Only when it petered out and the world turned silent did I unbolt my bloodied lips and let my pain pour out of me in great heavingsobs.
19
Ispentall of Tuesday in bed. I told Liam I’d suffered from food poisoning, and he let me take the day off. The following day, though, I got up and drove to the gym at the crack of dawn. When I reached the building, Liam, Lucas, and Greg were already there, waiting forme.
Lucas dragged his blue gaze up and then down my body. “What the fuck did you eat, Clark? You look likehell.”
“Thanks, Lucas. Exactly what I rolled out of bed tohear.”
Lucas smirked, but then his smirk vanished when he turned toward our Alpha. I didn’t meet Liam’s gaze, afraid he would see that it wasn’t my stomach that had made me sick but my heart. I bet he knew—wouldn’t be long before the entire pack knew. I just hoped he wouldn’t see it as an overture to make a move onme.
Why couldn’t I have stuck to my plan about not dating any man for at least ayear?
“So the Sillin . . . How much am I taking, Greg? And how long before we can test theresults?”
Greg handed me an insulated pouch containing two pill packs. “Take two pills every day at exactly the same time. From the minute you stop taking them, you’ll need about ten hours for your werewolf gene to reactivate, give or take an hour. Oh, and store them in the fridge when you get home.” He unzipped a leather satchel and took out a syringe. “I’m going to take some of your blood now, and then again in two weeks to check for traces ofSillin.”
“Okay.”
“Not afraid of needles, areyou?”
“No.” Still, as he took my wrist in his dry hand and brought the syringe to the inside of my arm, I lookedaway.
When the pointed tip slid beneath my skin, I cinched my eyes shut. The uncomfortable pinch soon subsided, and then it was done, and Greg said, “Call me if you notice any side effects. There shouldn’t be any, but just in case, you can reach me at any time, day ornight.”
I nodded and took the business card he extended myway.
“I guess you won’t be needing a bandage,” hesaid.
Sure enough, my skin had already patched up. Only a bead of blood remained. I swiped it away with my thumb. “Should I take the Sillin now or after my torturesession?”
“After,” Liam said, shrugging off his black hoodie. He wore nothing underneath. “Since we won’t have another opportunity to train in fur once you start taking those pills, we’re fighting as wolvestoday.”
As Greg left, the heavy door clanging shut behind him, I looked around for a place to change. The loft space didn’t have locker rooms, but it did have a questionably clean bathroomstall.
As I started toward it, Liam called me back. “Ness, you’ll be shifting out here. You need to get used toit.”
I must have gone ghostly pale, because Lucas chuckled. “In the other packs, females and males shift together. Didn’t Sarah tellyou?”
“She did,but—”
“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable,” Liam added, hooking his thumbs in the elastic waistband of hissweatpants.
“I promise that on the day of the duel, I’ll shed my clothes in front of everyone, but please don’t ask me to do ittoday.”
My desperation must’ve rang out loud and clear, because he relented. I scurried into the bathroom that stank of dried piss, leaving the door ajar so I could get out after the change. I kicked off my sneakers, yanked off my leggings and exercise top, and piled everything neatly on the sink top even though it wasn’t much cleaner than the beige-tiledfloor.
Once I’d morphed, I padded out into the gym on four legs. Liam was already in fur, three full hands taller than I was. Only Lucas remained in skin. He was sitting on a bench, curling massivedumbbells.
Justin’s the one you’re going to have to keep in your line of sight at all times,Liamsaid.
My ears perked up.You think he’ll attackme?
He’s not supposed to, but it’s Justin we’re talking about. He might attack you to distractme.
But that wouldn’t befair. . .
If you’re expecting fairness, you signed up for the wrongduel.
