Page 11 of Craved By the Werewolf
THORNE
Imade it three steps into the compound before my control snapped. I grabbed the first thing I could find—a clipboard from the front desk—and hurled it across the corridor. Paper scattered everywhere as it hit concrete.
It did nothing to ease the restless energy clawing at my chest.
"Well, that went well."
Raina's voice cut through my barely controlled fury. She was leaning against the doorframe of the operations room, arms crossed, wearing the kind of smirk that meant she'd been listening to the entire broadcast.
"Don't." The word came out as more growl than speech.
"Don't what? Don't mention that you practically purred into that microphone?" Her grin widened. "Or don't bring up the part where you told everyone exactly what gets your blood up?"
I stalked past her. She followed.
"I handled the promotional spot," I said. "That's all that matters."
"Handled it." Raina snorted. "Is that what we're calling it?"
"Raina." The warning in my voice would have sent most wolves scrambling for cover.
She just laughed. "Oh, this is good. You're actually rattled."
I wasn't rattled. I was... unsettled. There was a difference. A significant difference that had nothing to do with the way Vala's scent had filled that tiny studio, or how her pulse had spiked when I'd leaned closer to the microphone, or the soft catch in her breathing when I'd?—
"Fuck."
"There it is." Raina looked positively delighted. "When's the last time you lost your composure like this?"
Never. That was the answer, and we both knew it. I'd built my entire existence around control, discipline, and emotional distance. I didn't lose my composure. I didn't let anyone get under my skin. And I sure as hell didn't go around making promises, I couldn't keep to human radio hosts with smart mouths and eyes that saw too much.
I like a woman who doesn't flinch when I bare my teeth.
What the hell had I been thinking?
Before I could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it and her expression shifted.
"What is it?"
"Social media." She held up the screen. "Your little radio moment is trending. #AlphaThorne, #NightingaleHours, #BareYourTeeth—the whole community is losing their collective mind."
"How bad?"
"Depends on your definition of bad. The good news is everyone thinks you two have incredible chemistry." She scrolled through what looked like an endless stream of posts. "There are already fan pages, Thorne. Fan pages. With your name and her name and little heart emojis."
This was exactly what I'd been afraid of. The scrutiny, the speculation, the pressure of having every interaction dissected by strangers with too much time and too many opinions.
"There's more," Raina said, still scrolling. "Ticket sales spiked by thirty percent in the last two hours. Apparently the idea of watching you two co-host has people very excited."
Co-host. Right. As if I needed another reminder of how complicated this situation had become.
"Speaking of which," I said, regaining some composure, "prepare yourself for tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" She looked up from her phone.
"The planning meeting. Vala's coming here to go over logistics for the main stage events."
Her smile shifted to something equal parts surprise and amusement. "Wait, you invited her here? If you thought tonight was rough, wait until tomorrow."
