The man grins at her. “Nice costume, Sabs.”
“Drax!” Sabs greets him with the warm familiarity of an old friend. “We’re on the VIP list, right?”
“Sabrina Maverick.” Dax checks his clipboard, moving his finger down the names in alphabetical order. I glance over the sheet and notice that we’re definitely not on there.
She bats her thick eyelashes at him. “Plus three guests.”
He sighs. “You know this is the busiest night of the year, don’t you?”
“Come on, it’s me.” She pouts. “You know you want to.”
With a pout like that, she has him wrapped around her little finger. He shakes his head as he slips his hands into his pockets, handing us all VIP wristbands. “Go straight through.”
“You’re the best!” She jumps into his arms, wrapping her toned ones around his massive torso. “I owe you!”
Drax’s cheeks flush pink, clearing his throat as she clambers off him. Sabs is oblivious to the effect she’s having on him.
“I’ll see you around, then,” he says.
“Uh-huh,” she replies noncommittally, too preoccupied with marching me into the flashing lights. “This way, Stellas!”
“How do you know that giant?” I have to shout, it’s so loud inside.
“Giant?” Is she out of her mind? “Oh, you mean Drax?”
“I don’t see any other guys as tall as him around,” Kady mutters sarcastically.
“Oh, we went to school together,” Sabs says. “Small world, huh? He was one of the shortest in our year too, believe it or not.”
“He’s hot and is totally into you, if you didn’t notice,” Delilah points out. “Isn’t he your type? You usually dig the bad boys.”
“Me and Drax? No way.” Sabs laughs. “We’re just friends.”
Kady shakes her head. “Poor guy.”
Inside Club Knotty, the disco lights sparkle across the purple, glittery floor. The place has a retro cool vibe with the bar on our right. Students occupy all the barstools while others mill around, chatting over tall tables. There are also booths with plush, navy, velvet seating where groups gather.
“The dance floor is in the basement.” Sabs points downstairs. “And there’s an omega safe spot upstairs.” She gestures to a silver staircase where there’s another security guard. “If you need a few minutes, that’s the place to go.”
The club is being pumped with a scent neutralizer that gives it an almost pine freshness. It feels at odds with theenvironment, and it doesn’t fully mask the different scents, making me a little uneasy.
“Let’s get drinks.” Delilah drags us over to the bar. “They always have great themed cocktails for party nights.”
After Kady swipes a menu, I opt for a, “Sparkling Squirrel,” which sounds like a safer choice than the, “Cobra Venom” Sabs orders.
“You two find us a table,” Sabs tells me and Delilah. “Kady and I will bring the drinks over.”
As we look for an empty booth, we pass a group of alphas. Their eyes rake over us hungrily, like we could be their next meal. Instantly, my body tenses.
Delilah takes my hand gently. “Are you okay?” Her touch makes my shoulders relax slightly. “It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? I remember my first party at SVU. There’s nowhere like this where I’m from, and I wasn’t used to alphas strutting around like they own the place.”
“How long did it take you to get used to it?” I ask as we slip into the safety of the booth.
She bites her berry-painted lip, pondering my question. “A few months, maybe? Kady, Sabs, and Bree were there to help. Bree moved out last year. She was a real mama bear.”
“Did she graduate?”
“No, she found a pack and left with her alphas.”
