by V. Vaughn
I pick up a sharp knife and fork. “We should probably test them to make sure they’re okay.”
Byron makes a face of mock concern. “I think you’re right. Let me.”
I give him the utensils, and he cuts the edge off a steak. He lifts it up and holds it out for me to try. Instead of taking the fork I lean in and bite a section of it off. Closing my eyes, I let out a moan and use a flirty tone when I say, “That tastes so good.” I grab his hand and pull the meat to my mouth. “I need a little more.” I take another nibble.
He lets out a low sound as his wolf reacts, and then he leans in to snatch the rest of the steak with his teeth. I glance over Byron’s shoulder and see Roman standing in the shadows. Firelight glistens off his fangs as he lifts his lips in a snarl, and it makes me smile at him. Maybe he is interested.
But my satisfaction is short lived when Alisha storms over and grabs my arm as she says to Byron, “We’ll be right back.” She drags me behind the RV. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Shame makes my cheeks burn. Alisha is the only person who can get me to back down, and it’s not a comfortable feeling. “I didn’t think he’d care.”
Alisha puts her hands on her hips. “Really?”
“Okay, that was a stupid move. But—”
My best friend’s brow lowering makes me stop talking. She says, “It was stupid, and you did it deliberately. Now, go back out there and behave yourself.”
I begin to walk toward the group when she grabs my arm again. I turn around, and she grins. “Did you see how jealous he was? He so likes you.”
“Yeah.” But then I scowl. “But why is he being such a jerk?”
She says, “He’s a guy,” as if that’s answer enough.
When we get back to the group, it’s time to eat, and as we do, the guys begin to tell us about their job. It leads to an exchange of stories between all of us, and by the time it’s dark, Roman and I are back to being civil to each other. But it doesn’t get past that, and it makes me wonder if he’s decided I’m not worth the trouble. There have got to be a lot of females at the jamboree he’s attracted to besides me.
Jayden and Alex are a huge success, though. When it’s time to leave, the only way his friends can get him to stop kissing her good night is to start driving away, making Alex chase after the truck to jump in.
It’s so adorably romantic that my heart aches, wishing it had happened to me. Jayden walks toward us with her hand on her mouth before she asks, “What can I do to help clean up?”
Alisha hands her the salad bowls. “Take these inside and try to float back down to earth.”
Jayden grins at us before she walks away, and once she’s inside, Alisha says, “It’ll happen for you too, Juliet.”
I smile at her as the RV door clicks open, and I hold it for her to go through. As much as I want to believe Alisha, I’m not so sure. While Roman and I are attracted to each other, all we manage to do is play hurtful games. I’m done with relationships like that, and I refuse to be sucked into losing my heart to another cocky werewolf who appears to hop from mate to mate.
Is it too much to ask for someone like Alex, who tells Jayden her dimples are cute and can’t stop kissing her? Why do I end up being attracted to a guy who flirts with my best friend to see if I care? Tears of frustration burn in my eyes as I gaze up at the sky and listen to the faint howls of wolves running through the forest. I wonder how the jamboree is going, and for a brief moment, I flirt with the idea of trying to find out with the intention of searching for the dark-gray wolf Alisha and I saw in the woods. But I know that’s just as futile as trying to make something with Roman work. I push my worries aside and check the fire before I paste on a smile to look happy for Jayden and go inside.
Six
The next morning, Jayden announces Alex and his friends are coming back to take us on a hike. I do my best to keep my eye roll to myself, and I pitch in to make lunch as we get ready. When Jayden emerges from the bedroom with a high ponytail and a silly grin, I let my annoyance go. She’s glowing with her crush for Alex. That’s the way I want to feel about a potential mate, and I want to help foster it along. If it turns out they’re true mates, I’ll be happy for my friend and welcome Jayden into the werewolf world with open arms.
A sealable plastic bag snaps as I shut it, and I say, “Lunch is ready.”
Chelsea says, “Bring it over here, and I’ll distribute everything evenly between our packs.”
“I can take more,” says Alisha. “I’m in training.”
“I’ve got it,” says Chelsea, and I grin at Alisha for thinking she could tell our friend what to do.
The rumble of the guys’ truck catches my attention, and I say, “Jayden, why don’t you go outside and wait for Alex. They’ll be here any minute.”
Alisha raises her eyebrows at me, and I nod. It’s nice to share tiny things like my acute hearing with her, and my decision to tell her my secret is reinforced in my mind.
Chelsea asks, “Where’s the sunscreen?”
“In my bag,” says Alisha. “I showed you already.” When Chelsea opens her mouth to ask more, Alisha says, “We’ve got everything, I swear. Now, let’s go.”
“Fine,” Chelsea says as she hoists her pack onto her back. “But if we forgot something, I’m blaming you.”
Alisha salutes the back of her as Chelsea leads us out of the RV. We get outside just in time for me to see Roman hop out of the truck, and he flips his hair out of his eyes to look right at me. My wolf notices, and before I realize it, I offer him a big smile. He gives me what I think is a genuine smile back, and my insides warm up in reaction. So much for protecting my heart from someone who might not be interested, because I’m crushing on him the way Jayden is Alex.
Jayden and Alex are holding hands. She glances at me, Chelsea, and Alisha and says, “Alex said we’re going someplace special.” She bounces on her toes a little, and her joy is infectious. “Are we ready?”
“Let’s go,” I say. The nylon straps of my pack hum as I tighten them on my shoulders. We set off on the trail, and I listen to the easy banter that goes back and forth with our group as we climb the gentle slope. It doesn’t take long for sweat to form on my face and create a sheen of moisture on my arms. I stop to take a sip of water and let the group move ahead of me so that I’m the last one. Roman turns back and halts when he sees me.
“Can we talk?” he asks.
I’ve caught up to him, but he doesn’t move. “Sure. What’s up?”
He lowers his voice. “I’m curious. Why are you hanging out with humans?”
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I move to the defense. “We went to college together, and they’re my friends. Why?”
“I didn’t mean for that to sound like criticism. It’s not a common thing for my pack to do.” He takes my water bottle and puts it in the loop of my backpack for me. The odor of his musk is strong from sweat, and I immediately flash to the dark wolf Alisha and I saw in the woods. Oh my God. It’s him. I inhale sharply with my realization. Because I’ve always seen him in the company of three other male wolves with strong scents, I never put the two of them together.
I swallow hard to tamp down my wolf who is scratching to be let out and jump this guy, because Roman’s wolf is definitely into me and maybe... I blink to bring my focus back to the conversation. “Oh. Well, we have a university in my town, and I happened to hit it off with Alisha right away freshman year. Blending in with humans is what my pack does, and I guess ending up with a group of them just kind of happened for me.”
“I can see that.”
I recall the way Roman’s wolf sniffed me and made it clear he was interested, and a tiny smile forms on my face with the knowledge that he really does like me. Roman starts to walk again, and while my wolf couldn’t care less about what we’re getting into, I feel the need to test the waters and find out if he’s a player. I ask, “Why do your friends call you Romeo?”
“Because they like to to
rture me. I made the mistake of reacting to it negatively once, and now they won’t let it go.”
“You guys seem close.” Leaves tickle the skin on my arm as I brush by them.
“We are. We have to be close in our line of work.”
“About that. I’m sorry I doubted you the first time we met. You have to admit, it does sound like a line when four hot guys say that to a pretty blonde.”
Roman stops, and after I get two steps ahead of him, I turn to find out why. He blinks at me in wonder. “Did you just call me hot?”
“Like you don’t know that.”
“Huh.” He starts walking again. “My friends are, but nobody’s ever called me hot.”
We’ve fallen far enough behind the group that I don’t worry about anyone hearing us any longer. “Maybe they would if you didn’t scowl so much.”
He reaches for my hand, and I flinch when he takes it, because his touch feels too good, too familiar for me to resist. He asks, “Why do you pull away from me? Can’t you feel our attraction?”
My voice is shaky when I say, “Yes. It’s just I’m not looking for a meaningless relationship.”
Roman stops us again and stares down at me. “Me either.” His chest heaves with his ragged breathing, and he grabs my face in his hands with a roughness that hurts. But the pain is fleeting as he crushes me with a kiss that takes my breath away. He moves one hand down to cup my bottom and tug my body against his. I moan into his mouth as his tongue tangles with mine in an awkward way. His clumsiness turns me on. It’s as if he can’t think straight and any smooth moves he has are failing him. The fabric of his shirt is damp in my hand as I clutch at his back to hang on for the wild ride. I’ve never experienced a kiss like this.
He releases me just as abruptly as the kiss started, and I gaze at his mouth to notice his lips are ruby red and swollen as he says, “I like you.”
A grin covers my face, but it falls quickly when I recall the female wolf in the woods yesterday. “Tell me the truth. Was the female yesterday a mate?”
He shakes his head. “She wants to be, but it’s not right.” Roman rubs his hands on my upper arms, and his touch sends a delicious shiver of desire through me.
I say, “Good,” and reach up to hold his shoulders as I stand on my tiptoes. “Because I want to kiss you again.”
I take control this time and nibble at his lips before I dart my tongue into his mouth for a smooth dance that sends shock waves of pleasure all the way to my toes. Now Roman moans, and I take my time lightly scratching my nails down his back to make him shudder. The scent of his arousal floods my nose, and I have to break away before we go too far. I step back and say, “They’re probably wondering where we are.”
Roman nods, and I take great pleasure in the fact I left him speechless. I notice our friends ahead on the trail. Byron grins broadly, “There you are. We were about to send out a search party.”
I say, “I needed a break to catch my breath.”
Alisha tilts her head at me as if she knows why, but she doesn’t say anything as she smiles like she has a secret. Dean isn’t as discreet and says, “Is that what the kids are calling it these days.” He steps back to clear the way for Roman. “Lead the way, Romeo.” Roman punches Dean as he passes him, and Dean winks at me and pumps his eyebrows as I go by.
We may not be as romantic as Alex and Jayden, but our awkward start works for me. I follow Roman up the hill as my wolf basks in her win.
Seven
We stop to eat lunch when the trail widens into an open area. The rock ledge where we sit overlooks the valley, and as I gaze from the height, I notice the cars on the road weaving through the forest appear to be the size of toys. Chelsea pulls out her map, and the paper rustles as she flattens it out on her lap. She asks, “Where exactly are we going?”
Alex leans over her shoulder and points. “We’re going to a meadow right about here.”
“The one that’s by the trail to Walkers Peak?” Chelsea glances at me with concern.
“Yes.”
“Walkers Peak?” I ask. I recall the clerk at the RV park office telling me to stay away because that’s the direction of the jamboree.
Alisha says, “Wait. I thought we weren’t supposed to go on that trail.”
There’s only one reason we’d be going there, and I stand up as the situation becomes clearer. I think these guys are bringing my friends along to the jamboree so they can be offered up as potential mates. Without their knowledge! My skin prickles with the urge to shift as my anger intensifies. “We’re not. Pack up, girls. This hike is over.”
Jayden stands up. “I don’t understand. Juliet?” She shakes her head in confusion.
I turn to glare at Roman. My nails dig into my palms as I clench my hands to control my rage. He gets up and towers over me, but I’m not intimidated as I look up and say, “This is wrong on so many levels. I can’t believe you—”
He grabs my hand and tugs on me as he begins to walk, and I stumble as he moves with a speed I didn’t expect. He says, “We’ll talk about this somewhere more private, please.”
I let out a huff of annoyance but follow him because he’s gripping my hand and leaves me no choice. But he’s also right. This isn’t a conversation to have in front of two women who don’t know what we are. I turn back to my friends and call out, “Don’t you go anywhere until I get back.”
When we get far enough that the girls can’t hear, Roman stops and releases my fingers as he turns to face me. I put my hands on my hips. “You think it’s okay to offer up my friends as human mates at your jamboree?”
“No.” He shakes his head as if I’m a small child who is too naïve to know better. “That’s not what’s happening here.”
His calm tone makes me angrier. “No? Then why are we going to that meadow?”
“Alex wants to ask Jayden to be his mate. But before he does, our pack requires that he confirm their connection in wolf form.”
He wants to mate her already? “But she doesn’t even know what he is! Don’t you think he might want to tell her what she’s getting into?”
“He will tell her when he’s sure she ready to accept it.”
“Are you freaking kidding me? You don’t think a wolf walking around her and sniffing might be a little strange?”
“We’ll explain it in a way your friends will think it’s no big deal.”
I squint at him in disbelief. Does he think he’s going to convince Chelsea and Jayden we’ve stumbled onto a few dozen wolves and that it’s no big deal? “This is crazy. I can’t let you do that to her, and what if other wolves find Chelsea and Alisha and decide they want them too? Did you think about that?”
“So they sniff them. Big deal. Nobody’s bonding with anyone today.”
I shake my head. He still doesn’t get it. Not every wolf is capable of self-control in the heat of mating. And if one decides he wants one of my friends and can’t keep his desires at bay, she could be in danger. Humans can’t shift and fight back. “You can’t know that. No.” My blood is hot, and my gums tingle as my wolf hovers at the surface. “I won’t allow you to do this to the humans I love like sisters. It’s not right.”
Roman’s eyes flash with what I think is simmering rage as he says, “What’s not right is you keeping true mates apart.”
Now my chest is heaving as my anger races through my veins. I spit out, “True mates? What the hell do you know about true mates?”
“Juliet—”
I hold up my hand. “Save it.”
I turn away and stomp back to the clearing, and when I get there, I say, “We’re going back.” I look at Jayden and notice her eyes are shiny with tears she’s fighting to hold in. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t understand, but something that is very dangerous for you is happening in the meadow.”
Alex says, “Jayden, I’d never do anything to hurt you. You have to know that.”
I say, “Alex, I’m sure that’s what you feel in your heart, but I can’t allow it.�
�� I look at my friend. “Please, Jay, this doesn’t mean you can’t see him again. You have to trust me on this.”
She nods quickly and gets up. She says to Alex, “I’ll text you. I’m sorry, but I haven’t even known you for a day. Please understand.”
“I do, Jayden.” He stands up and kisses her lightly. Alex glances at me as if I’m the bad guy. “This won’t keep us apart.”
Dean’s shirt strains across his chest, threating to split open as he says, “Wait. We have a—”
Roman’s voice reverberates through me when he barks out, “No. Let them go.”
I turn to look at him, and his nostrils flare as if he’s trying to control a shift. I think he’s hanging on by a thread. I’m so mad I’m tempted to challenge him just so I can fight, but I won’t shift in front of my friends to satisfy my anger. I imagine that watching Roman and me snarling and biting would scar them for life. I get the words out through clenched teeth when I say, “Thank you.”
Chelsea and Alisha are already on the trail when I take Jayden by the hand to lead her away from Alex. She’s trembling, and the bones in her fingers feel fragile in my powerful grip as I say, “Let’s go.”
As soon as the girls think we’re out of earshot Jayden begins to cry, and Chelsea puts her arm around Jayden’s shoulders as she says, “You better explain what the hell that was all about.”
This is not how I wanted my friends to find out about werewolves, but I’d much rather be the one to tell them than have them find out in the midst of a field full of wolves. I walk faster. “I will, but we need to get far away from those guys before I do. Once we’re back at camp, I promise you’ll learn everything.”
Bless Alisha, because she says, “You guys really need to trust Juliet right now. She’s always had our backs, and I don’t know what just happened, but when we find out, I’m sure we’ll be glad she stopped it.”
Jayden says, “I do believe you, Juliet. I’m sorry.”
