Rafe’s shoulders rolled, and he peered up at me. Without saying anything, he stood, placed a hand under my arm and pulled me to standing. Tingles spiked directly to my feet.
I stumbled into him, my hands settling on his abdomen. My Omega instincts swelled to life, and slick accumulated at the apex of my thighs. The abs under my palms rippled as Alpha pheromones tickled my nose, causing another wave of slick.
I groaned, and his breath hitched.
“We don’t have all day!” Cade shouted.
Reality was a slap in the face, and I yanked my hands back. Rafe’s lips twitched at the corners. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the trunk to shut it.
A parking garage?The click of my heels echoed loudly. Cade slid his arm around my waist in a limp grip while Rafe stayed on my other side. Dorian strode ahead, leading us to frosted glass doors that didn’t allow us to see through.
An Alpha stood at the entrance of the door. The man looked like a mountain, and Dorian reached him first. He swept his gaze across everyone and settled his gaze on me. Interest lit up his gaze.
“You weren’t lying, Dorian,” the man said.
His pheromones tickled my nose, and I had to stop myself from making a face. Alphas wouldn’t smell as good now that I’d smelledthem. I turned my head slightly to the side to sniff Cade. The coffee scent soothed my senses.
We didn’t stick around outside for long. Cade shuffled me through the door, Rafe falling into step behind us because the entrance was too slim to accommodate us. Upon entering, there was a pitch-black section and another door. My heart felt ready to jump out of my chest, but without a choice, I was shoved through the second entrance.
Sounds of dings and chatter filled my ears. Slot machines and tables with green felt coating the tops littered the huge space. It was packed with people.
A gambling hall.
Cade glided his hand down the small of my back in soothing circles. His touch relaxed my shoulders. I hadn’t even noticed they’d tensed up.
My designation’s fault. Especially so close to my heat. All I wanted was to be surrounded by my Scent Matches. To top off the discomfort, I wasn’t enjoying all this noisiness either.I pressed harder against Cade, and his arm slid over my shoulders, tucking me tighter against him.
I hated myself a little more for seeking comfort from him.
We had only taken a few steps across the multicolored carpet when a woman sauntered over. Her stride was wide and she held her head high. Her leaner build made it seem like she floated over the floor with how her dress fluttered around her ankles.
“Cade,” she said in a sultry voice, such assurance in her tone. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Cade did the same to her.
I tensed, and he must have caught my reaction because he whipped his head to me, raising an eyebrow with that smug smirk.
“Always a pleasure, Kelly.” He cupped her hip, and his hand was so large his fingertips reached her ass. Nausea roiled in my stomach.
I wanted to wither and die.
She pulled back and kissed Dorian’s cheek, and he kissed hers, then went to Rafe.
They killed me—no,slaughtered me. With a few harsh words, with their callousness, and now they were touching another woman?
As the pack destined for me, there was no coming back from this. I could hear my teeth grind.
Keep it together.
“Elias has been waiting for your arrival,” she said and settled against Cade’s side so we framed him.
She pressed into Cade’s other side, and I scoffed with disgust before yanking myself out of his grip. He reached for me, but I avoided him by sliding behind Dorian and gripping his arm.
I froze and sucked in a breath. He was so still I could feel his muscles bunch under my hand. He watched me with that same expressionless face, giving nothing away, just as before.
“Lead the way,” he finally said and bent his arm so it formed a nook for my hand.
I avoided Cade’s glare, clinging to Dorian. I wasn’t happy with any of them, but I wasn’t opposed to using him as a barrier. Dropping my eyes, I followed Cade andKelly.
Wait, no, I couldn’t let myself look away. I had to see it all. Not only their betrayals, but all and any surroundings.
