Page 36 of Pack Nightmare

My brain switches off as my body switches on, pressing itself to him, my hands reaching up to pull on his shaggy curls.

Derrek moans, then buries his hand in my thick hair, clenching a fistful and tugging lightly. It sends hot rivers of lust down my spine, straight to my core, which is almost painful with need at this point. A desperate, whining sound escapes my lips.

He keeps the grip on my hair and rips his mouth from mine, chuckling darkly. “Mm, somehow I knew you’d like that,” he murmurs, kissing along my jaw and nipping down my neck with his teeth. He pulls just a little more, exposing more neck for his wandering mouth and igniting a fresh course of sensation along my scalp. His free hand glides up the side of my thigh, first squeezing my butt before trailing between us. Excitement ripples across my stomach as his fingers drag over the sensitive skin, then proceed lower, cupping me firmly between my thighs, pushing gently on the damp fabric of my panties. A feral growl rumbles in his chest when my hips move, pressing against his hand.

My hands drop from his head, traveling along his body and tugging at the dress shirt tucked into his pants. I take seconds to get my fingers under the hem, and I press my hands to the hot, rock-hard flesh of his stomach, feeling the muscles flex. He drags his lips up along my jaw and reclaims my mouth roughly. I bend under him, giving in to his demanding pressure like water gives to the steel bow of a ship.

Everything about this moment is hot and intense. I can barely string two words together into a thought before some fresh sensation sends them shattering apart. Kissing Derrek is nothing like kissing my fated.

As if I’ve suddenly found a backbone, I straighten and press firmly against Derrek’s chest, forcing his mouth away from mine. His fingers loosen, releasing my hair and body, and we stand, gasping as we stare at each other yet again. Except this time, it’s a completely different tension.

“Lex,” his tone is anguished, contrite, almost pleading. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t-”

“I have fated,” I cut him off, panting. I don’t want to hear his apologies, and I don’t want to listen to him tell me it was a mistake. I already know.

It doesn’t change the fact that I wanted it to happen, desperately. That it’s taking every ounce of my willpower to keep my distance.

“Right, you have fated mates.” His tone turns flat, and he leans against the chair I so recently vacated. “Regardless, I’m your professor, and it’s completely improper for me to take advantage of you like that.”

I snort. “Come off it, Derrek. Things may have changed since our days on the street, but not that much. You know me, and you know I don’t give a lick about those sorts of rules. I do care about my fated, and how they’d feel. That’s all.”

He runs a hand through his tousled curls. “Right.” Drawing in a deep breath, he stands, tucking his dress shirt back into his pants and straightening his belt buckle. Checking his watch, he adds, “Well, we’re running out of time before class, so do you still want to hear what I invited you here for, or should we table it?”

I tug the hem of my dress. “I’m here, let’s talk.”

Nodding, Derrek passes behind his desk and takes a seat, adjusting his pants. It has been a heroic effort for me not to ogle the outline of the erection I felt against my stomach while he lounged in full view. I sigh with relief when we’re both settled into our chair and I can’t see it any more.

“I wanted to talk to you, because I think I may know someone who can answer your questions about the curse. If there’s anyone who can find a way out of it, it’s her.”

I was just starting to cool down, but this exciting bit of news has my heart rate climbing again. “Who is it? Someone in the pack?”

“Not exactly,” he hedges. “I found out that my grannie is still alive, and she’s old. Like, way beyond the realm of normal old. It probably has something to do with her being a witch. She doesn’t live on Montrose Pack lands, hasn’t for decades. We used to go visit her once in a while, but she likes to keep her distance from ‘the noise of the magical world,’ as she put it. As soon as my mom took over pack duties, she retired.”

“How much could she really know about it? She’s a generation removed, isn’t she? My great grandma was only fifteen when they cursed us.”

“Lex, I’m telling you, she’s old. She was there—she remembers it.”

Chapter Eighteen

Milo

I have to admit, when Lex sent a group text telling us she and Jared were playing hooky and the prof was giving them a pass, I was concerned. Landon and I exchanged a worried glance, then packed our stuff up and hustled out of the library. We meet at Landon’s Grand Cherokee in the student lot and waited for the explanation.

Jared throws his hands up as soon as he sees our faces. “Hey, don’t look at me. This is something to do with Professor Smoothie-pants- ow!” Lex punched him in the arm. “Fine, Derrek, and what he told Layla before class. She hasn’t clued me in yet, said she wanted to tell us all together.”

Lex’s cheeks are bright with color, her eyes practically glowing with excitement. “You guys will not believe it. It turns out that Derrek’s grandma is like, freaking ancient, and she was alive when the curse was made. It was her mom who did it. She was there. He said he can take me to her place so I can ask her how to undo it.”

“No way in hell.” Jared crosses his arms. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Jared,” Landon adds in a gentler tone. “It’s too dangerous to go to Pack Montrose. You know what happened to your great aunt.”

Lex’s tone sharpens. “In case you all have forgotten, I’m the alpha here, not you. And his grandma isn’t on Montrose lands. Apparently she tries to avoid being around magic users as much as possible. He remembers where she lives because he used to visit occasionally with his mom.” Mimicking Jared’s posture, she crosses her arms over her chest and stands her ground, glaring around and daring us to argue.

I’m almost certain there’s more she’s holding back, so I bite my tongue and wait.

“I dunno, Layla.” Jared shakes his head. “It still sounds like a bad idea.”

“Well, that’s too fucking bad, because I’m going. And I want you all to come with me.”

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