Page 16 of Just One Bite
“Are werewolves like bodyguards or something?”
“No, it’s more about status. Werewolves hold the most prestigious alliances in our school, and a lot of them grow up with those alliances and take them into the government or their jobs. My pack leader is very respected here. Even the council will honor that respect.”
“Why do you care?” It’s harsh, but I need to know. If Doxlothia is a placewhere alliances are formed and the council rules, what’s Parker doing helping me?
“I know what it’s like to be alone and needing a little help getting the hang of things here.”
We’re standing too close as strangers. A few more inches and we’ll be right where we left off in the forest. I turn my head and look up at him.
“Fine. Thank you.” That’s the best I can manage to a stranger I can’t trust yet.
Parker’s smile is back and brimming over with bright enthusiasm. “Great. I guess, welcome to Doxlothia.”
Chapter Six
Parker
“I’m here,” I whisper into her thigh.
My lips graze warm skin, and her faint whimpers fill my head like a song.
“Oh, Parker. I need you.” She moans.
“Olivia, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been looking for you.”
I wake with Olivia on my mind, but I have no idea why. Suddenly, helping her and her sisters is the first thing on my to-do list. We caught the tail end of orientation, and Olivia was exhausted after her transfusion she didn’t want to do much, aside from visit the dance department booth.
My room is dark as I throw on my school uniform and grab my gym bag by the door. I’m careful not to slam it before slowly making my way into the dimness of the hall. It’s early morning and not many students are up.
“Are you stalking me?” Olivia’s pointed whisper is feet from me, so I spin to face her.
“Stalking? No. I have practice in the morning. I should be asking you that.Ido this every morning. Why are you up so early?”
“The studio is open, and I have to dance consistently to stay in shape.”
She’s dressed in a leotard and tights with a bag slung over her shoulder and her hair pulled into a bun. It’s so—
Fuck. Parker, stop it.We’re just pretending we didn’t almost kiss yesterdayand my hands weren’t under her shirt. Like that was a completely normal way for strangers to say hello.
“Ballet, right?”
She nods and starts down the hall, and I naturally follow.
“Let me walk you. Just in case. I’d rather not worry about you walking around campus in the dark.”
The need to protect her is still very prevalent, and the tension in my chest disintegrates when she accepts my offer.
She says nothing else, but every few seconds, I spy her looking over at me as she picks at her nail polish. When we reach the studio, her momentum stops, and she opens her mouth to speak. Her room key falls from her hand and lands with a clink on the floor, and we both reach to grab it. When I step closer, her eyes shoot up to me.
Our hands touch as I relinquish it to her, then it’s just me looking down at her. Again. Something charged moves between us in the silence.
“I’ll check in later?” I offer her an out and step back.
She shakes her head, then hurries away from me like I’ve just confessed my undying love for her or something, and I resolve to let it go.Weirdo.
“Gavin, come on.”
The ice rink is one of the worst places to have this conversation because it’s so fucking loud, but I ask him to meet me there after practice since it’s important. Also, it takes me a good thirty minutes to clean up and towel off all the blood before I hit the showers.
