Page 171 of Sweetheart: Part One

I swallowed. I’d deal with it later—and no more Sweethearts after this. I didn’t care what Ebony said. I couldn’t… I didn’t have the strength to do this again.

Vex had been awhile, and when Ebony asked where she was, I’d only told him she would be back soon. She’d been upset, but how long did it take for her to pull herself together? What was there for her to be upset about? That I’d discovered her lies?

Again, I fought a scowl, gaze darting to the door I’d come through. Even now, I was worried for her—which was more than she deserved. If the Lightning pack left that way, I’d be after them in a moment. I felt like I was falling apart inside—and angry for it—but I wouldn’t let her get caught in the middle of a pack war.

Instead, to my surprise, Prey Nightingale stepped up to our booth.

“Prey?” Rook asked, surprised, and across from me, I saw the familiar shadow crossing Ebony’s face as he took in the female alpha we’d once been so close with.

She was everything I remembered, dark hair and bright eyes that were fierce enough right now, that they easily made up for her height—which was lacking beside most alphas. As a lone alpha who hadn’t claimed silver status, she wasn’t at risk of a scent match, and so didn’t have to mask her scent. Her aura and scent of jasmine and myrrh enveloped me, a tense edge to it.

“Your o—” Prey cut off. “Your Sweetheart is in a bit of trouble,” she said.

My brows furrowed.

Vex?

What the hell had happened?

“Trouble?” I asked, frowning. “What do you mean?”

Drake was already on his feet, alert.

“That’s her business, but she’s… dealing with something. She needs to go home. Now.”

Dealing with something?What the fuck had Vex told them? Had she said something about me to Prey? By the icy look in the alpha’s eyes, I’d guess yes.

And how the fuck had Prey met her at all?

“Where is she?” Drake asked, face a mask of concern.

Prey nodded her head to the exit I’d come from. “Side hallway, little room. My friend’s with her. She’s—”

She cut off as Drake made in the direction she’d indicated, but I got to my feet, grabbing his arm. “Wait,” I said. “Ebony. You go. We’ll catch up.”

Prey looked unimpressed as Ebony slipped by me without question. Drake was staring at me, confused.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I’ll explain later,” I muttered. I just couldn’t have him going in there and falling for Vex’s bullshit before I talked to him properly.

Prey’s eyes were narrowed. “You aren’t giving me much confidence.”

I wrinkled my nose, annoyed that the first time I’d spoken to her in years was tainted by Vex’s manipulation.

“I don’t know what she told you,” I said. “But it’s not like it sounds.”

“What does that mean?” Prey asked, nostrils flaring, head tilted just slightly in challenge.

Oh, she was pissed—and on Vex’s behalf? I clenched my jaw. “It’snotyour business,” I said. “You don’t understand—”

Prey jabbed a finger into my chest, her ambient, female alpha’s aura flaring—so different from ours—likely enough to cut me off by itself.“Justin Hightower,”she snarled, drawing me up with the name I’d not heard in years. “You’ll drop what’s between you tonight. You’ll take her home, and you’ll make sure she’s cared for.”

Rook made a little noise in his throat, respect or humour, I wasn’t sure.

I wasn’t up for it.

Fuck this. I knew my expression was sour.Minutes, Vex must have had with Prey, and she already had her against me.

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