Page 47 of Shrouded in the Dark
“Axel won’t want to change her. Not when we all don’t feel the same pull to her as he does.”
“Our animals all feel that pull with Becca. Axel does too, except he ignores it because of Felicity.” I pulled on an AC/DC shirt that had seen better days before grabbing my brush. “You could change her,” I said this much more softly.
Seth appeared in the doorway. “I can’t. Neither can the rest of us. You know the chances of her dying are almost a hundred percent. We can’t attempt to change her for our own selfish reasons. It’s more than likely after this summer is over, after we’ve taken care of this rogue, we’ll never see her again.”
My wolf and I whimpered softly. I stepped into Seth’s arms as he held me close.
“I know, pup. It sucks.” His lips pressed into my temple. “We’ll take care of this idiot so we can enjoy the rest of our summer, yeah?”
He felt my nod but squeezed me tightly once more before stepping back.
“Let’s go eat. After, we’ll play whatever game you want. I want you to stay tonight while me and the other two go searching for the rogue. You’ll be in charge of making sure nothing happens to Becca, got it?”
I opened my mouth to argue but his stance meant that this was an order not a request. Besides, getting to be inside with Becca instead of standing guard outside? Sounded a lot better to me. None of us would get any sleep tonight but we’d handle it.
Chapter 10
Jasper
“Arhino?”
Axel groaned as he circled the pointed thing, he’d drawn on top of some kind of animal. I had an idea what it was but this was so much more fun to mess with him.
“What? It’s a MwahMwah cat with a horn?”
This time, he glared at me as he stepped away from the large drawing pad to cross his arms. Looks like he caught on after all.
“Ten seconds!” Cody gave us the remaining time.
“Um.” I rubbed my neck as I looked at the strange drawing helplessly. Becca giggled next to me. I finally let myself grin. “Oh! I know!”
“Four…three… two...”
“A unicorn!” I answered.
It came out just milliseconds before Cody yelled, “Time!”
Axel threw his head back as he swung his arms downward. “You’re an ass. You know that? You knew exactly what it was but made me dance around like an idiot for your own amusement!”
“Not for my own amusement. For everyone’s! I’m a giver, remember?”
Becca giggled harder, leaning in to me as she covered her mouth. She was trying so hard not to hurt Axel’s feelings, but she didn’t have to. He was well aware of what I’d been doing. Seth and Cody just laughed their asses off when Axel threw his marker at me. I easily caught it before it hit Becca.
He sat next to me on the couch before leaning against me to whisper in my ear, “You’re in for it.” He stayed leaning against me as I fought to contain my fox's purr.
We’d missed his affection. I winked at him as we watched Becca stand for her team. She was paired up with Seth since Cody had volunteered to be the referee. Cody handed her the card with what she’d have to draw for Seth. Her brows pinched together for a second as she pursed her lips. I doubted she even noticed she did that when she thought about something. She handed the card back to Cody and stood in front of the pad. She’d grabbed a purple marker.
“Ready?” Cody looked for her nod. “Go!”
I sat back leaning against Axel’s shoulder, as we watched her work. She’d faced the pad with her back to us. We were all watching her ass as she moved. I didn’t even have to look at my pack to know that we were all doing it. My fox sent me an image of biting her cute butt and I ground my teeth together to stop the moan the image produced. My fox chuffed in amusement before curling up to enjoy the rest of the game.
She turned around all too soon with a shit eating grin, jolting us all to pay attention to what she’d drawn. My mouth dropped. If there was a cricket nearby it chirped. She’d drawn a rough caricature of what looked vaguely of Axel but his body was a stuffed animal with a large red bow tied around his neck. Axel groaned, as if in pain, next to me, setting Becca off again.
“One minute,” Cody’s voice sounded choked as he physically looked like he was holding back from laughing.
“Teddy bear,” Seth said calmly but his foot was tapping, which meant he was doing his best to keep a straight face.
“Time at fifty-seven seconds left.” Cody lost it, falling off the couch's arm rest onto the ground laughing so hard, he’d begun to cry. “Team Seth wins!”
