“It’s just a question,Uncle.”
“It’s a very specific question,” Bushy-Eyebrowssaid.
August had paled, or perhaps it was the contrast to his father’s much darker complexion that made my friend seempaler.
“You qualify,” Everestdeclared.
The realization that I ticked all the boxes drummed against me like soft rain. But like rain, it also splashed a good deal of sobriety into me. What exactly was Ithinking?
To put my name into the proverbial hat to annoy Liam Kolane was a dangerous game. One I wasn’t sure I wanted to play, and not because I was afraid of losing—I hadnothingto lose—but because, what happened if I won? I’d have to stay in Boulder and lead a pack I abhorred until I died or wasdemoted.
That wasn’t the life Iwanted.
At least, I’d never wanted itbefore.
Chapter Four
As I applieda thin coat of mascara to my lashes, someone pounded on my door. Pounding was never good. It meant I was in trouble. After the stunt I’d pulled, I wasn’t surprised. Actually, that wasn’t true. I’d assumed the deafening knocks would’ve come earlier. Then again, I’d been helping Evelyn out in the kitchen, so maybe my haters hadn’t known where to findme.
Lips squeezed into a smile to hide my hammering heart, I drew the door open. My rigid lips slackened. I’d expected Jeb orEverest.
I leaned against my bedroom door, draping on an air of boredom. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit,Liam?”
He shoved pastme.
I pressed away from the door but didn’t close it. “Come right onin…”
He whirled on me. “What the hell wasthat?”
I cocked aneyebrow.
“Are you seriously entertaining the idea of challengingme?”
“Oh.That.” I strolled back into my bathroom and lined the insides of my lower lids withkohl.
Oblivion irritated people. I had every intention of irritating Liam and trampling his inflatedego.
He filled the open doorway, eyes flashing to mine in themirror.
“I’m thinking about it,” I saidsweetly.
“If it’s just to get into the pack, I’ll consider your candidacy once I’mAlpha.”
“How generous of you.” I tossed my eyeliner into my makeup bag and spun, leaning back against the cold porcelain sink top and crossing myarms.
He lowered his brows. “Do not go againstme.”
“Or what? You’ll hurt me?” I walked up to him and jabbed my finger into his chest. “I lost both my parentsandwas forced to come back to this hellhole where people look down on me because I wasn’t born with the right blend of chromosomes. What exactly do you think you can do that will hurt me,huh?”
He stared down at my finger. Stepped back so it fell off his rock-hard chest. “I wouldn’thurtyou, but you’lllose.”
“You don’t think very highly of me, doyou?”
His eyesdarkened.
“What ifyoulose?” Iasked.
“Iwon’t.”
