Whatever this thing is, I’ve got to get a handle on it. I can’t explode like a firecracker in front of the pack—or humans!
As Rhys drives me to work, I start to feel paranoid that Lacey or Trina might notice something off about me, but the energy inside me settles as I get to work. Over the course of the day, it fluctuates but doesn’t get strong enough to scare me. It seems to flow through my veins like a general sense of well-being, as if I’ve taken some kind of happy drug that has no side effects.
And makes me magnetic enough to attract teaspoons.
The thought makes me wonder if it is literal magnetism, and I look over at a pen that’s just out of my reach on the other side of the table. Cautiously, I stretch out my hand and will it to come to me. To my shock, it wiggles, as if it’s about to slide straight into my hand.
I hear a step in the hall and turn away so fast, I almost fall off my chair.
“Hey,” Trina says, knocking on the door. “Rhys is here. You okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, trying to sound casual. “You just startled me. I'd better get going.”
“Sure thing. Enjoy the party!”
I head out to meet Rhys, waving goodbye to the others. Since it’s a shifter event, the human girls weren’t invited, but no one takes it personally.
Just a little bit of griping that all the hottest men will be in the same place at the same time, and they won’t be.
Rhys takes me home, and after we get ready, he drives us out to the manor. Even though the house itself feels as dark and foreboding as ever, the gardens out back have been strung with fairy lights, and the live band is playing upbeat tunes that echo out into the forest, creating ripples of good vibes through the crowd.
I look back up at the house, and all I can feel coming from it is a sense of incredibly dark, sharp pain.
I don’t even need extra senses to feel it. What the hell happened here?
Turning my back on it, I go play with Cassie and spend a couple of hours wrangling the kids before Jean takes them home. She lets us know that if she can’t find a sitter, she’ll take Cassie to our place and watch her until we get back.
Carla and Rachel find me, and before I know it, I’m over at the little table serving as a bar with a line of vodka Jell-O shots lined up in front of me.
“I don’t know, guys,” I say, eyeing the shots warily. “I’m not used to drinking like this.”
And if I get drunk, my new powers might get away from me.
“Oh, come on,” Rachel says. “Just have one, then see how you feel.”
“Hmm, okay,” I reply, grinning. “But if this goes badly, I’m blaming you.”
“I’ll happily take it,” she giggles, handing me a little glass. “If it means seeing you let loose!”
We end up having three shots each, then going to the stone courtyard to dance. There are a lot of young people dancing in groups, boys and girls peeking at each other, whispering behind their hands as they talk about who they like but don’t have the courage to go talk to.
There are also older couples, just enjoying slow dances and the lively music. I look around for Rhys as I dance with the girls, finally spotting him over at the cake table. Owen is standing next to him, and they are surrounded by women. I don’t recognize any of them, meaning they have to be from Owen or Shane’s pack.
I don’t want to seem paranoid, but it looks a lot like they’re moving on him.
One of the women turns and notices my gaze. Her eyes flicker with that unnatural sheen Rhys sometimes has, and I know she’s threatening me with her wolf.
I want to go over and confront her, but I know if I did that, I’d just look unhinged in front of all three packs, and Rhys definitely wouldn’t appreciate it. I purposefully turn my back on the situation and try to focus on having a good time instead.
I trust Rhys. He wouldn’t cheat on me—and what do I even care if he did!
Even though I try to convince myself I’m not jealous, deep inside I know I’m lying to myself. But I just can’t face it, which leads to another round of Jell-O shots.
I’m dancing hard with the other girls, letting the music throb through my body and truly forgetting all my worries, when someone elbows me in the ribs. I stagger sideways, holding my side as Rachel catches me.
“Oh,” a voice sneers. “I didn’t see you there.”
I look up to see a tall, muscular, blond man giving me a hostile glare.
