Page 26 of Cruel Alpha Bully

I wriggle forward so I can lean over and talk. “Just for a second, yeah.”

“Well, don’t fade out. We want to party hard here, so don’t let the team down!”

I can’t help giggling. “You don’t have to worry about me. It’s you two lightweights we need to watch!”

Laura laughs, and so does Tara, who’s driving. It pains me a little that Jill isn’t here. We were so close in high school. We went everywhere together and talked on the phone every night. I’m sure it was obvious to the entire school that I was hot for Bae, but only Jill knew the depth of it.

Anytime we went out, Laura and Tara would be part of our crew, but the heart of it was always me and Jill.

The car rocks a little as Tara pulls up on the vacant land by Jenks’ cabin. His place is a little out of town and consists of a big one-story house and a small farm. He’s an absolute oddball, well-known for wild parties and hilarious pranks, but he only ever makes fun of himself. He would never hurt anyone else.

“Who do you think will be here?” Laura asks.

“Veronica got here early. She’s hanging with Jenks.” Tara answers.

“Oh no, is that still going on?” Laura moans.

“It is,” Tara affirms. “But if she wants Jenks to notice she’s into him, she’s probably going to have to pound it into his skull with a cartoon mallet.”

We giggle at that, and as we head across the lawn, we link arms and snuggle close. I had friends in Denver, but not friends like these, and definitely no one who understood my wolf.

I’m grateful that the girls haven’t asked how it’s going with Bae. I think they can tell it’s not exactly perfect, and that I’m not ready to talk about it.

We reach the wide wooden stairs and head up to the huge veranda. Music is booming from the doors, and the house is full of warm light. There are people everywhere, laughing, drinking, and dancing. The delicious smell of barbecue and fried chicken hangs in the air, making my mouth water.

“My friends!” Jenks announces, appearing in the doorway. He’s wearing a huge, pointed wizard’s cap in bright blue, spangled with stars. A long cloak of the same design hangs from his shoulders and swirls around his skinny body.

“Welcome to the wizard’s den!” he exclaims. People raise their glasses to cheer and toast.

Veronica appears behind Jenks. “Will you calm down? You’re drunk,” she says to him.

“I am not inebriated beyond function, dear lady. And I have so much tolerance, wherefore, I shall drink some more.”

Jenks falls into spluttering laughter, and Veronica dissolves into giggles, grabbing Jenks around the waist.

“Come on, idiot. Let’s get some food,” she laughs, dragging him away.

“That’s Prime Idiot to you, young lady. I endeavor to be the biggest idiot in the room at any given time.”

I can’t help it—now I’m laughing my ass off, too. Laura and Tara can’t stop giggling, either. Jenks is a nonstop riot, and he knows it.

“Looks like that’s going well,” Laura remarks, elbowing me in the ribs.

“Veronica might finally get into his pants,” I whisper back, winking at her.

“I think it was a leotard,” Tara muses. “Spandex.”

That just makes me laugh even harder. I wrap my arms around my friends, and we head to the main tables. There’s a huge buffet laid out, with big containers of ice chilling a selection of drinks. I pile up a plate with fried chicken and grab a cold beer, finding a seat with my friends on the back patio.

I start to relax as we eat and talk. I can actually feel all my tension easing, the muscles in my neck and shoulders loosening and tingling as they release.

We’re finishing our beers and getting ready to dance when there’s a commotion by the doors. I assume it’s Jenks up to something, and I look over eagerly.

Bae.

He’s walking in with Jack, and it seems as though the entire party has turned like the tide to watch him enter the room. Silence even falls over the crowd, making the party music suddenly sound far too loud. Bailey strides into the main room, his wide, killer smile stretching across his face, showing his perfect white teeth.

He always looks just a bit savage.

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