Page 11 of Protected Promise

Great, someone was smoking some funny stuff. I did not need that at the moment. It was screwing with my senses making them hyper aware.

I frowned as a blast of the scent hit me again nearly making my knees buckle. I stumbled and Tobi turned back to make sure I was okay.

“I’m fine,” I said before she could even ask.

The scent was everywhere, enveloping me until I was heady from the deliciousness of it.

I scanned my surroundings again. There was no smoke. I hadn’t had anything to drink so I knew I hadn’t been slipped anything. I’d read about such things and warned Tobi to be cautious at these sort of parties. I couldn’t place the source or what was causing it.

As we were crossing the dance floor, someone bumped into me.

Mate.

My body froze at the solitary word spoken by my wolf.

Kaitlyn

Chapter 5

I had been looking forward to formal as my last hoorah of college. The Thetas were hosting it, but as a graduating senior, I didn’t have to lift a finger to help.

I had spent much of the day pampering myself at a local spa in town. I’d gotten a wax job, a pedicure, a manicure, and a trim before adding a massage to the package. It was heavenly. I rarely ever did such an ostentatious thing, but in my existential crisis, it seemed like the perfect way to help me relax and think through things.

It had worked too. I had a plan and while the other girls were primping for the party, I submitted my resume to several different places in Florida. Sure, they were all in the human world, but what other option did I have? And where else better to look for hospitality jobs than Florida?

It was perfect. Things were falling into place just like they should.

So why wasn’t I happier about it?

That was a question I would have to think about later.

Before I knew it, Kian had arrived to pick me up. I had decided that he was the safer option as my date. We were strictly friends, and lately I wasn’t quite sure Lachlan saw me as just friend material. I didn’t want to worry about that. I wanted to drink and let my guard down, have fun and know I wouldn’t have regrets in the morning.

“Hey, just a minute. Let me throw on my dress,” I said as I answered the door in shorts and a sports bra.

“Only you would wait to the last second to get ready,” he joked as he walked in dressed in a dapper suit.

“Looking sharp,” I complimented.

He looked me over and his forehead wrinkled as he shook his head.

“What? My hair and makeup are done. It will only take me a minute.”

I grabbed my dress and a real bra and took them to the bathroom to change.

“A minute in normal time or a minute in woman time?” Kian yelled after me.

I just laughed as I quickly changed.

“Wow!” Kian said when I walked back out a few moments later. “You actually clean up nice.”

“You’ve never noticed?” I teased.

He chuckled. “No, I haven’t and try really hard not to. I prefer my balls where they are, thanks.”

“What do your balls have to do with anything?”

He stared at me like I was crazy. “You’re aware Damon would rip them off if I actually looked your way, right?”