Page 17 of Filthy Fae

“No, it’s fine.” She waved a hand in the air. “Fantastic. Thanks.”

Nope. She fucking hated that I’d talked to her university.

I cleared my throat. “Well, the deadline is next Monday, if you wanted to transfer. I’ll take care of the enrollment process. You’ll just have to release your records into my care.”

“Um, that would be a no, Lance. I don’t know if you noticed, but I kind of have my hands full with, you know, a job. Just like you.” She gestured toward the door. “And you might not have noticed at dinner, but my pack needs me right now.”

“School doesn’t start for another couple weeks.” I stared into her eyes, seeing her wolf just barely under the surface. “What if you found a replacement at Meadows Apartments? You’re so much better than this extremely demanding and stressful job that gains you nothing. You’re already alpha.”

“Really? Fuck you, Lance Knight,” she said. “For the record, I love this job that gains me nothing. It’s mine. I earned it, and I’m good at it. Also, Darrel only went to trade school—are you questioning his ability to lead his pack?”

“The fuck?” I asked, having no idea how we even got here.

“You’re telling me to quit my job and go back to school, and you already made calls without even talking to me. Where do you get off? Seriously? Do you really think this is what I need to hear after a day like today?” She stormed for the door.

“Scarlet—wait.” I lifted my hands in surrender. “Let me explain. I said this all wrong. What I meant was that I thought I might teach a class or two in the business department.”

She drew back, narrowing her eyes at me. “You want to teach me?”

Oh, that question brought up all sorts of extremely inappropriate ideas.

“Not necessarily teach you, but maybe be there while you’re there. Part-time.”

Her brow furrowed, but she was no longer marching for the door, so I took that as a good sign.

“You have a few days to think about it,” I said, leaning in a little. Her honeysuckle scent invaded my nostrils, and a shiver went straight through me. “I promise you, Scarlet, I wasn’t trying to insult you.”

She searched my eyes for a second and then leaned toward me, her lips parting. “Why are you so infuriating, Lance Knight. Half of the time, I want to kill you.”

I lifted my hand, skimming it over her shoulder and circling the back of her neck. “And the other half of the time?”

Her eyes glowed with her wolf, and I could feel mine pushing forward. Not waiting another moment, I pulled her in, pressing firmly against her warm lips.

She gasped, pressing her body against mine, the scent of our arousal filling the room. A tingling sensation pulsed low in my cock, and I felt it hardening against my jeans.

Shit.

I pulled back abruptly, realizing what a fucking asshole I was being. I shouldn’t be kissing her, not tonight, not when Scarlet and Darrel had plans. Breaking away, I crossed over to the door and opened it. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Seriously?” Scarlet’s eyes widened. “Just like that, I want to kill you again.” She stormed out and down the hall.

Chapter Seven

Scarlet

I cuddled up to Darrel’s side late in the night, unable to sleep. After I’d returned from Lance’s room, I’d found Darrel lying in bed, hands behind his head and eyes closed. I’d dressed as quietly as I could, turned out the lights, and curled up next to him, inhaling his masculine scent.

“You tired?” he’d asked, voice a half-asleep rumble.

“Mm-hmm.” I’d thrown a leg over his wide frame, pillowed my head on his chest, and tried to sleep. But exhausted as I was, sleep didn’t come.

One thought haunted my mind like an obsessive poltergeist. Zane was lying about how he’d found out about the party and who he’d gone with. In all the time I’d known Zane, he’d never lost control of his wolf. There was someone in Zane’s life who lost control of their wolf all the time, though. Someone I’d always feared would end up killing in a rage. Someone who went to sex parties.

And it was someone Zane would protect.

Zeezee.

It fit too well, and I wanted to be wrong with all my heart.