Page 33 of Mated to Team Shadow

Ibit my lip.What the hell am I supposed to think?As a journalist, this was the biggest story ever to fall into my lap, but if what they said was true, good luck trying to get sources to verify it. It was a crackpot story that belonged in grocery store tabloids.

And I disliked the way they stared at me, like I was lunch and dessert at the same time.If they get hungry enough will they snack on me?

"Take another sip," said Ryker.

"Why? Trying to get me drunk?" I lifted my head to give him a defiant stare.

He shook his head. "No. I want you to steady your nerves because you're freaked out right now."

"You…want…me? What are you? My father?" This was getting too freaky.God help me, someone better come rescue me from these freaks.

"No," he rumbled dangerously. "Your Alpha."

I swallowed hard at the command in his voice and almost fell back against the wall of the raft, but then straightened my spine.

"Listen, mister, I don't know what you mean by that, and I don't particularly care. You aren't anything to me, and talk to me again like that, and I'll swat your nose. And let me tell you." I held up my hand and showed my acrylic nails which were long and sharp. "Kitten has claws!"

I did my best to sound threatening, and something worked, though not in the way I expected. Gunner opened his mouth and laughed.

"Hey, Ryker, looks like Kitten put you in your place."

"Shut up, Gunner."

Damon and Kane laughed into their hands, and Ryker's eyes blazed. In fact, they glowed a bright green, which caused me to sit back again. Holy hell, I did not know what I was dealing with.

"You're scaring her," said Damon. "And this won't get us anywhere." He turned to me. "Do you want something to eat?"

I shook my head. My nerves sparked queasiness in my stomach, and I couldn't bear a single thing. In fact, the whiskey wasn't helping my stomach either.

Kane fished in a backpack and brought up another Dramamine tablet.

"Open your mouth and put this under your tongue."

"Those taste awful."

"Not as bad as vomit," said Kane pragmatically.

I wasn't sure, but then Kane hadn't led me wrong yet.

"Okay," I said reluctantly. He placed the tablet under my tongue, and I noticed all the men gazed at me.

"Stop that," I said. Or tried to around the tablet.

"Stop what, kitten?" said Gunner. He edged closer to me.

"Staring at me like I'm dinner."

"Oh, he can't," said Damon. "Because you are delicious."

Oh hell; oh, hell; oh, hell; they will make a meal of me. I scrambled backward, my heart rattling and my mouth and throat dry.

"Back off," ordered Ryker. "Damn it! Give her space."

"Right, on a raft," said Gunner caustically.

"I swear to fucking God, if you don't back off I'll toss you in the ocean."

"Okay, okay," Gunner groused. "It's just that it's difficult."

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