Page 49 of Psycho Pack

I turn away from the falling snow, ducking back into the cave entrance. My eyes take a second to adjust to the darkness. Then I damn near jump out of my skin.

Plague's standing there in the shadows like a fucking ghost, watching me. How long has he been there? Creepy bastard.

"Fuck," I hiss under my breath, pressing a hand to my chest. My heart's racing like I just ran ten miles. "Wear a bell or something."

"You shouldn't go out alone," he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper. His gaze flicks past me to the snow outside. "The Knight?"

"Gone." I shrug, trying to play it casual even though my pulse is still thundering. "Headed west, I think. Looks like your needlework held up."

Plague nods, but doesn't move from his spot in the shadows. The dim light filtering in catches on his high cheekbones, making him look even more ethereal than usual. Like some kind of avenging angel rather than the pain in my ass he usually is.

My eyes drift over to where the others are sleeping. Ivy's curled against Thane now, his huge arms wrapped protectively around her. Wraith's massive form is pressed against her other side, and Valek's still draped over her feet like a murderous evil cat.

"Should we wake them up?" I ask, keeping my voice low.

"No. Let them rest." Plague's eyes meet mine in the darkness. "We need to talk."

Fuck.

I know exactly what he wants to talk about, and I'm not ready for that conversation.

Not here.

Not now.

Maybe not ever.

But he's already moving deeper into the cave, clearly expecting me to follow.

Like a dumbass, I do.

When we're far enough from the others that our voices won't carry, he turns to face me. Even in the dim light, I can see the tension in his shoulders.

"About what happened in the clinic—" he starts.

"Shut up," I growl, but there's no real heat behind it. My body remembers too. How his surgeon's hands felt wrapped around both of us, the way he knew exactly where to touch, how to make me?—

Nope.

Not going there.

"It won't happen again," I say firmly, even as my traitor cock starts to twitch at the memory. "We were just fucked up by Ivy's scent and needed release. That's all it was."

Plague takes another step closer, and my back hits the cave wall. When the fuck did I start backing up? His pale blue eyes gleam in the darkness as he studies me like I'm one of his specimens laid out on a surgical table.

"Is that what you need to believe?" he asks softly. His voice has that clinical edge that drives me fucking crazy. Like he's analyzing every micro-expression on my face.

"There's nothing to believe," I growl, but my voice comes out rougher than I mean it to. "It happened. It's done. We move on."

His lips curve into that infuriating half-smile. "Of course. Very logical." He leans in closer, and I catch his scent. Antisepticand something sharper beneath, like ozone before a storm. "Just two alphas helping each other through a difficult situation."

My hands clench at my sides. I could grab him. Spin us around. Pin him against this wall and?—

No. Fuck no.

"Exactly," I say through gritted teeth. "Now back the fuck off before I make you."

He arches an eyebrow, completely unfazed by my threat. "Make me what, exactly?"

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