Page 18

My plan had been to show up at the party, say hello, and immediately leave. That all changed when Scott decided we would go as a couple, and I felt trapped before we even arrived.

Tonight, I was wearing one of my favorite dresses—a black swing dress with a full skirt and a wide bow in the back. It fit snugly around the waist and bust, then flared out from my hips. It made me look feminine and curvaceous, and I felt more confident than I had in ages.

I'd thought the party would be low-key, but once we arrived, I was disappointed to see how packed it was.

Since I saw so little of Scott's pack, I tended to forget just how big it was.

There were drinks flowing, and everyone had grouped up into their little circles, talking amongst themselves.

There were plenty of people I recognized from Samson's pack, and even a few I'd seen in Joe's pack before.

"I'm going to go get something to drink," I said to Scott. I needed an excuse to get away from him and the insane amount of need he made me feel, and that seemed like a good one.

"Do you want me to get you something?" he asked, but I waved him off.

"No, no. You stay here and schmooze, or whatever it is you do." I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist to stop me. I froze, the touch sending electric shocks through my body.

He stared down at me, his eyes dark. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be right back." I pulled my hand away, trying to ignore the way he looked at me: like I was a seven-course meal.

I pushed through the crowd, moving towards the drink table.

Once there, I filled a cup with wine and took a sip, watching everyone around me.

It was strange being at the cafe after hours.

Finally, after I'd resigned myself to hiding on the wall all night, I saw the only people on the planet that I actually wanted to socialize with—Gwen and Kiera.

They spotted me at the same time and made a beeline over, Gwen pulling me into a hug the second she was close enough. "Oh my God! It feels like it's been forever!"

Kiera joined in, wrapping her arms around us both. "Too long. We've missed you so much."

"It's only been a few days," I laughed, "but I've missed you guys, too."

Grinning, Kiera pulled back and looked me over. "The new pack suits you. You look great."

"Does it?" I exhaled. "Because it feels like I've been holding my breath ever since the wedding."

We found a corner booth to huddle in, the three of us fitting together easily like it was muscle memory. We drank champagne and talked about nothing, just catching up on the little things in life that we used to gossip about when I was still in the Saltfang pack.

Things didn't stay breezy forever, though. "So," Gwen leaned forward with her chin propped on her hand. "How's married life? Or are we not asking that yet?"

I groaned, dropping my head onto the table. "It's weird. I mean, it's Scott, and I've known him forever, but this is totally different." I had to keep things vague since Gwen didn't know about the bond.

"You'll get used to it," Kiera promised.

"I just don't feel like I fit in anywhere right now," I admitted quietly. "I'm not a Saltfang anymore, but Shadowbay doesn't feel like a pack to me yet. And Scott...I waffle between wanting to kiss him and wanting to slap him."

Gwen laughed. "You make marriage sound so romantic."

Kiera was a little more serious. "You don't have to be anyone but you, Nayeli. And you always have a place you belong, right here with us."

Her words made my throat tight, and I took a long drink of champagne to hide it.

They didn't say much for some time after that, just flanking me with their quiet support. For those minutes, I was able to forget how complicated everything was, and let myself believe I was leaving here with them, and heading back to my old apartment.

It was a comforting thought...that was immediately followed by the thought that I'd miss Scott.

***

Eventually, our drinks ran dry, and I volunteered to go get refills. There was a large figure standing in front of the bar, and I cleared my throat after he took an extraordinarily long time to move.

The man turned around, revealing Joe Longwood. I smiled up at him—Joe was the closest thing that Samson had to a friend, and while he was a flirt, he was also a calm and caring Alpha. He hadn't made the change to the women-are-equal pack rules like Samson had, but he was a work in progress.

"Hello, Mrs. Shadowbay," he greeted. "I heard you work at this fine establishment."

"I do," I told him, reaching behind him to grab another glass.

"Then I'll have to make a special visit to see my favorite girl, hm?"

From anyone else, that comment would have gotten them my fist in their teeth, but Joe was different. I knew good and well that he wasn't interested in me like that, but he was also one of the only men I knew who could raise my confidence with a single perfectly placed compliment.

"You do that. Maybe we can get together and talk about all the changes Samson's pack has been going through."

"If you're talking about equality, then I think that's great, but things take time." He looked over his shoulder at where Gwen and Kiera were sitting. "Although it seems to be working for Samson so far."

I grinned. "It sure does. I'm proud of him."

We talked for a while after I gave Gwen and Kiera a wave to let them know I was doing alright. Joe had been nothing but nice to me, and he was always a great conversation partner. His flirtations were annoying, but he didn't mean anything by them.

In the middle of a conversation about my new favorite show, I saw Joe glance at something over my shoulder and frown. Curious, I turned to look in the same direction.

And that's when I saw her.

It was one of Joe's packmates, tall and lithe, with a dress that barely reached the back of her thighs. She was talking to Scott—my Scott!—and her fingers were brushing his sleeve as she leaned in much too close to be appropriate.

My stomach twisted, a hot, irrational flare of jealousy shot through me. For a second, I was sure I was going to shatter the champagne glass in my grip.

I didn't even notice that Joe was watching me until he bumped his shoulder into mine. "Easy there, tiger. I'm sure they're just talking."

I blinked up at him. "What?"

He grinned, a dimple showing in his left cheek. "You're looking a little possessive there, kid. That little growl in your throat was very territorial."

I gasped, and my hand flew to my throat. "I did not growl!"

"Whatever you say."

I huffed, but I wasn't really annoyed with Joe.

Flirting was like breathing to him, and at least he was providing a distraction from the unwelcome jealousy clawing inside my chest. I glanced back at Scott, unable to help myself.

He'd taken a step back from the woman and looked like he was trying to find a way out of the conversation, but simply knowing that she'd been so close to him had my blood hot. My wolf paced under my skin, unhappy.

Joe leaned down and whispered in my ear, "See? Possessive."

I turned to tell him to shut up, but before I could speak a word, Scott was there. He'd moved so fast to get to my side that he'd pushed a few people out of the way, and when I looked up at him, his jaw was tight, and I could see the veins sticking out in his neck.

Holy shit. He was pissed.

"What the hell is going on here?" he growled, stepping up to Joe. "Did I just see you whispering in my mate's fucking ear?"

Joe, to his credit, didn't even flinch, but there was a shadow of concern that passed over his eyes. He raised his eyebrows, unbothered. "We were talking. You know, words, sentences, conversations."

Scott didn't laugh. Instead, he looped his arm around my back, his palm on the back of my neck.

His skin was hot like iron, and I suddenly knew that was exactly what he was doing—branding me.

Marking me as his in front of all these people.

I stiffened, but didn't pull away, feeling his rage simmering down our strange bond.

"You two looked cozy," he finally looked at me, but his expression was anything but casual.

"Don't start," I hissed, confused. Joe was Scott's friend. What the hell was wrong with him? "It's just Joe."

"He touched you."

"Is that a crime?" I snapped, louder than I intended. People had stopped to stare, conversations dipping as the air grew heavy. "I'm not your property, Scott."

For a beat, I thought he was going to argue that point, his upper lip curling.

He just stared down at me, his hand not moving from the back of my neck, and I was shaken by the amount of emotions I could feel down our connection.

With him being so close, touching my skin, I knew how much he hated what was happening to him, how much he hated Joe touching me, and how much he hated that I didn't push Joe away.

Beneath it all was the dread he felt from how out of control he was, and how out of character it was, but he was helpless.

I swallowed hard, wracked with guilt, and pulled away. Scott reached out, logic finally cutting through his domineering instincts. "Nayeli, wait—"

I didn't. I pushed through the crowd, disappearing before he could get his hands on me again. Everyone had seen his outburst, and I was humiliated, but at the same time, I felt miserable about the change in Scott. It was my fault.