Page 50 of Just One Bite

Chapter Forty

Parker

“How?” I whisper, watching her walk away.

How am I supposed to stay away from her? That’s virtually impossible; I warned her.

I shift to clear my head—and because I’m on the verge of doing something that will get me expelled.

I know it’s one of those fuckers on the council.

And gutting any of them won’t free Olivia from her vow, but it would send a satisfying shiver down my spine when I tear into them with my teeth.

The same satisfaction I get in a Rage match when someone mouths off and underestimates me.

Vows made to the stone can only be fulfilled when the agreement is settled and the agreed upon condition is met. I made one once when my team captain got into a fight with a rival team, and they retaliated by painting the outside of the stadium.

I remember being questioned by the dean, unable to move my mouth to tell her that he started it. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone until the semester ended. Olivia’s made a deal she can’t get out of, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

If I go to the dean, it won’t absolve her of her vow. I also have no evidence, and I’m not so sure the dean is interested in helping with an issue that might affect her funding. I’m on my own with this one.

“You’re looking murderous this evening,” Darien says from close by .

He appears a few feet away in the brush. I’ve shifted back to my human form and am still shrugging on my pants.

“Five seconds. That’s all you get.”

“Fine. I heard you’re ready to play the game. You know I didn’t think it would turn out like this. I was certain Olivia would be the titan here, but I guess the queen needs her knight. And that, you are, her knight in shining armor.”

I stop dressing. “You know who’s doing this. Is it you?”

“Ah, see I’m sworn to the Secrecy Stone as well. But I do know someone who isn’t that would be willing to help you for a price. Well, probably. I’m sure it’s high.”

“I don’t fucking trust you.”

“I figured that much. But you really should. After all, who do you think prevented Olivia from being marked against her will at every turn? That night she arrived … or with Barrett that day in the woods. While I can’t tell you much about the night she was drugged, I can tell you that a few more seconds at that party would have been bad for her.

Thankfully, I whisked her outside before any damage could be done to your precious mate then followed her all the way across campus to ensure her safety. She found you all on her own, though.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that was you?”

“I was watching her all night. There are a handful of people who know what happened that night, and I’m one of them. Only someone who was watching in wait with the ability to sneak around could get her out and pull the fire alarm before that potion started working.”

“Why did you do it?”

“As fun as it would be to see that drama unfold, I think this will be the more interesting outcome. The Weres getting what they want all the time is boring.”

“You mean it’s advantageous for you.”

“Now you get it.”

It’s hard to thank him, knowing he did it for himself.

“Fine. You’ve been awarded a pass for me not to beat the shit out of you today. Give me the name of the someone who can help me.”

Darien’s smile widens. “I’ll give you one guess.”

I ask Zant to have Cane meet in the Rage locker room. He made up some bullshit lie about the future council members needing signatures of all the academic and athletic club captains.

That’s got to be why he came into the locker room with a scowl set on his face. He strides in with that stupid slicked-back hair, those expensive shoes that squeak, and the blazer he never fully buttons up.

“I fucking knew it,” he hisses.

“Sit,” I say, motioning toward the bench.

Zant is close by, saying nothing for once in his life, but he’s mostly here to keep me from doing stupid shit. Teammates shuffle around, with a lot of them still in the showers, so steam is floating overhead.

Cane sits with a low growl and a sigh.

“I know you have details on what Aster and Barrett did to drug Olivia that night at the party.”

“Who told you that?”

“Not important. But I know you know things … You might even have proof, and I need it.”

Cane laughs a deep belly laugh. “Really? You’re asking me for help? That’s a first.”

“No shit. But I’m willing to bury the hatchet or at the very least allow you to bury the hatchet in my back. We both know that’s the only way you’ll ever be able to.”

“I’m listening.”

“Get me proof from that night. Whatever you have, and I’ll drop my council nomination.”

“Doubt you’d want to be connected to Aster if that gets out,” he says.

“You either. Looks like I’ve done you a favor.”

“And why would I do this?”

“Because either way, I’m going to get this information and take them down, so you get the privilege of cutting ties now and staying out of it. ”

Cane surveys me, and Zant leans against one of the lockers with a deep frown set on his lips. He mouths, This isn’t going to work .

“Fine. I’ll do it, but I want you to step down … and for you to pledge yourself to my pack.”

“What?”

Zant can’t keep his scoff to himself in the corner. “Fuck this.”

“What’s greater than having you out of the way than getting to see the daily humiliation in your eyes for forfeiting your place as alpha and being indebted to my pack?”

I sigh, pushing my hands through my hair.

It’s not like I thought he was going to easily agree.

He wants to humiliate me and impress his father.

Being indebted to Cane’s pack means whatever I decide to do on my own when I leave Gavin’s pack would have to go through him.

Probably just means he’ll want me to be his errand boy.

“Fine.”

“Parker,” Zant says, uncrossing his arms and standing up straight.

“I didn’t expect you to say yes. You would do that … all for that girl?”

“Do we have a deal or not?”

Cane stands and holds out his hand to shake on it. “I can get you what you need by morning.”

For the first time in my life, I shake Cane’s hand. It might be the sleaziest thing I’ve ever done, but he is the lesser of the two evils I have in my life. I have to pick my battles, and if I need to choose, I’m taking Aster and Barrett off the board.

Zant gives me an earful when Cane leaves, but I’m half tuning him out while rubbing the center of my chest thinking about how miserable Olivia is. I want to go to her, but I have to think ahead about what will fix this in the long term. I’m not giving up and rolling over.

He throws a dirty shirt in my face. “How do you know he won’t betray you?”

“Because if he does, I have nothing to lose, so I’ll burn this place to the ground.”

He sighs. “I don’t know if I like this plan.”

“I don’t either, but it’s all I’ve got,” I say, sinking into the bench. “I miss Olivia.”

“You were kissing her about an hour ago. ”

And it felt so fucking good too. She was panicking, but every touch of my lips melted it away.

“Parker!” Evangeline comes barreling into the locker room.

“What happened with Olivia? She’s inconsolable in her room, and she won’t tell me what happened between you two.

I can’t get her out. I haven’t seen her this upset since …

” She eyes the locker room filled with shirtless men in towels.

All of them are smiling, and some of them wave till we make eye contact, and I motion for them to steer clear.

“I think she’s being blackmailed by someone on the council and was forced to make a vow with the Secrecy Stone. And she … she broke up with me for real.”

“Wait.” She hushes her voice. “You made it official.”

“Yeah, for all of a few hours until she told me it was over.”

“Everyone’s saying it was all fake the entire time, and they’re blaming it on her.”

“I know. But I’m going to fix it. I’m going to be there for her, don’t worry.”

Evangeline’s worry makes my skin itch. The need to protect Olivia extends to her sisters too.

“Where’s Emma?” I ask.

“Thankfully, on a trip with the culinary club in the city. Far away from this mess.”

That’s a relief at least. Our phones chime and I sigh. A sinking anxiety follows, and I know it’s bad.

Zant’s voice sounds next to my ear. “You might want to sit down.”

“Why?” I snatch the phone from his hand and read the headline.

Olivia Confirms Breakup with Her Signup to The Hunt This Saturday.

“The Hunt?!”

Zant tugs on my shoulder, but I can barely hear him with the roaring in my ears. The locker room disappears from my sight till all I see is red. The stench of sweat and cologne morphe into nothing. My mouth salivates and my arms itch as the hairs stand on end.

I put out a hand, signaling for them to give me a second. My mate is going to be in The fucking Hunt. This was their plan, the ultimate humiliation. I have to close my eyes and breathe through my nose.

“The Hunt?” Evangeline’s voice is far away.

“It’s how alpha Weres get hooked up with mates,” Zant says .

“She would never.”

“Anyone on the council could have gotten her on the roster.”

My head shoots up. “No fucking way I’m letting this happen.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m joining The Hunt.”