Page 66 of Just One Bite
He swallows.
“Just give it your best and make her famous. I’ll be happy.”
I stay watching Olivia talk with Octavia across the room. They’re arm in arm, already looking friendly for having just met. I guess the same can be said for Olivia and me. The entire room is roaring with sound and movement, but she’s easy to see. Her eyes are bright, and her smile stretches all the way across her face. I’ll do anything to keep her smiling like that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Parker
“You’re going to give up on me,” she says.
The swing creaks, and she’s refusing to look at me.
“Never.”
“You don’t know that. I ruin things.”
“I do know. I’m not leaving.”
Part of being in Gavin’s pack involves meetings. A lot of the time, we have to get dressed up and take the train to the city where we greet his dad, who scowls at me, and show general support while Gavin gives speeches on things concerning Were policy. The only downside is I have to see my dad there. He loves Gavin.
Thankfully, today we don’t have to go to the city, but I do have to attend every student assembly. I’m wearing a blue suit. Navy blue is Gavin’s family color, and during assemblies are the only times we’re allowed to wear anything other than a school uniform with our house colors. Werewolf packs are all about respect and tradition. Even though I despise school assemblies, supporting Gavin is important.
We stand in a crowd surrounding the tall stone podium that sits right in front of Languid Lake. Black birds dive in and out of the trees, and the afternoon sun hangs overhead. Some of the leaves have started to change with the semester stretching on. A few yellow leaves fall and fade into the depths of thedark-turquoise water.
I pull at my collar as the sweat beads at my neck.
“Did you tell your sisters about the audition?” I lean down to Olivia’s ear.
It’s been an almost two weeks since, and she’s spent most of her time dancing or with me. Which I’m not complaining about, but she hasn’t mentioned her sisters once.
“No. Emma is still upset about not getting into the culinary club. She’s been shutting herself in her room. And Eva …”
“Eva has guy issues.”
I told her about the day I’d found Evangeline crying in the courtyard.
“Her boyfriend has been upsetting her every day. I tell her to break it off, and she won’t, then suddenly I’m the bad guy. She’s not any help with talking to Emma right now, so it’s all falling on me. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.”
I don’t think she realizes how much she does that. She thinks any problem can be solved by something, and when it’s not, she finds a way to make it her fault.
“But … they didn’t ask you how it went?” I tuck the hair blowing in her face behind her ear, which shifts the frown on her lips.
“They’re just distracted. I’ll tell them. I convinced them to come today. Maybe a little fresh air will help.”
After a few minutes, she excuses herself to meet them in the crowd.
Aria Hillard takes the stage to read the recent rule amendments after all the packs have finished their speeches. Aria is one of the human council members and often serves as the voice of the entire council for important events.
“It’s time to announce our council member nominees for the school year. As you know, we have a vacant seat, and we take filling that seat in earnest so we may continue to serve this school and be the bridge between worlds. We will announce the nominees and hold an election where we encourage all students to participate.”
I shift my feet and stuff my hands in my pockets. The nominee list is always long, and knowing Cane is going to be on the list makes the whole thing obsolete. The packs will rally around him, and he’ll sweep the election. A lot of people are nominated, but whoever is backed by a member of the council will get in. That’s how Zant explained it to me.
Zant is sitting next to the podium with his hips shifted forward and a boredexpression on his face. I subtly flip him off, and he crosses his arm, hiding the middle finger he’s flipped to me. His rise to the council was easy. The vampire world of politics is different than Weres’. Weres are pack-minded, and vampires just have to be charismatic and calculated thinkers. Both things Zant excels in.
“Cane Archibald,” Aria calls, and the pack members howl in unison. Cane is standing somewhere to my left, waving and bowing. He’s so full of shit.
“Dashing, Owens. Where’s your other half?” Gavin moves to stand next to me.
