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Looking downat my empty glass, I scowled and found a table to place it on. I could finish another drink before my time was up and was about to make my way back to the bar when a woman caught my eye. I couldn’t say what made me look over — a flurry of motion, maybe, the toss of her hair — but as soon as our eyes met, my wolf sent up a frenzied howl that rattled through me as if I was hollow.
What the hell was that?
I knew I was staring, but I couldn’t help myself, struck by this woman in a plain green dress. Somehow, she made it look spectacular, her long, dark hair done in a single braid down the center of her back. Her eyes were dark and piercing, her expression morphing into something unreadable as she noticed I was watching her.Well, shit.
My wolf seemed to possess me, urging me forward. I walked across the gathering like the rest of the crowd didn’t exist, and the woman never took her eyes off me, tracking every step as if she were the wolf and I was the fawn. She was the spider, and I was the fly. I was drawn in, even though the sane corner of my brain screamed at me —what am I doing?
My wolf was louder, dragging us forward like his very life depended on it. Once I got close, I offered my hand, clearing my throat softly. “Hello,” I murmured, trying to muster up a smile. “I’m Eli Archer.”
The woman narrowed her eyes, looking from my hand to my face as if assessing whether I was about to trap her or yank her off her feet. After a moment, she extended her hand and gave me the briefest of shakes. “Iris Walker,” she replied, removing her hand from my space as quickly as possible.
I tried not to read too much into that and ignored how my wolf was practically bouncing around like a puppy.You’re making it hard to speak. He did not respond, of course, attention solely fixed on this Iris woman.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, because I had some damn manners. “Can I get you a drink?”
“No, thanks,” she answered briskly, glancing over my shoulder before glancing back at me. “What pack are you from?”
“The Longbow Pack,” I replied, straightening up a bit. “We’re located in London. My father is the alpha.”
Her eyes flashed and she lifted her chin, almost defiant. I couldn’t help but frown.What the hell is that look for? That was just a statement. I’d never had an issue making small talk before — hell, that was practically part of my job — but this woman had me grasping at straws. “And you?”
“Hm? Oh, ah — Aurora pack,” she replied briskly.
I frowned, racking my brain. “I haven’t heard of that pack before. Is it out west, too?”
Iris looked back at me, frowning a little. “What is this, twenty questions? Yeah, it’s further west.”
My scowl finally won out, despite my wolf’s wild protests. I was surprised she hadn’t sensed him. “I’m not from around here,” I replied, trying not to lose my temper. “Just trying to get the lay of the land — the packs, if you will.”
“You’d be better off talking to the other alphas. That’s what they’re good at — territorial displays,” she replied. Something behind me caught her attention, and she stepped back. “Excuse me, I need to go talk to my roommate.”
Before I could say anything else, Iris brushed past me, shooting me a dirty look as our shoulders touched. It was like a static shot between us, but she kept walking, leaving me looking like an absolute fool as she disappeared amongst the other guests.
My wolf snarled, ears pinned and tail arched high over his back as his fur bristled. His thoughts weren’t very different from my own; all his eagerness earlier squashed into something bitter and unhappy.Fuck her,I thought venomously, irritated she’d been so blatantly disrespectful. All I tried to do was sayhelloto her, and she acted like I’d spat in her face — or worse. It would be ten years too soon if I ever saw her again.
Forget about her, I told my wolf, wishing to reassure him at least a little. Just like I thought — I was only ever interested in women who pissed me the fuck off. Clearly, Iris was no different.
Ineeded to forget about her. I bit the inside of my cheek and glanced around, spotting a wolf I recognized — Hannah. I couldn’t remember her last name, but Bane had mentioned her earlier. Bombshell blonde and built like a track star. At the moment, she was dressed in a glittering silver dress, large jewels dripping from her earlobes as she chatted loudly with another woman. Normally, I’d find that grating, but at the moment?
Perfect.
Swinging by the bar quickly, I sauntered over to Hannah with two drinks, offering her one with a charming smile. She batted her lashes at me and grinned, her friend slipping away silently as the other shifter immediately leaned into my space. “Well, looks like you know how to treat a girl,” she teased, her blue eyes sparkling at me. “You got more than manners, big boy?”
I offered her a wolfish grin, the attention soothing the blistering anger Iris had left behind. “There’s only one way to find out,” I replied, my voice rough as I winked.
She laughed, clearly delighted, and linked our arms together. “Oh, you’re fun. I like you already. Come with me, alpha. I think you’ll like what I’ve got to show you.”
I took a sip and allowed myself to be led, grinning against the rim.Fuck you too, universe, I thought bitterly.Fuck you.
IRIS
Silverstreak Ranch Home
Travis County, Texas
Man, what a dick.
I was still feeling off-kilter from my wolf rousing herself— it was pretty rare for me to sense her more than once a month, if that. After my parents were killed, I ended up in the foster care system in the Pacific Northwest. No one thought to send me back to Alaska — I didn’t have any aunts or uncles to take me in — and I was just another kid in the system. As you can imagine, my foster homes weren’t exactly rife with other wolves.
