Everyone was a sucker for her pretty face. It was a privilege, but sometimes it didn’t feel that way. Hunter probably had a version of her built up in his mind from years of boyish fantasies. There was no way the woman behind the posters could live up to those expectations.
“Your gran knows that you’re the most sensible fellow in the pack,” Greyson interjected, joining them at the bar, with drinks in both hands. “You’re the least likely to lose your head, regardless of appearance. If you’ve captivated Hunter, Miss Duvalle, it’s for more than your exceptional beauty.”
Destiny’s cheeks warmed. Was this guy super smooth or was it the British accent coming out of that generous mouth? Both. Probably both.
“Call me Destiny, please,” she said, trying to calm her racing heart. “You said we’re all friends now.”
Greyson smiled broadly, handing her a large, frosted mug. “Okay,Destiny. As your friend, love, I must say that I can’t believe you can drink that rubbish.”
Her name sounded somehow intimate when he said it, as if they were much better acquainted, or that they would soon be. Even as she felt a thrill of excitement, she relaxed under his gentle teasing. It was nice to feel a little less “on” after the long day spent with the royals and their guests.
“Don’t yuck my yum, Mr. Valentine.” Destiny lifted her nose snootily. “You offered me a festive drink, and there’s nothing more festive than eggnog. And it has alcohol in it, so don’t tell me it’s not the kind of drink you were talking about.”
Greyson made a disgusted face as Destiny took a long sip of her drink. She grinned back at him, licking the film of eggnog from her lips. Greyson’s expression shifted immediately, eyesdarkening as he followed the movement of her tongue. She was suddenly aware of how close they were, how if she leaned forward just a bit, she could bury her nose in his chest and inhale his pomegranate and cypress sweetness at its most potent.
“What are we drinking, gents?” Alexander boomed jovially, snapping Destiny out of her daze. She scowled at the knowing expression on the prince’s face when he saw her proximity to Greyson.
He was so arrogant. Of course, he expected people to be drooling over his pack. The prince had already made it painfully clear what type of person he thought she was. Maybe his seemingly innocent invitation had ulterior motives. She should’ve gone back to her room, where she could start calling in favors to find a way out of his country.
The prince’s bedroom was right off the main area, and Destiny caught a glimpse of a stately-looking bed and dark walls before he shut the door behind him. He’d changed into jeans and a henley, and his posture was much more casual out of his royal regalia. With his blond hair still wet from the shower and falling over blue eyes bright with mischief, Destiny couldn’t deny he was attractive in an annoyingly hunky surfer way. His grin told her he was well aware of the fact, too.
“You’re drinking club soda, pal,” Greyson said, giving his pack leader a pointed look. “After how sloshed you were last night, you’re officially cut off for the foreseeable.”
Alexander rolled his eyes, crossing to the bar in a few quick strides. Rather than utilizing the ample empty space on either side of them, he wriggled his way between Greyson and Destiny, leaned over the counter, and plucked a cube of cheese from the tray Hunter was finishing up. Then he made a big show of putting his arm around Greyson’s shoulders, while looking Destiny up and down.
“Let’s take this party upstairs,” he said, grinning at Destiny as he popped the cube of cheese into his mouth.
The action brought attention to his lips, which had probably been his intention, and Destiny couldn’t stop herself from glancing at his mouth. Worse, at this proximity, his nutmeg, cedar, and sage scent was absolutely intoxicating. All three of the alphas were too close. She couldn’t think.
Then she took in the prince’s smug expression and processed his words. Anger flared in her chest. She bared her teeth.
Just as she opened her mouth to incinerate him, Hunter interjected quickly. “He meant take the party upstairs to the game room. Where we play normal, friendly games. Like foosball.”
Destiny snapped her mouth shut. It looked like Hunter was the brains of this operation. She should talk to him more. These other two were a rollercoaster.
Prince Alexander’s grin widened. “Tsk tsk, Frosty. Someone’s mind is in the gutter. Our bedrooms are here on the ground floor. But if you get any fun ideas, we can make it work upstairs too.”
Destiny opened her mouth again, but Greyson hustled Alexander toward the stairs, scolding him in a harsh whisper. Hunter gave her an apologetic shrug, picked up the tray of food, and followed his packmates. Destiny glared at their backs, seriously considering whether she should cut her losses and leave now. She could curl up in her borrowed bed and think about all the ways you could murder a man.
“Come on, Frosty! I’ll let you beat me at foosball!” Prince Alexander called.
Destiny ground her teeth, took another swig of eggnog, and followed the pack up the stairs, resisting the urge to stomp the entire way. To the right of the stairwell, she found them in a huge room that looked like a comic book shop and a sports bar hada baby. Hunter and Greyson had found spots where they could lounge and look effortlessly handsome, while Prince Alexander was standing by the foosball table, grinning expectantly at her.
Destiny wanted to wipe that cocky grin off his stupid, beautiful face.
“Have you ever played foosball?” the prince asked, tossing his hair out of his sapphire eyes.
Destiny bit her lip, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She made sure her voice came out a little uncertain. “A few times.”
Prince Alexander grinned wider. “I’ll teach you.”
Destiny munched from the charcuterie tray, while the prince explained the rules and basic foosball strategy. Hunter and Greyson absently scrolled their phones, occasionally commenting or offering Destiny more food or drink. She finished her eggnog, then took the position across the table from the prince.
“Ready?” he asked, holding the ball above the cup on top of the table.
Destiny smiled sweetly and nodded. The prince dropped the ball into the cup. It rolled down the track and dropped onto the table. Alexander served, but Destiny quickly took control of the ball, passed it between several players, then knocked it through the prince’s goal. She gave herself a point.
“Wow! Lucky shot! I’d better get on defense, I guess.” The prince’s grin faltered. He gathered the ball again. “Ready?”
