Page 38 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"Oh god, it's not that," I say glaring at my aunt. "It's just … you know … this is new and …"

"She's a horny mess," Courtney finishes helpfully.

"I am not," I hiss. Although, that's not strictly true.

I am horny.

Is it that obvious? My skin is tingling, a beat pulses between my legs and for the first time in my life I can declare that I'm wet and it not be a lie.

The alphas now sitting either side of me, study me with interest as I duck my head and stare down at the menu. Not that I can read the words. They are swimming across the page and my temperature is creeping up like it did last night. Both these men smell so delicious and all I want to do is reach out and touch one. Just one tiny little touch. Perhaps one tiny little taste.

I grab the nearest glass of water and chug it down, everyone staring at me like I'm unhinged.

A waitress approaches. Young, beautiful and wearing a flirtatious smile that she directs at both the alphas.

"Can I take your order?" she asks, chewing the end of her pencil seductively.

And oh lord, murderous rage spikes in my stomach. I hold my hand to my middle as if I can hold it back. I close my eyes. I'm not the murderous type. I don't yell at people, yet alone dive across tables to wrap my fingers around their throats.

"We're going to have the lobster," Silver declares, reeling off a selection of sides to accompany the main dish. "Thank you." He leans in to whisper in my ear. "She's gone. Want me to ask for a different waiter?"

I open my eyes and find him smirking at me.

"No, it's just …" I snap my hands away. "Hunger pangs."

Axel thrusts a slice of the buttered bread my way. "Eat," he commands and on instinct I open my mouth. Like a dog. Like a trained flipping dog.

This is too much. But Courtney is wittering on about how beautiful the place is and, oh look, there's so and so soap star sitting over there, and there's that basketball player by the bar. And I can't put an abrupt end to things.

I lean back in my chair and try to concentrate on my cousin's words and not the rhythmic breathing of the alphas either side of me. I try to focus on the aromas of the food drifting through the restaurant and not the two scents clamoring for my attention.

I'm doing a pretty pathetic job on both fronts, but luckily our food arrives promptly.

The two alphas tussle over who is going to serve me my lobster. Both grip the handle of the silver spoon. It swings backwards and forward between them both. I stare at the huge lobster in panic, its little beady eyes staring right back at me, and wonder if any minute it's going to land in my lap.

"Actually," I say, "I'm perfectly capable of serving myself." I rest my hand over the spoon handle and their grips relax. "Please," I add and the two alphas drop their hands away, both looking exceedingly sheepish.

I end up serving everyone, thinking that will be the best way to avert any more disagreements and we all tuck in.

The first bite is divine, possibly the best thing I have ever eaten in my entire life, the white meat melting into my mouth and flavor bursting across my tongue. I moan in satisfaction.

Big, big, big, big mistake.

The noise sounds orgasmic and it has both alphas' scents spiking.

The sudden assault on my nose causes fire to race across my skin and my hands to shake.

"I need to use the bathroom," I snap, as a leg grazes my thigh and an arm my shoulder.

I leap up from my seat and scuttle through the restaurant, trying to find the safety of a cubicle.

Once the door is shut, I close the toilet lid and slump down. I try to breathe. My heart is racing like a runaway train and the beat between my legs is turning darn needy.

Could I lessen the ache? A little bit of self-care before I return to the table?

I groan. Probably not. It's always taken an age to get myself off. They'll send a search party looking for me and then they'll know what I was up to in this bathroom. I have a feeling things like that are a red flag to a bull when it comes to alphas.

Reluctantly, I emerge from the cubicle and splash yet more cold water on my scorching skin. At this rate I'm going to need to invest in an ice dispenser.

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