Page 61 of Just One Bite

Chapter Fifty

Parker

I sigh. Lying down for a few minutes, I take in the chaos from the last few days, running my hands over the fresh scar on my chest. Everything feels so clear.

Completing the bond with Olivia was what I was meant to do.

It makes everything else seem insignificant.

The deal with Cane. Whatever happens with the council and Aster and Barrett.

All of it awaits me tomorrow, and somehow I know it's going to be okay.

Fuck. Now I’m a full-blown alpha. That means I have to start building my own pack. A thought that used to keep me up at night, but with Olivia by my side, it’s not so scary anymore. I’m the person I need to be to figure out my own path and make my mother proud. Whatever that ends up looking like.

Ten minutes pass, then I’m on my feet, putting on some pants so I’m no longer naked. I need to go to the rink like Olivia said, but I already miss her.

We’re not supposed to be apart after bonding.

For the first few weeks, the books say it will be intense.

Too much distance will make us both sick.

Even across campus will be too much. It’s always like that for mates after completing the bond, but it's even worse for linked mates. That’s why linked mates have lots of accommodation laws, since being at too long a distance will gradually make us so ill we’ll die.

It’s what inspired Romeo and Juliet . A pair of linked mates who were forced to separate both perished centuries ago.

Now that we've completed the bond, we'll always need to be in close proximity.

No taking separate vacations or work trips.

There’s a knock at my door. Probably Zant or Gavin.

My muscles stiffen. Aster is leaning against the doorframe, the flickering hall light illuminating the faint scar above his eye from where I nicked him.

His mouth is poised in a pleased half smile. “Busy man. Heard you solidified things with your mate and wanted to congratulate you.”

“Shouldn’t you be in jail or something?”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Next time you decide to come for my throat, have better proof and make sure your facts are straight. Though, I’ll say, I’m quite impressed. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“What are you talking about?”

He sighs, stepping into the room and shutting the door. I let him because I’m not scared to fight.

“I take it you haven’t had any time to check the updates with your busy schedule, so I’ll fill you in. I didn’t drug Olivia and neither did Barrett. Your informant was wrong, so I want to find him.”

“Wait, back up. What do you mean you didn’t drug Olivia?”

“Did you really think I’d be so stupid to drug someone on campus? All to get back at you? What would be in that for me?”

I shove him with one hand. “You tell me, you prick. You made her enter The Hunt by framing me."

“The Hunt we had planned after your little stunts. Harmless payback.”

“Harmless? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

The heat simmers under my skin, the itch building.

“Okay, let’s not be dramatic. My father let me participate in a challenge when I was six, and I turned out fine.

Besides, it was obvious you were going to win her anyway .

Even if you didn’t, there was no shot you wouldn’t challenge the winner for her.

She’s your linked mate, and you’re a hot head. ”

I growl, stepping closer, and he straightens his back.

“Then why work so hard to make sure I couldn’t find her?”

“Come again?” He sighs, exasperated.

“You had someone enchant me and rig Olivia’s clothes.”

“Uh. No. I didn’t care about the results of The Hunt. Making you both enter was the highlight of my year for entertainment alone. Barrett and I enjoyed the leaked footage. ”

“What about the pictures of Olivia’s sister?”

“Who?” He squints at me.

He doesn’t care about Olivia’s sisters and hasn’t since the beginning. He doesn’t know about the pictures either.

It wasn’t him.

There’s always been more than one person pulling the strings.

“You’re telling me … you are the one who made Olivia join The Hunt, but that was it? What about the council nomination?”

“I can’t get it out of him, but Darien is my best guess. Seems to have taken a liking to you. No idea why, you’re insufferable.”

“I saw the text messages. You were planning on doing something to Olivia’s drink.”

“It was a joke. We briefly mentioned trying to get her drunk at the party. I had the bar double pour drinks, but that was it. Not like she drank them anyway. We thought that’s what you were talking about when you ambushed us.”

“I thought you drugged her!”

“Well, we didn’t.”

“You called her Rabbit, the same as the texts she got.”

“We all call her that. Darien started it. I’m seeing a pattern. Sneaky fucker. He wanted you to have that council seat, and he has a tendency to get what he wants.”

That’s rich coming from him. I replay Darien’s words in my head. I think this will be the more interesting outcome. Interesting for him because he knew who drugged her the whole time. He was leading me toward something.

I harden my voice. “It was Cane who ratted you out.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I should have known. He was always slinking around. He’s the one who gave me the idea for The Hunt.”

“Meaning?” It’s coming together. I almost understand.

“We were going to frame you and call it a day, but he thought it would piss you off more.”

Cane is the one who drugged Olivia.

He tried to sabotage The Hunt.

He threatened Emma.

Cane is behind it all. We’re the target.

My eyes widen. Olivia.