Page 42 of Stripped

CHAPTER EIGHT

I woke to the sound of low voices. Zane's arms were still around me, tight, like he'd never let me go. His was one of the whispering voices, right over my ear.

Someone chuckled. “I never thought I’d see you like this over some human girl,” one of the voices said. “You’ve never even looked at a woman who wasn’t pack.”

“She’s not human,” Zane said. “She’s part siren.”

“She’s not wolf is what I know, man,” the same voice said.

“And she’s a hot stripper,” another voice said. “Not exactly the type to settle down, and you’re the settling down type if I’ve ever seen it.”

“Shut up, both of you,” Zane said. “She’s a person. A strong, smart, kind, gorgeous person. She might not be the settling down type, but if she’s willing to give me some of her time, I’m going to take it and thank her for it.”

Someone snorted. “Always the hopeless romantic, man. When I think of all the tail you’ve turned down because you’re looking for something more, something lasting, I want to cry. And then, after all that, you take up with a human stripper, it’s—”

“Enough,” Zane said. “Another word like that and I’m going to rearrange that pretty face of yours, Payne.”

“Not to mention, she’s been hanging out with vampires,” another voice said.

“She nearly died,” Zane whispered, his tone hard and angry. “She’s been through enough and I won’t subject her to idiocy from either one of you. Keep your opinions to yourselves and treat her with respect or leave.”

“We’ll do our job,” one of the men said. “But I don’t trust her. Women like that are always looking out for themselves, always looking for a way to make another dollar from every situation.”

“She would give every dollar she has to help the people she cares about,” Zane said. “She’s been supporting my broke ass with her money since the fight at her club. And I trust her, so that’s going to have to be enough for you.”

“Look, man. We’re just looking out for the pack. We’ve got enough shit going on to be inviting vampire lovers to stay for a while.”

I’d heard more than enough, it made my heart light to hear Zane defend me, but I couldn’t handle anymore insults. “I know you think humans have subpar hearing, but you're right over my head. I can hear you.”

Zane squeezed me tighter. “We've been whispering over you for three hours, babe.”

“Well, I was asleep. I'm not deaf.” I know it was a lame comeback, but my head still ached, my stomach felt scraped raw, and I was exhausted. I vaguely remembered Zane waking me to give me more water, but I felt like I could drink an ocean. I tried to sit up, but Zane held me tight. “Let me up,” I said, my voice a dry rasp. “I'm thirsty.”

He helped me sit up and put a water bottle in my hand. “Small sips.”

“I'm not a child,” I said. “I've had the flu before.”

Taking small sips, I slowly opened my eyes to see two men I didn't recognize. “Hi,” I said. I tilted the bottle back for another sip, but Zane took it from me. I turned my head to glare at him, but the movement hurt and I winced.

“Ouch,” Zane said, his face crinkling like he felt my pain. He kissed my brow. “These guys are pack members, Aron and Payne. If you heard anything they were saying a few minutes ago, ignore it, their brains haven’t fully developed yet. They came out here to help in case the vamps show up again.”

I turned my head slowly to look at Aron and Payne. One was tall and thin, like a spaghetti noodle, the other was short and round, but all muscle. “Just one vampire,” I said. “Leopold.”

Zane's arm around my shoulders went vise tight. “Fuck.”

“What did he—?” Aron asked.

“Stop,” Zane said. “The last time I asked her questions, she almost threw up a lung. Just let her rest.”

I took a quick mental inventory, but I didn't feel any sort of pressure to do or say anything. “That's not what made me throw up. I'm pretty sure I puked out the compulsion.”

“That's not possible,” Aron said. “Even werewolves aren't immune to the compulsion.”

I shrugged as much as I could with Zane's arm keeping me tight against his side. “I'm not a werewolf. The best way for us to test my theory is for me to try and tell you what he said to me.”

“No,” Zane said. “Not until you're stronger. If you get sick like that again—”

“It's fine.” It should be fine. I just wanted to know if I was free. The risk seemed worth taking to find out if I was still under Leopold's control.

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