Page 32 of Pack Kasen: Part 1

“Not now,” I call back.

I’m jogging up the stairs to my bedroom when I halt as a thought occurs to me. A solution to my problems, and the thing that can dislodge this strange mood.

Distraction.

That’s what I need.

Is using Marisa as a distraction when she’s already gotten far too comfortable in her role as my lover a good idea?

No.

But I have to do something to get that feral out of my head or I’m going to lose it.

I turn around.

Marisa is standing outside the den, like she was on her way to following me up but wasn’t sure what my reaction would be. With the way I’ve been snarling and growling since Wes and Cruz brought the feral here, I understand her hesitation.

I aim a smile at her as I take a step down. “We’re having dinner tonight.”

She blinks at me, surprised. “Dinner?”

I nod firmly.

Yes, this is exactly what I need to refocus my mind on what truly matters.

“Just us.”

A bright smile breaks out across her face as she hurries toward me. I brace myself as she throws her arms around my shoulders.

“I love that idea,” she says, peering up at me through her lashes.

I pat her back as Silas studies me from the den doorway, his expression blank.

Before Marisa can kiss me, I unhook her arms from my shoulders and peel her away. “I have work to do now.”

She flashes me a suggestive smile. “Leave everything with me. I’ll sort dinner out for us, okay?”

“Sure.”

I’m twisting away when I realize I should be more excited by a romantic dinner date with a beautiful woman and turn to smileat her. It doesn’t feel like a real smile. It feels like a grimace. “Looking forward to it.”

Then I go upstairs to my room, close the door, and I look at my bed.

It’s a big bed. Like most of the house, it’s a roughly hewn, rustic style of furniture to go with our log home.

The bed I sleep in every night.

The bed that Marisa and I will fuck on after our romantic dinner date.

And I turn around, open the door and walk back out.

“Where are you going?” Finan calls out when I pass him as he’s walking inside.

“I need to run.”

He’s holding a phone, and I bet I can guess exactly who's calling. “I have?—”

I narrow my eyes at him. “If you hand me that phone, it’s going in the creek.”

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