I’m on my feet in half a second, thoroughly confused. I’ve been to a few of these auctions. They almost always end in mateships, bids, scents, instincts taking over. Why the hell would Fox sign up without telling us? Without tellingher? After everything we just promised each other?
The betrayal stings even worse because he didn’t even tellme, his mate.
I catch up to her fast, catching her wrist gently. “Parker, wait—”
She lets me pull her toward her dorm, but she’s shaking. The second we’re inside her room, she heads straight for the nest, phone still in her hand, calling Fox again.Voicemail. She throws the phone onto the pile of blankets and growls, “I’m going to have his ass.”
I can’t help the small laugh that escapes. “Oh? Is that something you’re into?”
She smacks my chest, but there’s no real heat in it. “No. But why would hedothis? After last week—after everything—”
She cuts off, her breathing coming in small pants as she drags me into her nest. I settle against her, laughing as Parker fluffs up the pillows, albeit angrily, huffing every few seconds before melting at my side. Then, like she can’t help it, she moves closer and rubs herself against my thigh, a small, needy sound slipping out.
I cup her ass, pulling her tighter against me. “You needy, baby?”
She moans softly but shakes her head. “I just hope this isn’t over.”
“It’s not,” I tell her, trying to soften the anger whirring around in my chest. I wrap both arms around her and hold her close, kissing the top of her head. “I’m just thinking that Fox got a little stupid.”
A tiny, watery laugh escapes her. I hold her tighter, letting her burrow into my chest while a rumble of thunder rolls outside. Rain starts pattering against the window, her fairy lights flickering once, then twice.
Just perfect.
I’m not sure how long we stay there, Parker’s soft snores hitting my ears as I try to figure out what was going on in Fox’s head. I can’t even feel anything through our bond until sharp panic rumbles through my chest.
The door bursts open a moment later. Fox stands there completely drenched, water dripping from his hair and soaking his shirt. He looks wild-eyed and panicked.
“What the fuck,” I mutter, sitting up a little. Parker comes with me, her brows furrowed with the same confusion I’m feeling.
“I’ve been trying to find both of you, but my phone died,” he pants. “Fuck. I know you saw the list because it got sent out to the whole school.” His eyes lock on Parker, then me. “Let me explain.”
parker
Foxkicksoffhissoaked shoes at the door and drops to his knees right at the edge of my nest like he’s afraid to come any closer without permission. Rain drips from his hair and shirt onto my blankets. His cedarwood-leather scent is sharp with worry, cutting through the warm peach-vanilla fog of my room.
“Parker,” he starts, voice rough. “I’m only auctioning a dinner. Nothing more. Just dinner. The team has some bills—”
“What bills?” My voice cracks. I’m still curled against Arlo’s chest, but I sit up straighter, heart hammering against my ribs.
Fox swallows. “Stadium repairs. Lights, stands, the whole thing. Almost twenty grand if we want the program to survive after we graduate. Coach isn’t asking us to fix it, but… It’s bad. The auction money goes straight to the athletic department. I figured one dinner, one night, could help. Some of the other guys are doing it too.”
Arlo’s leg shoots out, and he kicks Fox hard in the knee. “You bastard. There’s a billion ways we could have raised money, and you didn’t sayanything?”
Fox doesn’t even flinch. “I didn’t want this to be your problem. None of us grew up with money. I didn’t want you worrying about bills or the team going under or—”
I glare at him so hard my eyes sting. “Strip.”
He blinks. “What?”
“You’re not coming into my nest wet,” I snap, voice shaking. “Strip. Now. I need you to hold me, you idiot.” As stupid as Fox was, it’s kind of sweet he tried to handle this.
Arlo snorts a surprised laugh and crawls forward on his knees, already reaching for the hem of Fox’s soaked shirt. “You heard our girl.”
Fox lets Arlo peel the wet fabric off him, then shoves his own shorts and boxers down. He’s half-hard already, and the sight of him makes fresh slick rush between my thighs.
Arlo tugs him fully into the nest. The second Fox is on his back, I shove my own pants down, climb over him, and sink straight onto his cock in one slick glide.
Fox groans, head falling back against the pillows. “Fuck—Parker—” I roll my hips forward, digging my fingers into his chest. Some part of me just needs to claim the man who said he was going to be my Alpha a week ago, a way to show everyone that this man is mine. “I got you, baby,” he rasps, hands gripping my hips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
