Page 37 of Shifters' Fated Summer
She unplugged the curling iron and set it down on the counter. Her hands settled on the back of my chair as she watched me through the mirror.
“Thank you, Elowen. I really appreciate you.” I squeezed her hand.
Elowen sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “These hormones! You can’t keep being so sweet. I can’t handle the emotions.”
“I’m sorry!”
“No, it’s good. Okay, we’d better get down there.” Elowen blew out a breath. “Come on.”
Straightening my dress, I followed her out of the room. The white fabric whispered across the wood floor, hiding my bare feet.
Archer paced at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for his mate. When she started down, he leapt up the last few feet and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up for a kiss.
Elowen’s giggle bubbled up, making me smile.
My gaze snagged on a pair of amber eyes. Full lips pulled into a scowl, and he kept my gaze as I slowly descended the steps.
A tattooed hand gripped Cade’s shoulder, and Luca came into my peripheral vision. His dimple pressed into hischeek as he glanced between his mate and me.
My stomach churned, flipping over at the clear distaste in Cade’s expression in contrast with the sweet hopefulness in Luca’s silvery eyes.
I folded my arms over my stomach, wanting to hide from the intensity of both men. As I reached the bottom, Luca took my hand and kissed it. Cade’s lip curled to reveal a fang that looked a bit sharper and his eyes flared gold. There was no mistaking him for human tonight.
We followed Archer and Elowen to the deck to join the rest of the pack. Luca tugged me closer, whispering into my ear, “You smell fucking delicious. I can’t wait for morning.”
Somehow, I resisted glancing back at Cade. Surely, he smelled me too.
As we stepped off the deck into the woods, Cade called out, “Hold up, where is Jem?”
“I don’t see her,” Harper answered. “Maybe she’s still finishing up her work.”
Cade huffed, more of a growl in his voice than normal. “Luca, go get her.”
Without a word, Luca kissed my hand and released me, turning to jog back to the house. His absence felt like a gaping hole, and I found my anxiety rising.
The pack continued to walk into the trees, not waiting for Luca and Jem. I hesitated, but Cade jerked his head in a clear command to keep moving.
Under the cover of the canopy, the sunset faded to dappled darkness. The werewolves spread out and began topull off shirts.
Cade approached, his broad frame invading my personal space. “Strip and let’s get this done.”
My heart rose to my throat. “Excuse me?”
My fingers traced the straps of my white dress. The last thing I wanted to do was get naked. Around us, the pack paused their actions. Aside from a few missing shirts, they were mostly clothed.
“You heard me. The sooner you shift, we can get this over with,” Cade growled.
“While everyone stands here and watches?”
“No one cares.” He rolled his eyes as if I was an idiot. But from the hateful sneer on Harper’s face, they did care.
“No, I’m not stripping in front of the entire pack while everyone watches.”
“This isn’t your pack,” he deadpanned. “And the sooner you shift, the sooner I can pass you off to an Alpha who actually wants you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, turning away. Shoulders hunched, I stomped away.
Cade snarled, sounding completely inhuman. “Get your ass back here. This isn’t optional.” He followed me, looming at my back.
