"Ava," an unfamiliar voice coos, and I cringe at its overly saccharine tone.
Turning, I see Chloe sauntering toward , hips swaying in a way that catches the eye of every male she passes. For a mont, I'm startled by her revealing clothes—a tight, low-cut top that leaves little to the imagination and a skirt so short it barely covers anything at all.
Like Lisa, her auburn hair flows in ssy waves over her shoulders, but her eyes are slathered in fancy eyeliner and shadows that belong on one of those make-up artists from online videos. Fancy stuff. A little too much for , but I can appreciate the talent behind it.
She reaches and greets with an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek, her lips lingering just a bit too long for comfort. "You look amazing," she gushes, her eyes raking over my body in a way that makes want to squirm. "So much better than your training clothes."
I force a smile, trying to ignore the way her complints feel insincere, like she's just saying what she thinks I want to hear. "Thanks, Chloe."
Her hand reaches out, fingers grazing gently over my breast as she leans in close. "They suit you," she purrs, and I fight the urge to recoil from her touch. "Don't they?"
The question's tossed to soone behind her, but I can't tell who. There are too many wolves around watching us.
A whistle from one of the nearby male shifters makes my cheeks burn, and I step back, putting so distance between Chloe and myself. She just laughs, the sound grating on my nerves. "Oh, you're adorable," she coos, like I'm so sort of skittish animal she finds amusing.
Before I can respond, she's pressing a cup of pink punch into my hand, not even bothering to ask if I want it. I stare down at the liquid, suddenly feeling out of my depth. Is this what life in the Westwood pack will be like? Overly familiar touches, suggestive comnts, and a complete lack of personal boundaries?
It doesn't feel right.
That weird, not-right feeling is back, my stomach churning and my skin prickling with unease.
Here, it seems like everyone is in everyone else's business, touching and flirting and acting like it's all just normal. Now I see why Selene was amused by that girl staring at earlier.
This isn't sothing I enjoy, and won't ever be sothing I'm used to. I'm not even sure this is what's normal here. If I'm reading Chloe right—and I think I am, paranoia be damned—she's done this all on purpose.
To make feel like I don't belong.
Why?
I take a sip of the punch, the sweetness cloying on my tongue. Chloe is still watching , a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She knows she's made uncomfortable, and she seems to revel in it.
I think of Lucas, of the way he looks at sotis like I'm the only person in the world. He's never made feel like this, objectified and on display. With him, I feel safe, even cherished.
But Lucas isn't here right now. He's off dealing with my pack business, so it's only fair that I navigate these shark-infested waters on my own. I can't rely on him to protect from every unwanted advance or inappropriate comnt.
If I ever accept the position of his mate, I need to be stronger. I can't be his weakness.
Correct, Selene whispers.
I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I et Chloe's gaze head-on. "Thanks for the drink," I say, my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. "But I think I'm going to go find Lisa now."
Chloe's smirk falters, just for a mont, before she plasters it back on. "Of course," she says, her tone sickly sweet. "I'm just so glad you made it today."
"Thanks for the invite," I mutter, squeezing by her. I'd escaped into the kitchen to find peace, only to find soone even scarier than Mia.
Am I wrong? Is this normal? Because it doesn't feel very normal at all.
No, Selene says shortly. There will always be those jealous of your success.
Success? What success? I'm in the bottom tier of our training group's skills. I can't shift. I'm not even a proper mate.
There's no success here. Just a hot ss of a shifter with way too many secrets. Secrets I can't even share with the man who's supposed to be my other half.
Don't let this sour you, Selene murmurs. Just mingle. There will always be jealous wolves, but there are also good ones out there.
Right. The entire party isn't just about Mia and Chloe. There are plenty of other wolves to get to know.
Of course, I'm not outgoing enough to introduce myself to random shifters, so there's that.
And Lisa and Bren are…
Hmm.
Missing.
Which probably ans they're doing sothing behind closed doors.
Or dancing, Selene offers.
Right. Or dancing. I cast an inexperienced eye over all the gyrating, twisting bodies, noticing a quick pattern. Mostly n and woman dancing together, hips plastered against each other.
So, less dancing and more like clothed sex on the dance floor.
That looks fun.
Shocked by Selene's wistful words, I almost trip over so unsuspecting male's foot.
"Whoa!" A firm hand grabs my arm, laughing when the pink punch I never wanted spills all over him. Only a quarter inch is left in my cup, and my savior is covered in the pungent sll of juice and alcohol. "You okay, little wolf?"
I'm stunned into silence as I take in the gorgeous face peering down at , his warm brown eyes crinkling with amusent. He's not soone I recognize from any of my training sessions, but there's an instant ease about him, a friendliness that puts sowhat at ease despite the uncomfortable encounter with Chloe.
"I'm fine," I manage to say, my voice coming out a bit more breathless than I'd like. I try to pull away, to put so distance between us, but soone bumps into from behind and I'm launched forward, colliding with his solid chest.
Strong arms wrap around , steadying , and I can feel the rumble of his laughter. "We've got to stop eting like this," he jokes, his voice a pleasant baritone. "People will start to talk."
I feel my cheeks heat, and I apologize profusely. "I'm so sorry, I didn't an to—"
But he's already spinning around, his hands gentle but firm on my waist as he leads onto the dance floor. "No worries, little wolf. I'm Todd, by the way."
The na sends a jolt through , a sickening lurch in my stomach as my mind flashes to the Todd of Blackwood, the one whose life I'd ended in that bloody, desperate fight in the forest. For a mont, I can't breathe, can't think beyond the panic rising in my throat.
But then this Todd, the one holding close as we sway to the music, leans in close, his breath warm against my ear. "But you can call Teddy. Especially if you need a teddy bear of your own."
It's so unexpectedly sweet, so at odds with the mories haunting , that a startled laugh bubbles up from my chest. "Teddy?" I manage to say, looking up at him with a small smile. "Like the bear?"
He grins, the expression transforming his already handso face into sothing truly stunning. "Exactly like the bear. Soft, cuddly, always there when you need a hug."
I can't help but laugh again, so of the tension easing from my shoulders. This Todd is nothing like the monster from my past. This Todd is warm and funny and so very alive.
We dance for a while, his hands respectful on my waist, his body a comfortable distance from mine. Nothing like the wolves around us.
He keeps up a steady stream of conversation, telling about his work as a carpenter, his love for his pack, his dreams for the future. I find myself relaxing, even enjoying myself as we move together.
It's nice, this easy camaraderie with soone who doesn't know my past, who isn't judging for my failures or my secrets. With Teddy, I can just be Ava, a girl at a party, dancing with a handso man.
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