a game.

We’re still moving away from the bar, away from my friends, and I’m caught in a nightmare?—

“Stop! Stop those men! Coco!” I almost sob in relief as a familiar bearded alpha shoves his way through, pushing people aside as if they’re straw figures, his bulky shoulders clearing the space around him. “Stop!”

Atticus.

“Where do you think you’re going with her?” the silver fox of an alpha snarls and grabs the guy who’s keeping me quiet. He throws him away from me as if he’s a toy.

Holy shit.

Then he rips the other guy off me and throws such a punch to his face, the man goes down like a sack of potatoes.

Just when my knees go out, he snags me and swings me up in his arms.

“Coco. Are you all right?” His growly voice drops so low I feel it in my bones. His eyes are like crystals from up close, his face cut from rock, every line defined and strong. The crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes are sexy, too.

Damn, this guy.

“Coco. Did they hurt you?” He turns before I reply and kicks at one of the guys who’s trying to get up. “Should I take you to the ER?”

“I’m fine,” I finally manage. “They didn’t hurt me.”

“Good.” Relief fills his green gaze. “I was coming to check on you, after the incident with that insolent asshole who tried to touch you earlier.”

“It wasn’t... like that. But I’m glad you came to check on me.” I shudder. “God, I’m so glad.”

“Me, too.” Then he shouts, “They’re making a run for it. Don’t let them go. Call the police and arrest these two.” He turns around, clutching me to his broad chest. “Erik! Get over here and grab those guys.”

But the two assholes have already disappeared in the crowd.

“Fuck,” he breathes. “Fucking hell.”

I’m suddenly exhausted and I swallow back unshed tears. “Put me down.”

He gives me a long, hard look, then nods and lets me slide down his tall body. At any other time, I’d have gotten such a thrill from this, the feel of this powerful male body against mine, but now I’m starting to shake.

“I want to go home,” I whisper.

“I’ll take you home,” he says, frowning. “Coco?—”

“No, my friends are here. I only need to find them.”

“Then I’ll go find them with you.”