Page 62 of Puck Your Friend

Jace shifts, leaning in to press his nose to her neck. “It’s coming from here.” He brushes his lips against it.

She lets out a small, breathy whimper. My whole body tightens at the sound.

Her eyes darken, gaze searching ours like she needs something. Reaching out, her fingers tug at the front of my shirt, working the buttons loose.

My pulse kicks harder. “Frankie?” My voice catches.

She glances up, her eyes dilated in the moonlight. “I want more. With you, all of you.”

Heat spreads through me. I look at the others. Jace swallows hard, eyes locked on her. Wes breathes in deeply while nodding. Logan’s hand slips down her arm, his thumb brushing against her wrist. There’s hesitation, but it’s brief.

My thoughts blur, the scent of her fills my head. I’d do anything she asked right now. Anything at all. My stomach flips, but underneath is an eagerness, a wanting that burns away any second thoughts.

I touch her cheek, gently turning her face toward mine. “You sure?”

She nods without pause, her gaze steady on mine. “Yes.”

Her certainty settles inside me, quieting the nerves. I glance at the others and they all look just as certain as I feel. “Alright.”

I push the shirt off my shoulders when she undoes the last button and I capture her lips with mine again.

Footsteps crunch along the path into the clearing, and I pull back. A flashlight beam slices through the trees, cutting across the grass toward us. Instinct kicks in hard, and I’m up instantly, stepping in front of Frankie. My heart pounds in my chest, every nerve alive with the need to protect her.

The others do the same, joining me as we create a wall in front of Frankie.

An Alpha female counselor steps into view. The flashlight lowers just enough that I can make out her face. I’ve seen her around camp, but she handles the younger campers. Herexpression is flat, unreadable in the shadows from the flashlight being pointed away from her.

“This area’s restricted.” Her voice is calm but firm.

Frankie rises last, a little unsteady on her feet. She blinks and looks a little dazed now, and I frown. She seems different, but I can’t put my finger on it.

The counselor’s gaze lands on Frankie, and she sniffs the air. She points the light at her. “You, need to come with me.”

My stomach twists. Logan hands me my shirt, and I tug it on. “Wait, what? We haven’t done anything wrong. Why does she need to go with you?”

“She’s not in trouble, and if you go back to your cabins, you won’t be either.” Her attention remains fixed on Frankie. “But she has to see the nurse immediately.”

Frankie’s brow furrows, confusion pulling at her features. “I’m fine. I don’t need the nurse.” Her voice is steady, but I hear the edge of uncertainty there.

The counselor steps toward us, stopping in front of the line we’ve formed. Her eyes lock onto Frankie’s over our shoulders. She waits until we shift before reaching forward and gently but firmly placing a hand on Frankie’s arm. “It’s important. Please come with me.”

Jace moves closer, his stance protective. “She says she’s fine. We’ll walk her back ourselves.”

“No.” Her voice leaves no room for argument. “You four will go straight back to your cabin. She comes with me. End of story.”

Frankie holds up her hand, glancing at each of us quickly. “It’s okay, guys. I’ll go, show her nothing’s wrong, and then head to bed. We’ll see each other in the morning. No sense in getting in trouble a week before the end of camp.” Her words are calm, but beneath them, I catch the tight strain of worry.

I squeeze her hand and nod. “Okay. We’ll see you in the morning.” It feels wrong to let her go, but I have to believe she’ll be safe. That the woman counselor won’t hurt her.

The counselor guides Frankie away. She glances over her shoulder at us and offers a small smile. Everything in me screams to grab her and run, but she’s right, it doesn’t make sense to get in trouble this close to the end of camp. We watch as they vanish into the darkened woods; tension and unease hang thick between us.

I rub my hand over my face as frustration tightens in my chest. “Something about that counselor felt weird.”

Logan’s voice fills the clearing. “We’ll head to her cabin as soon as the horns blow in the morning. I’m sure she’ll be fine. We know who she went with.”

I sigh and stalk forward. None of us speak again as we start back toward our cabin. Unease settles heavier with every step. Anxiety prickles along my spine. My feet itch with the urge to follow them to the nurse’s cabin to make sure she’s safe.

A second counselor appears ahead on the trail, flashlight pointed toward us. “Cabin, boys. Now.”

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