Chapter 17 Casey
Casey
I sit on the date, trying really hard not to think about why my lips are still slightly sore and puffy.
All we did was kiss for like an hour until breathing seemed pointless and his hands had mapped my entire body.
Until I was burning up in flames of need.
Until, when we parted, it felt weird and unnatural because, clearly, kissing this alpha is my life’s ambition and all my goals.
Who needs chopped wood? I’ll stay warm with the power of his kiss.
“Did you like it?”
I blink back to the current conversation. We’re in town at one of the most expensive restaurants. I’m wearing skin-tight jeans and a turtleneck jumper because Riot wouldn’t let me leave until I was wearing more than the ‘scrap of material on my chest’.
He and Khaos really had it out. I swear, they made the house shake. Angel had waited until they were distracted, grabbed the hem of the top, and simply shredded it off my body.
So, jumper it was.
“Casey?”
“I’m sorry; I was just panicking over whether I remembered to leave water out for the dogs.”
He nods. “I love animals. I think they are amazing for the soul.”
Err… “Yes, I agree.”
He picks up his glass of red wine and swirls it around. “So, I was just asking about your life goals. What do you really need in your life to make it wonderful?”
I need Riot naked and in my bed when I get back. Why am I here? With this man? I want to go home.
“Uh,” what is this guy’s name again? Was it Tennyson? Davidson? Harrison? Crap. “My life goals? Well, I just want to keep going with my business, growing it, living more sustainably off the land.”
“Really? That is interesting. Do you have a lot of land?” He looks at me coyly and licks his bottom lip.
Ew. I must be missing something here because that question and the coy, teasing look don’t marry up.
“Uh, yes, I own a plot up on the mountain.”
His eyes gleam as he leans forward and takes my fingers. I stare at them, wondering if it would be rude to shake him off. No, I’m doing this for the wolves. I relax into his hold.
“Do you like nature?” I ask without really thinking. It’s a ridiculous question.
“Oh yes, nature and I are one.”
What? Maybe not such a dumb question.
I sit back, pulling my hands free. The dinner was too rich, but he ate all of his and then ate mine.
He’s got dark hair and dark eyes and just seems like a normal guy, which is making me very nervous.
Or maybe I’m just jaded.
“Would you like dessert, or would you like to go for a walk with me? I always think ending the night with a stroll is the perfect way to end a day.”
I mean, sure, that sounds nice. “Okay.”
I stand up and follow him out of the restaurant. He pays for everything, doesn’t even let me speak, just tells me he has this.
He seems like the perfect guy.
We walk side by side, deep into the dark. I can smell the wolves, which is insane. They can’t be here. Surely.
“I’m really glad you agreed to come on this date with me. I didn’t think you would.”
“Oh, why wouldn’t I?”
He laughs softly. “I guess, I’d assumed you’d have looked at my social media and bailed. But I love that you have an open mind. That you are so accepting of differences. It would be easier to show you all of me than explain. Can I do that?”
I rub my chin, unsure whether I should or not. “Okay,” I say hesitantly.
In the dark, I catch sight of a huge grey wolf. So, they are here. Wrath lays down and watches from under a bush.
“I thought you weren’t going to be here?” I hiss.
The tip of his tail wags, but he doesn’t answer me otherwise.
I pace the darkness, wondering where my date has gone and whether I need to be alarmed or not.
When I turn around, my heart stops, and I immediately have to bite my cheek so I don’t start laughing. Because this is so bad right now. It has to be a joke.
He’s going to get us killed. That thought rings crystal clear in my mind.
He’s got furry wolf ears, a long tail that bobs when he moves, sewn oversized paws, and he’s modified his face, even so far as putting fur markings on where a wolf would have them. He does a skipping jump to me, tilting his head up and sniffing the air.
Wrath lifts his head, his eyes wide open. I focus on my date, refusing to look at the real shifter losing it in the shrubs.
“Rrrwff,” my date says and tilts his head back and arrooos into the night.
Oh. My. God.
He pounces on a tree and scratches it up. I don’t know what to do; I just stare at him. Wrath stands up, his gaze focused on my date like he doesn’t want to miss a second of this shit show.
“My name is Razor, rrrwff.”
He comes up and bends down behind me, following when I spin away. My cheeks heat, and I cast a look at Wrath as I try to fend him off.
“What are you doing! Stop!” I shriek. I try to shove him away, but he just follows me in circles, sniffing and growling.
Someone help me.
“You have wonderful smells,” he says, panting when he stops trying to sniff me. “I like you. We should go to your mountain and play. You can run, and I can chase.”
Wrath’s ears drop, pinning to his head, and he exposes his teeth in a sinister snarl.
My date flicks his tail, his long wolflike tail. I look down at the grass and swallow hard, not looking at Wrath, definitely not looking at Wrath.
I blink at him several times. “What is this? What are you doing?” I wish I could remember his name.
“Rrrwff.”
“Seriously, we need to talk. Look, I don’t have a problem with this, but you need to listen; you can’t be doing that here!”
“Woof.”
“I’m not joking. I need to have a human conversation with you, please,” I snap, my anger finally breaking through my shock.
He cocks his head to the side and whines, then throws his head back and howls.
I take five steps back from him, but he rushes me, cuddling up to me.
“It’s perfect. I know you’re from Pack Foster. We can live as wolves together.”
I freeze. The horror of what he’s implying, what he’s saying, sinks deep. I need to cut this off now. “You’re not a wolf, and neither am I,” I say coldly.
“No, but-”
“No, I’m not a wolf. I don’t have one. I’m human, and I’m not dressing up to be anything but what I am, and, trust me, you should stop this nonsense in this town. If Pack Foster finds out about you, your life is over.”
He shoves away from me and pouts. “You’re just jealous.”
“Jealous? My poor, deluded date,” I snap out, “I was born into a pack that hates humans with a passion, and you are trying to be like them. Not only will they find you offensive, but they will find you sport. Stop doing it. Or go somewhere it’s safe to be you.
But this town will hand you over to that pack, and no one will mention your name once you’re gone. Trust me,” I say bitterly, “I know.”
He lifts a hand, sorry, a paw, and scratches his ear. The whole thing is ridiculous. I cover my face with a hand until I hear a bark of laughter.
“What is this? What the actual fuck is this, Casey? Oh, god, this is just perfect. It’s made my night.”
I go completely still, glancing at Wrath and making a stay motion with my hand.
James walks into the park and looks between us.
“Oh, this is sad. You couldn’t find anyone who wanted you in the pack, so now you’re playing dress-up?
I mean there’s hard-up, Casey, and there’s this.
If you were desperate for a wolf cock, they would have found someone who could have taken care of you if you’d begged. ”
James is tall with light brown hair, mean green eyes, and is built like a tank.
He’s human, but one of Jonas’ drinking buddies.
One of the few humans tolerated, and the reason why is because he helps the pack with things they need.
Like a delivery service. He might think he’s in with the pack, but he’s just another tool they use.
“Leave, James.”
He sidles closer to me, looking between us, and now Razor looks unsure; he whimpers and steps back. His whole self collapses, and I see that all his bravery was mostly bravado, and in the face of an actual bully, he’s got nothing.
Big mistake. James can scent weakness like sharks scent blood in the oceans.
“Who is this?”
“Never mind who he is, what do you want?” I fold my arms under my breasts, noting the way he’s looking me up and down.
“Oh, just passing through, and I saw the most amazing sight. Fuck, you actually look like a woman tonight. Almost fuckable.”
“No, you didn’t,” I bark. “You didn’t see anything.”
James grins. “It’s going to cost you.”
“How much?”
James leans close and licks his lips. “Give me a blowie.”
I don’t let him see the dismay in my eyes; I just harden myself and cock my head to the side, watching as he sidles even closer.
“Come on, Casey, it will be a secret between us. What Jonas doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
“What Jonas finds out will get us killed,” I say back just as quietly.
“What Jonas hears from me will get your ass put back in the hole, that pussy smashed, and your date will be the latest entertainment if you don’t make good.”
“Leave him alone.” I glance at my date. “You remember what I told you?”
He nods stiffly, and I realise he’s as close to terrified as I’ve ever seen anyone. I wonder how many times he’s been hurt for being who he is.
“Go. Don’t look back.”
He leaves without any more warning, not even looking back, but I’m already skirting around James, drawing his attention. He licks his lips and reaches out, grabbing my upper arm and spinning me around so I’m facing him.
“He’ll give you to me anyway, when you're his. You may as well stop fighting. The gathering is in three weeks, and then it’s all over for you, little wolf.”
I try to pull my arm free, but I can’t. He squeezes hard, and I let out a groan that makes his eyes fire up.
If I hit him, how long until the pack shows up on my mountain? They’d find my guests for sure.
And just like that, as if my thoughts conjured them, they appear. A silver wolf, flanked by a white one, stepping out of the shadows, growling, violence and threat dripping off them in waves.
James just gives me a knowing look.
Angel snarls at him.
His face drains of blood. “I was just kidding; I wouldn’t have let her go through with it.”
I keep my lips pressed together. It’s unlikely James would know that these aren’t Foster Wolves; very few people ever get to see their other forms.
They continue to advance.
“You'd better leave, James. Clearly, I owe them a conversation.” I force myself to sound resigned and unhappy, but I’m really trying not to laugh.
James takes another step backwards and then another. Within minutes, I’m standing alone in the park, shoulders slumped, while Wrath shifts into his human form, snags my wrist, and drags me to where we left the car.
I’m pushed into the passenger side while he gets in the back with Angel. Khaos looks at us with a raised brow.
“What happened this time?”
Angel lets out a sound that silences the entire car.
Khaos sighs heavily. “All right, tell me what happened.”
Angel throws his head back and starts to laugh. I cross my arms under my breasts and glare out the window, refusing to speak.
“Well, it was going really well inside the restaurant, but then they went for a walk,” Wrath begins.