Page 68 of The Denver Alpha

“I’m so sorry, Cole,” Juliet rushes out, throwing her arms around my neck and squeezing me tight. “That’s just awful. I had no idea.”

Her show of compassion has my walls slamming back up, my automatic response to shut out unwanted emotions. “Nobody does, except Sam and a couple others,” I say pointedly. “I’d appreciate if it stayed that way.”

Juliet nods in understanding, pulling back and staring into my eyes like she’s expecting me to go on.

Instead, I push up on my forearms, kicking the sheets away as I sit up in bed. “We should probably get ready for the day and head downstairs,” I mutter. “Not sure what time Brock and Astrid are getting on the road, but…”

“They’re leaving by three,” she interjects.

I narrow my eyes on Juliet in question, and she shrugs as she slides out of bed.

“They offered to take me back with them so I can run with my pack for the full moon,” she supplies as she starts hunting the floor for her clothing.

I arch a brow, watching her intently. “Are you?”

My pulse pounds in my ears while I hold my breath.

Shit, do I want to ask her to stay?

Didn’t Astrid ask if she was staying?

What if…

“Nah. Shay said there’s a big club night at Zodiac that I don’t want to miss,” Juliet says flippantly. She plucks her bra up off the floor, securing the band around her chest and threading her arms through the straps.

I climb out of bed, heading over to my dresser to grab a t-shirt for her to wear. “Is that the only reason?” I ask, the picture of nonchalance. Snagging a soft grey t-shirt out of my dresser, I toss it her way and she catches it out of the air.

“What other reason would there be?” Juliet teases with a smirk. She slips the shirt on over her head and it falls down her body, landing mid-thigh.

Damn she looks good wearing my clothes.

A littletoogood.

She combs her fingers through her hair, looking over at me and raising her brows in question.

I shrug a shoulder, still committed to playing it cool as I grab a pair of boxers out of my dresser to change into after I shower. “You know, Club Zodiac is twenty-one and up…”

A wadded-up ball of fabric hits me in the side of the head.

“Bite me, Sarge,” Juliet growls as I watch it fall to the floor, realizing it’s her dress from last night.

I can’t fight the grin that pulls at the corners of my lips. I look over at her, our gazes colliding with magnetic force.

“You’re gonna pay for that,” I murmur, taking a threatening step in her direction.

Juliet shrieks out a giggle, darting across the room as I lunge toward her to give chase.

No matter what I do, she’s still wild. Headstrong. Stubborn. Bratty.

I may never be able to tame a girl like Juliet, but damnit if it isn’t fun trying.

27

I press my thighs together tightly and swivel to dangle my legs out the back door of Tobias’ SUV, careful not to flash the long line of clubgoers waiting outside of Zodiac as I hop down from the vehicle. The skirt I’m wearing tonight is sinfully short; a high-waisted black pleather number that I’ve paired with a lacy maroon bodysuit and heels to match. And if you think I wore this outfit with the intention of driving Cole crazy, then you’re absolutely fucking right. The man is going to lose his shit in the best way when he sees me tonight. I can’twait.

Shay hooks her arm through mine, tugging me sideways so Kylie and Eddie can climb out of the SUV behind me. Meanwhile, Tobias comes around the front of the vehicle and tosses his keys to the valet.

“Dang, is it always like this on a Monday?” I ask, elbowing Shay and nodding to the crowd of people waiting to get in the club. They’re lined up all the way to the corner of the building and there’s no telling how many more are waiting around the corner out of sight.

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