The spoon snapped in my hand at the unwelcome thought.
Fuck.
I scowled as I kicked the broken bits of utensil off the edge of the balcony. They landed softly in some unseen plants, robbing me of the satisfaction of hearing them hit the ground.
Yes, technically she was pack. But in the loosest way anybody could be pack. I was pissed because it meant that there was a risk they’d discover our dark bond, which would jeopardize our entire plan.
I focused again, listening to their conversation. Sounded like they would wait to bond her until her next heat. I needed to know when that would be.
Laurel jumped as I pulled her into a sheltered alcove in the gardens. It was along the path from a staff exit and the villas, so I’d figured she’d come this way after the restaurant.
“Hey!” she said, yanking her arm out of my grip and stumbling backward into a bush. “What the fuck?”
“Report,” I ground out.
She straightened herself, a branch pulling some of her hair out of the neat braid she’d had it in. There were a couple of leaves stuck on her head, and my fingers twitched to remove them. This close, the scent of vanilla and rosescurled sweetly around her, stirring deep instincts within me. It was a deep, rich scent today, of a sweet picnic in a wild garden. I wanted to breathe in more, to let that peace and calm fill me.
She squared up, fists clenching. “You can’t just jump me like that.”
“Report,” I repeated, making it a command this time.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she hissed. “You can’t go flinging out words and expect me to understand them.”
“Actually, I can. That’s how language works,” I said, and she hesitated, wordless. I braced, expecting another cutting verbal remark, but instead she…laughed.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as the sound washed over me. Her face had relaxed, the usual clouds parting and letting through a glimpse of warm sunlight.
She folded her arms and looked up at me. “Let’s try that again. What were you asking?”
It took me a second to remember. “Your engagement. Did you know that was happening?”
“No, I would have told you,” she said, sounding only slightly annoyed. “Sadly, my father doesn’t often like to include me in his plans.”
She couldn’t lie. She was telling the truth, which meant that maybe?—
“When’s your next heat?”
“Excuse me?” She raised an eyebrow, her face flushing slightly.
“They said they’d bond you just before your next heat. How much time do we have?” I clarified, and to my horror, I felt my own face heating a bit.
“A little over a month,” she said.
“Okay, that’s good. We’ll have Ocean out before then.”
“Great,” she said, snark lacing her tone. “I’m soglad this new development isn’t going to be an inconvenience to your plans.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, whoopee for you. You guys get to fuck right off and leave me here. I’m sure my heat’s going to be absolutely wonderful with the Lucas pack, after they realize they can’t bond with me.”
“You think I’d just leave you here?” I asked, aghast.
She shot me a glare. “Why wouldn’t you?” she snapped.
“You’re pack,” I said. “I would never just abandon you like that.”
“You hate me,” she said.
