"You're not taking this seriously," Killian growls.
"I'm taking it exactly as seriously as it deserves." I fold my arms across my chest, mirroring his defensive posture. "You're all acting like Villeneuve is some kind of supervillain when the reality is he's an occult history professor who happens to bemysterious. And possibly some kind of misunderstood monster. That's not the same as being evil."
I'm not going to pull theI'm also misunderstood and maybe I want to give him a chance because I know what it's like to be lonelycard, but… it's in my back pocket for safe keeping. Just in case.
"Mysterious people are often evil," Sean offers. "Have you never watched a movie?"
"Have you never met someone who just values their privacy?" I ask, arching an eyebrow.
"Those people aredefinitelyhiding bodies."
I throw my hands up in exasperation. "This is ridiculous. You're willing to lose your pack registration, your housing, your entire futures at this university, because you're afraid of a man who wears nice suits and doesn't share his life story with everyone he meets?"
Micah grimaces. "When you put it that way, it does sound kind of unreasonable."
"Itisunreasonable!"
"But also," he continues, "consider that our instincts have kept us alive this long. There's something off about Villeneuve. All of us can feel it. And our wolves don't trust him. Especially not with you."
"Your wolves also wanted to mark territory on the Dean's lawn last full moon," I point out. "Maybe their judgment isn't always sound."
Sean gasps like I've personally offended him. "That was a completely valid territorial display. The Dean's lawn is prime real estate."
"It's a rosebush."
"Aprimerosebush."
"What do I have to do to convince you?" I ask, the words coming out more heated than I intended. "Give you a blowjob?"
The room goes absolutely still.
Four pairs of eyes lock onto me with an intensity that makes heat rush to my face. The bond suddenly shifts into something hungry and focused and very, very interested.
"Yes," Killian says right away.
I blink. "What?"
"Yes," he repeats, his voice dropping to that low register that always makes my knees weak. "That would convince me, at least."
"I was—" I stammer, caught completely off guard. "That was a joke. I was being sarcastic."
"Too late," Sean announces, sitting up with alarming speed. "You made an offer. An offer we can't refuse. Those are the rules."
"What rules? There are no rules about?—"
"Pack rules," Rowan says smoothly, though his eyes have gone dark in a way that makes my heart stutter in spite of my frustration. "When a mate makes an offer, it would be rude to refuse."
"I didn't make an offer!"
"Sounded like an offer to me," Micah says with a slow grin. "Clear terms and everything. Blowjob in exchange for agreement to approach Villeneuve."
"That's not—" I look between them, trying to find an ally. They're all watching me with identical expressions of wolfish anticipation. "You cannotbe serious."
"Dead serious," Killian confirms, moving closer. "You drive a hard bargain, but I accept your terms."
"Hold on," Sean interrupts, scrambling to his feet. "You can't just agree foryourself.That's not fair."
"I'm pack alpha."
