Page 66 of Into The Darkness

I kept telling myself they’d done it her entire life before she came here, but now that I was around, I guess I just didn’t trust them.

“You know what’s fucking weird?” Rain asked, not letting me finish his question from earlier.

“What?”

“The fact that neither Walsh nor the Alphas have said shit about you guys together. It’s not like you fucking hide it. You parade around campus holding hands like you are in love.”

“She’s never come to a party, though. Aside from the first one she was at with her roommate.” I paused, then glared at him. “Also, I am not in love.”

The parties functioned as an unofficial declaration that someone in the Den was in a relationship with their girl. Although it wasn’t every week the initiation happened, that was the original source of the reason behind having the parties in the first place. They’d kick off the night by fucking in the center of the room, with everyone observing and participating as they pleased. Once the ritual concluded, the regular partying commenced, and the doors opened. This tradition had been a constant as far back as my memory went. It was a peculiar way of punishing the couple, signifying that she was no longer available while offering any interested member of the Den a final opportunity to admire or touch her before she became off-limits.

“You’re aware that she eventually has to attend one of these for it to be official, right?” Rain inquired. I nodded, understanding the implications. “Your dad told you it needed to happen before the bonfire.”

“I fucking get it,” I said through gritted teeth.

He continued, “Do you think she’ll actually show up?”

“Yeah.” I laughed. “She’s just worried about being drugged and tatted again. But you know how she’s got her little freaky side to her. I just gotta tell her what the initiation is first.”

“Dude . . .” Rain relented.

“I know, fuck.” I pushed back curls that had fallen onto my face.

“Lemme just go say bye to her, then we can head home.” Rain nodded. We always left a day early for safety reasons. Although the drive to and from Isles was still considered neutral territory, it was another layer of protection for us.

“Be back in an hour.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and jumped into the car to drive over to Ember’s house.

When I got there, I unlocked and opened the door. At this point, she got over being mad at me for being . . . very into her safety. She would tell you I was possessive, but I liked to think I was merely looking out for her best interests.

“Ash, I told you to knock before you came in.” She didn’t even glance up while throwing clothes into a suitcase.

“It’s creepy, man,” Maddy echoed from the other bedroom.

“Safety, mi sol,” I said, brushing my mouth against her lips and letting me drown in her taste.

She paused what she was doing and wrapped her hands around my neck. For someone who never thought they would be with anyone for this long, I sure as fuck never assumed it would be Ember Solis to change my perception. I didn’t think about it much because, honestly, if I did, then it freaked me the fuck out.

“I have a surprise for you,” I said, and her eyes lit up in excitement.

“Good, because I was just about to get sad about leaving you again, so it’ll prove to be a good distraction.” She giggled and grabbed her jacket before saying goodbye to Maddy.

Chapter twenty-six

“It’s been too cold to come out here.” I hesitated, not understanding why we were out here freezing our asses off as we headed toward Ash’s rock.

“Just wait.” He paused, then I stopped where the trees opened to the rock, and a little tent was set up where we’d had our first picnic.

“What is this?” I whispered, letting the cold air feel the warmth of my words.

“Come inside?” He put out his hand to pull me in. It was roomy enough for both of us, and my mouth dropped at the string lights hanging above the variety of thick blankets.

“How is there even power here?”

He laughed. “That is the first thing you’re going to ask?” I nodded.

“I have a little generator,” he said, pointing to a corner. “Sit.”

I obliged and found the fluffiest blanket to sit on.

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