Page 13 of Just One Bite

Chapter Nine

Olivia

I think Doxlothia is trying to kill me.

Barrett is taking me farther into the forest, where the tree branches prick at my skin.

The scrapes burn, and he’s moving us so fast the blisters on my feet from ballet rub relentlessly.

I haven’t seen another student in minutes, and their laughter is growing farther away by the second.

I dodge branches while Barrett barrels us forward.

My ankle aches with each step. I have no choice but to hold onto his waist, or I risk slipping.

“I know about your arrangement with Owens.”

“There’s no arrangement.”

“Talk only when I ask you a question.”

Oh, so that’s how this is going to be. I wince at the pain from the rope rubbing against my skin.

“I know the arrangement between you and Owens is fake. Am I wrong?”

Barrett isn’t messing around, and I doubt he wants to know the type of cologne Parker wears. His eyes are the same emerald as his blazer, and he keeps them fixed forward like there’s a destination he has in mind.

“You’re wrong.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Don’t ask me stupid questions.”

He grits his teeth. I’m afraid if I stop moving, I’ll sprain something .

“What will it take? What has he promised you? I can give you more. A car. Money. I’ll give you anything you want. A spot in the IBCE, you’ve got it.”

I’m already pissed off, so that brings bile into my throat.

“Is that how you got what you have? Your family gave it to you?”

He yanks me forward, and I gasp at the pressure in my leg. I can’t risk injury. Not with my audition days away. Maybe I should scream.

“I’m told your mother was in the company. My father is friends with the artistic director. Be my bride and you’ll get anything you could ever want.”

“Don’t talk about my mother.” I open my mouth to scream, but he stops so abruptly I fall into the dirt.

“My patience is wearing thin with you.”

“If you think that now, imagine if we were wed.”

He picks me up with one arm, and I yank away to stare him directly in the eyes.

“This isn’t about me, is it? There has to be another reason you’re willing to take me as a wife to get me away from Parker.”

His pupils dilate when I mention Parker. I’m right. This isn’t just about me. It’s about Parker having me to himself. Parker having anything he doesn’t.

“You’re threatened by him.”

“You know nothing, human.” He spins so fast, slamming his fist beside my head into the tree. “I’m trying to make this painless for you.”

I scoff. “Says the man trying to bribe me to be his bride. This is about Parker. You’re afraid of him—”

He pins me to the tree, leaving little room to wiggle. If I needed proof Parker feels different and I hadn’t hallucinated it, Barrett’s breath in my face is enough.

I shrink away from him. My heart is hammering in a desperate, nervous cadence. His body pressed against mine is suffocating and painful, and a branch is digging into my back.

“You can get scared, huh?”

He leans into my neck to smell me. I’m rigid. Defenseless. I swallow. I do have the crystal in my pocket, but getting it out without him noticing won’t be easy.

“Maybe threatening you should have been my first approach. Wed me. Everyone wins. If not, your life can get harder, and so can Parker’s.”

“Fuck you.”

“Maybe I won’t give you a choice. Maybe I’ll mark you right now. It will hurt, but I don’t think that will be much of a problem for me.”

My stomach flips. The thought is terrifying. I don’t know much about marking, but I do know it involves another painful bite. I wriggle, but there is no way I’ll make it past him.

“You really are a charming fellow.” Darien’s voice cuts the air, and he leans against the tree next to me.

“Parker is making his way this way, and he’s bound to shift instantly if he sees you trying to mark his girlfriend up against a tree,” Darien says, pulling a dead leaf from my hair. Barrett’s grip on my wrist is so tight I know it will bruise.

I’m not relieved to see him, but I am relieved to not be alone with Barrett any longer.

“Don’t tell me you believe their little tirade.”

Darien’s eyes stay on me, and he shrugs. “They’re more than friends. That’s for sure.”

Okay, I am a little thankful for Darien. He buys me enough time to grab the crystal from my pocket and shove it into Barrett’s sternum as hard as I can. He falters back and howls in pain.

Darien bites back the laughter as I brush off my skirt and remove the tie from our ankles.

“Stay away from me.”

“Olivia.” Parker walks through the trees with my little sister in tow, and I’m instantly lighter. Relief. Safety. All is back within my reach.

“Parker.” I walk to him and pull Emma toward me.

His eyes are yellow when he glares at Barrett and Darien.

“What happened?”

“He … he was going to mark me.”

The light leaves Parker’s eyes—no blue, no yellow, just flared pupils taking up all that space—before pinning Barrett to the tree by the throat. His fingers lengthen to claws and dig into Barrett’s skin while brown fur coats his hand and forearm.

It’s so quick. So effortless.

Emma squeals, and I squeeze her to keep quiet.

“Challenge me. Let’s do it right now.”

Barrett spits on the ground, still hunched over rubbing the spot on his chest.

“You can’t, can you?” Parker continues, digging his heels in .

“Parker, let’s just go,” I say. I’m not sure he’s thinking clearly, and I have the strangest urge to keep him out of trouble.

“Come on. We can make it a huge thing. Your dad and his friends can watch. I’m ready, right now.” Parker’s shaking but smiling, and his voice is tinged with excitement.

“What does that mean?” Emma whispers to me.

“Weres have fighting traditions that can be recognized by the Werewolf Council if held in an appropriate manner and venue.” Darien is beside us, lingering over my left shoulder like a dark fairy.

Barrett is still in pain from the crystal, but his eyes are deadly. His pupils grow. He wants to shift. Would he take the challenge?

“Unless you want to be embarrassed, I suggest you stay the fuck away from her.” Parker shoves him into the tree. Barrett is larger than him and taller, but Parker throws him around like a rag doll.

“Parker. Come on,” I say.

“Of course, baby. After I make sure he understands that you’re mine.” Parker’s claws leave a trail of blood trickling down his neck. “And trying to mark what’s mine puts me in a bad mood.”

Barrett finally agrees, and Parker drops him into the dirt.

“So the rumors are true, then?” Darien says.

“Stay away from them. Or don’t and accept my challenge.

I’m good with either,” Parker spits before ushering me and Emma back toward the lawn where everyone else looks to be having an amazing time.

I spot Eva roped to a guy in an emerald blazer.

Her eyes widen when they get to the axe throwing and he makes it right in the center on the first try.

“Come here.” Parker’s touch is gentle on my arm as he steers us away from the crowd.

It stills the drumming heartbeat in my head. My nerves instantly calm. His pupils are still dilated, and his normally blue irises are a muddy shade of green.

“Did he hurt you?”

“I—no … not really.”

“Hand.” He holds his palm open, waiting for the hand I have tucked behind my back. I’d shoved the crystal into Barrett’s chest hard enough to break the skin on my palm.

There’s blood smeared there, and his jaw sets at the sight of it. He brings my hand to his lips and licks. The cut mends in an instant. I almost said no, but I couldn’t get my mouth to form the words with his touch dissipating all the fear I’m trying hard to hide for Emma’s sake.

My face burns when he continues to survey my arm for any more cuts. Emma’s mouth falls open, but she recovers her composure quickly.

With a stuttering breath, I still at Parker leaning into my chest and sniffing at the top of my head and shoulder.

“Um, do I need to give you two a minute?” Emma pops her lip gloss from her pocket, beaming while she smothers her lips.

“I’m just checking her scent. Making sure it’s right.”

“Tell me what this fake dating entails.”

I can't imagine another run-in with Barrett, let alone any of the others. If I can guarantee my sisters’ safety now, I’m going to do it.

Parker sniffs me, not saying anything.

“It can’t be that hard, right? We just need to be seen together … like at the Noxx House party on Sunday. Can you guarantee your pack leader, Gavin, can help protect us?”

He nods, and with every second that passes, more of the cool blue returns to his eyes. “Yes, as long as we can convince him we’re a couple.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Emma smiles from ear to ear. This is her being tame. As soon as Parker leaves, she’s going to shriek into my ear about this, and I won’t get a moment of peace for the rest of the day.

“I think we should. I mean … if you still want to,” I say.

Parker is staring a hole through me, moving my hair from my shoulders to survey me.

“Parker, what?”

“I won’t let that happen again. I promise. I’ll protect you and your sisters. I mean it.”

He reaches like he wants to touch my cheek but drops his hand. The tendons in his neck are tight as his jaw hardens.

Maybe it’s too soon to trust Parker, but he’s shown more than once he’s someone who’s willing to fight for me.

The anger in his eyes and the spilling of blood a few minutes earlier aren’t things that would be easy to fake, and I trust that more than I care about the length of time.

Parker isn’t eloquent with his words, but his actions speak for themselves. This is who he is.

“I believe you.”