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“Look,” I reply, panting as I press against him. “I have nothing to do with it. I can’t give you anything.”
His hand slides off my wrist and travels down my hip gradually. Why is the feel of his hand on my body turning me on? I should scream and get help, but I don’t as I push against the stone-hard bulge pressing against my ass.
“I’m offended that you didn’t remember me sooner,” he says.
“Sometimes I like to block out the bad stuff. I’ve got a lot of shit to block out. My life hasn’t been easy either. I lost a parent too.”
I look up into his eyes, only realizing then that I’ve been staring at his lips.
He smirks. “I get you, princess.”
“Be boring and go there, why don’t you.” I glare at him. “I’m sorry, but I’m not accepting the blame for what another person did to you and your family. Do you get it? I’m not responsible for the shit you’ve been through, and don’t you dare think I’ve never had to deal with shit too.”
He holds up his hands, releasing me, and I start to slide down and out of the chair. “You’re making yourself clear, so let me make myself clear. I’m still going to make your life as shitty as mine has been. Is that fair? No, but you know by now that life can suck from time to time. And now is going to be one of those times for you.”
I get up from the chair and quickly move away from him before he can grab me again. Hudson follows me, but before I can reach the back door, he grabs me and pins me to the wall of the house. I struggle to get loose, but his hips lean solidly against me.
I glare into his face as Hudson holds my chin firmly trapped in his hands. “I had no idea I’d see you here, Charlotte. I left Stonehaven because my family was broke. But my mother remarried, and my stepfather was eager to pay my tuition to get me out of the house. I’m not leaving Ivymore, and I don’t want you to leave either. I wanted you when I was in Stonehaven, and I still do, but in a very different way.”
“I’ll never take the blame,” I tell him defiantly. “Let me go.”
He moves closer until our lips almost touch, and I smell the alcohol on his breath in my face. “I’ll find out the truth about your father. I will find out.”
When I tug at his wrist, Hudson lets me go. What will he find out? If he digs deep, then he’ll know I have nothing to do with it. But then, if he finds out too much…My eyes are wild as I stare into his eyes again. He leans into me, and his mouth takes mine. His lips move against mine as if he’s hungry, and I lose my breath in short, desperate gasps. He’s taking strength from my fear. I can’t fall apart. I don’t have a choice.
I push him off me. “I’ve already been to hell,” I whisper. “You won’t be showing me anything I haven’t already seen.” I rush back inside the house, but he doesn’t follow me.
Chapter 22
Charlotte
My body trembles as I enter the kitchen through the back door. It looks like I’m reacting to the dropping temperature as I hug my arms tight, but I know the real reason why I’m shaking. Immediately, I look around for Tracey or Wren in the other rooms. There’s safety in numbers, and that’s no joke. Plus, I want to leave. I’m done with Alphas, parties, and definitely, men. Now I know the reason why I had an off feeling around Hudson, but I’d never have guessed why. I was so far removed from the hospital and only expected to participate in splashy charity events. There was one year when I was a candy striper, but that only proved that I had no talent for comforting the sick. Howland excelled at flaunting my mother and me as his perfect family in press releases. And now, my imperfect past is biting my ass. I can’t escape from who I was.
Sam is no longer hanging around Tracey and is seated in the middle of a huddle with Wren and Prisha on the living room couch. With glazed-over eyes, they’re smiling and whispering as they check out boys in the room. Obviously, they had a better evening than me. I hang back a little, not sure if I want to be the odd man out. I doubt any of them are ready to leave. Wren happens to look in my direction. She smiles and waves me over. Relief lowers my shoulders, and smiling, I join the huddle.
“You looked cozy with your man.” I punch Tracey in the shoulder playfully.
Tracey giggles. “Turns out he’s from the Midwest too. Ohio. I could tell because he’s really nice.”
We all laugh. “Nice?” asks Prisha playfully. “He’s handsome as fuck and the lead Alpha.” She clasps her hands as if it were her own good luck. “You’re definitely getting into Theta.”
“I’m not sure if I’m going to pledge,” replies Tracey softly.
The shouts that Wren and Prisha let rip attract curious looks. “You have to pledge,” says Wren. “There are so many benefits to being a Theta, especially if your boyfriend is an Alpha.”
“We’re not even dating,” Tracey states calmly. “He’s cute, but I need to be somewhere quiet with him, so we can have a real conversation.”
Wren shrugs her shoulders. “You should pledge anyway.” Then she looks at me and grins like a naughty cat. “Someone was asking about you, Charlotte.”
I try hard not to roll my eyes. I’m so over this game. “Who?” I ask.
“Kurt Ashland? Alpha’s pledge master?” Wren giggles. “Tall, rich, and massive.”
They burst out laughing as she makes an obscene gesture. Wren must be drunk to act crazy in public. I look over at Tracey for empathy, and she rolls her eyes at them.
“Are we leaving soon?” I ask, hoping someone will say yes. “I have to start studying now, so I can pass finals.”
Prisha sighs as if grades are an inconvenient part of attending school. She kicks her long legs as she wiggles off the couch and definitely receives appreciative stares. Her mini denim skirt rides up in the back, but Wren tugs it down quickly before Prisha stands up. “Let’s go,” she says. “Things are getting stupid again.” She eyes a guy who’s shouting for the hell of it. “Boys will be boys.”
