Page 14 of Mine to Claim

“Your scene.”

“Nothing like this. Nothing remotely including this many people, if any. I prefer a cup of hot tea and a book over this,” I said loudly as the song got louder, jerking my head at the crowd.

“I know what you mean,” he yelled back.

“Oh? Do you?”

“Yeah, but I like using my hands—sculpting,” he said, lifting them as if to demonstrate.

“That’s… really cool,” I admitted, leaning in so he could hear me better. He flashed me a genuine smile and I stared at him openly. Evander wasn’t just handsome—he was hot. Glowing eyes flashed and I compared them without meaning to.Where Evander is sweet, quiet, and caring, Grayson can turn me into a puddle just by looking at me.Grayson’s gaze was intense and dominant. I’d talked to this man more than Grayson and yet he’d had more of an effect on me.

“Does it hurt?” His eyes flashed as he gestured at my still swollen face and I gulped.

“Not anymore. You were right. Your drinks are stronger.” I nod at the glasses in front of us.

“Did you end it with him?” I nodded as Jace appeared and leaned on the booth.

“Bitch! You need to get your ass out there,” Dani squealed as she squeezed in next to me.She isn’t even sweating. How cruel can the gods be?Snatching a glass up, she drank the gin and tonic like water.

I could never.

“I’ve had a couple drinks and I think I’m ready!” I yelled. The rest of my body was hot and I was feeling good. She looked at me and a slow smile spread across her face. Nodding, she got up.

“Let’s show them how it’s done!”

Nodding, I got up and grabbed her hand. We started dancing and then the guys were around us—Jace at her back and Evander’s hand on my waist as he moved behind me. I swallowed the lump in my throat because he reminded me of Parker before he was an asshole.I won’t let him ruin this night.

Fuck. him.

Evander was solid behind me, his body swaying against mine as the song changed to a faster beat. Dani grabbed my hands and lifted them up in the air. We jumped and laughed, shaking our heads left and right. Evander groaned behind me and as fingers slid down my thighs I understood why—my dress had ridden half up my ass. I didn’t question it, I didn’t think too much into it, I didn’t wonder what Parker would think if he saw me. I just danced with my best friend. For once in a really long time, I didn’t worry about anything. We danced until we couldn’t dance anymore.

***

We stumbled into the pack house a little after 2 am. Jace cradled Dani in his arms like she was the most important person in the world.He doesn’t say much, but I can tell he’s so far gone for her.I was holding onto Evander’s arm to keep me from falling. Looking around, I was disappointed when Grayson was nowhere to be seen. And I wondered if he was somewhere with that blonde again.

“I’m going to put her to bed,” Jace murmured, Dani nuzzled up against his chest, her arms around his neck. He turned from us and headed up the stairs quickly, yet careful not to wake her. And then I was left standing in the lobby with Evander.

“He’s not going to let her anywhere out of his sight,” he chuckled.

“Why not?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“The Blood Moon. It’s almost here. It only comes every 18 months.”

“Why would that make him so protective?”

“We can find our mates during the Blood Moon. This is also the only time pairs can take a chosen mate.” Confusion pulled my brows together.

“Mate?”

“We worship the Moon Goddess. When we’re born, she picks someone for us. The couple, or throuple, is made just for the other in the pairing. A chosen mate is not your Goddess given mate, but one you choose to bond with and spend the rest of your lives together with.” There was a longing in his voice that matched the look in his eyes. And I remembered all those times Dani spoke of a soulmate—someone made just for you. I laughed bitterly.

It all makes sense now.

“What happens if you don’t find your mate during the Blood Moon?”

“You have to wait until the next one and Dani’s of age now. It’s up to her if she’ll have him. He’s always loved her. She just realized it recently.”

“There’s so much I didn’t know about her. The situation that brought me here is shitty, but I’m happy it turned out this way.” He tensed at the reminder before releasing me.

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