I can feel his elation just as clearly as his surprise. Hehadn’t planned this. None of us did, but now that it’s done, all I feel is gratitude. My eyes find Vann, on the floor beside me with Rhodes crouched next to him, a worried look on his face.
Vann’s face tilts toward me, and there are tears in his eyes. He should have been the one to bond her first. He’s the one who believed in this for so long. But his lips tilt up in a smile. “She’s ours now.”
32
RAVEN
Iaccidentally bonded my high school bully. I can’t believe this.
The morning light glares through the window like a reprimanding teacher, making the pounding in my head even worse. I stare at Orion with utter and complete shock as I try to wrestle through the events of last night. Everything is hazy. Nothing makes sense.
“You don’t remember,” he whispers.
I close my eyes, shaking uncontrollably.
“Oh, fucking shit,” he groans, tugging his hair.
Yeah, fucking shit is right.
I bonded Orion West. How did this happen?
Clutching the blanket, I search for my things. I can’t stay here another second. I need to… I need… Foster. He’ll help me. I have to get out of here as quickly as I can.
“Where’re my panties?” I ask, flustered.
Orion looks sheepish. “Um… I kind of tore them.”
Great. Just great. “And the rest of my things?” I glare.
“In the common room.”
With the blanket around me, I dash to the door, keeping a wary eye on Orion. He looks pained—no, tormented. Which is exactly what I feel through the bond.
The. Fucking. Bond.
I rip open the door, but skid to a halt. My exit is blocked. The beta I met last night tumbles into the bedroom, falling on his back with ahmphlike he’d been leaning against the door. Tanner and Vann are on the floor in the hall, lying on pillows, but they’re not asleep.
“What the hell are you all doing out here?” Were they here all night? Just out here listening to us? Probably laughing about how gullible, scrawny Raven fell for their trap. Shit, what have I done?
“How could we leave you, birdie?” Vann says, shifting positions so he’s on his knees in front of the door.
“Don’t call me that,” I snap, picking my way over Rhodes—that’s his name right? We barely talked last night, so I can’t be sure, but he moves out of my way, letting me pass, and for that I’m grateful.
Vann and Tanner aren’t so gracious.
“You can’t leave,” Vann says, grabbing my hand.
Tanner jumps to his feet and blocks my path, crossing his arms over his massive chest. The man is too ripped. Hockey players are the ones known for being hot, not curlers. But these guys should be on the cover of a magazine. It’s ungodly how attractive they are.
And their scents. The hall is saturated in the crisp scent of snow, warmed by black tea that’s been spiced with cardamom. Butterscotch sweetens the bite of the chai that Iwant warming me up from the inside out. It’s so overwhelming my poor, hungover head spins. I really need to get out of here.
Tanner stares me down like he knows I’m about to make a dash for it.
“Don’t even think about it,” he growls.
“So you’re holding me hostage here? All you did in high school wasn’t enough? Now this! I thought you were trying to be better. What happened to apologizing and starting fresh?”
Tanner slumps, a hand going to his gut as if he’s been punched. “We’re not trying to kidnap you, Raven. I’m just trying to protect you. Think about it. You’re newly bonded…”
