Page 24 of Forsaken Devotion: Part 2
Drake peered down at me, his smirk making my skin crawl.
“Ah, so he told you a bit about our past, yes?”
I narrowed my eyes at his cryptic comment. He inhaled, visibly sniffing my hair.
“You smell of your pathetic mate.”
I clenched my teeth with an audible click.
His words shouldn’t piss me off. I was mad at Lucian for Moon’s sake. He’d broken my heart, but the way he sneered about Lucian made my blood boil.
“Shut up,” I hissed.
“Oh, ho,” he mocked, his hand squeezing the outside of my arm a little harder than necessary.
He guided me down a cleared path through the pub. It was like everyone sensed the power of his body and got out of the way, even the humans.
A hand wrapped around mine. I whipped my head toward Verity. Her eyes were wide and kept flicking over to him and back to me.
Drake stiffened against me, his body so tense, I could tell she’d pissed him off, but the smirk didn’t move. This male was dangerous. It hit me across the face. Lucian was just as dangerous. Now I understood why everyone seemed leery around him. I just didn’t feel that way because his presence soothed me.
If everyone felt like I felt around Drake while they were near Lucian, I’d be baring my neck too if he were my Alpha.
“Where are you going?” Verity asked, her voice smaller than I’d ever heard. She was terrified.
I shook my head a slightest bit.
“I’ll see you at the house,” I said, pointedly.
“But, Joey?—”
“Stop,” I ground out between my teeth.
“She’s welcome to come along,” Gideon drawled.
“No,” I snarled. “She knows nothing,” I snapped pointedly. Gideon smirked and raised the hand that wasn’t currently tucking me against him.
“Run along then,” he shooed her.
Verity frowned at me, and I nodded.
“I shouldn’t leave you alone?—”
“Listen, Verity, get the fuck out of here.”
Her eyes widened, but she leaned closer to my ear and said, “It’s obvious I’m out of my depth here. I’ll leave, but I expect you home or I’ll call the police.” The last bit was much louder. Shewas saying it without saying it that she’d put in a report if I didn’t come home.
She disappeared into the crowd, thankfully. I returned my gaze to the violent-looking Alpha. The wolf tattoo on his neck strained with the stretch.
“Let’s get this little chat over with.” I tipped my chin up.
He smiled, slow and wide. It sent chills racing down my back. We kept walking, and it wasn’t lost on me that everyone avoided him, exactly how Lucian was avoided. Every species recognized the power radiating from Alphas.
Drake led me through into a hall. As soon as the door closed behind him, the music cut off.
“So, you accepted Stools into your pack,” I commented, trying to be nonchalant. “I’m assuming Lucian doesn’t know about it.”
His stride slowed, and he turned the full force of his presence toward me. His dark hair was shaved closer on the sides, allowing his waves to sit perfectly on top of his head.
