Page 28 of Shrouded in the Dark

Cody

After Axel left the game room to take a shower, I stayed sitting on the ground against the couch and stared at the TV for a long time.

First, I scared Becca downstairs within the first five minutes and then, I messed up by flirting with her to win the game. I rubbed my hands over my face before blowing out a breath. My wolf was pacing and restless. It wanted to get out and run but we wouldn’t be able to do that until tonight.

I thought Becca was hot. Unlike Axel, I liked bigger girls. Plus, she was sweet. My wolf didn’t usually trust strangers, but the second we’d met her, he’d wanted to roll on his back and give her his belly. I’d gone swimming yesterday to stop myself from hanging all over her.

Now this shifter around her house had all of us on edge. Jasper wanted to protect his friend, Axel was doing it because of her best friend, and Seth, well, Seth was going after this shifter because this was our territory and most shifters knew that. This one was either stupid or knew and was fucking with us. My wolf raised its lips in a snarl as it paced faster.

I stood and walked outside onto the deck. They’d left almost an hour ago, they would be back with food soon.

I sighed and stretched my arms over my head. I was yawning when I noticed Jasper in his fox form running out of the forest to the house. I waved at him as he transformed in the yard. My eyes roamed over his naked body in appreciation.

Jasper looked up at me and smirked. "Enjoying yourself?"

I grinned down at him. "Oh, most definitely."

Jasper flipped me off as I laughed. Tires on gravel brought my attention to the front of the house. “Seth’s back.”

Jasper ran inside and it was only a few seconds later that he was up the stairs and running down the hallway to his room.

“I love to watch you go.” I made sure to yell after him.

His laughter could be heard through his closed door.

The front door opened, followed by Seth’s voice, “Food time, you lazy assholes!” Becca’s giggle made my wolf and I both preen. That was all the push I needed to get me to go downstairs.

Seth already had the pizzas opened out on the large dining table with plates next to them. Becca was putting a third piece of pizza on her plate and she was holding another box that with a quick sniff revealed that she held garlic bread.

“Ok, I grabbed what I’ll eat. Let the beasts loose!” she joked at Seth as she walked to the other side of the table.

I watched, a little in awe, as Seth grinned at her as he piled his plate with pizza. He sat next to her and poured both of them a glass of what looked like tea each. He was almost touching her. My wolf stretched out happily as we watched them. Maybe Seth liked her too. That was a good thing.

She could be the one.

* * *

Becca

The banter between Seth and I had continued to improve during the drive back to the guys’ house and was still going strong now that we were eating. Cody had popped downstairs within a minute of setting up the food. Jasper and Axel had come downstairs after him. It looked like Jasper had taken a shower with his hair still wet and slicked back. Axel looked a bit ruffled, like he’d taken a nap while we were gone.

Cody seemed a little more subdued than he had been earlier. I think he felt bad about cheating. He was picking at the toppings of his fourth slice of pizza. He’d sat across the table from me. Jasper was next to me while Axel had sat on the other side of Seth.

Deciding that a little peace offering was needed, I picked up one of the garlic knots, placed it on a napkin, and pushed it across the table toward Cody. His nose twitched cutely before he looked up at the knot first then to me.

“Peace offering? We’re good, Cody.” My tone was teasing but soft.

His grey eyes widened as he looked down at the garlic knot before shooting to look up at me again. He grinned widely at me before grabbing the food and stuffed it in his mouth in one go. The other guys moaned at him.

“Wait, wait.” Jasper’s elbow nudged my side. “Those were yours. You were hoarding them! But he gets one?” He reached for the knots.

I pulled the box to my chest and whacked his hand playfully. “He gets one because he’s cute when he thinks he’s in trouble and I don’t want him to starve.”

Jasper’s eyes widened for a second before they narrowed on me. “You’ll feed the brat, but not your friend?” He huffed. “That’s rude!” He looked over my shoulder at Seth. “This is war. Help me out, mate.”

I was laughing when I felt Seth’s hands go around my waist. Before I could panic, I felt myself being lifted up and in his lap. My laugh turned into a squeak as my eyes yanked up to look at him.

“What...?” My stomach flipped and I don’t think it was because of anxiety.