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If I weren’t a wolf queen in my own right, a woman like her might make me self-conscious about my body and looks.
Eden continues. “We’re here because Jaxson is my best friend.”
The vampire next to Eden, Sunny, clears her throat pointedly.
“Well, one of my best friends, anyway,” Eden amends. “We’re curious to see who he’s brought to our city.”
I glance at Sunny, taking in her lovely auburn hair and delicate features. Her whole look, including her features, is more refined, more subtle than Eden’s, but no less beautiful. In marked contrast to Eden’s red sequined jumpsuit, Sunny paired a plum blouse and gray trousers but still somehow looks just as put together, just as glamorous as her friend.
It takes everything in me not to glance down at my Costco brand jeans and three-year-old pullover.
We were clearly from very different worlds.
“You two are very glamorous,” I say, diffusing some of my discomfort.
Eden waves a hand, dismissing the comment. “Thank you, but it’s just an evolutionary function of hunting humans. If we hunted animals like you, we’d be more like you: beautiful in an earnest, refreshing way.”
OK, that was actually a very nice thing to say. Maybe I might get along with these vampires. Eden, at least, seems normal-ish.
The other two? Jury’s still out on that one.
I glance to the unusually quiet Rafe and Jonah and immediately find what has them so preoccupied.
Rafe’s leaning forward enough I have a full view of his profile and the lip that’s a breath away from curling into a growl. I follow his gaze to the vampire king sitting directly across from me.
Jonah isn’t far behind, pinning the king with a brutal stare.
“Looks like your men are getting territorial,” Eden says without affect, as if this were a common occurrence.
Sunny lets out a long sigh. “Do try to keep them from actually urinating on the upholstery.”
“Sunny!” Eden says behind a laugh as she gives her friend a nudge.
I give the intimidating auburn-haired woman a wink. “Don’t worry, I’ve fully housebroken them.”
Sunny’s perfectly painted mauve lips curve into a smile right before she rewards me with a single, prolongedha, which, despite the brevity, effectively breaks the tension filling the car, at least between us.
Because based on King Julian’s tight posture and blank expression, it’s clear that Rafe and Jonah are still staring him down. “I apologize for my mates, Julian. None of us are accustomed to vampires on our mountains.”
Using the king’s first name without a title has the desired effect. His gaze snaps to mine, and I fight the urge to press myself closer to Rafe.
The vampire king’s gaze has physical weight, as if he’s measuring my value as a wolf. Not that he would know what makes a valuable wolf.
Trying not to squirm under his scrutiny and still hold his gaze, I catalog everything about his eyes. Hazel, like mine, but his edge toward brown while mine and Mari’s are greener. Dark lashes, average length, really there’s nothing special or remarkable about this king’s eyes. Not like my Rafe’s beautiful forest green, or Jonah’s warm brown.
Hell, even Jaxson’s amber eyes were more appealing to me than this king’s murky hazel.
But maybe I’m just picky about my hazels.
Still, his gaze packs a hell of a punch. The air thickens in my throat and my skin prickles with dread as my every instinct begs to look away first, to cower in Rafe’s arms.
I won’t do that.
I am Rafe’s and Jonah’s omega. Not this guy’s. And as the Pack Alpha’s mate, I’m not subservient to anyone.
Instead, I lean forward. “You keep staring at me like that and we’re gonna have a problem.”
Jonah and Rafe’s low growls echo my sentiment.
