Page 116 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)
AUDREY
The members of the Nasty group started to nod their heads yes, claiming they’d already introduced themselves to me, when Nice Guy spoke up.
“We haven’t. I’m Zavier. We were introduced a few days ago but you were pretty tired at the time and I don’t expect you to remember.”
Quinn introduced herself next, then the members of Neutral, and finally Nasty. The Neutral group did consist of two mated pairs, while the suspected siblings in Nasty were indeed siblings — twins in fact — and Not-Velora was Velora’s younger sister.
After that, Nova started the class, pulling things out of the bright yellow bag and explaining what they were and how to use them. Then she started going into more detail about situations and the appropriate first aid.
My head was full by the time we stopped, two breaks and however many hours later — and from the angle of the sun shining through the large window at the back of the room, it had been at least five, probably six hours.
“That’s it, everyone,” Nova said. “If you feel overwhelmed, I’m more than happy to answer additional questions at any time, or you can sign up to take the class again.”
“This is my second time,” Zavier said to me.
“Of course it is,” Not-Velora, aka Danica, scoffed as she strode out of the room, the rest of Nasty following her and laughing.
Zavier sighed and shot Quinn an exasperated look.
“Some people never outgrow school,” Shy Girl, Hazel, said with a sad smile.
Her mate, the big bulky guy named Micah, hugged her against his side and pressed his lips against her temple. “It gets better.”
“Yeah,” Nova said with a wicked grin. “Now Zavier can give them citations.”
“Probably not the smartest move to constantly cite Danica or the twins. They’ve both got family members in high places and don’t mind being vindictive,” Quinn replied.
“Spoilsport,” Nova said with an exaggerated pout as she put all the medical supplies back into the duffle bag. “
The Neutral group said goodbye to all of us and left, and Nova hefted the bag over her shoulder.
“I think this calls for dinner and drinks,” she said, glancing at me before turning to Quinn. “We haven’t had a girls’ night for over a month.”
Zavier expelled an exaggerated sigh. “Guess it’s back to my apartment for soup and water.”
Quinn and Nova burst out laughing and rolled their eyes at him as if this was a common situation for them.
“I’m sure Nova will make an exception for you,” Quinn assured him.
“Only because if we have a watchman with us, people will be less likely to corner Audrey.” Nova turned to me. “What do you say?”
I wasn’t sure what to say. Bishop had told me yesterday that he’d walk me to the community center and pick me up when the class was done, but he hadn’t been able to get away from work to escort me and I had no idea if he was on his way right now or still tied up with Velora, a thought that made my mouth sour.
“Did I hear drinks?” Bishop asked as he walked through the door, startling me.
He rounded the table without hesitation, wrapped me into a fierce hug, and kissed me full on the lips, not caring who was in the room and what gossip he might be spreading.
I bit back a sigh. Was there any point in fighting it? Everyone would see it — or hear about it — by the end of tomorrow. Trying to keep it on the down-low was pointless.
Of course, after the looks from Danica and the rest of her group, I wasn’t sure I wanted every woman in town to know that Bishop had decided I was going to be his mate.
It was bad enough when they just suspected something was going on between me and Cyrus. I wasn’t prepared for every woman in the pack to outwardly hate me… which meant, as much as I didn’t want to, I had to turn down Bishop’s invitation to go to the festival.
I hadn’t expected to be welcomed with open arms by the pack. I thought they’d be curious but respectful. But after the disastrous dinner with Cyrus and the betas, and the chilling welcome in class, I had serious doubts that they’d leave me alone.
Nova chuckled, flashing Bishop a genuine smile. “It never fails. Mention getting together and Bishop will suddenly show up.”
“Hey!” he said with feigned shock. “I’m the social connection between the alphas and the pack. It’s my duty to connect with everyone so Cyrus isn’t forced to.”
Zavier snorted and held out his hand to Quinn. “Looks like I win.”
Quinn sighed, pulled out a few coins from her handbag, and handed them over. “Just because you’re right, doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
“About what?” Nova asked and Quinn’s face turned bright red.
“I told her something was going on between you guys,” Zavier said, pointing to me and Bishop. “But little miss here”— He jerked his thumb toward Quinn. “She said there hadn’t been rumors about Cyrus and anyone for a few years and they started again when Audrey showed up. That had to mean something.”
I bit back a groan. “There’s nothing between me and Cyrus.”
“Oh, there’s something,” Zavier said as we headed out of the room and down the hall. “He personally escorted you here and then checked the room for danger.”
“He was looking for Nova,” I insisted. “Trust me. Cyrus doesn’t like me.” Not as a friend or a family member and especially not romantically like they were insisting.
“Sorry, Audrey,” Quinn replied. “He definitely checked the room for danger before he left.”
“Because I’m mated to his brother.”
God, I really hoped no one else in the class thought Cyrus had checked out the room to ensure I was safe before he left. Because he hadn’t. He never would.
He’d been stiff and angry the whole walk down here, a clear sign that he didn’t enjoy my company. But of course, no one believed me. My word was never good enough.
“Tell them,” I said, looking up at Bishop as we left the community center and headed down the street.
He had his arm across my shoulders and was possessively holding me to his side. The heat of our shifter connection warmed around my heart and I relaxed into him despite my worry that being seen with him was going to cause trouble.
If he was with me, I was safe. I’d always be safe.
“Where are we grabbing dinner?” Bishop asked, not answering my question.
“Annalise’s,” Nova replied. “It’s halfway between here and the Residence and has a mostly hidden patio. I suspect Audrey would prefer someplace quiet and not in the main square.”
“The main square’s too nosy to have a decent conversation anyway,” Zavier agreed, although I suspected Nova had made the suggestion so I wouldn’t get swarmed by people curious about the stranger who’d mated Knox and was getting far too cozy with Bishop, and I greatly appreciated it.
We wound our way up narrow streets, avoiding the main road, until we reached a three-story building a block from the towering Old Town wall. It was a triangular structure placed on a small terrace between larger ones above and below it, and a sign hung above a bright blue door announcing the business in a strange flowing script that I couldn’t read, reminding me I still needed to learn.
Zavier opened the door and a gust of mouthwatering smells washed over us as we stepped into a small dining room with a dozen tables, half of which were occupied. A few of the diners glanced up to see who’d entered then did a double take, staring at me and Bishop.
By the time we’d reached the side door near the back of the dining room, everyone was staring, making my insides twist. I could see the curiosity and judgment in their eyes and wanted to beg Bishop to take me back to the Residence so I could hide in my suite.
I wasn’t ready for this kind of attention. I didn’t think I’d ever be ready, especially when I knew my position in the pack was precarious.
“Unbelievable,” Zavier hissed as he opened the door, revealing three narrow steps leading up to the patio.
“They’ll come around. They’re just curious,” Nova said, climbing the steps to a magical patio, or rather, a secret courtyard.
Buildings surrounded it, the rise of the land dictating their placement and shape, creating the hidden space. In the center stood an enormous tree, its branches spread wide, creating a leafy canopy over the entire area with wisteria and this realm’s version of fairy lights hanging from the branches.
With the shade from the tree and the growing shadow of the mountain creeping over the town as the sun inched toward setting, I could see a hint of soft light emanating from the magical light stones and could just imagine how beautiful everything would look after sunset.
“Wow,” I gasped and Quinn grinned at me.
“That’s what I thought the first time I came here. I’m glad Nova picked this place.”
“And only one set of nosy diners to contend with,” Zavier huffed, shooting a glare at a couple sitting in a cozy corner created by the front of the restaurant and its neighboring building. “I mean, I get the girls. They all wanted to be Bishop’s mate and now it’s obvious he’s off the market.”
Quinn gave him a playful shove. “Not everyone wants to be Bishop’s mate.”
“Ouch,” Bishop gasped, pressing a hand over his heart in exaggerated pain. “You don’t want me, Quinn?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m sure you’ll survive.”
“You bet I will,” he replied, hugging me close to his side. “I’ve found my life’s mate. There are no other women in the world.”
Warmth shot through my chest at his words. I was his life’s mate. He’d actually said it in front of Nova, Zavier, and Quinn. Not that I’d expected him to hide our relationship, but the only person who’d publicly declared he wanted me was Royce and that had been a trick.
“Come on, let’s sit over here. They won’t be able to stare through the throver tree.” Bishop tugged me to the back of the patio to a four-person table, pulled out a chair for me, then grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat beside me.
After we’d all settled and a waiter had come to tell us the four things the chef was cooking that night, we ate and talked and laughed.
The tension that had been coiled inside me about how people were going to treat me melted away like it always did when I was around Bishop and the few others I trusted. And Quinn and Zavier quickly joined that group. They didn’t ask me questions, although I was sure they were curious about everything. They just treated me like a normal person.
The feeling was strange, but also incredible.
Maybe I could find a place in this pack other than just being Knox’s or Bishop’s mate. It didn’t feel as if Quinn and Zavier were being nice to me because of Bishop. It felt like they liked me for me, like how Eloise and Kira made me feel.
I could live with that. Four possible friends were three more than I had in my old pack. I also had Knox and Bishop as well as Nova, Deacon, and Whil. I could happily be content with a quiet life if I had this.
Warmth radiated around my heart and for a second it felt as if my soul was creating a shifter connection with everyone at the table and not just Bishop even though we weren’t in close contact. I might not have known the others as well as Bishop, but something in my soul assured me I was safe with them.
Which was crazy. I barely knew them. That, and that thing inside me was also certain that I was safe with Cyrus, which made me seriously doubt my certainty.
Except right in this moment I didn’t want to. Sitting with them on the patio felt too good. It was a glimpse of what might be possible and I never wanted to let it go.
As I savored the strange feeling of peace and laughed softly at Bishop and Zavier’s bad jokes, and Nova and Quinn’s eye rolls, a new sensation seeped into me.
It was urgent and needy, an overwhelming desire to get somewhere. Faster, faster!
But I didn’t know where and I didn’t know what I was suddenly desperate about or why.
I forced a smile and nodded at something Quinn said, although I didn’t fully hear her. She taught the younger kids at the school and was in the middle of telling a story about their adorable antics. I was also sure she had horror stories about them misbehaving, but so far, she hadn’t mentioned any of them.
Nova added something and Bishop and Zavier burst out laughing. I forced my smile brighter but didn’t try to fake a laugh. I wasn’t that good of an actress and they’d see right through me. Better to stay quiet and avoid drawing attention to myself.
Except Bishop still noticed something wasn’t right.
“Audrey?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
“I’m fine.” I tried to make my smile more convincing, but that only made him frown and everyone else look at me with concern.
“What are you feeling?” Nova asked. “Was it something from the meal? So far, you’ve been able to eat and drink everything in this realm, but we can’t assume that will always be the case.”
“That’s not it.” I pressed a hand over my heart, the urgency squeezing tighter.
Faster. Faster. Soon soon soon.
Soon it would be right, the way it was supposed to be, the way it should always be.