Page 25 of Claimed By the Wolf
Maybe Brax will turn my bedroom into a home gym when I leave. Or some kind of kinky sex dungeon for all his conquests.
The stupid thoughts don’t bring a smile to my face.
This is likely going to be my last night here, in my own bed, in Ember Hollow territory. How should I spend it?
My eyes travel toward my cell phone charging on the nightstand, and I realize being alone is a bad idea. All I’ll be doing is thinking about Nox all night. I should call some friends and try to enjoy what’s left of my time here.
The twins message me back in a group chat, urging me to join them at a local bar.
I’m in no mood to drink, but the noise will be a good distraction. Anything to keep my mind off the impending sense of doom and endless ache of desire vying for top place inside me. I just can’t get comfortable in my own flesh.
Me:I’ll be there in half an hour.
Dressing in a jean skirt and a blue tank top, I sweep my golden tresses into a high ponytail and slip into a pair of cowboy boots, making my way out of the house to meet my taxi. The driver’s eyes widen appreciatively as I climb inside the vehicle.
“Out for a fun Friday night?” he asks pleasantly, pulling away from the curb.
I offer him a glum smile. “I hope so.”
“Cheer up. A girl as pretty as you will definitely have a great time. I bet you’ll even meet your future husband tonight!” He winks jokingly in the rearview mirror, and I almost burst into tears.
The twins are already drunk by the time I arrive at the All Hat Saloon. Despite its name, it’s really more of a modern club than it is a tavern, with a live DJ playing modern country and pop songs to a laser-lit dance floor.
Sienna waves me toward their table, and Sierra scoots over to let me in the booth, grabbing for the vodka bottle chilling at the center of the table. Sandwiched between the purple-haired menaces, I get an earful from the second I plop down.
“Girl. I hear you’re leaving us for Willow Grove!” Sierra yells over the music, sloshing the liquid into a glass for me. She slaps the drink in my hand, her violet eyes gleaming with mischief and malice. I smile weakly and accept the drink, as her sister gives me a half-hug, their identical faces peering at me speculatively.
“Yep. Possibly as early as tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you nervous as hell?” Sienna presses.
“Emeric is hot, though!” Sierra counters, nudging me. “You could do worse.”
I take a long sip of my drink, relishing the taste of the alcohol as it burns down my throat.
“I kept trying to get our cousin to set me up with him,” Sierra says. “But he’s useless.”
“So useless,” Sienna parrots, her voice growing shriller as she gets drunker.
“But you didn’t want to go, did you?” Sierra pinches my cheeks, her plum fingernails scraping at my skin.
They are obnoxious. I don’t know how I’ve been friends with them for so long.
“Nox is such an ass for doing this to you,” Sierra complains. “I mean, I thought he loved your brother like a brother.”
I bristle. “He’s not an ass!” I snap before I can stop myself. The sisters stare at me, blinking, and I quickly add, “He’s just doing what’s best for the pack.”
I shift my eyes down and pick up my vodka again, slugging it back, downing the rest of the glass.
Sierra titters. “Sure,” she drawls sarcastically. “You seem totally fine with it.”
She pulls the bottle from the bucket and refills my glass again as I tense.
“He doesn’t have a choice,” I mumble, taking another sip.
“Sure he does,” Sienna barks, sitting back to fold her arms over her chest. “He could find a female who actually wants to mate with him. Or he could just tell Emeric to stay in his lane instead of selling out the females of our pack.”
Her sister nods vehemently. “Uh-huh,” she agrees. “He’s just taking the easy way out if you ask me.”
