Chapter 16
DREW’S POV
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“Fuck me up the ass! If it isn’t Drew Clawbelle. Where the hell have you been, man? I feel like I haven’t seen you in months,” Troy came striding up, half–drunk already, and grinning like an idiot. He gave me a man–hug, clapping my back hard enough to rattle my spine.
I returned the smile, even though my mood didn’t match. For some reason, I just wanted to be alone with
Becca.
“Don’t be an asshole, man,” Scott followed close behind, smacking Troy across the back of his head. “You know his mother died. He was probably grieving. How are you doing, Drew? I’m sorry about your mom. We would’ve come to the funeral, but your father sent word to the other packs that no outsiders were allowed.”
I felt Becca tense up behind me, like she was just remembering that my mother recently died. Her breath hitched too quietly for anyone else to notice, but I did.
“It’s no big deal, Scott. I’m fine now.”
“I see that,” Troy said, his eyes sliding past me and landing right on Becca like she was dessert. “And who is this hot piece of ass?” He brushed past me like I wasn’t even there and grabbed Becca’s hand.
Remus growled inside my head, not liking that at all.
Troy kissed her knuckles. “Did it hurt?”
“Did what hurt?” Becca asked, blinking like he was speaking a different language.
“When you fell from heaven?” Troy grinned. “What are you doing with this asshole? You should be with a real
man.”
He wiggled his brows, and I could tell Becca was both confused and flustered. She didn’t pull away, probably too stunned or polite to know what to do. Since she was wearing Mika’s clothes, her human scent was masked, at least for now. These idiots were too drunk and high to be sharpening their werewolf senses anyway.
“Alright, back off.” I yanked Troy away and slung my arm around Becca’s shoulders, pulling her under my arm like she belonged there. She stiffened at first then I felt her pressing the side of her cheek into my jacket.
“This is Becca, my…” I didn’t feel comfortable calling her my stepsister. “Her mother is married to my father.”
Troy’s eyes widened. “Dude, you’re fucking your stepsister?! That. Is. So. Hot.”
“NO!” Becca blurted, her face going crimson. “We’re just… friends. There’s no copulation of any sort between
us.”
Troy blinked. “That’s a big word for such a little thing.”
“Forgive my brother,” Scott said, rolling his eyes. “He’s just drunk. And an asshole.”
Chapter 16
“So he’s a drunk asshole. Got it.” Becca nodded, like she was taking mental notes.
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“Please, come around the back,” Scott smiled. “That’s where the party is. And Troy,” he added with a sigh, “you need to go run this alcohol off before you do something stupid.”
“Alright, big brother,” Troy hiccupped.
“I’ll send Eli with you,” Scott nodded.
Almost on cue, Eli and his sister Edith appeared. Edith paused when she saw me. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she smoothed it over with a tight smile. I was with her when I got the news that my mother went into labor. I left Edith naked and panting in the woods the same night my mother died. And I hadn’t spoken to her since.
Eli took Troy, grumbling as he guided him toward the front door.
Edith stepped closer, her gaze moving to Becca. “How long has it been, Drew? Seven weeks?”
“About that,” I shrugged.
Her eyes flicked to Becca, assessing her from head to toe. “You move on quickly.”
“She’s his stepsister,” Scott cut in smoothly. “Edith, could you show Becca around the party? I need a word with Drew.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Edith said, voice dripping with obedience but her stare still sharp.
She stretched out her hand toward Becca. “Come. I’ll introduce you to some people.”
Becca hesitated. Her eyes quickly found mine, like she was silently asking for my permission.
“It’s alright,” I said gently. “I’ll be right behind you in a few minutes.”
She nodded, then carefully took Edith’s hand, letting the she–wolf lead her toward the backyard. But her head turned every few steps, eyes locked on me as if she didn’t want to let go of the sight of me.
Once they disappeared behind the hedge, Scott exhaled. “So she’s human.”
My eyes snapped to his face.
He chuckled. “I’m the Alpha. Nothing gets past me.”
Scott was only a year older than me, but he’d earned his Alpha title at seventeen after his parents got killed, making him the youngest Alpha in the region. His pack, the Puffington Pack, had always been close to ours.
“She needed a break from the house,” I admitted. “I hope bringing her here doesn’t cause problems.”
“Does she know about us?”
“No.”
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Chapter 16
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“Good,” he said, lowering his voice. “The council put two humans to death last month. They found out about our kind through their lovers… And being that humans can’t keep secrets, they ran their mouths to the wrong crowd which cost them their lives.”
I swallowed hard. “I heard. Brutal stuff.”
Scott nodded, then leaned in. “But that’s not why I pulled you aside for. I’ve been trying to reach Alpha Devon. There’s been rogue activity, lots of sitings and attacks all over. Some serious shit. I killed three myself in Runeberry Forest last week.”
“I killed one in the Dark Mist Woods the other night. You think it’s connected?”
“No doubt. Cody said his dad and a few warriors handled a nest of them a week ago near Red Moon territory.”
I growled low in my throat. “So even Red Moon is getting hit.”
Scott gave me a look. “I know you and Cody have beef, but his pack’s part of the peace treaty now. We need to stay united. So if you see him tonight… try not to rip his throat out.”
“As long as he doesn’t talk to me, we’ll be fine.”
Scott chuckled. “Can you get your father to meet with us? We need a regional Alpha summit.”
“He’s been… distant. But we’re hosting a royal ball next weekend. Everyone will be there, including the Alpha
King.”
Scott raised a brow. “Fancy. Alright, I’ll spread the word to the other high–rank wolves. You’re still the heir, right?”
“For now.”
He clapped my shoulder. “Let’s go find your human girl before Edith eats her alive.”
We walked around to the back where the party was at full volume. The music was a heavy bass throb that shook the ground. Lights flickered across bodies grinding in time to the beat. Smoke from joints and fire pits exploded into the night. The scent of wolf sweat, booze, and adrenaline hit me like a punch.
I spotted Becca immediately.
She was standing near the pool, her arms hugged around her middle, her eyes wide as saucers. Edith was saying something to her, laughing, but Becca wasn’t even pretending to be comfortable.
I made my way toward her.
And the second she saw me, her entire body relaxed. Like she’d just remembered how to breathe.
She stepped toward me without hesitation, nearly bumping into my chest.
“I thought you forgot about me,” she said. Her voice was small.
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Chapter 16
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She hesitated. “It’s loud. And everyone keeps staring at me.”
“That’s because you’re the hottest thing here.”
She snorted. “You’re just saying that because you dressed me.”
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“No,” I murmured, leaning down so only she could hear. “I’m saying that because it’s true. And because I’m about to lose my shit watching other guys look at you.”
Her cheeks lit up like fireworks. “Should I go change in one of those garbage bags?” she joked.
I growled softly, possessively. “Don’t you dare.”
Suddenly, the music changed. A slower, deeper beat pulsed through the air.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s dance.”
“I heard you don’t dance,” she said.
“I don’t. But for you, I’ll make an exception.”
Becca blinked. “But I don’t know how to dance.”
“I’ll teach you.”
She hesitated. “Drew…”
I took her hand and pulled her into me. She gasped as our bodies aligned, her hands landing on my chest.
“Just follow my lead,” I whispered.
And she did.
Her hips started moving in time with mine, her body syncing to the rhythm. My hand slid down to her waist, guiding her. Her scent surrounded me. My blood ran hotter than it had all night.
Her body was soft, her eyes bright, her lip caught between her teeth.
‘Mine, Remus snarled in my head.
And as her fingers tightened around my neck and our bodies rocked together in the middle of a pack of wolves, I knew he was right.
I think Becca is our mate.
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Chapter 17
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
