Page 37 of Untamed

“You look really nice,” he says.

I peek over my shoulder to find him staring at me. His gaze drifts down my legs, up my ass, and across my torso to my face. I took the time to blow-dry my hair so it lands in dark waves over my shoulders.

While he watches me, I take my time ogling him. He’s wearing dressy, dark jeans and a midnight-blue polo that stretches across his taut shoulders. His short hair is styled to the side. Dammit, he’s hot. He looks good enough to eat.

My wolf agrees, her fur bristling, making the hair on my arms stand to attention.

Down girl.

“Shall we?” he asks, gesturing toward the door.

I grab the small, crossbody purse Mrs. Graves ordered for me, and we walk into the corridor. Jonah shuts the door behind him, inspecting its hinges as he does so. “I think it’s going to be okay.”

I start to chuckle, and it turns to a full-on laugh. “Who exactly did you think I was saying I love you to?”

He glares at me, eyes morphing to yellow before returning to brown. It sends a shiver up my spine. Silence engulfs us as we make our way to Jonah’s truck. Ms. Ebon approved our outing, but I do have a curfew like a lame ass wolf pup. I have to be back by midnight. I’ve never been to a party before, but I’ve seen enough on TV to know that that’s probably when the fun parts start.

Jonah opens the truck door for me, then gets in on the other side. The engine starts smoothly, and as he steers past the stone and iron gate, I peer over my shoulder. This is the first time I’ve consciously left the academy grounds, and a thrill shoots through me. I’m going to do as Mia said. Start fresh. Start new. I can do it.

I’m repeating those thoughts in my head when Jonah starts talking. It’s as if he’s bound and determined to start fresh, too. “The party is in Lunar. Jesse’s throwing it at his parents’ lake home.”

I used to hear stories about parties at the future alpha’s house on the lake, but of course, I was never invited. “Sounds fun,” I tell him, trying to infuse as much enthusiasm as possible.

“They know you’re coming.”

“Great. Can’t wait.”

Jonah sighs. “You don’t have to lie to me, Kinsey.”

I take a deep breath and let it out. “I’m not trying to lie. I’m trying to think happy thoughts. Obviously, I can make friends, so I’m thinking positively.”

He glances over, appraising me. “Mia seems nice.”

“She is,” I tell him. “Her mate sounds like a dick, though.”

“You probably think all the mates are dicks.”

I press my lips together. “Actually, I do.”

The rest of the ride passes with small talk about my classes and his security studies. When the roads we turn down start to feel familiar, I lower the window. The aroma that hits me sends a knife into my gut. Lunar should smell like home, but it doesn’t. I quickly roll it up and lie back.

“You’re nervous,” Jonah states.

I rub my stomach unconsciously, wondering if this is all my nerves or if Jonah is feeling it, too. “Of course I am.”

Reaching over, he places his hand on my thigh. “I’ll be right there.”

The worst part is knowing that I’m going to be judged on this excursion, too. It’s bad enough that I have to be thrust into the same vicinity as these people but the fact that Jonah will also be watching me to see how it goes makes my stomach turn over.

I’ll be pulling triple duty tonight. Trying to forget past hurts, attempting to get people who’ve hated me all my life to like me, and making sure I don’t commit any huge faux pas. All those etiquette classes might actually come in handy. Mrs. Graves’ handbook talked about how to react when someone’s being a douche, and I must have read that section a hundred times. Mind you, that wasn’t the actual title but it should’ve been.

I turn my head toward Jonah. Straight lips and a feathering jaw greet me. He looks about as nervous as I am. I want to ask him what will happen if I don’t pass his test, but I already know. If I don’t get out of Greystone, it’s Feral living for me.

A lot is riding on this night.

Every step forward I take with Jonah is followed by multiple steps backward. The tension between us is too much, but in a lot of ways, I’m relying on him tonight. “You’ll stay with me, right?” He’s already said so, but I need to make sure.

“Until you feel comfortable.” He casts a glance over at me, then returns to watching the road.

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