Page 23 of Plug and Claim

Kira gave a weak chuckle. “I take it, you’re the alpha?”

His smile widened. “Mark,” he said, extending a broad hand, one that swallowed her own slender one as he grasped it.

“Kira,” she said, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

This was what an alpha should be. Strong, calm, and dependable, a protector who kept the peace—not an instigator of fights like Chelsea.

Mark leant into the handshake, and she heard him sniff softly, drawing in her scent. It made her feel naked, and when he finally pulled away, her cheeks were burning.

“Welcome, Kira,” he said softly, his gaze lingering on hers. “What a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” she breathed, captivated by his presence. In contrast to his large physique and high rank, Mark had a quiet, soothing voice. She wondered how he sounded when he howled. Would it leave her breathless, just like now?

“Kira, we have to go,” Susie said, tugging on her arm.

Mark smiled, acknowledging Susie as well. “I best not hold either of you up. Kira, I do hope we can…speak again soon.”

“I hope so too,” she said, reluctantly allowing Susie to steer her into a corridor. “So, that was Mark?” she asked wistfully.

Susie rolled her eyes. “Yes. Mark Poplarin. He’s Chelsea’s second cousin and the leader of the Populars.”

“Populars?”

Susie laughed; her good humour returned now that they were far away from Chelsea. “Technically, it’s the Poplarin Pack, but everyone calls them the Populars because they think they’re top shit.”

“Mark didn’t seem so bad,” Kira said.

“He’s not so bad,” Susie agreed, “but you should see him when there are vampires around.”

“Is he fierce?”

“Well, sort of. But he loses his swagger pretty quick.”

Not surprising, Kira thought. He’d have to take any threat to his pack seriously.

“What pack are you in, Susie?” Kira asked as they rounded a corner.

“It’s called the Ark, I founded it when I was in first year. Are you interested?”

“Um—”

“I think you’d love it; everyone is really friendly and we have a book club meeting every week. Would you like me to introduce you? There’s no initiation, anyone is welcome to join.”

“Sure…” Kira lied, hiding her grimace. Ordinarily, a group of friendly people who liked reading would have appealed to her. And the invite touched her. But measured up to her thirst for revenge, the thought of joining Susie’s pack of misfits was mortifying. She needed soldiers, not read-a-longs.

In another life, she thought regretfully.

“Makeover time!” Susie squealed, pulling her into a sunlit room full of built-in wardrobes and mirrors.

Sure. More like conformity time.

Chapter 9

White Socks

Kira

Susie threw a pile of clothes at her. “Try these on.”