* * *
Asmall buswas waiting outside the inn, already crammed with animated pack members. Sucking in a breath, I climbed on, Everest close behind. I slid into the first row so I didn’t have to ford through the entire bus. Everest dropped down next tome.
I caught sight of August across the aisle. He seemed intent on deciphering the slogan in bold block letters on the driver’scap.
Everest bent toward me and dropped his voice to a low whisper, “He broke up with Sienna lastnight.”
That explained the surly curve of August’smouth.
“How long were they dating?” I murmuredback.
“A couple months. Wouldn’t know why he ended things, wouldyou?”
“Me?” I frowned. “Why would I knowanything?”
Everest gave me acome-onlook.
“I didn’t even knowher…”
He narrowed his eyes so much they looked about to collide against the bridge of hisnose.
“What?”
“Dimples?” hewhispered.
“You think it’s because ofme?”
Everest shrugged. “Maybe they were having trouble before he called you his favoritegirl.”
I jabbed my elbow into his ribs because he’d said that way too loudly. So loudly that August glanced my way. I highly doubted he’d broken up with his girlfriend over me. Everest was giving me way more importance than Ihad.
The bus door closed after Liam, Lucas, and Matt walked on. Matt slid in next to August, while Liam and Lucas sat behind me. I sank a little lower in my seat. I heard Matt ask August how he was holdingup.
August grunted. “Fine.”
“How was the meeting?” Everestasked.
As the bus pulled out of the inn’s driveway and rolled west, I told him about the first trial and the rule—the one that only applied to me. And then I told him about the last trial. And his eyes went as wide as hismouth.
“You can’t win a physical fight,” hewhispered.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” He was probably right,though.
Lucas leaned forward, his greasy black hair flopping in my peripheral vision. I half expected him to mention the trials. He didn’t. “I was remembering the last time I saw you in your wolf form. You were this scrawny ball of whitefur.”
The bus went over a pothole, and my breasts jiggled. I folded my arms to block them in place. “You sure you didn’t mistake me for akitten?”
He smirked. “I know the difference between a cat and a wolf. Both have claws, but only onebites.”
My phone vibrated in my lap. I could tell Everest had recognized the number from the stiffening of his body. I flipped the phoneover.
“Who you avoiding? An ex?” Lucasinquired.
“Exactly.”
“Got many exes back in… Where was it you livedagain?”
Matt filled in for him, “LosAngeles.”
