Chapter One
Sherese
I slip inside the house, feeling bad about what I’m about to do, but not bad enough. I pull open the sliding door silently. “Are you naked?” I call out. I know Bryce will already know I’m here. He would have known as soon as I entered the house.
“No,” I hear Ava call out.
“Good.” I step out onto the back patio. “Sorry. I know this is terrible timing. But I need to talk to you before—”
A certain annoying wolf bellows my name from inside the house. “Sherese!”
“Before that…” I say flatly. Hunter steps out onto the patio next to me, and I don’t look at him.
“We’ll be inside in just a minute,” Bryce, the alpha of the Phoenix Pack, calls out from where he and Ava are hanging out in the pool.
I step back inside, and Hunter follows me silently. I cross my arms and lean against the kitchen counter while I wait for the alpha and his mate and my friend, Ava. Tonight was their public mating ceremony, even though they’ve been mated for a little bit. It’s terrible timing to be here tonight, but it can’t wait. Restlessness builds inside me, but I don’t move a muscle. I certainly don’t let it reflect on my face. I didn’t survive a seven-year captivity with the vampires by being emotional. No, any emotion I used to have has been completely wiped away, along with myhumanity. Ava and Bryce take longer to come inside than I thought they would. Of course, I should be happy they’re willing to meet at all tonight. I can’t find it in me to feel bad about bothering them. This is too important.
My eyes track Hunter, the broody pack enforcer assigned to guard me and make sure I’m not a threat to the pack. He stops a few feet from me. “What part of don’t go anywhere without me don’t you get?”
I cock an eyebrow, knowing it drives him crazy. “Worried I was going to drain somebody between the party and here?” His expression doesn’t change; he looks irritated. That’s a pretty standard look for him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the uptight, muscular enforcer smile. I’ve definitely never seen him relax.
“You know why.”
I grin at him. “I didn’t know you worried about me so much, Wolf.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about, Vampire.”
His words have their intended impact, but I refuse to let them bother me. “Guess you need to be faster,” I taunt. His eyes narrow, and I know that my words now found their mark.
A muscle jumps in his jaw, a sure way of knowing that I’ve annoyed him. After living with him for several weeks, I know that about him. It’s become my favorite pastime to see how many times I can make it happen in a twenty-four-hour period.Is it sad that my pastime consists of seeing how often I can annoy another human?Yes.Am I going to stop?Absolutely not. It’s pretty much the only thing I have to look forward to right now. Well, that’s not exactly true. I also look forward to the hours I get to spend withAva. I hadn’t realized how starved for human interaction I’d been until Ava had dropped into my world, the vampire compound. I hate what she went through, but it was a bright spot for me. Having her there in that dark, ugly world was like a gift. I’ll probably never be able to express how much she helped me to survive. I’d almost given up before she got there. When I catch the direction of my thoughts, I automatically block them. I never allow myself to think about my time with the vampires. Which is why tonight is such a big deal. I refuse to appear anxious while I wait, but I’m beginning to wonder if Ava and Bryce will ever come inside.
Finally, I hear the sliding door move. I turn, conscious of trying to keep my movements slow. It’s taken practice over the last several weeks to make myself appear more human. I’m used to doing everything at speed, but I’m working on trying to not appear quite so...vampirish. Ava grins up at something Bryce must have said, and I almost smile. I’m so happy for her. She’s been through so much, and she deserves to be happy. The alpha is good to her; that much is obvious.
Bryce stands behind my much shorter friend and wraps his arms around her middle. When his eyes land on me, his expression changes. It’s much cooler than the one he had for his mate just moments ago. “I suppose you have a really good reason for interrupting us tonight, of all nights.”
I don’t look away from his direct gaze and refuse to feel bad. “Yes.” I don’t waste extra time and energy defending myself.
“And that is?” he pushes.
I meet Ava’s eyes for just a moment and feel my face soften. She looks so happy and content, wrapped up in her alpha cocoon. I almost hesitate with what I need to say, but when I remember what could happen to her and others, I push forward. “Rizo was there tonight. At the party.” Bryce’s eyes harden.Good.I continue to meet his penetrating stare. “How?”
His brows furrow. “How what?”
“How was he able to get in?” I ask. “I thought this was a secure pack.”
His eyes narrow dangerously.Good. “I don’t know how he got in, but it won’t happen again.” His words are cold.
“No, he won’t.” I don’t even think about the words I say next. “I’m going to go back.”
“What?” Ava pulls forward, breaking Bryce’s hold on her.
“What are you talking about?” Hunter growls.
I meet his gaze and cock an eyebrow. “Did you suddenly get hard of hearing? You heard me. I’m going back.”
“No, you’re not.” His eyes are hard, but I just ignore him and turn back to Ava.
“Sherese, you can’t go back there,” Ava says, taking another step forward.
