Page 3 of Bony Bony
Novadanced beside her whileZoeappeared content to bob her head as she watched the performance on stage.
Mywolf bristled inside.Iattuned my senses to what could be rattling him but didn’t spot any threats.Everyonearound us appeared to be into the concert—singing, drinking, or dancing.
Exceptone guy.Iwasn’t the only one admiringGianna.Somepale-ass tattooed dude was straight up staring at her.Thatwasn’t unusual.Giannawas stunning with dark, lustrous hair, a beautiful face, and gorgeous body.Shehad siren blood and captured attention from both men and women wherever we went.Butsomething about his almost hypnotic gaze unnerved me.
“Sebastian, take it easy,”Diegocautioned under his breath. “You’regrowling.”
EvenLucaspaused in his merriment to give me a questioning glance. “Whyare you going all wolfy?” he asked in a low tone.
Icouldn’t explain it.Somethingabout this guy put both my wolf and me on edge.ButLucaswas right—Icouldn’t go around growling at a concert.Wewere in public with thousands of humans around.
“Everything’sfine.”Irolled my shoulders back, trying to shake off the tension that now coiled through each muscle.Thestranger caught my gaze, held it for a few challenging seconds, and then disappeared into the crowd.
Thatrankled my wolf even more, and he coiled inside, ready to pounce.Ibarely kept him from bursting out and shifting to wolf form.Whatwas going on?Ihadn’t had such a strong reaction with such a narrow shard of control over my wolf since the first nightI’dmetGiannaand my wolf realized she was our mate.
Myaggressive reaction that night to a man pawing her had pissed her off so much then that she’d kicked me out of the club.Greatfirst impression.Isure the hell wasn’t going to ruin an otherwise wonderful night just because some dude at a concert was checking out my wife.Shehated it whenIgot overprotective and too possessive.Ittriggered her defensiveness as she’d often clashed with her controllingMarineVeterandad about her independence when she was a teen.
Coolit,Iurged my wolf.He’sgone.
Withmuch reluctance, my wolf finally yielded and settled back down inside.Myheart continued pounding hard as the concert ended and we filed out of the grounds toward the parking lot.
“Whata great concert,”Giannagushed, fortunately oblivious to my reaction to the stranger.
Wesqueezed through the bottleneck of an exit only to see a mass exodus of cars already lined up with brake lights on.
“Lookslike we’re going to be here for a while,”Diegogrumbled.
“Good, then we can hang out,”Lucassaid. “I’min no rush to join a line.”
“Atleast it’s dark,”Diegosaid.He’dhad to remain in the back of the van until sundown, when it had been safe for him to emerge.
Wepulled out the camping chairs and the cooler of drinks and snacks between us.I’dprepared much of the food earlier.Iknew my friends.They’dthink bringing several bags of chips and dips would be suitable for tailgating.Nonsense.Weweren’t going to spend the evening nibbling on rabbit food or whatever fast food was being sold for a small mortgage at the food stands.Ihad marinated steak tips earlier and cooked them to perfection on the camp stove along with skewers of peppers and mushrooms.They’dteased me about the spread yet dove in so there wasn’t a morsel of it left.
Severalpeople settled in outside their cars instead of fighting through the traffic.Theunappealing odor of exhaust fumes from the cars idling in lines reached me.Soon, music was blaring from various vehicles, the closest one playing theCure’s“WhyCan’tIBeYou.”Stillamped up with the post-concert high, many started singing again.
Giannaopened the cooler and handed out bottles of beer and cans of seltzer.
Novatook a black cherry seltzer. “Funny, whenDiegoandIwere fake dating, we’d come up with a story that we’d met at aCureconcert.”
“Whendid you two fake date?”Austinasked.
“Itwas for aHalloweenball right afterI’dreturned toSalem,”Novareplied.Thenshe told the story of howLucasandIhad practically strong-armed her into going asDiego’spretend girlfriend.
“Itall worked out in the end,”Lucasdeclared with a broad grin.
Wechatted with others nearby, sharing our favorite moments from the show.Thenext half an hour passed quickly as cars slowly petered out.Hangingout with my friends was definitely better than sitting in the van and not moving in the line.Theunsettling sensation from the concert finally ebbed away.
Thatwas untilIsaw that guy again.
Hewalked by with a woman on each arm and a small group who could have been contestants in a show called “ExtremeGothMakeover.”Hestared atGiannaonce more.Shewas gushing toNovaabout a concert they’d gone to when they were younger and didn’t notice him.
Istepped toward the tattooed guy beforeI’deven realizedI’dreacted.Mywolf was coiled tight, ready to pounce.Avibrating growl welled up from deep within my chest.Idoubt he heard it over the music, but he caught my warning glare.Heraised his chin in a cocky sort of acknowledgment and kept walking.Ikept my gaze fixed on him, fingers digging into my palms.Iwouldn’t let him anywhere near my mate.Shewasmine.
Afterhe disappeared behind a line of vehicles in the parking lot,Istared for another minute or two to ensure he was gone.
ThenIfinally exhaled and assured my wolf,It’sokay.He’sjust some random dude at a concert.We’llnever see him again.
CHAPTER2
