Page 37 of Crave

“Savage.” She held out a fist for me to bump. “You know, for the record, my sister and I went hungry a lot when we were growing up. Our dad struggled with addiction. Making sure we had food in the house wasn’t always a priority. Your program to collect leftover food from local restaurants every day and donate it to people in the community dealing with food insecurity? Pretty damn awesome of you.”

And before I could think of a response, she was gone.

* * *

“Nice night for this.”

Wrought-iron chairs were set out on the patio at a table long enough to seat ten. The bougainvillea and fragrant lavender wisteria had been cut back for the winter, their brittle vines snaking up the trellises. So far out in the Texas Hill Country, the evening sky was uncluttered by light. Stars scattered across an endless black canvas. The moon blazed overhead, sending rippling waves of power pulsing through the pack. My skin tingled, my other self wild with the need to get out. Dallas leaned against one of the posts supporting the wide arbor that stretched out over the patio. Our eyes met, his irises flaring gold.

He let his gaze slowly travel the length of my body. I’d paired a form-fitting sweater dress with leggings and short ankle boots. “You look amazing.”

Heart pounding, I closed the distance between us. His hand found my hip, thumb tracing circles through the fabric over the mark from his teeth. Butterflies burst across my skin, tiny wings fluttering as my pulse spun out of control. I was panting, on fire and shivering all at once, a match begging to be lit. I gasped and Dallas gripped the back of my neck, gently biting my ear.

Someone once told me a kiss could hold a thousand meanings. A forbidden I love you where every promise could turn into a curse. A slow twirl beneath a canopy of stars, the only place a human girl and the son of the pack Alpha could truly be free. Seventeen-year-old Dallas had touched me like I was the oxygen he couldn’t survive another second without, like every time his fingers grazed my skin, it destroyed a part of his soul.

Now he kissed me like every time might be the last.

Dallas released me and raked both hands through his hair, eyes wild. Excusing himself with a growl, he went into the house.

Everyone else had gathered with Ethan and Hayden beneath the circle of hundred-year old live oaks behind the house where pack ceremonies were held. I’d decided to hang back and watch from the patio. It felt right to give them their space today. Besides, someone needed to finish setting out all the food.

I slipped Major one of the bone-shaped peanut butter cookies I’d brought from Blair’s. All-natural, of course. I could respect the diet. He inhaled it from my palm, making happy crunching noises.

“Look out, big guy.” Luring Major away so that his tail cleared the potato salad, Dallas peered over my shoulder. “Any updates from Naomi on our cat?”

I passed my phone over. “Mind explaining the cat tree?”

“Which part, the cat or the tree—"

“The part where it’s taking up half my living room.”

“Your apartment is the size of a postage stamp. The new whisk I got you for Christmas won’t even fit in your kitchen.” He squinted at the screen. “Check out those green eyes. Obviously she gets her looks from my side.”

“Yes, the arctic wolf gene is strong in that one.”

Across the field, cheering broke out.

Dallas looked down. “Good for them.”

“To happy endings.”

The Spoke had catered smoked turkey and beef ribs, garlic mashed potatoes and gravy, and jalapeno cornbread stuffing. I loaded up my plate, then added on green bean casserole, cranberry jelly and two fresh yeast rolls. “You make these yourself, Caldwell? Little heavy on the butter.”

Dallas smirked. “Nothing better than a woman telling you how to cook in your own kitchen.”

August hooted. “Did I call it or what? They’re together now and it’s official. Ten bucks.”

Hayden raised an eyebrow. “And define official.”

Dallas snapped the serving tongs closed. “Like I’m falling for that. Who still needs food?”

“They got a cat. E and Hayden don’t even have a goldfish.”

“Violet still gets hangry every night after sunset,” Ethan said dryly. “And Cal doesn’t do that kind of therapy.”

Hayden pinched his side. They exchanged a glare that quickly dissolved into Ethan cupping her face with a smile so private I had to look away.

We were just sitting down when Brody’s cell went off, blaring Bad to the Bone.