Page 21 of Just One Bite
Scowling with red hair – Aster – Were/Very rich
I give a thankful nod, but it still doesn’t answer why they’re gathering in front of my sisters and me.
“Are you going to tell me what you want, or do I wait as you all stare at me all day?” I glare at Darien and throw my napkin on my plate. “You won’t get any more blood from me, if that’s why you’re here.”
“We wanted to invite you to our table,” Aster says. His voice is smooth and cold, and they’re blocking my view of the dining hall. Aster's hair is clean cut on the sides with straight, bright red hair brushing his forehead.
“We’re not interested.” I stand and motion for Eva and Emma to follow me before we’re blocked again.
I may not know much about Doxlothia or the social hierarchy, but I know this is bad. It’s bad to have piqued their interest. It’s bad to deny their request. And it’s bad to have the entire dining hall watching our conversation.
“We insist.” Barrett goes to put his arm around Eva’s shoulder, then I’m done with my civil approach and pull her next to me.
“Maybe we should …” Emma tugs at the hair resting on her collarbone.
“The council is very interested in you. We just want to talk,” Darien states, like that’s going to make me more likely to trust them.
“Not interested in you or them. Now stop blocking our way.”
I will likely regret the hard approach. I have no cards to play, yet I have to play anyway.
“Maybe I want something in return,” Barrett says. His sharp canine teeth peek out when he speaks.
“We’lldiscuss what we want … together.” Aster gives him a charged expression, and I’m lost.
“I don’t know what you want with me and my sisters but—”
“You’re all lovely but … it’s something we want from you,” Aster corrects.
What could two Weres possibly want to ask me?
“There you are, beautiful.” Parker’s voice accompanies a large hulking arm around my shoulders. “Sorry, I had to run the team through some stuff.”
“Parker Owens. Pleasure.” Aster’s scowl doesn’t budge.
Something happens between them, then Aster and Barrett shrink away from him. They turn as if they want to face him head-on. Their spines straighten, and the attention is solely on Parker.
There’s that sensation again. The safety Parker brings, soothing me.
“Is it? Is there anything in particular you’re grilling my girlfriend about because we have somewhere to be.”
“Girlfriend?” they say at the same time I do. Darien smiles widely.
“You’re joking,” Barrett says.
“Olivia ismine. I’m taking her as my mate.” Parker’s eyes flicker to me, then back to them. “Tell your friends she and her sisters are protected by Gavin’s pack. Steer clear.”
We go to leave, and Aster’s voice echoes through the dining hall. “And you’d be willing to be challenged for her, then?"
I don’t understand what’s being implied.
“Time and place and I’m there.” Parker’s the only one without rigid shoulders and a hardened jaw. He grins. “I didn’t know you had that much time to practice shifting with all the time you spend learning daddy’s empire.”
Parker leads us away before they can protest, and the dining hall erupts in lively chatter and clambering glasses. He leads us to the Central Lawn, and I feel ten pounds lighter with the distance.
“What are you doing?”
“Trust me, you want them to think we’re dating. Aster and Barrett are the top of the pack food chain here. The thing they really want to talk to you about is you being their mate, and they aren’t the type to take a simple ‘no.’”
