Page 22 of Just One Bite
“Mate? Why? And why me?”
“Your eyes. Heterochromia signifies Were lineage, and its common among the strongest pack leaders in history. I’m guessing they didn’t teach you that in Groveshire.”
My father didn’t exactly explain it like that. Parker keeps going when I don’t smile.
“If anything, they’ll take it as a symbol of good luck. That and your blood would be a great benefit to them. I tried to tell you. You and your sisters will be magnets to all the assholes in here.”
“But since you’re dating Olivia, it’s different?” Emma asks.
“We’re not dating,” I say.
“I’m in Gavin’s pack, and his pack is revered. They’ll leave you alone if they think I’m going to claim you as a mate.”
“Didn’t sound like that.”
“Aster can challenge me. He won’t win and he knows it.” Parker smirks as he says it but steps closer to me. “Think about this for a second. You’re not part of The Donor Program for some reason, and you and your sisters are walking around with some of the sweetest blood in this place. Everyone in the council has eyes on you and your sisters right now. You need protection, and Gavin won’t unless you’re connected to the pack in some way. This way, he’ll have to say yes.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“Other than seeing your pretty face more often? I have to have a mate, or I can’t be in Gavin’s pack. He’s been on my ass about it, and this way I can have at least a moment’s peace from worrying about being kicked out. This satisfies us both."
“I think we should listen to Parker,” Eva says. “Seems safer.”
Eva is too trusting.
“I agree. Plus, this sounds kind of fun. You two running around pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend.” Emma smiles at me. I regret mentioning the dream. In fact, I regret waking up this morning.
Shewouldthink me becoming some type of werewolf bride was a fun, exciting new development.
I sigh. “Parker—”
The tips of Parker’s ears pink, and he leans in. “Yes?”
Warmth trickles into my face as he bats his eyelashes at me.
“I appreciate you trying to help, but no. The last thing I need right now is to be dating the captain of the Rage team and drawing more attention to myself.”
All this is an annoying distraction, but there has to be some other way to remedy this and get protection for my sisters and me that doesn’t involve mehaving to be seen as someone else’s mate. Where would I find the time to fake date Parker?
This isn’t how I imagined my time at university. I imagined hours and hours spent in the ballet studio where no one bothered me. A place that was truly dedicated to ballet, and ballet alone.
“We’ll figure it out.” MeaningIwill figure it out.
Emma is whispering to Eva again, and somehow, I know it’s about that stupid dream.
To my surprise, Parker’s carefree grin doesn’t falter. “Well, if you change your mind, I’m all yours. And you know where to find me.”
We exchange numbers, and I’m empty again when he leaves. A strange hollow sensation that I decide to blame on indigestion. I remind myself and my sisters that Parker is a stranger, and no amount of safety he brings is going to convince me to trust him that easily.
“She definitely likes him.” Emma is a loud whisperer.
News spreads like wildfire. By the time the campus clocktowers chime for noon and we arrive at the house round table, I’ve been asked about Parker three times. Twice while in the nearly silent library.
The first was when I was combing the stacks and a Stelliea girl, shorter than me, stopped me.
“You’re dating Parker Owens.”Her mouth was agape.
“No. We’re not dating. He was—”
