First, we went to that book café Sillas had bragged about, only to leave twenty seconds later. Sillas’s ex worked there, andneither of us wanted to get poisoned. We then ended up at Jekyll & Hyde, a popular werewolf bar frequented by different packs.
I insisted on getting the first round. Not because I believed in gender equality, though I did, but because I wanted to check and smell the drinks myself.
When I managed to squeeze my way back through the gyrating bodies with two glasses filled with colored sugar and ethanol, I smelled Dark Diamonds on the second floor. They might figure out I was the Highlander’s twin, but I didn’t care. I walked straight ahead anyway, head held high.
Until someone bumped into me, pouring out half of my drinks. I whirled around, fangs already lengthening. As much as I tried to avoid unnecessary conflict, my wolf craved it, and instincts were hard to suppress.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
My eyes traveled up…and up.
A very tall girl with shoulder-length, ash-blond hair and a pair of piercing gray eyes stared at me in concern. A large snake bracelet wrapped around her well-defined bicep.
“Did I spill your drinks? Let me buy you another.” There was this energy about her that I couldn’t help but smile at.
“No worries! You actually helped me speed things up.”
She giggled, eyes sparkling. “Bad date?”
I glanced at the far corner, where Sillas was waiting. His foot tapped on the stool as his knee bounced. A tiny pile of untouched olives sat next to his elbow, politely waiting for my return. “No, just this place. And we’re non-mates with benefits on a first date.”
“If you need a different non-mate, I have great single were-friends.” The hem of her metallic black tank top rode up above her belly button, and I noticed the muscles spanning across her stomach. “I’d introduce you to my brother, but you seem too nice. He’s a total slut.”
I chuckled at her spontaneity and straightforwardness.
“Nah, I’m good.” Sillas had learned all my pleasure points; it would be wasteful to let that go and teach a new non-mate. I looked over at the Dark Diamond hunks and asked out of curiosity, “Who’s your brother?”
“Not here. Always showing up late.”
The skin at the back of my neck prickled.
She looked over my shoulder, eyeing Sillas, and whistled softly. “Not bad at all…but wait! Isn’t he a Comets’ defender?” Her eyes widened at me. Her lashes were long, painted with blue mascara on them.
Then her nostrils flared.
“And you’re from Dark Diamond,” I finished the sentence for her. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of those werewolves who judge by the pack.”
It would completely ruin my opinion of her.
“Only if you play on Comet’s female team.” She patted my shoulder. Her own shoulders were sculpted. “But you don’t, or I would’ve remembered you. Or one of the injuries I gave you.”
“No, I don’t like it very much. My parents made me watch the game before I could do my homework!”
“And I never did mine so I could play.”
We grinned. She was wearing lipstick, a dark shade of gray that nearly matched her eyes.
“Do you happen to know the Highlander?” I watched her tuck a blond strand behind her ear.
My lips thinned. “You could say that. Why?”
She shrugged, averting her eyes.
Uh-oh.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” Before she could answer, someone else yelled it from above us.
“Hey, Bella! Come up! We’re about to start.”
