“Thismightwork,” Summer said, pulling out a small black dress.
“I usually wear that as a top with a skirt,” I replied, my brows up to my hairline.
“Well, it’s plenty long enough to be a dress. Come on, try it on.” She held it out to me.
Sighing, I looked at the garment and then at Summer. I was starting to regret my decision to go out, but, deep down, I knew it was what I wanted to do, given the sheer fuckery that had been going on around me. Plus, I knew I wouldn’t win this. When Summer put her mind to something, that was it. Going along for the ride was my best course of action right now.
And hell, I deserved a little fun too.
When we arrived at the club, I was immediately struck by how electric it was. I wasn’t used to the frenetic energy of a dance floor and the surrounding bar, hopping with people coming and going, drinks being slung across the gleaming bar top, right and left. It was undeniably exciting, but it was a little overwhelming, too.
“How are you doing over there?” Summer grinned at me, her knowing expression getting under my skin, even if just a tad.
“I’m totally fine. Let’s go get some drinks.” Before she could say another word, I angled myself toward the bar and took off. I needed a shot of liquid courage, and I was ready to kick off this night, planning to dance my anxieties away.
Sure, there were still lingering concerns about the other night—potentially being followed, and not by the cute alpha who walked me home—but I was determined to make the best of my rare night out. Classes would be there tomorrow, and I’d deal with the tiredness with a killer dose of caffeine. Maybe two or three.
Summer and I stood at the bar and quickly caught the bartender’s eye. I thanked her dress for doing the hard work of capturing the guy’s attention, and we promptly ordered two drinks: a fruity monstrosity for her and an Old Fashioned for me.
“I do not know how you can drink that stuff.”
Narrowing her eyes at me, Summer pointed at my nose. “For your information, this isverytasty.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, holding up my hands in surrender. “Well, enjoy your liquid sugar.” I loved sweets as much as the next omega, but when it came to alcohol, that was a different story entirely. Sweet alcohol made me feel all sorts of sickly.
Summer shrugged one shoulder, smiling to herself, and we took our drinks to a high-top table near the dance floor. It didn’t have any chairs, acting as a place to set your glasses down, but neither of us cared. We watched the dancers for a little bit, finishing up our drinks before summoning our courage and heading out into the sea of rhythmically moving bodies.
The alcohol started to do its job, a bit of a buzz, enough to have me flowing to the music without a care. Summer and I laughed like fools as we spun each other around, taking turns at playing the other one’s date.
After a few songs, Summer tapped me on the shoulder,leaning in to whisper in my ear, “I need to pee. I’ll be right back.”
“You’ll break the seal,” I joked, but Summer waved me off, calling out something about the seal being long broken already. All I could do was snort at the innuendo, dancing in a corner by myself and hoping to God no one came over.
“Hey, cutie.”
So much for that. Ugh.
I looked up, unable to keep myself from making eye contact with the alpha who’d come over to me. I was always terrified of being rude, even if I wanted this guy nowhere near me. His scent was definitely an alpha’s, but beyond that, it didn’t sit right in my nose, all bitter and a tad… hoppy? Like an IPA.Gross.
“Hello. I-I’m here with someone.” I said, trying to be firm but polite.
The tall man, probably about six feet with dark hair that was buzzed short on the sides and only a bit longer on the top, eyed me up and down. My skin crawled under his gaze, and I took an instinctive step backward.
“Is that so? I don’t see anyone.” He took a step forward, reaching out for my arm and grabbing behind my elbow. “Come on. Dance with me.”
No, no, no. Don’t like. I want you to go away.
My heart was hammering, and I tried to pull away, but the guy kept hold of my arm, squeezing slightly. All my internal alarm bells were screaming at once. This wasn’t the type of guy who’d take the hint and fuck off. I couldsenseit. I needed to get the hell out of there quickly, but there were so many people around me. Desperation clawed at me as I scanned the room, searching for an escape route. The pulsating lights of the club felt like a barrage against my senses, and the cacophony oflaughter and shrill conversations blended into a dizzying mix, only heightening my anxiety.
I could have screamed, called out for help. But it seemed like overkill. I mean, he was just being kind of pushy, right?
Then again, recent events had made me twitchy.
Opening my mouth, I got ready to call out when suddenly my arm was free, and there was a wall of a person standing with his back to me, firmly planted between me and the asshole alpha.
“She said no. Fuck off.”
For a moment, the alpha who grabbed me looked furious, and I half expected a fight to break out. Thankfully, he shrank under the weight of this alpha’s attention, turned tail, and fled. I was speechless, still trying to process the sudden shift, when the man who’d sort of rescued me spun around, his brow pinched together with concern, each line on his face deepening as he took in my wide-eyed expression. My heart was racing, adrenaline still pumping through my veins as his presence seemed to settle the chaos that had erupted just moments before.
