Page 75 of Taken By the Pack

I blink. “Dancing?”

Rowan and I exchange a look.

“I don’t dance,” I say.

“Same,” mutters Rowan.

But Jake immediately launches into a list of places, rattling off options until he and Grace settle on something.

“You will for me,” says Grace, and just like that, we agree.

Jake and Grace leave together, heading toward the flower shop. Rowan lingers, glancing around my half-empty place before nodding.

“I’m a good carpenter,” he says. “I can help build some stuff.”

I nod back. “I’d love that.”

Something shifts in his expression, and I realize that he’s... calmer today. Not as broody. Not as sharp around the edges.

I tilt my head. “What kind of voodoo sex magic did she pull on you?”

His mouth twitches. “Shut up.”

I laugh, shaking my head as we head toward the sea.

When we reach the tide pools, Rowan cracks open a beer, watching the waves. The sun’s rising higher, turning the water gold.

I crouch, studying the pools, tracking the movement of the fish, the currents.

Rowan takes a slow sip, watching me. “How long are you staying again?”

I glance at him. “Six months.”

He nods. “Plenty of time.”

For what?I don’t ask, however.

I just watch the tide, feeling the shift in the air, in everything.

21

ROWAN

The bar is packed, bodies pressed together, heat rolling off the crowd in thick waves.

The bass thumps through the floor, vibrating up my legs, and the air smells like sweat, spilled beer, and something sweet—her.

She moves ahead of me, hips swaying, confidence dripping from every step. I don’t even know if she’s doing it on purpose or if it’s just the way she moves. Doesn’t matter. I’m watching.

“Are you sure?” I lean in, voice low against her ear. “You haven’t gone into heat all day?”

She turns her head, smiling like I’m ridiculous. “I promise.” There’s a beat, then she reaches back, fingers brushing my wrist. “Last night worked. I’m fine.”

I exhale slowly, nodding, and follow her deeper into the crowd.

The place is a mess of flashing lights and too-loud voices. The Fang gang is here, the usual pack of arrogant bastards. A few firefighters, too.

But she isn’t looking at them. Her gaze flicks over the crowd until she spots Jake and Ash in a booth.

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