Page 36 of Challenged Mate
Chase squeezed. “Anytime, Blair. Just remember to embrace who you are. Will you promise me that?”
“I promise.”
And I meant it.
I might not be the next Summit alpha, but I finally realized that didn’t have to stop me from making a mark on the world.
Things happened for a reason.
I needed to make the most of my circumstances.
Or else all this pain and loss would be for nothing.
Nine
I pulledthe bottom of my borrowed dress down for the tenth time, wondering if I was making a mistake by agreeing to go out to dinner with Chase and Kayla.
I wasn’t worried about them, per se, more the people we’d run into. Word had spread about my fight with Chase, and more and more Wilds Pack members were speaking to me around town. The majority of them were nice enough, but I could see the assessing gleam behind even the nicest shifters’ gazes. I may be rising in their esteem, but they wouldn’t be throwing me a welcoming party anytime soon.
I cringed as the thought reminded me of how Asher’s parents had died.
Staring at my reflection in the floor-length mirror,I noticed the dark circles under my eyes. I moved to the bathroom and retrieved concealer from my modest makeup bag.
I hardly ever wore the stuff, but I wasn’t immune to a pimple or two, so concealer was one of my staples. I dabbed the liquid under my eyes and gently pressed it into my skin with my ring fingers.
When finished, I leaned back and examined my efforts. The purplish hue lingered beneath my bottom lashes, but it was faint. It’d have to do.
A knock sounded on the front door.
I walked out of the bathroom, sparing one last look in the floor-length mirror before walking into the living room and opening the door.
Kayla stood on the other side, wearing a slinky red dress that hugged every curve.
“Ow, ow,” I cat-called. “You look amazing.”
Kayla laughed and did a single spin. “Thanks! You too. I knew that dress would fit, and your legs look killer in those heels.”
I bent my knee to lift my leg behind me, looking meaningfully at the spiked heel. “Are they too much?” Kayla had lent me the dress and heels, saying the restaurant we were going to demanded formal wear for dinner. I looked nice, but heels weren’t usually my style. I worried I’d fall flat on my face before the night was through.
“No, girl. You look great.” Kayla winked.
I smiled, then stepped into the hallway with her.
A familiar Land Rover greeted us when we stepped outside. Chase stood beside the passenger door, leaning against the vehicle. He straightened when he saw us and let loose a long whistle. “Damn, ladies. I’m going to have my work cut out for me tonight.”
“No vagina blocking, Chase.” Kayla waved her finger at him. “You aren’t my brother, and you get no say in my romantic life.”
I choked on a laugh.
She didnotjust say, “vagina blocking”.
“I make no promises, baby cousin,” Chase replied without a hint of remorse. “Asher would kill me if I let a male near either of you tonight.”
I stiffened and shot a quick look over at Kayla. She rolled her eyes, but otherwise didn’t react to her cousin’s remark.
I exhaled with relief.
Then, I gave Chase a pointed look that screamed, “Be careful what you say!”
