The vibration hit. A dull thrum against my skin, a heartbeat that didn’t belong to me. My thumb brushed the fabric of my pocket, pulling it out, and peeking at it. His name flashed on the screen. I shoved it back into my pocket.
Not tonight.
I kept my eyes on the woman gyrating her hips, trying to find her climax in a crowded space.
“Not going to answer that?” Kade asked, his voice dropping an octave, his focus shifting from the crowd to the side of my face.
“It’s nothing,” I said, letting the vibration taper off. I chose the music and the man standing next to me. But the air on the balcony had grown thin, the ghost of the call lingering. When Kade suggested we find more shots, I didn’t hesitate.
Eventually, we made it to the kitchen. I picked up another jello shot as Paul and Kade locked in a stare-off.
“Take it slow, cousin,” Paul warned. Kade remained silent, standing close enough that the heat from his forearms brushed my flannel, a silent, warm presence.
My phone vibrated against my chest again. It was times like this I wondered if we were linked. I’d managed to find a pocket of peace, and he called to destroy it. Paul didn’t wait, he stepped over and snatched the device from my hand.
“Why the fuck is he calling you?” he hissed, his voice oozing disgust. Beside me, Kade tensed.
“Fuck if I know,” I sighed, sliding the green button. “Can I help you?”
“I don’t appreciate your tone,” Amos growled, the aggression in his voice crackling through the speaker.
Kade’s head snapped toward me. The lightness vanished, replaced by something jagged and dangerous.
“And I don’t appreciate you calling me,” I said, my voice finding a brittle edge.
“I’m glad Fale isn’t with you anymore. You were poisoning her mind,” Amos growled. He spoke as if I were a possession he’d discarded, but still held the title to.
“Did you need something or…?” I said coldly.
“Are you having fun?” he asked, ignoring me. “Dressed like a whore in public, dancing where men are eye-fucking you, and smiling like a dumb-ass.”
I went cold. I squeezed my cup so hard the plastic crunched, jello oozing from my fingers. Beside me, Kade shifted. He was close enough to catch every word. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the counter, jaw locking with a force that threatened to shatter bone.
Violence crackled beneath the surface. Yet he remained silent, his eyes pinned to mine—daringme.
He’s not here. He can’t hurt me.
“I am having fun. There’s something about being surrounded by all these big, bad Alphas that just… makes me so fucking wet,” I mocked. I didn’t give him a chance to speak; I hung up. My shoulders shook as I struggled to keep from laughing or crying, I wasn’t sure which. I just hung up on Amos.
Kade smirked. “You’re bad, Lumberjack.”
I lowered the phone. My chest heaved as the adrenaline spike hit the wall of jello shots in my system, making my head spin.
“How’d that feel?” Kade was watching me with a proud expression, his eyes still burning.
“I’m not sure yet,” I laughed, the sound jittery.
“Proud of you, cousin. I’m going to talk to Alyssa. Stay out of trouble,” Paul huffed before disappearing.
“I did it,” I whispered, looking at the dead screen. “I actually hung up.”
“You did,” Kade murmured, his hand coming up to hover just inches from my cheek, radiating heat. “And you were terrifying, Lumberjack. I think I’m in love.”
I let out a jagged laugh, the sound bubbling from a place that hadn’t felt light in years. But before I could respond, the phone in my hand came back to life. The vibration was a physical jolt.
“He’s persistent,” Kade noted, his jaw tightening again. “Want me to handle it?”
“No,” I said, my voice shaking. The liquid courage was boiling in my veins. “I’ve got this.”
